Pepperstone Launches Spot Crypto Trading Platform for Australian Market

Pepperstone just entered spot crypto. The Melbourne-based broker rolled out physical cryptocurrency trading for Australian clients, moving beyond its traditional contracts for difference business into the booming digital asset space.

CEO Tamas Szabo confirmed the launch during a recent interview, saying the company built “a large standalone crypto team” to handle the transition. The move comes as brokers worldwide pivot from CFDs to direct crypto ownership amid regulatory pressures and surging client demand. Pepperstone’s new platform charges a flat 0.1% trading fee and promises deep liquidity across major cryptocurrencies. Szabo said the infrastructure was developed entirely in-house to maintain quality control over execution and security protocols.

Spot crypto volumes exploded recently. CryptoQuant data shows the spot cryptocurrency market hit $18.6 trillion in trading volume during 2025, jumping 9% from the previous year.

The numbers reflect a massive shift from niche trading to mainstream adoption. Major brokers like IG Group already launched spot crypto services, while Capital.com and XTB are preparing their own platforms for 2026 rollouts. CMC Markets even announced plans to explore decentralized finance products, signaling how far traditional brokers are willing to push into digital assets.

Binance’s dominance took a hit during this broker invasion. The world’s largest crypto exchange saw its market share drop to 25% by December 2025, down from nearly 60% in 2023. Competition from both centralized platforms and decentralized exchanges ate into Binance’s territory as more players entered the space.

eToro got there first. The social trading platform added bitcoin back in 2013, way before most brokers even considered crypto seriously.

“eToro approached spot crypto with long-term conviction,” said Adi Lasker Gattegno, the company’s Director of Liquidity Management and Crypto Operations. The platform now supports 150 different crypto assets and offers staking services plus Smart Portfolios for automated crypto investing. eToro’s early move paid off as retail investors increasingly demanded direct asset ownership over derivative products.

Regulatory crackdowns pushed brokers toward crypto alternatives. The European Securities and Markets Authority slammed CFD restrictions on brokers in 2018, forcing many to find new revenue streams. Clearer crypto regulations like the EU’s MiCA framework and the proposed U.S. GENIUS Act gave brokers more confidence to dive into digital assets. The regulatory clarity helped legitimize crypto trading among traditional financial institutions.

Brokers face a tough choice on infrastructure. Building in-house systems takes time and money but offers complete control over the trading experience. Related coverage: Coinbase Posts .18 Billion Revenue Despite.

White-label providers like Shift Markets offer plug-and-play solutions that can integrate with existing broker platforms. CEO Ian McAfee said his company treats crypto “as an extension of a broker’s multi-asset offering” rather than a separate product line. The approach lets brokers launch crypto services quickly without massive infrastructure investments.

Arthur Azizov from B2BROKER said his software-as-a-service model can get brokers up and running in ten days. The automation and API-led integration speed up deployment significantly compared to building from scratch. But some firms prefer the control that comes with proprietary systems.

Pepperstone chose the in-house route for its crypto platform. Szabo said the company wanted full control over execution quality and security measures, even though it meant longer development times. The broker integrated spot crypto into its wider platform while maintaining regulatory separation between different asset classes. Deposits, withdrawals, and reconciliations run through the established system to ensure security.

Deep liquidity remains the biggest challenge for new crypto platforms. Szabo highlighted platform stability and secure transaction processes as key focus areas for Pepperstone’s launch. The broker needs to compete with established crypto exchanges that already have strong liquidity pools and tight spreads.

IG Group initially partnered with Uphold for its crypto services but later acquired Independent Reserve to boost capabilities in Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets. The acquisition strategy let IG expand its crypto footprint quickly in key regions where crypto adoption is accelerating.

Capital.com is actively preparing its spot crypto launch after seeing strong client demand. A company spokesperson said the firm views direct asset ownership as a “strategic opportunity” to broaden its client base beyond traditional CFD trading. The broker expects to tap into existing clients who want crypto exposure without derivatives. See also: World Liberty Financial Launches Forex Platform.

XTB is ramping up technological infrastructure for its 2026 crypto launch. The broker’s Chief Technology Officer noted that many existing CFD clients expressed interest in crypto investments, driving the decision to add spot trading. XTB sees crypto as a natural extension of its multi-asset platform.

The competitive landscape keeps shifting as more brokers enter crypto. CMC Markets outlined plans for decentralized finance products by February 2026, pushing beyond conventional trading models into emerging financial technologies. The move shows how traditional brokers are willing to explore cutting-edge crypto innovations.

Trading volumes and broker interest keep climbing. The $18.6 trillion in spot crypto volume for 2025 represents just the beginning as institutional adoption accelerates and regulatory frameworks solidify across major markets.

Australian regulators have taken a measured approach to crypto regulation compared to other jurisdictions. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission requires crypto exchanges to hold Australian Financial Services licenses, creating a framework that traditional brokers like Pepperstone can navigate more easily than in markets with unclear rules.

Pepperstone’s timing aligns with broader institutional crypto adoption across Australia. Local pension funds and wealth managers are increasingly allocating to digital assets, while the Reserve Bank of Australia continues exploring a central bank digital currency pilot program. Major Australian banks like Commonwealth Bank already offer crypto trading services to retail clients, validating the market opportunity that drove Pepperstone’s expansion decision.