Darwinex is a fintech technology provider and online financial trading, and social trading broker. The broker was founded in 2012 and has its headquarters in London, UK. Tradeslide Trading Tech Limited, the parent company of Darwinex, is regulated by the top-tier FCA in the UK. The broker provides its services in more than 80 countries and has the UK’s most lucrative investment hedge fund. Darwinex has a lot of options in terms of investing platforms and has a vast product portfolio covering the most popular asset classes. The company has transparent trading and transaction costs and a good educational environment for the ease of new traders.
Let’s dive into the details of each important aspect that help traders to assess whether to open an account with Darwinex or not.
Darwinex has great trading platforms for every type of trader. Various payment methods, low trading costs, and strict regulations make Darwinex an industry leading broker. The broker offers many account types meeting the needs of almost all types of traders. Direct market access (DMA), FIX API for investors, and social trading make Darwinex a good option.
On the other hand, Darwinex isn’t registered with any other regulatory body except FCA and does not accept clients from the US. Educational and research resources are limited, whilst the minimum deposit requirement is higher than its competitors. In addition, Darwinex does not offer Islamic accounts.
Here are the key takeaways in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of trading with the broker.
Darwinex provides a diverse selection of trading instruments to retail and institutional traders across asset classes, including Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Shares, Indices, Metals, Energies, and CFDs. The broker discontinued offering cryptocurrencies in 2021. In addition, the broker does not offer options and bonds.
Darwinex Instruments Summary
| Instruments | Darwinex |
|---|---|
| Forex | ✓ |
| Stocks | ✓ |
| Indices | ✓ |
| Commodities | ✓ |
| Cryptos | x |
| Options | x |
| Bonds | x |
| ETFs | ✓ |
| CFDs | ✓ |
Commission and Spread Fees
Darwinex has two main account types, each for retail traders and professional traders. So different spreads and commissions policies apply to each account type. However, in general, Darwinex offers trading at very tight spreads starting from 0.0 and a low commission fee starting from $3 per standard lot per round.
| Fee | Account Type | Professional Account |
|---|---|---|
| Commission (per standard lot per side) | $0 | $1.5 |
| Spreads from | 0.6 | 0.0 |
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Darwinex charges deposit and withdrawal fees for some payment methods. The broker’s bank charges bank wire transfers for deposits below $2000. And deposits made via Skrill also incur charges of 0.05% of the amount.
On the other hand, all withdrawal methods require some payable charges whether that be from the broker or third party processor.
Inactivity Fees
Darwinex does not charge an inactivity fee from its dormant accounts.
Darwinex provides its trading services on a variety of platforms. MT4 and MT5 platforms are popular and are accessible on desktop (Windows and Mac), online, and mobile (iOS and Android). Forex, indices, and commodities may be traded on both platforms, but shares are only available on MT5. Darwinex understands that some traders want more than these platforms’ capabilities and hence provide the following auxiliary libraries to supplement the MetaTrader / FIX API stack:
- Pricing and Trading Modules for FIX v4.4 (in Python)
- Python-to-MetaTrader Bridge with ZeroMQ (in Python)
- MetaTrader Server EA with ZeroMQ support (in MQL)
- FIX API
Zorro trading platform users may also connect to and trade at Darwinex using Zorro’s MT4 and MT5 Bridge solutions.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
MT4 is the most used trading platform all over the world. It is available in various languages and is well-known for its user-friendly design, making it a popular choice for rookie and experienced traders. MT4 is extremely customisable and has many features such as technical indicators for chart analysis, numerous time frames, multiple order types, trading templates, real-time price quotes, alert alerts, and automated trading. Users may utilise the built-in MetaEditor to create their own custom indicators and expert advisors (EAs) in the MQL programming language. A strategy tester is available for testing systems over historical data, and there is a big online community where other MetaTrader users discuss indicators, EAs, and ideas.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
MT5 contains nearly all of the same fantastic features that you will find in MT4. A few minor improvements here will allow you to trade in more markets, with more indicators and a total of 6 additional pending orders, as well as an improved market depth information level that now comprises 21 distinct timeframes. The greatest part is that you will not lose any of the top-tier functionality or trading capacity you have access to in MT4. It has only progressed in a few regions. Again, this trading platform is available via all mediums as a Webtrader and on mobile, with Android and iOS compatibility.
FIX API
The Financial Information exchange (FIX) protocol was created in 1992 and is an open communications standard that is not controlled by any individual or organisation and maybe built to match the needs of each business that uses it. The FIX API protocol offers a foundation for straight-through processing (STP) and connections between a diverse set of parties. It is vendor-neutral, with flexible and standardised inter-party exchange transactions. Standardised data fields serve as the foundation of all FIX messages, allowing information to flow from beginning to finish a transaction.
ZeroMQ
ZeroMQ is an Open Source Concurrency Framework that allows you to create an expandable, high-performance bridge between programming languages and MetaQuotes trading platform. ZeroMQ allows programmers to link multiple programmes in various ways while removing a user’s reliance on MetaTrader-supported technologies. Strategies and indicators may be created in C/C#/C++, Python, R, Java, and other languages and then pushed to the market using MetaTrader.
Zorro Trading Platform
Zorro is a free software application for financial research, machine learning, and the creation of algorithmic trading strategies. With a simple interface and a robust collection of features and capabilities, it is capable of backtesting and live trading. Traders can use the Lite-C programming language to build, backtest, and trade their strategies. Zorro includes a bridge plugin for MT4 and MT5 that allows traders to use MetaTrader directly from their Zorro trading strategies.
DARWIN
A DARWIN combines a trader-managed trading strategy with Darwinex’s autonomous risk management engine. You may start your own account to invest in Darwin. Only profitable DARWINs are subject to a 20% performance fee. The trader’s incentive is to perform well continually. The website shows the performance of DARWINs alongside the methods of individual traders from over 80 nations. Several short and long-term trading techniques are available, using underlying instruments from various markets such as currencies, equities, commodities, and indices. It is important to note that there are no guarantees with how well DARWINs will provide. You should be wary of all risks involved with trading and investing online.
Darwinex Platforms Summary
| Platform | Darwinex |
|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ |
| cTrader | x |
| Proprietary | x |
| Desktop | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ |
| Mobile | ✓ |
| Social Trading | ✓ |
| Other | ✓ |
Blog
Darwinex provides the Darwinex blog, which was established to share its expertise with traders to enhance their trading education and abilities. The Darwinex Investors Programme is designed to educate and teach new investors who are beginning to manage passive investments in DARWINs. The programme includes applications for iOS and Android devices, as well as multimedia and interactive instructional content. There are practical situations to learn how to apply what you’ve learned, as well as a self-evaluation activity. A rewards system based on goal achievement and student support services is also available.
Videos
A video section addresses trading topics such as money management, strategy building, and general information about trading.
Darwin Docs
The Darwinex website provides a comprehensive Darwin Docs section that answers accounts, platforms, and trading-related questions. Clients can share trading ideas and information on an active online community forum.
Research
Darwinex, however, does not have a research section. This is a significant disadvantage for all traders at all levels, who might always profit from a thorough research section. The broker’s only instrument in this respect is access to a comprehensive economic calendar. This will keep you up to speed on the day’s major economic events and allow you to analyse how they affect the market.
On the downside, Darwinex lacks popular analytical tools such as AutoChartist, Trade Central, and trading calculators. In addition, the broker does not hold any webinars or podcasts.
Darwinex Research and Education Summary
| Resources | Darwinex |
|---|---|
| Market Analysis | x |
| Guides | ✓ |
| Videos | ✓ |
| Webinars | x |
| Autochartist | x |
| Trading Central | x |
| Economic Calendar | x |
| Other | x |
Darwinex offers only 3 base currencies. Darwinex offers all popular payment options for deposits and withdrawals. You can make a transaction via wire transfer, debit/credit card, and electronic wallets. However, the broker charges a fee for many transaction methods. Cryptocurrency transactions, just like cryptocurrency trading, are not offered or accepted.
Darwinex Funding Summary
| Payment Method | Deposit | Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Credit/debit Card | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electronic Wallets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cryptos | x | x |
Darwinex is a subsidiary company of Tradeslide Trading Tech Limited, registered and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Darwinex strives to be as transparent as possible with its clients, workers, and the law. Regulation and insurance are in place to assist secure clients’ cash and information while providing the peace of mind that they are working with a reputable broker.
Darwinex Regulation Summary
| Regulator | Darwinex |
|---|---|
| ASIC (Australia) | x |
| IIROC (Canada) | x |
| CySEC (Cyprus) | x |
| SFC (Hong Kong) | x |
| JFSA (Japan) | x |
| MAS (Singapore) | x |
| FINMA (Switzerland) | x |
| FCA (UK) | ✓ |
| CFTC (USA) | x |
| Other | x |
Darwinex Safety
Darwinex is not listed on any stock exchange and doesn’t hold a banking licence. Darwinex clients are entitled to free additional insurance via the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Darwinex claims that customer monies are held in separate accounts with Barclays (UK). Finances in a segregated account are kept separate from business funds, which can assure in the case of insolvency.
Darwinex offers customer support via live chat, phone, and email 24/7.
Darwinex can be a good broker for traders who are familiar with social copy trading and the FIX API. Professional traders may take advantage of reduced costs, while DARWIN investors can find the best strategies on the Darwinex Exchange. However, the $500 minimum deposit may be too much for certain newcomers or retail traders who have relatively low investments. There are free demo accounts available if you wish to give trial the brokers products and services without the risk.
