Deriv Volatility Indices are proprietary synthetic markets designed to simulate continuous price movement at predefined volatility levels.
Unlike traditional stocks, currencies, or commodities, they are not directly driven by company earnings, central-bank decisions, or geopolitical news. Deriv states that its Synthetic Indices are generated by a cryptographically secure random number generator and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This guide explains names such as Volatility 10, 50, and 100, why a higher number does not mean “better,” the risks involved, and how these markets relate to Orby strategies.
What are Volatility Indices?
They are Deriv proprietary derived indices designed around predefined volatility levels.
Deriv currently lists a range of levels, and its catalogue can change. In 2026, for example, new API symbols included Volatility 15 (1s), 30 (1s), and 90 (1s).
Always verify the current instruments available to your account and strategy.
What does the number mean?
The number represents the index’s designed volatility level.
Broadly:
- lower-numbered indices are designed for relatively smoother movement;
- higher-numbered indices are designed for stronger movement.
That does not mean higher numbers produce better profits or that lower numbers are automatically safe.
Volatility describes movement intensity, not opportunity quality.
What is volatility?
Volatility describes how much and how quickly a price moves.
Higher volatility can mean larger or faster changes. Lower volatility generally implies more moderate changes.
More movement creates more variation in possible outcomes in both directions.
Are they Synthetic Indices?
Yes. Volatility Indices belong to Deriv’s Synthetic/Derived Indices family.
Other synthetic families include products such as Crash/Boom and Step Indices.
For the foundation, read what Deriv is and how it works.
Are they affected by news?
Deriv states that Synthetic Indices are not directly affected by real-world news, conventional market hours, or macroeconomic events in the same way as traditional markets.
That does not make them easy to predict.
No news exposure does not mean no risk.
Can you trade them 24/7?
Deriv makes Synthetic Indices available around the clock, including weekends and public holidays.
However, constant availability does not mean users need to trade constantly.
More screen time is not automatically a better strategy.
What are “1s” indices?
Some instruments include 1-second tick variants.
This relates to how frequently the instrument updates.
Faster data can change strategy behaviour, so users should understand both the market and their settings.
Do not choose an instrument simply because it appears faster.
Is Volatility 10 safer than Volatility 100?
That comparison is too simple to be reliable.
Volatility 10 is designed around a lower volatility level than Volatility 100, but total trade risk also depends on:
- contract type;
- stake;
- duration;
- strategy;
- configuration;
- risk management.
Why do automated strategies use these markets?
Synthetic markets provide continuous price data and broad availability, making them relevant to several automated approaches.
Orby strategies can support different volatility markets depending on their logic.
Changing the underlying index may change the behaviour you observe.
Which Volatility Indices does Orby support?
Not all of them. Availability depends on the strategy.
Today, several Orby strategies work with 10 Volatility Indices: Volatility 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100, in standard and 1s versions. That includes Technical Analysis and Higher/Lower. Others use a smaller set — Accumulator, for example, trades the five standard indices.
The list can evolve, so check each strategy’s screen for the available assets before configuring it.
Which index should I choose?
There is no universal best index.
Consider:
- strategy logic;
- volatility level;
- update frequency;
- available parameters;
- risk;
- Demo or Real environment;
- how well you understand the behaviour.
Read how to choose an Orby strategy.
Is Demo useful?
Yes. Demo can help you observe different market rhythms and settings without real financial risk during those trades.
See Deriv Demo vs Real.
Does fixed volatility make the price predictable?
No.
The term refers to the designed statistical volatility level, not a predictable path of prices.
Strategies can still experience both positive and negative periods.
Can technical indicators be used?
Indicators can analyse price data, but no indicator guarantees correct predictions.
Moving averages, RSI, MACD, and Bollinger Bands can all appear in technical-analysis approaches depending on the strategy.
Key risks to understand
Treating volatility as guaranteed opportunity
Larger movement can also mean faster or larger losses depending on the contract.
Trading only because the market is open
24/7 means availability, not recommended frequency.
Choosing based on the index name
A higher number is not automatically a better opportunity.
Ignoring settings
Market choice is only one part of the risk profile.
Frequently asked questions
What are Deriv Volatility Indices?
Proprietary synthetic indices designed to simulate continuous price movement at predefined volatility levels.
Are they open on weekends?
Yes. Deriv states that Synthetic Indices are available 24/7.
Is Volatility 100 better than Volatility 10?
No. They represent different volatility levels, not a quality ranking.
Are they affected by economic news?
Deriv states that Synthetic Indices are not directly driven by real-world news in the way traditional markets are.
Can I practise in Demo?
Yes, subject to platform and instrument availability.
Are they predictable?
No. Defined volatility does not mean a predictable price path.
Understand the instrument before the strategy
Before selecting a bot or changing settings, learn the environment it trades in.
Volatility Indices have distinctive characteristics, including 24/7 availability, multiple volatility levels, and synthetically generated prices. That context makes strategy behaviour easier to interpret.