When you search for a list of all currency pairs, you’re looking at the combinations of currencies available for trading in the foreign exchange market. A currency pair always consists of two currencies: a base currency and a quote currency, and its value shows how much of the quote currency is needed to purchase one unit of the base currency. Over time thousands of combinations have existed, but for practical trading purposes they are grouped into major pairs, minor (or cross) pairs, and exotic pairs.
Key Takeaways
- Currency pairs come in three main types: major, minor (cross), and exotic. Each behaves differently in terms of liquidity, spread, and volatility.
- Major pairs like EUR/USD and USD/JPY are the most traded and offer the tightest spreads and highest liquidity.
- Minor pairs exclude the U.S. dollar and include combinations like EUR/GBP or AUD/JPY, offering moderate liquidity.
- Exotic pairs include currencies from emerging markets (e.g., USD/TRY) and come with higher risk and wider spreads.
- The full list of currency pairs is large, but most traders stick to a smaller, curated list based on strategy and risk appetite.
- Brokers determine which pairs are available to you, and conditions can vary widely, so always review their offerings.
- Using a personalized “working list” of currency pairs is better for focus, consistency, and performance.
- Not all pairs on the list are equally tradable; evaluate each for spread cost, market hours, and volatility before trading.
List of All Currency Pairs
Major Currency Pairs
| Currency Pair | Nickname / Type | Brief Description |
| EUR/USD | Euro Dollar (Major) | Most traded pair globally. Represents the eurozone vs. the US economy. |
| USD/JPY | Dollar Yen (Major) | Highly liquid; reflects USD vs. Japan’s economy. Safe haven behavior. |
| GBP/USD | Cable (Major) | Represents UK vs. US; sensitive to Brexit and interest rate policy. |
| USD/CHF | Swissy (Major) | Reflects USD vs. Swiss franc; often a hedge in risk-off markets. |
| AUD/USD | Aussie (Major) | Tied to commodities and China trade; risk-sensitive. |
| USD/CAD | Loonie (Major) | Reflects oil-sensitive Canadian economy vs. USD. |
| NZD/USD | Kiwi (Major) | Smaller economy, influenced by agriculture and RBNZ policy. |
Major Currency Pairs
| Currency Pair | Nickname / Type | Brief Description |
| EUR/GBP | Euro Sterling (Minor) | Shows eurozone vs. UK strength; popular among EU traders. |
| EUR/CHF | Euro Swissy (Minor) | Eurozone vs. Swiss economy; low volatility pair. |
| EUR/JPY | Euro Yen (Minor) | Combines eurozone and Japanese market strength. |
| GBP/JPY | Beast/Dragon (Minor) | Known for high volatility and aggressive moves. |
| CHF/JPY | Swissy Yen (Minor) | Risk-off pair; less volatile cross. |
| AUD/JPY | Aussie Yen (Minor) | Risk sentiment indicator; tied to Asian markets. |
| AUD/NZD | Aussie Kiwi (Minor) | Reflects economic ties and divergence between Australia and New Zealand. |
| CAD/JPY | Loonie Yen (Minor) | Oil-driven pair influenced by both CAD and risk trends. |
| NZD/JPY | Kiwi Yen (Minor) | Another risk-sensitive cross. Less liquid than majors. |
Exotic Currency Pairs
| Currency Pair | Region | Brief Description |
| USD/SGD | Asia (Exotic) | US dollar vs. Singapore dollar; tightly managed by MAS. |
| USD/HKD | Asia (Exotic) | Pegged range pair between USD and the Hong Kong dollar. |
| USD/SEK | Europe (Exotic) | Swedish krona vs. USD; tied to EU and Nordic economic strength. |
| USD/NOK | Europe (Exotic) | Norwegian krone; oil-sensitive and seasonal trends. |
| USD/DKK | Europe (Exotic) | USD vs. Danish krone: less liquid, stable economy. |
| USD/TRY | Middle East (Exotic) | The Turkish lira is highly volatile, influenced by politics and inflation. |
| USD/ZAR | Africa (Exotic) | South African rand: high volatility, sensitive to mining exports. |
| USD/MXN | Latin America (Exotic) | Mexican peso: liquidity rising, NAFTA-sensitive. |
| USD/THB | Asia (Exotic) | Thai baht, affected by tourism and Asian market risk. |
| USD/INR | Asia (Exotic) | Indian rupee; not freely traded but watched globally. |
| USD/RUB | Eurasia (Exotic) | Russian ruble; impacted by oil, sanctions, and geopolitics. |
| USD/CNY | Asia (Exotic) | Chinese yuan; highly managed by PBOC, huge global influence. |
Common Currency Pairs by Category
| Category | Example Pairs | Key Characteristics |
| Major Pairs | EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF | High liquidity, tight spreads |
| Minor (Cross) Pairs | EUR/GBP, EUR/AUD, GBP/JPY, AUD/JPY | No USD involvement, moderate liquidity |
| Exotic Pairs | USD/TRY, EUR/THB, USD/ZAR | Low liquidity, wide spreads, higher risk |
How Many Currency Pairs Are There?
Technically, the number of possible currency pairs is a lot. If there are dozens of currencies, the combinations run into hundreds. However, in active trading markets, the most commonly quoted and traded pairs number in the dozens rather than hundreds.
For example, many brokers mention offering “over 68 major and minor currency pairs” for trading. The practical list that a trader uses is a subset of what is theoretically possible.
How to Use a List of Currency Pairs in Your Trading
Having access to a full list helps you in several key ways.
- First, you can compare liquidity and spreads across pairs: for day trading, you might stay with major pairs; for diversification, you may explore crosses and maybe exotic pairs when your risk tolerance allows.
- Secondly, you use the list to recognize how economic events or central bank actions may affect one pair but not another. A list reminds you of all the possible pairings so you can scan across them for opportunity.
- Thirdly, by being aware of exotic or less common pairs, you avoid surprises, such as illiquid spread widening, unexpected gaps, or major overnight moves.
Risks and Considerations When Using Exotic or Unusual Pairs
While a broad list gives access, it also introduces risk. Exotic pairs may look attractive due to high volatility, but their low liquidity means your entry and exit costs may be significantly higher.
Spread blows out, slippage occurs, and the market may behave erratically. Additionally, time zones, overnight swaps, and political risk may influence exotic currencies more than majors.
As a result, what looks like a wide list of currency pairs may contain some that are inappropriate for your account size or risk profile. Choosing from the list wisely matters.
How to Maintain Your Own Working List of Currency Pairs
For practical trading, it’s wise to curate your own working list of pairs you understand well. From the larger list of all currency pairs, select a handful of majors that offer volume and reliability, perhaps a couple of cross‑pairs for diversification, and if you are advanced, one or two exotic pairs with strong rationale.
Regularly review your list and remove pairs that show erratic behaviour, high spread costs or don’t suit your strategy. By focusing rather than spreading yourself thin across the full list of all currency pairs, you trade more effectively.
Final Thoughts: List of All Currency Pairs
The phrase list of all currency pairs is broad and theoretically vast, but for traders it makes sense to segment the list into majors, minors and exotics; focus on conditions like liquidity and spread, and align pair‑selection with strategy and risk appetite.
Whether you’re trading EUR/USD, exploring EUR/JPY, or venturing into USD/TRY, the list gives you options, but using it wisely is key.
As part of a well‑rounded trading environment, a broker like Defcofx can provide access to a broad list of currency pairs with transparent conditions, which supports your ability to explore this list effectively.
Open a Live Trading AccountFAQs
Are all currency pairs available for trading?
No. While dozens of currencies exist globally, only certain pairs are actively traded with sufficient liquidity. Brokers list only those pairs that meet their criteria for tradability, volume and regulation.
Does the list include cryptocurrencies or exotic assets?
Generally no. The list of currency pairs traditionally refers to fiat currency combinations (e.g., USD, EUR, JPY). Crypto pairs or tokens are separate asset classes and not usually included in standard forex “currency pairs” lists.
Why are some pairs called “majors” and others “exotics”?
Majors involve the U.S. dollar and other large economies—these dominate the market volume and have tight spreads. Exotics involve one major currency and one smaller or emerging economy’s currency, and they tend to have lower liquidity and wider spreads.
How many currency pairs should I trade from the list?
Quality beats quantity. Many successful traders focus on a handful of pairs (e.g., 2–5) from the list that they understand well rather than trying to cover the entire list of all currency pairs.
Can I trade less common pairs from the list for more profit?
Potentially, yes, but it comes at a cost. Less common pairs may have higher volatility (which can mean opportunity) but also higher spreads, less liquidity, and more risk of slippage or gap. Evaluate carefully.
How often does the list of all currency pairs change?
It changes slowly but steadily. New currencies may be introduced, pegs or currency reforms may happen, and brokers may add or remove pairs based on demand or regulation. Staying current ensures your list remains relevant.
How does the list of currency pairs affect trading strategy?
Your strategy should take into account pair behaviour some pairs are stable, some volatile, and some correlate with commodities or economic regions. The list helps you choose pairs suitable for your risk profile and timeframe.
What role does my broker play in the list of currency pairs?
Your broker defines which pairs from the overall potential list you can trade, sets the spread and liquidity conditions, and sometimes limits access to certain exotic pairs. Always check your broker’s list and trading terms before you trade.
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