Open the Quotex asset list on a Saturday and many names carry an OTC label. These assets let you trade when the regular currency and stock markets are closed. The catch is where the price comes from: OTC quotes are supplied by the platform itself, not taken directly from the open market. This guide explains what that means and why it matters for beginners.
What OTC means on Quotex
OTC stands for over the counter. In general finance it means a trade agreed directly between two parties rather than on a public exchange. On Quotex, the OTC label marks assets whose price feed is provided by the platform rather than coming straight from the interbank or exchange market.
An OTC asset usually carries the name of a real market, such as a currency pair, but the chart you trade on is the platform's own quote stream. Our Quotex market view guide shows where the label appears in the asset selector.
When OTC assets appear
OTC assets are most visible when the regular markets are closed: weekends, holidays and outside normal trading hours for that market. That is how the platform stays tradable at times when real currency and stock markets are not moving. Which OTC assets are offered changes over time, so check the asset list rather than relying on a fixed list.
How OTC prices differ from regular market prices
| Regular market asset | OTC asset | |
|---|---|---|
| Price source | Based on the open market | The platform's own quote feed |
| When available | Market hours | Often outside market hours, including weekends |
| Can you check it elsewhere? | Yes, against other charts and news | Not directly |
| Reacts to real news | Yes | Not in a way you can verify |
Payouts on OTC assets can also differ from the same name on the regular market. Our guide to the Quotex payout percentage explains why the figure moves.
Risks and why OTC is not suited to beginners
- You cannot verify the price. On a regular asset you can compare the chart with other sources. On OTC you only have the platform's feed.
- The platform is on the other side of your trade, and it also supplies the price. That is a conflict of interest worth understanding.
- Patterns you learn on OTC charts may not behave the same way on real markets, and the reverse.
- Weekend availability makes it easy to over-trade when you would otherwise take a break.
Concerns about OTC pricing are among the common complaints about this kind of platform. Quotex is not regulated by a major financial authority, so there is no outside body checking how those quotes are produced. Our article asking is Quotex legit covers regulation and complaints in detail.
How to see which assets are OTC on the screen
- Open the asset selector at the top of the chart.
- Look for the OTC label or suffix next to the asset name.
- Check the payout shown next to it, and compare it with the regular version of the same asset if both are listed.
- Add the regular assets you study to favourites so you do not pick the OTC version by mistake.
Practise on demo first
If you want to understand OTC assets, test them on the demo balance and keep them separate in your journal from regular market trades, so you can compare the two honestly. Keep the same fixed expiry for both; the Quotex expiry guide explains how to choose one. Trading carries a high risk of loss, and you should not move to OTC with real money until you understand where its prices come from.