Crash 500 Index is a synthetic market generated by a computer algorithm. Most of the time its price drifts slowly upward, and on average about once every 500 ticks it produces a sudden, sharp downward spike. It is available 24 hours a day and is not affected by news.
Crash 500 Index (C500)
Crash 500 Index is a synthetic index that drifts slowly upward and spikes downward about once every 500 ticks on average. It trades 24/7 and is not affected by news.
Crash 500 Index at a Glance
- Full name
- Crash 500 Index
- Short name
- C500
- Type
- Synthetic index (simulated market)
- Spike direction
- Downward
- Average spike frequency
- About 1 spike every 500 ticks (random)
- Price between spikes
- Drifts slowly upward
- Risk level
- High
- Trading hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Affected by news?
- No
- Where offered
- Mainly Deriv. Confirm current availability and specifications.
Specifications are simplified and may change. Confirm current details with your broker.
Risk warning: synthetic indices are simulated, fast-moving and high-risk. You can lose your entire deposit. This page is educational, not advice. See the Risk Disclaimer.
What is Crash 500 Index?
Crash 500 Index is a simulated market. A random-number generator moves the price tick by tick in a slow upward drift, and at random moments inserts a large downward spike. There is no company or economy behind the price and no news to analyse. It is traded as a CFD, and you can buy or sell it.
What does 500 mean in C500?
The 500 is the average number of ticks between spikes: on average, one spike about every 500 ticks. Compared with the other Crash indices, C500 has a middle level of spike frequency.
Remember that “average” is not a schedule. Two spikes can happen close together, or you may wait far longer than 500 ticks. Nobody can predict the next one.
How does C500 move?
Between spikes, C500 moves in small steps that add up to a steady upward drift. Then a sudden, large downward candle appears, and the pattern starts again. On a chart it looks like a long slope with a sharp jump in the opposite direction every so often.
This behaviour is built into the algorithm, so it looks “predictable” to the eye, but the timing of the spikes is random.
Risks of trading C500
- Trading with the drift can produce small gains, but one downward spike can wipe them out and more, especially with big lots or no stop loss.
- Waiting for a spike means paying the cost of the drift for every tick you are in the wrong direction.
- A stop loss may slip when a spike is very fast.
- You can lose your entire deposit quickly.
- Constant availability encourages over-trading and chasing losses.
Is C500 good for beginners?
It is a high-risk product and most beginners lose money on it. If you still want to learn how it works, use a demo account, the smallest lot size, a stop loss on every trade, and risk only 1–2% per trade. Read our 5 risk management rules first.
Compare other Crash indices
Crash 500 Index FAQ
What is Crash 500 Index? +
Crash 500 Index (C500) is a synthetic index that drifts slowly upward and spikes downward about once every 500 ticks on average. It is simulated by an algorithm and trades 24/7.
What does 500 mean in C500? +
It is the average number of ticks between spikes. Spikes are random, so the gap can be shorter or much longer than 500 ticks.
Can I predict the next C500 spike? +
No. The timing is random by design. No indicator can reliably predict it.
Is C500 a real market? +
No. It is a simulated market, unaffected by news or the economy.
Is C500 safe for beginners? +
It is a high-risk product. Beginners should practise on a demo account, use small lot sizes and a stop loss, and only trade with money they can afford to lose.
Practise Before You Risk Real Money
Try Crash 500 Index on a free demo account first, and read our beginner guides.