Offshore forex deposit methods fall into four broad groups: domestic bank transfer, credit or debit card, online wallets (bitwallet, Peska and others) and cryptocurrency (USDT and others). Which methods are available, what the fee is and when the money is credited all differ by broker, and even within one broker the minimum amount and crediting time change by method.
This article first sets out the general tendencies of the four groups, then tabulates the fees, minimum amounts and crediting times confirmed on the official sites and official help centers for HFM, Axi, DecodeFX and AXIORY, all listed on this site. It also explains that the deposit method you choose decides your later withdrawal route (the principle of withdrawing by the same method as the deposit). Figures that could not be confirmed are marked as to be checked with the broker, and no estimated figures are given.
Four groups of offshore forex deposit methods: general characteristics compared
Looking at the options on brokers' official deposit pages, offshore forex deposit methods fall into four groups: domestic bank transfer, card, online wallet and cryptocurrency. The table below summarises general tendencies; actual fees and crediting times change with the broker, the time and how busy things are. Always check the figures on each broker's official deposit page.
| Method | Crediting time tendency | Fee tendency | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic bank transfer | Often instant to about 1 business day | Usually free on the broker side, but your own bank's transfer fee generally applies | Some brokers specify details such as the account number in the remitter name. The name must match the registered name |
| Credit or debit card | Often instant to a few minutes | Often free on the broker side, but the card company's treatment differs | Some brokers do not support it. Withdrawals generally go back to the card first |
| Online wallet (bitwallet, Peska and others) | Often instant to a few minutes | Often free on the broker side, but wallet fees and wallet verification are separate | The wallet must be registered in advance. Some brokers require the registered email address to match |
| Cryptocurrency (USDT and others) | A few minutes, or longer when the blockchain is congested | Often free on the broker side, but network fees are at your own expense | A wrong network or address can lose your funds. Buying and sending from an exchange is a separate procedure |
※ The table above shows general tendencies, not the conditions of any specific broker. Supported methods, minimums, maximums and fees differ by broker, so check the official deposit page and your client area before opening an account.
Even when a broker says deposits have no fee, you may still pay the sending bank's fee, wallet deposit and withdrawal fees, cryptocurrency network fees and currency conversion (exchange rate) costs. When comparing, look at the broker's fee and the other costs separately, and it is easier to see how much actually leaves your pocket.
Deposit methods, minimums and fees at listed brokers (officially verified)
Among the offshore forex brokers listed on this site, the tables below cover those whose minimum amount, fee and crediting time by deposit method could be confirmed on the official site or official help center. The source and verification date are given alongside. Brokers or items that do not appear are limited to what could be confirmed officially and do not mean the method is unsupported.
| Method | Minimum deposit | Maximum deposit | Crediting time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | 1,000 yen | 1,100,000 yen | Within 10 minutes | Free |
| Credit or debit card (JCB) | 750 yen | 3,000,000 yen | Within 10 minutes | Free |
| Credit or debit card (VISA) | 750 yen | 500,000 yen | Instant | Free |
| Cryptocurrency (HFM's official term is crypto assets) | 30 USD | 10,000 USD | Instant | Free |
| EXONE | 1,000 yen | 1,000,000 yen | Within 10 minutes | Free |
| bitwallet | 1,000 yen | 5,000,000 yen | Within 10 minutes | Free |
| BINANCE PAY | 20 USD | 30,000 USD | Instant | Free |
※ HFM states officially that no fee is charged for deposits. Costs on the sending bank, card company or wallet side are separate.
| Method | Fee and minimum | Crediting time |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic bank transfer (JPY) | 3%, equivalent of 100 USD | About 1 business day at most |
| International bank transfer (AUD, USD, SGD, GBP, EUR, JPY) | 0% (the financial institution's transfer fee is separate), 100 USD | About 2 to 5 business days |
| USDT (TRC20, ERC20, BEP20) | 0%, 100 USD | A few minutes, or after approval |
| Peska (USD, JPY) | 0%, 100 USD | Instant to 3 minutes |
| bitwallet (JPY, USD) | 0%, 10,000 yen or 100 USD | Instant to 3 minutes |
※ DecodeFX does not offer card deposits (they are not on the list on its official deposit methods page). Peska and bitwallet must be registered in advance with the same email address as the one registered with DecodeFX.
| Broker | Deposit methods and minimums | Crediting time and fees | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axi (Standard account) | No benchmark for the first deposit amount. Minimums by method are 30 USD for cryptocurrency, 5 USD for Neteller and 10 USD for Skrill and PayPal. Peska and Global Money Transfer are shown in the client portal | E-wallets and internet banking transfers are instant, and cryptocurrency takes 0 to 15 minutes. Axi charges no deposit fee within the monthly limit | Official help center (verified on 26 September 2026) and information provided by an Axi representative (10 September 2026) |
| AXIORY | Domestic bank transfer from 1,100 yen, card (credit or debit) from 5,000 yen, Walletory from 1,000 yen | Deposit fees are free. NETELLER and Skrill are not available to residents of Japan | Official deposit and withdrawal page (verified on 19 September 2026) |
※ Axi does not offer credit or debit card deposits to customers in Japan. AXIORY's withdrawal fee is stated as free for 20,000 yen or more and 1,000 yen for less than 20,000 yen.
For XS, XMTrading, Exness, Monaxa, Vantage Trading and INFINOX, this article has not been able to tabulate the minimum amount and crediting time by deposit method. The methods, minimums and currencies shown change with account type, region of residence and timing, so check each broker's client area (My Page) and official help center.
Offshore forex minimum deposit comparison: minimums and account types by broker →
Features by method: which deposit method suits whom
Domestic bank transfer: familiar, but crediting and fees depend on the broker
You can transfer from the bank you normally use, so the procedure is easy to follow. On the other hand, some brokers do not credit instantly, and fees differ between brokers. DecodeFX officially states a 3% fee for domestic bank transfer only, whereas HFM's bank transfer and AXIORY's domestic bank transfer have no deposit fee. Even for the same domestic bank transfer, the broker-side fee differs, and that is the point of comparison.
Credit or debit card: check which brokers support it first
Card deposits were confirmed at HFM (JCB and VISA) and AXIORY, but Axi does not offer them to customers in Japan. Cards are not listed on DecodeFX's official deposit methods page either. Because support differs by broker, if you want to use a card as your main deposit method you need to check before opening an account whether you are eligible. With card deposits, the return to the original card may come first at withdrawal, so check the withdrawal route as well (see below).
Online wallets (bitwallet, Peska and others): many methods credit quickly
Within what could be confirmed, HFM's bitwallet is stated as within 10 minutes, DecodeFX's bitwallet and Peska as instant to 3 minutes, and Axi's e-wallets as instant. However, the steps to fund the wallet, and the wallet's own fees and identity verification, are required separately. Some brokers require the wallet's registered email address to match.
Cryptocurrency: credited quickly, but sending mistakes cannot be reversed
HFM's cryptocurrency (its official term is crypto assets) is stated as instant, and Axi's cryptocurrency as 0 to 15 minutes. DecodeFX's USDT takes a few minutes or until approval. In exchange, sending to the wrong address or network (TRC20, ERC20, BEP20 and so on) can lose your funds, and the official pages also warn that resending or compensation is not possible. Checks such as sending a small test amount before the real transfer, and comparing the beginning and end of the address after pasting it, are essential.
Even within the same broker, the minimum deposit differs by method. At HFM it is 1,000 yen for bank transfer, 750 yen for JCB and VISA and 30 USD for cryptocurrency, and at Axi it is 30 USD for cryptocurrency and 5 USD for Neteller, for example. If you want to start small, check not only the account type's minimum deposit but also the minimum for the method you want to use.
Your deposit method decides your withdrawal route: the principle of withdrawing by the same method
Many offshore forex brokers set a rule that withdrawals are made, as a rule, by the method used for the deposit, so how you choose a deposit method directly affects your withdrawal options. Within what could be confirmed, HFM makes withdrawal by the same payment method as the deposit the rule in its Withdrawal Conditions PDF, and Axi describes Return to Source (returning funds to the original source of the deposit) in its official help center.
| Broker | Withdrawal principle and methods | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HFM | As a rule, the same method as the deposit. Withdrawal methods are bank transfer (up to 2 business days), JCB or VISA (2 to 10 business days depending on the bank), cryptocurrency (within 24 hours) and EXONE, bitwallet or BINANCE PAY (instant). If you deposited by VISA or Mastercard, you withdraw directly to the same card | HFM official withdrawal methods page and Withdrawal Conditions PDF (verified on 26 September 2026) |
| Axi | Return to Source (by the same method as the deposit, to the original source). Withdrawal methods are internet or local banking, e-wallet (Bitwallet) and cryptocurrency. For cryptocurrency, the same method is used up to the amount deposited, and profits are withdrawn by another method | Axi official help center (verified on 26 September 2026) |
| DecodeFX | Withdrawal methods are domestic bank transfer (3% fee, 1 to 2 business days), international bank transfer, USDT (TRC20, ERC20), Peska and bitwallet. They may be restricted depending on the deposit route or verification status | DecodeFX official withdrawal methods page (verified on 18 September 2026) |
| AXIORY | For details of the withdrawal route by deposit method, check with the broker | Official deposit and withdrawal page (withdrawals are free for 20,000 yen or more) |
※ The minimum amount, time and fee for withdrawals are separate conditions from those for deposits. For the finer points of the principle (how profits are handled and exceptions), check each broker's terms and withdrawal page.
For example, if you deposit by card, the return to the original card may come first, and you may then need to withdraw the profit portion by another method (Axi's cryptocurrency works this way). If you decide in advance where the money goes back to and where the profit goes out, you will not be caught out at withdrawal. Matching the name of the source of the deposit with the registered name is also checked for both deposits and withdrawals.
Axi deposits and withdrawals: summary of minimums, crediting times and withdrawal rules →
HFM deposits and withdrawals: fees, minimums and withdrawal times by method →
How to choose an offshore forex deposit method: by purpose
There is no single correct deposit method. The basic approach is to choose by the size of your funds, the payment methods you are used to and how easy withdrawal will be. Based on the facts confirmed by this site, here is a way of thinking by purpose.
- You want to start small: check the minimum for the method you will use (HFM cards from 750 yen, Axi's Neteller from 5 USD, AXIORY's domestic bank transfer from 1,100 yen)
- You want the deposit credited quickly: within what could be confirmed, wallet methods, cryptocurrency and VISA are mostly stated as instant to within 10 minutes, but this changes with congestion and processing conditions
- You want to keep costs down: in addition to the broker's fee (only DecodeFX's domestic bank transfer is 3%), compare the total of transfer fees, wallet fees, network fees and exchange costs
- You want to plan ahead for withdrawal: because of the principle of withdrawing by the same method as the deposit, deposit by the method you want to use for withdrawal
- You want to use cryptocurrency: check the test transfer, the matching of network and address, and the withdrawal fee of the exchange you send from
As a rule, the name of the source of the deposit should match the account's registered name. AXIORY states that the depositor name must match the registered name, DecodeFX that the name on the withdrawal destination must be the same as the registered name, and Axi that it does not process withdrawals to third parties (for HFM, check the terms). Depositing from a family member's account or card may lead to restrictions at withdrawal or even an account freeze. Check each broker's terms for how this is handled.
Causes of and fixes for offshore forex withdrawals that will not go through →
Checkpoints to avoid mistakes when depositing into an offshore forex account
- 01Check supported methods on the official deposit page
Before opening an account, confirm on the official site that the method you want to use is offered to customers in Japan. Some methods, like Axi's card deposits, are not offered to customers in Japan.
- 02Look at the minimum, maximum and fee for each method
Separately from the account type's minimum deposit, each method has its own minimum and maximum. The maximums differ too: HFM's VISA is up to 500,000 yen and JCB up to 3,000,000 yen, for example.
- 03Do not take the stated crediting time at face value, and allow some margin
Even for a method the broker says is instant, it can take a few minutes to appear in the account after processing (the Axi official help center notes this as well). Deposit with time to spare, not right before you enter a trade.
- 04Also check the withdrawal route and minimum withdrawal
The minimum, fee and processing time for withdrawals are separate from those for deposits. Some methods, like DecodeFX's domestic bank transfer, charge 3% on both deposits and withdrawals.
- 05Try a small amount first
To prepare for sending mistakes or a name mismatch, one approach is to deposit a small amount first and check the crediting and withdrawal flow before making the main deposit.
Trading forex and CFDs carries the risk of losses exceeding your investment. The comparison of deposit methods does not show the profitability of trading and is material for understanding deposit and withdrawal conditions. For the status of an individual transaction or the latest terms, what each broker shows in its client area and what its official support says take priority.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What kinds of offshore forex deposit methods are there?
A. There are four broad groups: domestic bank transfer, credit or debit card, online wallets (bitwallet, Peska and others) and cryptocurrency (USDT and others). For example, HFM offers seven methods: bank transfer, JCB, VISA, cryptocurrency (its official term is crypto assets), EXONE, bitwallet and BINANCE PAY (official, verified on 26 September 2026). Supported methods differ by broker.
Q. Are there fees for offshore forex deposits?
A. Broker-side fees are often free, but they differ by broker. HFM states that all seven of its methods have no deposit fee, and AXIORY also states that deposits are free. DecodeFX charges 3% for domestic bank transfer only and 0% for the others. Costs at the sending bank or wallet and cryptocurrency network fees may apply separately.
Q. When is an offshore forex deposit credited?
A. According to the official information, HFM's VISA, cryptocurrency and BINANCE PAY are instant, and bank transfer, JCB, EXONE and bitwallet are within 10 minutes. Axi's e-wallets and internet banking transfers are instant and cryptocurrency takes 0 to 15 minutes, and DecodeFX's domestic bank transfer takes about 1 business day at most. These change with congestion and processing conditions, so treat them as a guide.
Q. Which deposit method is best for offshore forex?
A. There is no method that can be recommended across the board. If you want to start small, the minimum by method matters; if you want quick crediting, the crediting time; and if you are planning ahead for withdrawal, whether you can withdraw by the same method as the deposit. This site does not rank them and lists each broker's verified figures side by side.
Q. Do I have to withdraw by the same method as my offshore forex deposit?
A. Many brokers make withdrawal by the same method as the deposit the rule. HFM makes the same payment method the rule in its Withdrawal Conditions PDF, and Axi describes Return to Source, which returns funds to the original source. How profits and exceptions are handled differs by broker, so check the terms.
Q. Can I deposit into an offshore forex account by credit card?
A. It depends on the broker. Card deposits were confirmed at HFM (JCB and VISA) and AXIORY (minimum 5,000 yen), but Axi does not offer credit or debit card deposits to customers in Japan. Cards are not listed on DecodeFX's official deposit methods page either. Check on the official site before opening an account.
Sources and conditions
- HFM official: deposit methods (Japanese, verified on 26 September 2026) →
- HFM official: withdrawal methods (Japanese, verified on 26 September 2026) →
- HFM official: Withdrawal Conditions (verified on 26 September 2026) →
- Axi official help center: deposit crediting time (verified on 26 September 2026) →
- Axi official help center: deposit fees (verified on 26 September 2026) →
- Axi official help center: cryptocurrency withdrawals (Return to Source, verified on 26 September 2026) →
- DecodeFX official Japanese site: deposit methods (verified on 18 September 2026) →
- DecodeFX official Japanese site: withdrawal methods (verified on 18 September 2026) →
- AXIORY deposit and withdrawal information (official deposit and withdrawal page, verified on 19 September 2026, this site's broker page) →
- Minimum deposit by Axi deposit method (information provided by an Axi representative, 10 September 2026, this site's broker page) →
- Basic items to look at when comparing forex brokers (beginner's guide) →
FX Textbook is an independent information site, not a broker or provider of personal investment advice. Forex and CFDs involve risk. You may lose some or all of your invested capital. No trading result is guaranteed.
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Compare the minimum deposit, account types, spreads and leverage of listed brokers on the same criteria. Make the final check of deposit methods in each broker's official client area.
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