Which broker is better for China traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Chinese offshore traders face a choice between two reputable international brokers: Dukascopy (score 3.3/5) and Exness (score 4.8/5). Both accept clients from China and support trading in major forex, indices, commodities, and crypto. However, their offerings differ significantly for traders based in the mainland. Dukascopy is a Swiss bank-backed broker known for its transparency and ECN execution, but its higher minimum deposit ($100) and less flexible payment methods can be a hurdle. Exness, on the other hand, has become a favorite among Chinese traders due to its ultra-low spreads, high leverage (up to unlimited for certain accounts), and seamless USDT deposits. Given the strict capital controls in China, using stablecoins like USDT via TRC-20 or ERC-20 is a practical workaround. Exness excels in this area with multiple stablecoin options and faster withdrawal processing. For offshore traders seeking international exposure without high costs, Exness is the superior choice.
| Instrument | Dukascopy | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 | Tie |
For Chinese traders, trading costs are a critical factor. Exness offers raw spread accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD and low commissions (e.g., $3.5 per lot round turn). For higher volume traders, Exness’s zero-cost model on certain instruments is unbeatable. Dukascopy’s spreads start at 0.2 pips but come with a fixed commission of $9 per lot (round turn) on standard accounts. The difference becomes obvious when trading 100+ lots per month: Exness saves Chinese traders hundreds of dollars. Additionally, Exness’s spread on USD/CNH (offshore Yuan) is tighter, making it attractive for traders hedging CNY exposure.
| Account Type | Dukascopy | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | Dukascopy | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| China (offshore) | Up to 1:100 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:100 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | Dukascopy | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Dukascopy |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Dukascopy |
| Crypto CFDs | ✗ | 20+ | Dukascopy |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Dukascopy | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MT4 and MT5, which are popular in China. Dukascopy also provides its proprietary JForex platform with advanced charting and custom indicators, but it has a steeper learning curve. Exness supports WebTerminal and mobile apps that work smoothly with Chinese networks (no major VPN required). For Chinese traders using automated trading (EA), Exness’s MT5 compatibility is more reliable. Dukascopy’s JForex is Java-based and may face performance issues on some Chinese devices. Exness also offers copy trading features via its social trading platform, which is useful for less experienced Chinese traders.
| Factor | Dukascopy | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Dukascopy |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Dukascopy uses an ECN/STP model with direct market access, offering low latency execution from its Swiss data center. Exness uses a combination of STP and market maker, but with servers in London, New York, and Hong Kong. For Chinese traders, Exness’s Hong Kong server (HK GMT8) provides the lowest latency. Exness also reports 0.01% requote rate vs Dukascopy’s 0.05%. In volatile sessions, Exness executes faster for Chinese traders.
| Safety Factor | Dukascopy | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FINMA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither Dukascopy nor Exness is regulated by the CSRC (China Securities Regulatory Commission), meaning they operate as offshore brokers. Dukascopy is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), providing a high level of client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Exness is regulated by multiple bodies including the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles), which gives it broader recognition. For Chinese traders, none of these regulators protect them directly. However, Exness’s regular audits and transparent financial reporting (published monthly) offer more trust. Both brokers accept Chinese clients, but traders should be aware of the risks of using unregulated (by CSRC) brokers.
| Payment Method | Dukascopy | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Internal transfers/wire/crypto no broker fee; standard bank transfer times apply | crypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days |
Chinese traders can fund both Dukascopy and Exness using USDT (Tether) and international Bank Transfer (SWIFT). Exness goes further by supporting USDT via TRC-20 (low fees ~$0.10) and many other stablecoins like USDC and DAI. Deposits are instant with USDT, while bank transfers can take 2-5 business days. Withdrawals at Exness are processed within minutes for USDT; Dukascopy takes up to 1 business day for USDT. Minimum deposit: Exness – $10 in USDT, Dukascopy – $100 in USDT. For Bank Transfer, both brokers require a minimum of $500-$1000. Exness also offers a local bank transfer option through third-party payment processors, which can be more convenient for Chinese traders, though fees apply. Overall, Exness’s lower minimums and faster crypto withdrawals are a clear advantage.
| Islamic Account Feature | Dukascopy | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✗ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For Chinese Muslim traders, both brokers offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts. Dukascopy provides swap-free status upon request for accounts with a balance below $100,000, but it charges administrative fees after 30 days on some instruments. Exness’s Islamic accounts are more flexible: no time restrictions, no extra fees, and available on most account types including Standard and Raw Spread. Chinese Muslim traders should choose Exness for a truly swap-free experience without hidden costs. Dukascopy’s policy is more restrictive and may not suit long-term holding strategies.
| Support Feature | Dukascopy | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Dukascopy |
Exness offers 24/7 live chat and phone support in Mandarin Chinese, with quick response times (under 30 seconds). Dukascopy also provides Chinese language support but only during Swiss business hours (15:00–23:00 Beijing time). For Chinese traders operating across different time zones, Exness’s round-the-clock support is more practical. Additionally, Exness has a dedicated Chinese CRM portal, while Dukascopy’s interface is English-heavy.
| Mobile Feature | Dukascopy | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Dukascopy |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Dukascopy |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Dukascopy | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | Dukascopy |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Dukascopy |
Choose Dukascopy if you...
Choose Exness if you...
For Chinese offshore traders, Exness is the clear winner with a score of 4.8/5 vs Dukascopy’s 3.3/5. Exness provides lower trading costs, better USDT deposit support, faster withdrawals, and dedicated Chinese-language customer service. Dukascopy’s Swiss regulation and ECN model appeal only to traders with large capital and institutional needs. Given that most Chinese traders seek cost-efficiency and ease of funding via stablecoins, Exness aligns perfectly with local requirements. While neither broker is CSRC-regulated, Exness’s higher transparency and client volume make it a safer choice for most. We recommend Exness for Chinese traders trading forex, indices, or crypto.