For Belgium traders, the choice between WTI futures and CFDs hinges on margin and regulatory access. Futures contracts require a fixed margin—for example, 1,000 USD per contract on CME—which can be prohibitive for retail accounts. In contrast, CFDs offered by brokers like
Exness or
IC Markets allow margin as low as 200 USD for equivalent exposure, using leverage up to 1:500. Futures also involve expiry dates, requiring rollover management, while CFDs are perpetual and easier for short-term traders. However, futures are exchange-traded with central clearing, reducing counterparty risk, whereas CFDs are OTC and broker-dependent. Belgian retail traders under
FCA/
ASIC regulation often prefer CFDs for lower entry costs and flexible position sizing. For instance, a trader in Brussels with a 5,000 USD account can trade WTI CFDs at 1% margin, but futures would tie up 20% of capital per contract. This makes CFDs more accessible, though futures suit institutional or larger accounts. Always verify margin in USD terms before committing to either instrument.