Choosing a forex broker is one of the most important decisions a trader can make.

Before worrying about trading strategies, indicators, price action, signals, leverage or finding the perfect entry, there is a more fundamental question:

Who are you trusting with your trading capital?

A good trading strategy can help you identify opportunities, but it cannot protect you from choosing a broker with poor operational standards, weak regulatory oversight, unreliable withdrawals or inadequate client protection.

For traders across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, broker selection can be even more important because availability, payment methods, regulatory entities, leverage, account types and trading conditions can vary depending on the trader’s country of residence.

That is why we have researched three long-established international brokers that continue to serve traders globally in 2026:

1. Deriv – Established 1999

2. Exness – Established 2008

3. XM – Established 2009

The ranking in this article is based on operating history, with the oldest broker placed first.

This is not a ranking of which broker will make you more money. No legitimate broker can guarantee trading profits, and no broker can eliminate the risk inherent in forex and CFD trading.

Instead, we focus on factors that matter when deciding where to place trading capital:

• Years in operation
• Regulatory structure
• Client-fund protections
• Trading platforms
• Available markets
• Account options
• Deposits and withdrawals
• Regional accessibility
• Technology and execution
• Reputation and global footprint
• Risk-management features
• Suitability for different types of traders

^{Important: Broker availability, legal protections, products, leverage and account conditions depend on your country of residence and the specific legal entity that opens your account. Always check the broker’s current terms and the applicable regulator before depositing money.}

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Quick Comparison: Deriv vs Exness vs XM

Feature	Deriv	Exness	XM
Established	1999	2008	2009
Position in this article	#1 by longevity	#2 by longevity	#3 by longevity
Global presence	100+ countries	Global	190+ countries
Forex	Yes	Yes	Yes
CFDs	Yes	Yes	Yes
MT5	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proprietary platforms	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mobile trading	Yes	Yes	Yes
Demo accounts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Client-fund safeguards	Vary by entity/account	Segregation and other protections	Segregation and other protections
Negative balance protection	Available depending on entity/account	Available for retail clients	Available
Minimum deposit	Varies by method/account	Varies by account/payment method	From $5 on several account types
24/7 markets	Crypto and Derived Indices	Selected markets/services	Selected markets/services
Synthetic/Derived Indices	Yes	No equivalent Deriv-style proprietary market	No
Regional regulatory entities	Multiple	Multiple	Multiple
Best known for	Broad product ecosystem and Derived Indices	Technology, execution and withdrawals	Global reach, MT4/MT5 and education

Note: Trading conditions change. Always verify the current account specifications shown on the broker’s website before registering or depositing.

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How We Selected These 3 Brokers

There are hundreds of online forex and CFD brokers available around the world.

We did not select these three simply because they are popular on social media.

We focused on characteristics that are more difficult for a broker to fake over the long term.

1. Operating history

A broker that has survived for many years has had to navigate changing market conditions, regulatory requirements, technology changes and multiple market cycles.

That does not guarantee future success, but longevity provides useful historical context.

Based on the companies’ stated histories:

• Deriv – 1999
• Exness – 2008
• XM –2009

That gives Deriv more than 25 years of operating history, Exness more than 15 years and XM more than 15 years as of 2026.

2. Regulatory structure

Regulation matters because a trader should know which legal entity is providing the service and which regulator oversees that entity.

A global brand can operate through different companies in different jurisdictions.

Therefore, simply seeing the name of a major regulator on a broker’s website is not enough.

Always check the legal entity attached to your account.

3. Client-money arrangements

One of the most important questions a trader can ask is how client funds are handled.

Segregation of client funds means client money is kept separately from the broker’s own operational funds under applicable rules.

However, segregation should not be misunderstood as a guarantee that a trader cannot lose money.

A trader can still lose money because of market movements.

4. Withdrawal infrastructure

Deposits are easy to advertise.

Withdrawals are where a broker’s operational infrastructure becomes much more important.

We therefore considered the availability of withdrawal systems, payment methods and the brokers’ published information about processing.

5. Technology and trading platforms

A reliable broker should provide traders with functional platforms that allow them to monitor positions, manage risk and execute orders.

MT4 and MT5 remain widely used across the global retail trading industry, while brokers have increasingly developed their own web and mobile platforms.

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🥇 1. Deriv – Established Since 1999

Over 25 Years of Operating History

If longevity is your primary criterion, Deriv comes first in this comparison.

Deriv traces its operating history back to 1999, making it the oldest of the three brokers compared in this article.

The company has evolved considerably since its early years, developing from an online trading business into a global multi-platform trading group.

As of 2026, Deriv says it serves more than 3 million customers in over 100 countries.

That long operating history is one of the most significant reasons Deriv is included in this comparison.

Why Deriv stands out

Deriv is particularly interesting for traders because its product ecosystem goes beyond conventional forex and CFDs.

Its current offering includes:

• Forex
• Commodities
• Stocks
• Stock indices
• Cryptocurrencies
• ETFs
• Derived Indices
• Deriv Trader
• Deriv MT5
• Deriv cTrader
• Deriv Bot
• TradingView integration for supported markets

One of Deriv’s biggest differentiators is its Derived Indices.

These proprietary markets are designed to operate independently of traditional financial markets and include instruments with different volatility characteristics.

For traders who specifically trade synthetic or derived markets, this makes Deriv very different from a conventional forex-only broker.

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Deriv MT5

For traders who prefer MetaTrader 5, Deriv provides Deriv MT5.

The platform provides access to financial CFDs and Deriv’s proprietary Derived Indices.

Depending on the account and jurisdiction, traders can access instruments including:

• Forex
• Commodities
• Stocks
• Stock indices
• Cryptocurrencies
• ETFs
• Derived Indices

Deriv also provides mobile and desktop access, making it suitable for traders who prefer to manage positions from a smartphone or computer.

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Deriv’s Payment Infrastructure

One of the major concerns for traders in emerging markets is the ability to fund and withdraw from a trading account.

Deriv offers multiple funding and withdrawal methods, including options involving:

• Bank/payment methods
• Cards
• E-wallets
• Cryptocurrency
• Local payment methods
• Deriv P2P in supported markets

The availability of each method depends on the trader’s country and account.

This is particularly relevant to traders across Africa and Asia, where payment infrastructure can vary substantially between countries.

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Deriv’s Regulatory Footprint

Deriv operates through several legal entities rather than one single company serving every country.

Its regulatory information currently lists entities and licences associated with jurisdictions including:

• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Malaysia/Labuan
• Mauritius
• Vanuatu
• United Arab Emirates and other jurisdictions depending on the service

This structure is important because the protections applicable to a trader depend on the entity under which the trader’s account is registered.

Traders should therefore read the legal information displayed during registration rather than assuming that every Deriv customer receives exactly the same regulatory protections.

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Client Protection

Deriv provides various risk-management and client-protection measures depending on the product and jurisdiction.

These can include negative balance protection for eligible accounts.

However, traders should understand an important distinction:

Negative balance protection is not the same thing as protection against trading losses.

If you deposit $1,000 and lose $700 through trading, that $700 can still be lost.

Protection mechanisms are designed to address specific risks and do not turn leveraged trading into a risk-free activity.

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Who May Consider Deriv?

Deriv may be particularly relevant to:

• Forex traders
• MT5 traders
• Synthetic/Derived Index traders
• Traders looking for multiple trading platforms
• Traders who want access to crypto CFDs
• Traders who prefer mobile trading
• Traders interested in automated trading tools
• Traders in supported African, Asian and Middle Eastern markets

One of Deriv’s biggest advantages

Its longevity combined with its broad product ecosystem.

The company has been operating since 1999 while continuing to expand its technology and market offering.

Important consideration

The fact that Deriv has operated for more than 25 years does not mean every trade will be profitable or every account will have identical conditions.

Always check the exact entity, account type, fees, leverage and products available in your country.

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Ready to Open a Deriv Account?

[ SIGN UP WITH DERIV HERE]

Tip: If you are new to trading, consider starting with a demo account and learn how position sizing, stop-losses, leverage and margin work before risking real money.

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Want to learn Forex trading from scratch?
Join the free MikoFx 30-Day Beginner to Pro Forex Course.

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🥈 2. Exness -Established Since 2008

More Than 15 Years of Global Operations

Exness was established in 2008 and has grown into one of the most recognized names in the global retail CFD industry.

That places Exness second in our longevity-based ranking.

Exness has built much of its reputation around technology, trading infrastructure, execution and payment systems.

The broker states that it has more than 2,000 employees, offices across multiple continents and clients around the world.

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Why Exness Has Become So Popular

One of Exness’s strongest characteristics is its technology-focused approach.

The company has invested heavily in its trading infrastructure and proprietary technology.

Exness provides access to:

• Forex
• Metals
• Cryptocurrencies
• Energies
• Stocks
• Indices

Depending on the account and jurisdiction.

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Exness Trading Platforms

Exness provides several ways to trade.

These include:

MetaTrader 5

MT5 remains one of the most widely used trading platforms in the world.

It supports:

• Market analysis
• Multiple order types
• Expert Advisors
• Automated trading
• Technical analysis
• Mobile trading

Exness Terminal

The web-based platform allows traders to access their markets directly through a browser.

Exness Trade App

Exness also provides its proprietary mobile application for traders who want to manage their accounts and positions from smartphones.

This is particularly useful for traders who conduct much of their trading activity from mobile devices.

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Exness and Withdrawals

One of Exness’s most heavily promoted features is its payment infrastructure.

The company states that more than 98% of withdrawals are processed automatically, although actual processing times depend on the payment method and other factors.

Exness also states that client funds are held in segregated accounts and that it uses multiple security measures around payment transactions.

The company offers a range of payment methods depending on the trader’s location.

This is particularly important for traders in regions where conventional international banking can be inconvenient.

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Exness Regulation

Exness operates through multiple entities with regulatory relationships across different jurisdictions.

Its published regulatory information includes authorities such as:

• Financial Services Authority of Seychelles
• Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa
• Capital Markets Authority of Kenya
• Jordan Securities Commission
• Capital Market Authority in the UAE
• Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten
• Financial Services Commission in the BVI
• Financial Services Commission in Mauritius
• Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
• UK Financial Conduct Authority
• Belize FSC

An important qualification is that some of the more highly regulated entities listed by Exness do not provide retail trading services.

Therefore, a trader should not assume that opening an Exness account in Africa, Asia or the Middle East means that the account is automatically under the UK’s FCA or Cyprus’s CySEC retail framework.

The entity that actually contracts with you matters.

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Exness Client-Fund Protection

Exness states that client funds are held separately from the company’s own funds.

It also provides negative balance protection for eligible retail clients.

The company additionally describes security features including:

• Segregated accounts
• Secure withdrawal verification
• Payment security
• PCI DSS compliance
• Negative balance protection

Again, none of these features eliminates market risk.

A trader can still lose capital through trading.

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Exness Account Options

Exness provides different account structures.

Its Standard account is positioned as a commission-free account suitable for different types of traders.

The broker currently lists:

• Minimum deposit depending on payment method
• Spreads from 0.2 pips on its Standard account
• No commission on that account
• Forex
• Metals
• Cryptocurrencies
• Energies
• Stocks
• Indices

Exness also provides professional account options with different pricing structures.

Exact requirements vary by country and account.

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Who May Consider Exness?

Exness may be particularly relevant to:

• Forex traders
• MT5 traders
• Mobile traders
• Traders who prioritise withdrawal infrastructure
• Traders who want access to multiple CFD markets
• Traders looking for different account structures
• Active traders who pay close attention to spreads and execution

One of Exness’s biggest strengths

Technology and payment infrastructure.

Its combination of proprietary platforms, MetaTrader access, global operations and extensive payment infrastructure has helped make Exness a major international retail broker.

Important consideration

High leverage can dramatically increase both potential gains and losses.

Do not choose a broker simply because it offers high leverage.

A professional trader’s objective should be to control risk rather than simply maximise exposure.

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Ready to Open an Exness Account?

[ SIGN UP WITH EXNESS HERE ]

If you are new to trading, consider opening a demo account first and learning how leverage, margin, stop-out levels and position sizing work.

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🥉 3. XM – Established Since 2009

More Than 15 Years of Global Operations

XM was founded in 2009 and is operated under the Trading Point Group.

That makes XM the youngest of the three brokers in this comparison by operating history, although it still has more than 15 years of industry history.

XM has developed a significant international presence and says it serves traders in more than 190 countries.

The broker currently reports more than 20 million traders across its global business.

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What Makes XM Different?

XM has historically placed significant emphasis on:

• Forex
• CFDs
• MetaTrader
• Education
• Market research
• Customer support
• Global accessibility
• Trading competitions and promotional programmes

For traders who have learned forex through MT4 or MT5, XM’s platform offering is familiar.

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XM Trading Platforms

XM supports MetaTrader platforms and provides mobile and web access.

MT5 offers:

• Multi-asset trading
• Advanced charting
• Multiple order types
• Expert Advisors
• Automated trading
• Mobile trading
• Desktop trading
• WebTrader access

XM also provides its own mobile trading experience.

For traders who have built their strategies around MT4 or MT5, this can be an important consideration.

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XM Account Types

XM currently lists account options including:

Standard Account

Designed for traders who want a straightforward trading account.

Ultra Low Account

Designed around lower trading costs and spread.

Shares Account

Designed for eligible traders looking to trade individual share instruments.

The minimum deposit on several XM account types is currently listed as $5, while the Shares Account has a significantly higher minimum.

Exact availability depends on the jurisdiction and account entity.

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XM and Client Protection

XM’s published information describes several client-protection measures, including:

• Segregated client accounts
• Negative balance protection
• Security controls
• Regulatory oversight through applicable entities

Its client agreements also describe arrangements for keeping client funds separate under applicable regulatory rules.

As with the other brokers in this comparison, the protection available to you depends on the entity and jurisdiction under which your account is held.

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XM Regulatory Structure

XM operates through multiple legal entities.

Depending on the region, XM’s group includes entities regulated by authorities such as:

• Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
• Dubai Financial Services Authority
• Belize Financial Services Commission
• Other regulatory authorities applicable to specific group entities

For example, XM’s MENA business is operated by Trading Point MENA Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

This regional presence is particularly relevant to traders in the Middle East.

But again:

Do not assume that a licence held by one XM group company automatically applies to another XM entity.

Always verify the legal entity shown during account opening.

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XM’s Global Reach

One of XM’s major strengths is its international reach.

The broker states that it serves clients from more than 190 countries and offers support in multiple languages.

That makes XM particularly interesting for traders who value a global broker with a large international customer base.

The company also reports billions of trades executed across its platforms.

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Who May Consider XM?

XM may be particularly relevant to:

• Beginner forex traders
• MT4/MT5 traders
• Traders who value educational resources
• Traders looking for low minimum deposits
• Traders who want access to forex and CFDs
• Traders in Africa and the Middle East
• Traders looking for a long-established global broker

One of XM’s biggest strengths

Global reach combined with a familiar MetaTrader ecosystem.

Important consideration

Trading conditions, leverage, products and legal protections vary by XM entity.

Always check the exact terms for your country before opening and funding an account.

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Ready to Open an XM Account?

[ SIGN UP WITH XM HERE]

As with the other brokers, new traders should consider using a demo account and learning risk management before trading real money.

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Deriv vs Exness vs XM: Which Type of Trader Might Consider Each?

There is no single broker that is perfect for every trader.

Instead of asking:

“Which broker is the best?”

A more useful question is:

“Which broker’s features and operating structure fit my trading needs?”

Deriv may be interesting if you:

• Trade synthetic/Derived Indices
• Prefer MT5
• Want access to 24/7 Derived Indices
• Want multiple trading platforms
• Prefer a broker with a long operating history
• Want access to crypto and traditional CFD markets
• Use automated trading tools

Exness may be interesting if you:

• Focus heavily on forex
• Value trading technology
• Want multiple account structures
• Trade from mobile
• Prioritise payment and withdrawal infrastructure
• Want MT5 and proprietary platforms
• Trade a broad range of CFD instruments

XM may be interesting if you:

• Prefer MT4/MT5
• Want a low minimum deposit on eligible accounts
• Value educational material and market research
• Want a globally established broker
• Trade forex and CFDs
• Prefer a large international broker with regional support

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Why We Ranked Them 1, 2 and 3

This ranking is intentionally simple.

It is not a ranking of profitability, spreads, execution quality or investment performance.

It is based on operating history.

#1 Deriv – 1999

More than 25 years of operating history.

#2 Exness – 2008

More than 15 years of operating history.

#3 XM -2009

More than 15 years of operating history.

There is only a one-year difference between Exness and XM.

Therefore, placing Exness above XM in this article should not be interpreted as saying Exness is universally better than XM.

The order simply follows the requested longevity criterion.

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What Does “Reliable Broker” Actually Mean?

Reliability is more than having a famous name.

Before depositing money with any broker, consider these questions:

1. How long has the company been operating?

Longevity does not guarantee future safety, but a long operating history provides useful context.

2. Which company is actually holding your account?

This is extremely important.

Large brokers often operate through several legal entities.

3. Which regulator oversees that entity?

Check the regulator rather than simply relying on a broker’s marketing materials.

4. How are client funds handled?

Look for information about client-money segregation and applicable protections.

5. Can you withdraw?

Understand the available withdrawal methods and any applicable processing requirements.

6. What happens during extreme market volatility?

Understand the broker’s margin, liquidation, stop-out and negative-balance policies.

7. What leverage are you using?

High leverage is not free money.

It increases exposure and can accelerate losses.

8. Is the broker available legally in your country?

This is especially important in 2026 as financial regulators around the world continue to increase oversight of online forex and CFD businesses.

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A Very Important Point About “Safe” Trading Money

The phrase “a broker you can trust with your money” should never be interpreted as a guarantee that your trading capital cannot be lost.

There are two completely different risks:

Broker risk

This relates to issues such as:

• Operational failure
• Regulatory problems
• Payment problems
• Fraud
• Poor client-money controls

Market risk

This is the risk that your trade loses money.

Even if you use a well-established broker, a bad trade can still lose your capital.

For example:

You deposit $1,000.

You open a leveraged position.

The market moves sharply against you.

Your stop-loss is hit.

You may lose part of your $1,000.

That is trading risk, not necessarily broker failure.

Therefore, choosing a reliable broker is only one part of becoming a responsible trader.

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Demo Accounts: A Smart Place to Start

All three brokers provide demo-trading options.

A demo account allows you to practise using simulated funds before committing real money.

It can help you learn:

• How to open trades
• How to close trades
• How to place stop-losses
• How to place take-profit orders
• How to calculate position size
• How margin works
• How leverage affects exposure
• How the trading platform works
• How deposits and withdrawals are structured

However, demo trading is not identical to live trading emotionally.

Trading real money introduces psychological pressure that cannot be completely replicated by a demo account.

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Final Comparison

Deriv

Established: 1999

Key attraction: Longest operating history among the three and a broad ecosystem that includes forex, CFDs, crypto, stocks and proprietary Derived Indices.

Platforms: Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader, Deriv cTrader, Deriv Bot and other supported platforms.

Particularly relevant to: Forex and synthetic/Derived Index traders, MT5 users and traders interested in a broad product ecosystem.

Sign-up:
[ OPEN A DERIV ACCOUNT ]

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Exness

Established: 2008

Key attraction: Technology-focused trading infrastructure, multiple platforms, broad CFD offering and extensive payment/withdrawal infrastructure.

Platforms: MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade and other supported platforms.

Particularly relevant to: Forex traders, active traders, mobile traders and traders who place strong importance on trading technology and payment infrastructure.

Sign-up:
[ OPEN AN EXNESS ACCOUNT ]

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XM

Established: 2009

Key attraction: Long global operating history, international reach, MetaTrader ecosystem, educational resources and low minimum deposits on eligible accounts.

Platforms: MT4/MT5, XM App and WebTrader, depending on region.

Particularly relevant to: Beginners, MT4/MT5 traders, forex traders and traders looking for a globally established broker.

Sign-up:
[ OPEN AN XM ACCOUNT ]

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Final Thoughts

A forex broker should not be selected simply because someone on YouTube, TikTok, Telegram or Instagram says:

“This is the best broker.”

Do your own research.

Look at the company’s history.

Check the regulatory entity.

Understand where your funds are held.

Read the withdrawal rules.

Understand the account type you are opening.

Check the products available in your country.

And most importantly, understand that a reliable broker cannot make an unprofitable trading strategy profitable.

Your broker provides the infrastructure.

Your strategy, risk management and discipline determine how you use that infrastructure.

For traders across Africa, Asia and the Middle East looking for established names to research in 2026, Deriv, Exness and XM are three brokers worth comparing based on their long operating histories, international footprints, platforms and published client-protection measures.

But the final decision should always be based on your country of residence, applicable regulations, trading requirements and personal risk tolerance.

Ready to learn Forex?

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Affiliate Disclosure

Affiliate Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click one of the broker registration links and subsequently open an eligible account or carry out qualifying activity, MikoFx Academy may receive a commission or other compensation from the broker at no additional cost to you.

Our affiliate relationships do not change the fact that forex and CFD trading involves substantial risk.

We encourage readers to conduct their own research, review the broker’s legal documents and risk disclosures, verify the applicable regulatory entity and make their own independent decision before depositing funds.

MikoFx Academy does not guarantee profits, investment returns or the safety of trading capital.

The brokers discussed in this article are independent companies. An affiliate relationship should not be interpreted as a guarantee of their future performance, financial condition or continued availability in any particular country.

Always verify the current regulatory status and terms directly with the broker before opening an account.

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About MikoFx Academy

MikoFx Academy provides educational content designed to help traders understand forex and financial-market concepts, including trading platforms, price action, market structure, risk management and trading psychology.

The goal is not to promise easy money.

The goal is to help traders learn first, manage risk and make informed decisions.

Trade responsibly.