Here at the The Rock Trading we review and rank the most popular online trading options for cryptocurrency traders. The goal is to help you assess all the ways you can trade crypto, not just one method, so we directly compare the three main types of crypto trading, being crypto brokers, prop firms, and exchanges.
Online CFD Brokers
With brokers, you’re not buying or selling actual crypto. You’re trading contracts that mirror price movements. This means no ownership of the asset, but you can go long or short and use leverage. It requires your own capital upfront, and you withdraw cash not crypto.
Prop Trading Firms
Prop firms give you access to trading capital, but first you need to pay a fee to enter a challenge. If you pass, you’re funded and can earn a profit split. You don’t risk your own capital in live trading, but you have to meet specific targets and stay within the firm’s risk rules.
Crypto Exchanges
On exchanges, you’re actually buying and selling crypto. Spot trading means full asset ownership, no leverage. You can transfer, hold, or sell whenever you want. Some exchanges also offer futures, but most beginners start with spot trading because it’s more straightforward.
| Feature / Method | Online CFD Brokers | Prop Trading Firms | Crypto Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you trade | Contracts tracking price movements | Simulated account using firm’s capital | Real crypto assets (spot and futures) |
| Ownership | None, you don’t own crypto | None, it's not your own capital | Full ownership of crypto |
| Leverage | High (varies by region) | Moderate (set by firm) | Typically none for spot, optional for futures |
| Capital required | Your own capital up-front | One-time challenge fee | Your own funds to buy crypto |
| Best suited for | Traders focused on price movements | Skilled traders wanting to scale quickly | Users looking to own and hold crypto |
Each method has its own pricing structure, as well as pros and cons. Some might be keen on the flexibility of CFD brokers, some will prefer the lower capital outlay of prop firms, while others will want to own crypto directly or do a combo of the three. What was missing in the online trading world was a way to compare all of them in one place. That’s where our team at The Rock Trading comes in. Our crypto comparison site gives you a complete view of your options, without bias, guesswork, or hidden agendas.
We started The Rock Trading because most crypto reviews are either too vague, too biased, or clearly written without ever testing the company’s offering. We wanted to fix that by giving you practical comparisons that show how each crypto trading method works, and which are the best when things like pricing and fees, platforms and tools, and markets and leverage is compared in a methodical way.
Co-founded by finance experts Justin Grossbard and Noam Korbl, everything on The Rock Trading is based on direct hands on testing. The research team opens trading accounts, places trades, compares spreads, tests trading tools, and contacts customer support to get a first hand gauge on the quality of each companies offering. The goal is to report what you’ll actually really experience after signing up, not what is promised on a sales page.
At The Rock Trading, our content is written and reviewed by finance experts with academic and professional backgrounds in finance, economics, and online trading. Every review, guide, and shortlist of the best crypto platforms is grounded in real experience, academic qualifications, and first hand testing.
Justin Grossbard (Co-Founder, Strategy & Research Lead)
Justin Grossbard co-founded The Rock Trading and oversees the strategic direction of our site’s reviews. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master’s in Marketing from Monash University in Australia, and has 20 years of experience in digital strategy and financial content development. Justin steers the ship and brings a structured, analytical approach to comparing brokers, prop firms, and crypto exchanges.
Noam Korbl (Co-Founder, Technical Research & Product Design)
Noam Korbl is a co-founder of The Rock Trading and leads the product testing side of things. He also has an Monash University academic background, with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Banking and Finance. Since 2014, he has worked across trading-focused digital ventures, with personal experience using brokers, exchanges, and prop firms.
Tegan Miller (Senior Analyst)
Tegan Miller holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from RMIT University, also in Australia, and is the content manager for The Rock Trading. She specialises in all things online trading, with a special interest in regulation and products across various financial markets. With a background in financial writing and market research, Tegan’s role is to turn complex trading models into clear, well-documented comparisons that everyone can understand and learn something from.
We evaluate every crypto trading method using the same six categories across the board, giving us a solid comparison in terms of pricing, initial capital required, and the support you’ll get along the way:
Each category gets a score out of 10. Then, the six categories are weighted and combined into a final score out of 100.
We’re based in Melbourne, Australia. If you’ve used a crypto trading company we’ve reviewed, contact us and send us your feedback. We love to hear it!