Market IntelligenceRegion: United States

Regulated Brokers for
US Traders.

The US market has some of the strictest financial regulations in the world. We only recommend brokers that are CFTC registered and NFA members for forex, or SEC/FINRA regulated for stocks and options.

A Note on CFDs & Spread Betting

Retail CFD trading and Spread Betting are prohibited for US residents. If a broker offers these services to you from an offshore entity, they are likely not regulated and provide no protection for your funds. We only list US-compliant alternatives.

tastyfx

Overall Forex Trading

Min Deposit

$0

Spreads From

0.0 Pips

Platforms

2

Max Leverage

1:50 (Forex)

Core Strengths

  • 80+ Currency Pairs
  • Competitive Spreads
  • Direct IG Technology

Key Limitation

tastyfx (formerly IG US) is the US branch of the global IG Group.

Supported Software

tastyfx PlatformMT4

OANDA

Beginners & Low Minimums

Min Deposit

$0

Spreads From

0.0 Pips

Platforms

3

Max Leverage

1:50 (Forex)

Core Strengths

  • No Minimum Deposit
  • 68 Forex Pairs
  • Excellent API Support

Key Limitation

OANDA is a veteran in the US forex space, known for its transparency and robust proprietary platform.

Supported Software

OANDA TradeMT4TradingView

FOREX.com

Active Traders & Range of Pairs

Min Deposit

$100

Spreads From

0.0 Pips

Platforms

4

Max Leverage

1:50 (Forex)

Core Strengths

  • 80+ Forex Pairs
  • DMA Accounts
  • Active Trader Rebates

Key Limitation

FOREX.

Supported Software

FOREX.com PlatformMT4MT5TradingView

Interactive Brokers

Professional & Multi-Asset

Min Deposit

$0

Spreads From

0.0 Pips

Platforms

3

Max Leverage

1:50 (Forex)

Core Strengths

  • Lowest Commissions
  • Massive Market Range
  • Advanced Order Types

Key Limitation

IBKR is the choice for serious traders.

Supported Software

TWSIBKR DesktopIBKR Mobile

Charles Schwab

Stocks & Options

Min Deposit

$0

Spreads From

0.0 Pips

Platforms

2

Max Leverage

N/A (Stock Margin Rules)

Core Strengths

  • $0 Commissions
  • World-Class Education
  • thinkorswim Charts

Key Limitation

Following the acquisition of TD Ameritrade, Schwab now offers the legendary thinkorswim platform, making it a powerhouse for US stock and options traders.

Supported Software

thinkorswimSchwab.com

US Market
Realities.

PDT Rule Awareness

Traders with less than $25,000 in a margin account are limited to 3 day trades in a rolling 5-day period for stocks/options. Our curriculum includes strategies to navigate this constraint.

FIFO Compliance

US forex rules require trades to be closed in the order they were opened (First-In, First-Out). Our tools are built to handle these specific accounting requirements.

US Tax (IRS)

Forex trading is typically taxed under Section 988 (ordinary income) or Section 1256 (60/40 capital gains split). The tax treatment of your trades can significantly impact your net edge.