Deriv Leverage & Margin — Limits by Instrument — Kenya
Deriv fixes leverage per instrument, not per account: what you get on forex, gold, crypto, indices and stocks — and what it means for margin.
Open Account →Deriv sets leverage per instrument rather than per account: up to 1:1000 on major forex pairs, 1:800 on gold and Bitcoin, around 1:200 on most stock indices and 1:10 on stocks and ETFs (outside the EU). You cannot dial leverage up or down manually — position size is how you control exposure. Higher leverage cuts required margin but magnifies losses at exactly the same rate as gains. CFDs are complex, leveraged products and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
Leverage on Deriv MT5 (non-EU entities)
- Major and minor forex pairs: up to 1:1000 (0.10% margin); exotic pairs around 1:200
- Gold (XAU/USD) and silver: up to 1:800; platinum and palladium 1:500
- Bitcoin: up to 1:800; most altcoins 1:400 or 1:200
- Stock indices: mostly 1:200; stocks and ETFs: 1:10
- Leverage is fixed at the instrument level and cannot be changed manually — control risk through position size
- Higher leverage lowers required margin but magnifies losses at the same rate as gains
Margin required for 0.01 lots (examples)
| Instrument | Leverage | Approx. margin |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD at 1.1000 | 1:1000 | $1.10 |
| XAU/USD at $2,400 | 1:800 | $3.00 |
| US 500 index | 1:200 | varies with index level |
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum leverage on Deriv?
Can I change my leverage on Deriv?
What margin does 0.01 lots EUR/USD need?
Related Deriv pages
Borrowing against a balance interacts with how that balance arrived — some deposit channels release funds in stages, which changes what is usable as margin. Read the Kenyan regulator's investor education material alongside a definition of leverage and its effect on losses before adjusting anything.