¿Qué es sintéticos?

Sintéticos, en trading, son instrumentos financieros cuyo precio no proviene directamente de un mercado o activo subyacente tradicional, sino de una fórmula, un algoritmo o un generador de números. No representan la compra de una acción, divisa o materia prima, sino una exposición artificial a un movimiento de precio.

¿Qué son los índices sintéticos en trading?

Los índices sintéticos en trading son instrumentos derivados que simulan el comportamiento de un índice financiero, pero sin depender de las cotizaciones de una bolsa real. En plataformas como Deriv, se generan mediante un algoritmo con parámetros de volatilidad y frecuencia de ticks definidos por el proveedor. Esto permite operarlos en horarios continuos, pero también implica que su precio no reacciona a noticias económicas ni a resultados empresariales.

¿Qué es índices sintéticos?

Índices sintéticos es la forma abreviada de referirse a los índices sintéticos de un broker o plataforma. No debe confundirse con índices bursátiles reales como el S&P 500 o el IBEX 35. Mientras que un índice real agrupa acciones con precios de mercado, un índice sintético se construye mediante reglas matemáticas y puede replicar condiciones de volatilidad alta o baja, subidas o caídas rápidas, sin un subyacente negociable.

¿Cómo operar índices?

Para operar índices, primero abre una cuenta con un broker que ofrezca el instrumento y verifica su regulador y entidad legal. Después, familiarízate con el catálogo en una cuenta demo, comprueba el apalancamiento y el tamaño mínimo de contrato, y define tu riesgo máximo por operación. Finalmente, deposita solo el capital que estés dispuesto a exponer y opera en horarios y condiciones que conozcas. No existe una forma única: depende del broker, del índice concreto y de tu gestión de riesgo.

¿Qué mueve los índices sintéticos?

A diferencia de los índices bursátiles, los índices sintéticos no se mueven por noticias, resultados de empresas o flujos de oferta y demanda entre compradores y vendedores. Los mueve el motor de precios del proveedor, que utiliza un generador de números aleatorios criptográficamente seguro y parámetros predefinidos de volatilidad, velocidad de ticks y dirección. Por eso el análisis fundamental clásico no sirve para predecirlos; solo puedes gestionar tu exposición y entender las reglas del instrumento antes de operar.

Home › Brokers for synthetics › Deriv synthetic indices

Deriv synthetic indices: an honest and verifiable guide

By Luis Sanches y Milton Bertillo, mentors at SHEFA Trading Academy · Updated on 27 October 2026 · Reading time: 7 min

Deriv's synthetic indices are derivative financial instruments whose price is generated by an algorithm, not by the supply and demand of a real underlying asset. To trade them, the first thing is not to choose a trading name, but to verify the legal entity, the regulator and the actual catalogue offered to you. Here are the verification steps and warning signs, without opinions or promises.

How to verify an entity (without opinions)

Before opening an account with any synthetic indices broker, separate the brand from the legal backing. The same trading name may operate through different entities depending on your country, and each entity may have a different regulator. Verifying this is not optional: it determines who you claim against if something goes wrong.

Which regulator and which entity you deal with

Look for the name of the legal entity that will appear in the contract or in the terms of use. Do not rely on the logo or the website domain. Check on the broker's official website, usually in the footer or in the legal documents, which company will open your account and under which regulator it operates.

Deriv, for example, operates through several entities depending on the region. Some are regulated by authorities such as the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission, the Labuan Financial Services Authority or the Malta Financial Services Authority. Other entities operate under more flexible regulatory frameworks. This is neither good nor bad in itself: it is a fact you should know before depositing.

Also check whether the regulator allows trading in leveraged derivatives, whether it offers protection for retail clients and whether the broker is registered as an investment services provider or only as a currency exchange. Do not assume that being registered is the same as being supervised.

If you need a broader comparison, see our page on synthetic brokers or the comparison Deriv vs Weltrade to see differences between entities and regulators.

Actual synthetic catalogue

A synthetic indices broker does not necessarily offer all the indices that are promoted. Ask for the current catalogue before funding the account. In the case of Deriv, synthetic indices are instruments created by the platform itself, with names such as Volatility 10, Volatility 75, Volatility 100, Boom and Crash, among others. Each one has different volatility parameters, tick frequency and candle duration.

It is not enough to see a list on a marketing page. Check that those instruments are available in the account you will be assigned. Some catalogues vary depending on the legal entity or the client category. A new synthetic indices broker may show screenshots of a platform that then does not match what you can trade.

Costs and execution

Ask for the instrument specification sheet: spread, commission, trading hours, minimum contract size, applicable leverage and slippage policy. Do not rely on the spread advertised under ideal conditions; ask how it behaves during periods of high volatility.

Execution in synthetic indices does not depend on a centralised market, but on the provider's pricing engine. That is why it is important to check whether the platform lets you view the tick history, whether prices are consistent between demo and live accounts, and whether there are frequent pauses or requotes. Opaque execution is not compensated for by a low spread.

What changes depending on the country

Jurisdiction matters more than the broker's name. A synthetic indices broker in Argentina may offer different conditions from one in Costa Rica, not only because of local regulation, but because of the legal entity it assigns to you. In some countries, access to Deriv's synthetic instruments is available through entities with international regulation; in others, the local entity does not offer the same catalogue.

Before opening an account, verify whether the broker can legally operate in your country. Do not trust a banner that says “we accept clients from Argentina” or “synthetic indices broker Costa Rica”. That is not an authorisation. Check on the broker's regulator's website whether your country is among those permitted or whether restrictions exist.

If you look for information by combining terms such as “indices sinteticos trading que son qxbrokercolombia” or “broker de Argentina synthetic indices”, bear in mind that many searches mix brands, countries and different questions. The answer is not in the broker's name, but in verifying the entity and the regulator for your jurisdiction.

Account, deposit and withdrawal: what to check

The account is not a minor formality: it is the contract that defines your rights. Before sending money, review these four points.

Aspect	What to check	Why it matters
Account	Account type, associated legal entity, base currency	Defines which instruments you can trade and who you can claim against
Leverage	Maximum level per instrument and per client category	High leverage magnifies losses and gains; it is not free
Minimum deposit	Actual minimum amount, not the promotional amount	Some brokers advertise a minimum that does not apply to your country or payment method
Withdrawal	Timeframes, fees, identity verification, available methods	How easy it is to withdraw is just as important as how easy it is to deposit

There is no universal minimum deposit or standard leverage. They depend on the legal entity, the account type and your profile. If a salesperson gives you a figure, ask them for the document where it appears. Rather than memorising numbers, memorise this principle: if a condition is not in writing, it does not exist.

To see the sign-up process with Deriv, see our guide on how to open an account with Deriv. If you are comparing brokers, also see Weltrade vs Deriv so that you do not decide solely on the minimum deposit.

Warning signs and what to do

These are objective signs, not opinions about a specific broker. If one appears, stop and verify before depositing.

The legal entity or the regulator does not appear on the website.
The regulator's name does not match that of the entity that will deal with you.
The synthetic indices catalogue changes depending on the page you visit.
They pressure you to deposit using untraceable methods or ask you to send cryptocurrencies to a personal account.
The withdrawal is delayed without documented explanation or requires an additional deposit to “unlock it”.
They offer terms that are not published in any official document.
The broker does not appear in the public register of the regulator it claims to be registered with.

What to do: save screenshots, do not send more money, open a written support ticket and, if they do not respond, contact the regulator corresponding to the legal entity that opened the account for you. If you have already deposited and cannot withdraw, document every communication.

Do not fall into the trap of believing that a new synthetic indices broker is automatically bad, or that a well-known one is automatically safe. The only way to verify it is with documents and public registers, not with the reputation of a name.

Frequently asked questions

What are synthetics?

Synthetics, in trading, are financial instruments whose price does not come directly from a traditional market or underlying asset, but from a formula, an algorithm or a number generator. They do not represent the purchase of a share, currency or commodity, but an artificial exposure to a price movement.

What are synthetic indices in trading?

Synthetic indices in trading are derivative instruments that simulate the behaviour of a financial index, but without depending on the prices quoted on a real exchange. On platforms such as Deriv, they are generated by an algorithm with volatility parameters and tick frequency defined by the provider. This allows them to be traded during continuous hours, but it also means that their price does not react to economic news or company results.

What are synthetic indices?

Synthetic indices is the abbreviated way of referring to the synthetic indices of a broker or platform. It should not be confused with real stock market indices such as the S&P 500 or the IBEX 35. Whereas a real index groups shares with market prices, a synthetic index is built using mathematical rules and can replicate conditions of high or low volatility, rapid rises or falls, without a tradable underlying.

How to trade indices?

To trade indices, first open an account with a broker that offers the instrument and check its regulator and legal entity. Then familiarise yourself with the catalogue in a demo account, check leverage and minimum contract size, and define your maximum risk per trade. Finally, deposit only capital you are willing to expose and trade at times and under conditions you know. There is no single way: it depends on the broker, the specific index and your risk management.

What moves synthetic indices?

Unlike stock indices, synthetic indices are not moved by news, company results or supply and demand flows between buyers and sellers. They are moved by the provider's pricing engine, which uses a cryptographically secure random number generator and predefined parameters for volatility, tick speed and direction. That is why classic fundamental analysis cannot be used to predict them; you can only manage your exposure and understand the instrument's rules before trading.

Choosing a broker with data, not opinions

We do not publish rankings or affiliate links: we teach you to check the entity, costs and catalogue before depositing.

Guides to choosing a broker →

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Risk warning. Synthetic indices and CFDs are leveraged products with high risk of loss; most retail accounts lose money. Educational content, not financial advice.