Dukascopy Bank SA is a Swiss bank and online broker founded on 2 November 2004 by Andre & Veronika Duka, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland 🇨🇭.
Why it matters: Few retail brokers hold a full Swiss banking licence — that means bank-grade oversight, not just a brokerage permit.
★ 3.3 / 5 on Trustpilot from ~800 reviews — a polarised profile of 5★ and 1★ ratings.
Honest take: The complaints cluster around document/KYC friction on payouts — budget time for verification and keep records.
Dukascopy offers a full ladder of live accounts:
Free demo accounts available on every platform.
Regulated as a bank, not merely a broker:
Why it matters: Swiss banking law adds a layer of capital & deposit safeguards most CFD brokers can't match.
The proprietary JForex suite (desktop, web, mobile) is built for serious traders:
Why it matters: Algo and DOM tooling at this depth is rare outside institutional platforms.
Prefer MetaTrader? Dukascopy supports both:
Trade the same account from desktop, browser and phone with synced positions.
Diversify across global markets from one account:
Why it matters: Interbank liquidity means tighter pricing on majors during active hours.
Built-in tools to manage exposure and stay informed:
Demo accounts let beginners practise risk controls before funding.
Bottom line: Best suited to serious, technically-minded traders who value Swiss bank safety and pro tooling over the lowest possible cost.
Dukascopy uses a transparent ECN pricing model with direct interbank liquidity — you pay a tight raw spread plus a commission, rather than an inflated all-in spread.
| Cost item | Dukascopy (JForex/ECN) |
|---|---|
| EUR/USD typical spread | from ~0.1–0.3 pip (raw) |
| Commission | volume-tiered; lower at higher equity/turnover |
| Leverage | up to 1:200 (JForex) · 1:100 (MT4/5) |
| Swaps | standard overnight financing; swap-free option |
| Deposit / withdrawal | bank wire, card, e-wallets; fees vary by method |
| Inactivity | may apply on dormant accounts |
Why it matters: A raw-spread + commission model is usually cheaper than a marked-up spread once your size grows. Confirm the exact commission for your account currency & volume tier in the platform before scaling.
How does Dukascopy compare with two popular alternatives? Side-by-side on what matters:
| Metric | Dukascopy | eToro | IC Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation | FINMA bank, JFSA | FCA, CySEC, ASIC | ASIC, CySEC, FSA |
| Best for | Pro / algo traders | Social / copy trading | Low-cost scalping |
| Flagship platform | JForex + MT4/5 | eToro app | MT4/MT5, cTrader |
| Pricing | ECN raw + commission | spread-based | Raw + commission |
| US clients | No | Yes (limited) | No |
Verdict: Choose Dukascopy for Swiss-bank safety and professional tooling, eToro for social/copy trading simplicity, and IC Markets for ultra-low-cost scalping. Different traders, different fits.
Dukascopy is built for traders who want Swiss bank-grade safety alongside professional-grade tooling. Founded in Geneva in 2004 and regulated by FINMA as a bank and securities firm, it combines deep interbank liquidity, the powerful JForex platform, and MT4/MT5 support across 1,200+ instruments.
It won't be the cheapest option for a tiny account, and US residents aren't accepted — but for serious FX, CFD and algo traders who value regulatory strength and execution quality, it remains one of the most credible names in the industry.
Ultra-low raw spreads; ASIC/CySEC. Pick for low-cost scalping & high volume.
Danish bank, huge product range. Pick for multi-asset investing with bank safety.
FCA-regulated, 17,000+ markets. Pick for breadth & long track record.
Fast execution, MT4/5 & cTrader. Pick for low-cost algo trading.
Dukascopy does not publish a single fixed list, but onboarding is excluded for sanctioned jurisdictions and the following are typically not accepted:
*Eligibility depends on the registering entity (Switzerland vs Latvia). Verify with support before funding. US clients are not accepted.