Trading volume vs commission payouts for Deriv partners

Trading volume and commission payouts operate under two entirely separate mechanics. While network trading volume measures how active your referred clients are, your actual commission payout dictates what you earn in real capital. These two data points do not move in lockstep—and identifying why they diverge is the single most important step to executing an accurate Deriv partner earnings forecast.

This guide clarifies how commissions are processed, why asset composition matters far more than raw volume, and how to use this framework to refine your referral acquisition strategies.

Quick summary

• High trading volume does not automatically yield high commission payouts due to asset-specific pricing models.
• Partner earnings are calculated via a standard units traded formula, not a flat percentage of overall volume.
• Deep leverage amplifies exposure (or notional value) and this is reflected in your partner dashboard
• Base commission rates varies widely across underlying asset classes; high-volume assets often carry low per-unit yields.
• To generate an accurate Deriv partner earnings forecast, track volume segmented by asset class and specific unit rates, rather than viewing aggregate volume alone.

What parameters define the Deriv partner commission structure?

To understand how your referral network generates cash flow, you must isolate the core parameters within the Deriv affiliate commission structure.

• Trading Volume (Notional Value): The total monetary value of all trades executed by your referred clients. This figure is calculated using the full position size of the trade, including any leverage applied. For example, if a referred client opens a 1-lot position on an asset worth $100,000 USD, it adds $100,000 USD to your network's trading volume, regardless of how much capital the client actually deposited.
• Leverage: A trading facility that permits clients to control large market positions using a small upfront cash deposit. Utilising 1:100 leverage means a $1,000 USD client deposit controls a $100,000 USD market position. Leverage is the primary mechanism that causes your dashboard's notional volume to appear disproportionately large relative to your clients' net deposits.
• Commission: This is calculated by deriving the total commission generated across your entire network. At the granular level, it's made out of the commissions generated at the deal level per side of the operation.
• Commission Rate: The fixed payout value Deriv awards per standard unit ($100,000 USD) traded. This rate varies according to the specific instrument. For example, Step Index features a fixed rate of $0.25 USD per side of the operation ($0.5 round-trip), whereas assets like Volatility 10 and Boom 500 feature substantially higher payouts per unit.
• Asset Composition: The percentage split of different trading instruments across your referred client base. This allocation is the primary driver behind the gap when comparing trading volume vs commission payouts.

How partner commission is calculated on Deriv

Deriv uses a per-$100,000 traded volume formula to calculate turnover commissions. Partner commissions are based on the actual notional value of all executed trades generated by referred clients, including both opening and closing deals.

How it works

1. Calculate the notional value of each deal Deal Volume = Lot Size × Contract Size × Execution Price
2. Sum the notional value of all executed deals Total Traded Volume = Sum of all Deal Volumes This includes opening trades, closing trades, partial closes, and multiple positions.
3. Convert traded volume into commission units Commission Units = Total Traded Volume ÷ $100,000
4. Apply the asset-specific commission rate Partner Commission = Commission Units × Asset Commission Rate

Formula summary

• Total Traded Volume = Sum of all executed deal notionals (opening and closing trades)
• Commission Units = Total Traded Volume ÷ $100,000
• Partner Commission = Commission Units × Asset Commission Rate

Practical example

Suppose your referred clients generate $44,000,000 USD in total traded volume during a specific tracking period.

Commission Units = $44,000,000 ÷ $100,000 = 440

If the asset commission rate is $0.25 per $100,000 traded: Partner Commission = 440 × $0.25 = $110.00

Why asset mix matters

Different assets have different commission rates. For the same $44,000,000 in traded volume:

• If all volume is on an asset paying $0.25 per $100,000 traded, the payout is $110.
• If the same volume is on an asset paying $2.50 per $100,000 traded, the payout is $1,100.

This is why total trading volume alone is not sufficient for forecasting commission earnings — the distribution of volume across assets is equally important.

Key takeaway

Partner Commission = (Total Traded Volume ÷ $100,000) × Asset Commission Rate

Total commission earnings depend on the total traded volume generated by referred clients and the commission rate assigned to the assets traded.

Remember, commissions are subject to eligibility criteria, approval and verification processes, potential processing delays, and may be adjusted or clawed back under the partner program terms. Individual earnings vary and are not guaranteed. See our partnership programmes terms for full conditions.

How does asset composition affect partner commission earnings?

Trading volume measures client activity, whereas commission measures the financial value generated by that activity. Because each asset carries a different commission rate, identical trading volumes can produce very different earnings outcomes.

Consider an affiliate network where 94% of all trading volume is concentrated in Step Index. Because Step Index carries a low commission calculation rate ($0.25 per $100,000 traded volume), it contributes a remarkably small share of your total cash earnings despite driving almost all dashboard activity.

Volatility and Boom indices typically carry higher commission rates per $100,000 traded volume. As a result, even a relatively small share of total volume can generate a disproportionate share of total commission earnings.

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Figures are illustrative only.

Relying solely on trading volume when forecasting partner earnings can be misleading. Different assets are assigned different commission rates, meaning that two networks generating the same trading volume may produce different commission outcomes depending on the composition of that volume.

How does leverage affect traded volume?

Leverage increases the notional value of a trade relative to the client's invested capital. As a result, higher leverage can increase the traded volume recorded on a partner dashboard even when the amount of capital committed by the client remains unchanged.

Because partner commissions are calculated from traded volume, leverage can influence the volume generated by a referral network.

For example:

• Client A opens a $10,000 notional position using lower leverage.
• Client B opens a $100,000 notional position using higher leverage.

Although both clients may have deposited similar amounts, Client B generates a larger traded volume because the position's notional value is greater.

Trading volume vs commission payouts: direct structural comparison

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Trading volume and partner commission are related but represent different concepts. While trading volume measures the notional value of client trading activity, commission earnings are determined by both the volume generated and the commission rates applicable to the assets traded.

FAQs

Why does my dashboard show a large trading volume figure but a relatively small commission payout? 

Trading volume and commission payouts are calculated using separate parameters. Trading volume reflects the total notional value of client trades, which can be increased by leverage even when the client's actual capital commitment is small. Your commission payout is determined by dividing that notional value by $100,000 to calculate commission units, then multiplying by the asset-specific commission rate. Because commission rates vary significantly across assets, high volume concentrated in low-rate instruments can yield a modest payout.

How is partner commission calculated on Deriv? 

Deriv uses a per-$100,000 traded volume formula. The notional value of all executed deals — including opening trades, closing trades, partial closes, and multiple positions — is summed to produce Total Traded Volume. That figure is divided by $100,000 to produce Commission Units, which are then multiplied by the asset-specific commission rate: Partner Commission = (Total Traded Volume ÷ $100,000) × Asset Commission Rate.

Why does asset composition matter for forecasting commission earnings? 

Different assets carry different commission rates. Two referral networks generating identical trading volume can produce very different commission outcomes depending on which assets were traded. For example, the same $44,000,000 in traded volume yields $110 at a rate of $0.25 per $100,000, but $1,100 at a rate of $2.50 per $100,000. Tracking volume by asset class, rather than in aggregate, is necessary for an accurate earnings forecast.

Does leverage affect my partner commission? 

Leverage increases the notional value of a trade relative to the client's invested capital. Because partner commissions are calculated from traded volume, leverage can influence the volume generated by a referral network. A client opening a $100,000 notional position generates more traded volume than a client opening a $10,000 notional position, even if both deposited a similar amount of capital.

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