Brokers With Negative Balance Protection

In the hands of a skilled trader, leverage can reap large profits from modest price movements by increasing the size of their position. The reverse is also true, as losses from a single careless or unlucky leveraged trade can grow to substantial proportions, and without the presence of a safety net can completely wipe a trader out and put them in debt.

Luckily, such a safety net exists for retail traders in the United Kingdom, where the country’s regulatory body, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), requires trading brokers and platforms to offer negative balance protection on certain trades. Ensuring you are covered by this protection, and understanding how it works, are two important concepts for traders to get to grips with when they start trading with leverage.

This guide breaks down the pros and cons of the safety net, alongside a list of the top trading brokers with negative balance protection in 2025.

  • Negative balance protection ensures a trader’s losses do not exceed their account balance
  • Traders who use brokers with negative balance protection are prevented from becoming indebted to their platform
  • FCA-regulated trading brokers are required to offer negative balance protection
  • Negative balance protection generally covers retail but not professional traders

Top Brokers With Negative Balance Protection

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    Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly regarded broker specialising in forex and CFDs. Serving more than 400,000 clients globally, it provides access to over 1,300 financial instruments through popular platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. Its fee structure is both low and transparent. With regulation by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, Pepperstone guarantees a safe trading environment for traders at every level.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
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    Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, Bappebti xStation
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30
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    FXCC, a well-established brokerage since 2010, offers cost-effective online trading. Registered in Nevis and regulated by CySEC, it is distinguished by its ECN conditions and absence of a minimum deposit requirement. The account opening process is efficient, taking under five minutes.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto CySEC MT4, MT5
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:500
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    IC Markets is an internationally acclaimed forex and CFD broker, admired for its competitive pricing, diverse trading instruments, and superior technology. Established in 2007 and based in Australia, the firm is under the regulation of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has successfully drawn over 180,000 clients from more than 200 nations.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $200 0.01 Lots 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
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    Founded in 2006, FxPro has built a reputation as a reliable non-dealing desk (NDD) broker, providing trading access across more than 2,100 markets to over 2 million clients globally. It has received over 100 industry awards, reflecting its favourable conditions for active traders.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Spread Betting FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $100 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
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    Founded in 1974, IG is a part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly listed brokerage (LSE: IGG). The company provides spread betting, CFD, and forex trading, offering access to over 17,000 markets. Its platforms and investing apps are notably user-friendly. Over the past 50 years, IG has consistently been an industry leader, excelling in all essential areas for traders.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
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    eToro, a leading multi-asset platform, provides access to trading services across thousands of CFDs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Established in 2007, it boasts millions of active traders worldwide and is sanctioned by top-tier regulators such as the FCA and CySEC. It stands out for its extensive social trading feature. Crypto investments are unstable and carry risk. Tax implications might apply. Acknowledge the risks involved. 61% of retail CFD accounts incur losses.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $50 $10 1:30

Safety Comparison

Compare how safe the Brokers With Negative Balance Protection are and what features they offer to protect traders.

Safety Comparison
Broker Trust Rating FCA Regulated Negative Balance Protection Guaranteed Stop Loss Segregated Accounts
Pepperstone 4.6
XTB 4.6
FXCC 3.3
IC Markets 4.6
FXPro 4.4
IG Index 4.9
eToro 4.5

Payments Comparison

Compare which popular payment methods the Brokers With Negative Balance Protection support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).

Payments Comparison
Broker GBP Account Debit Card Credit Card Neteller Skrill Apple Pay
Pepperstone
XTB
FXCC
IC Markets
FXPro
IG Index
eToro

Mobile Trading Comparison

How good are the Brokers With Negative Balance Protection at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.

Mobile Trading Comparison
Broker Mobile Apps iOS Rating Android Rating Smart Watch App
Pepperstone iOS & Android 4.4 4.1
XTB iOS & Android 4.7 4.1
FXCC iOS & Android 4.8 4.4
IC Markets iOS & Android 3.1 4.2
FXPro iOS & Android 4.7 4.3
IG Index iOS & Android 4.6 4
eToro iOS & Android 4 3.8

Beginners Comparison

Are the Brokers With Negative Balance Protection good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?

Beginners Comparison
Broker Demo Account Minimum Deposit Minimum Trade Support Rating Education Rating
Pepperstone $0 0.01 Lots 4.6 4
XTB $0 0.01 Lots 4.3 3.8
FXCC $0 0.01 Lots 4.3 2.5
IC Markets $200 0.01 Lots 4.5 3.5
FXPro $100 0.01 Lots 4 4
IG Index $0 0.01 Lots 4.5 5
eToro $50 $10 2.5 4

Advanced Trading Comparison

Do the Brokers With Negative Balance Protection offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?

Advanced Trading Comparison
Broker Automated Trading Pro Account Leverage VPS AI Low Latency Extended Hours
Pepperstone Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
XTB Open API 1:30
FXCC Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader 1:500
IC Markets Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
FXPro Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
IG Index Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
eToro Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. 1:30

Detailed Rating Comparison

Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Brokers With Negative Balance Protection.

Detailed Rating Comparison
Broker Trust Platforms Mobile Assets Fees Accounts Support Research Education
Pepperstone 4.6 4.4 4.3 3.8 4.5 4 4.6 4.3 4
XTB 4.6 4 4.4 4 4.3 4 4.3 4.1 3.8
FXCC 3.3 3.3 4.6 3 4 3.5 4.3 2 2.5
IC Markets 4.6 4 3.7 3.5 4.6 4 4.5 4 3.5
FXPro 4.4 4.3 4.5 4 4 3.8 4 4 4
IG Index 4.9 4.9 4.3 4.5 3.5 4 4.5 4.9 5
eToro 4.5 2.8 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.1 2.5 4.3 4

Our Take On Pepperstone

"Pepperstone is a premier trading platform, providing tight spreads, swift execution, and sophisticated charting tools for seasoned traders. Beginners benefit from no minimum deposit, comprehensive learning materials, and outstanding 24/7 support."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, delivering a streamlined and tax-efficient trading experience with sophisticated analytical tools.
  • Pepperstone presents itself as an economical choice for traders, offering spreads as low as 0.0 in its Razor account. The Active Trader programme provides rebates up to 30% on indices and commodities, plus $3 per lot on forex.
  • Over the years, Pepperstone has consistently garnered recognition from DayTrading.com’s annual awards. Recently, it was honoured as the 'Best Overall Broker' in 2025 and was the 'Best Forex Broker' runner-up the same year.

Cons

  • Pepperstone doesn't offer cTrader Copy, a favoured feature for copying trades found in the cTrader platform, which is available on other platforms such as IC Markets. However, Pepperstone has launched its own user-friendly copy trading app.
  • Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
  • Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.

Our Take On XTB

"XTB emerges as an ideal option for novice traders, offering the impressive xStation platform, zero commission pricing, no required minimum deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are conveniently integrated into the platform."

Pros

  • XTB ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
  • Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
  • XTB has raised its interest rate on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs for UK clients, offering access to 3,000 stocks and 700 ETFs for diverse investment opportunities.

Cons

  • The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.
  • The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
  • XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.

Our Take On FXCC

"FXCC remains a top choice for forex traders, offering over 70 currency pairs, very tight spreads from 0.0 pips in tests, and high leverage up to 1:500 with the ECN XL account."

Pros

  • FXCC has introduced MT5, which in our evaluations, mirrored the trading conditions of MT4 by offering swift execution, improved charting, and market depth tools.
  • The complimentary education section, featuring the 'Traders Corner' blog, provides a wide array of resources suitable for traders of all experience levels.
  • There are no deposit fees other than standard cryptocurrency mining charges, which benefits active traders.

Cons

  • Unaware traders might face steep withdrawal fees, such as a notable $45 for bank transfers.
  • While the MetaTrader suite excels in technical analysis, its outdated design detracts from the overall trading experience, particularly when contrasted with contemporary platforms such as TradingView.
  • The range of research tools, such as Trading Central and Autochartist, is quite limited. Leading platforms in this category, like IG, offer more advanced features.

Our Take On IC Markets

"IC Markets provides excellent pricing, swift execution, and easy deposits. With cutting-edge charting tools like TradingView and the Raw Trader Plus account, it continues to be a preferred option for intermediate and advanced traders."

Pros

  • In 2025, IC Markets earned DayTrading.com's accolade for 'Best MT4/MT5 Broker' due to its top-tier MetaTrader integration. This achievement highlights the broker's continuous refinement over the years to enhance the platform experience.
  • As a well-regulated and reputable broker, IC Markets focuses on client safety and transparency to provide a dependable global trading experience.
  • IC Markets provides reliable 24/5 support, especially for account and funding queries, drawing from direct experience.

Cons

  • Interest is not paid on idle cash, a feature gaining popularity with alternatives such as Interactive Brokers.
  • Although there are four top-tier third-party platforms available, the absence of in-house software or a trading app tailored for novice traders is notable.
  • IC Markets provides metals and cryptocurrencies for trading through CFDs, though the selection is narrower compared to brokers such as eToro. This limits opportunities for traders focused on these asset classes.

Our Take On FXPro

"FxPro is an excellent choice for traders, offering swift execution speeds under 12ms, reduced fees since 2022, and outstanding charting platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and FxPro Edge."

Pros

  • FxPro's Wallet is a notable feature enabling traders to securely manage their funds. It ensures additional protection and ease by separating unused funds from active trading accounts.
  • FxPro uses a 'No Dealing Desk' (NDD) model for swift and transparent order execution, usually within 12 milliseconds, making it well-suited for short-term trading strategies.
  • FxPro provides four dependable charting platforms, including the user-friendly FxPro Edge. It features more than 50 indicators, 7 types of charts, and 15 different timeframes.

Cons

  • There are no passive investment options such as copy trading or interest on cash. While traders might not find these essential, competitors like eToro, which accommodate both active and passive investors, offer more extensive services.
  • FxPro offers customer support five days a week around the clock, accessible via various platforms, and the service quality is reliable based on tests. However, the absence of weekend support can be a drawback for traders requiring help beyond standard market times.
  • FxPro, with its $10M funded demo account and expanding Knowledge Hub, mainly caters to experienced traders. Beginners might find its account and fee structure challenging to understand.

Our Take On IG Index

"IG offers a complete package with an intuitive online platform, top-tier beginner education, advanced charting tools through its TradingView integration, real-time data, and swift execution for seasoned traders."

Pros

  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform remains free, provided traders meet modest monthly activity requirements.
  • The web-based platform supports traders at every level, offering advanced charting tools and real-time market data vital for trading. Additionally, IG now includes TradingView integration.
  • As a seasoned broker, IG adheres to stringent regulatory standards across various regions, ensuring significant trust.

Cons

  • IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
  • IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 after two years, discouraging occasional traders.
  • Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.

Our Take On eToro

"eToro's social trading platform excels with its outstanding user experience and lively community chat, aiding beginners in spotting opportunities. It offers competitive fees on numerous CFDs and real stocks, alongside exceptional rewards for seasoned strategists."

Pros

  • eToro now offers accounts in EUR and GBP, with recent additions of BTC and ETH payment options. This reduces conversion costs and delivers a tailored trading experience.
  • There is an extensive online training academy offering a range of accessible resources, from concise articles to detailed courses.
  • Leading traders participating in the broker's Popular Investor Programme can earn yearly compensation of up to 1.5% of the copied assets.

Cons

  • There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.
  • The absence of extra charting platforms such as MT4 may deter experienced traders who rely on external software.
  • The only significant contact option, besides the in-platform live chat, is limited.

How Negative Balance Protection Works

In trading, leverage allows you to borrow funds and take a position in a trade that exceeds the amount of cash you have deposited. In the UK, the amount of leverage available to retail traders is capped at 1:30, which means that you are able to borrow enough to take a position 30 times larger than the amount of cash you have deposited.

The attraction of this is that it will increase profits from even small price movements, but leverage will work in exactly the same way to magnify losses if a trade turns against you.

ECN brokers with negative balance protection

Example

If you deposit £1,000 cash into your trading account and open a long position with 30x leverage, a 1% price increase, which would ordinarily net you £10, will instead earn you £300. But what if there’s an unexpected and dramatic movement the other way? If the price were to suddenly fall by 10%, you would be down £3,000, losing everything in your account and putting you in £2,000 debt to your broker.

This was precisely the scenario in January 2015, when the Swiss National Bank made the unexpected announcement that it was ending its four-year practice of fixing the price of the Swiss Franc (CHF) at 1.20 to the Euro (EUR). The CHF price suddenly soared by 20% against the euro, taking traders with leveraged short CHF-EUR positions by surprise and leaving a great many of them in debt to their brokers.

Some of the largest online brokers agreed to forgive most of the debt, averting disaster. But the aftermath of the 2015 panic led several leading regulators to implement negative balance protection rules.

The FCA & Negative Balance Protection

The FCA’s permanent negative balance protection regulations, implemented in 2019, cover firms offering contracts for difference (CFD) and similar derivatives, stipulating that retail traders’ losses should not exceed their account balance.

The regulations also state that customers’ positions must be closed out when their funds fall to 50% of the margin they need to maintain an open position on their CFD account – an action that is known as a margin call.

Which brokers offer negative balance protection?

Brokers With Negative Balance Protection

Since UK regulations state that brokers must provide this safeguard as standard for CFD’s and CFD-like products, it may be a sign that something is amiss if you find a broker or trading platform that appears to operate without negative balance protection on leveraged trades. Check for negative balance protection by reading the broker’s terms and conditions or by conducting a search of their help centre. Alternatively, use our list of trading brokers that offer negative balance protection.

Another tell-tale sign of a legitimate brokerage that was introduced in the same 2019 FCA regulation is the requirement for brokers to “provide a standardised risk warning, telling potential customers the percentage of the firm’s retail client accounts that make losses.” If the broker makes this warning during your onboarding process or as you set up trades, it is a good sign that it will also offer negative balance protection. However, it is always worth checking to be sure, since even some reputable trading platforms which operate in the UK – Interactive Brokers, for instance – do not offer negative balance protection on margin accounts.

In some rare situations, an asset’s price movement will be so sudden and so extreme that it will bring your balance to negative cash equity in spite of negative balance protection. In these instances, brokers with negative balance protection should absorb the cost and return your balance to zero.

Margin Calls

Many good brokers will send traders a warning when their account balance gets close to a margin call, giving them time to top up their balance if they wish to keep a trade running. This may sometimes work out well for a trader who has the courage to back their convictions – if the price movement reverses, they can recoup some of their losses on a losing trade and may even make a profit.

But it’s important to recognise that not every trade will work out, and for every last-minute winner, you will find a hundred traders who have multiplied their losses by throwing good money after bad.

Other Safeguards for Leveraged Trades

Online brokers with negative balance protection will stop you from being wiped out in a single bad trade, but a wise trader will usually want to have measures in place to prevent such a course of events in any case. Setting stop-loss orders, for example, is an effective way to limit your losses and preserve enough capital for you to fight another day and recoup your money.

Bottom Line on Negative Balance Protection

Whether you plan to trade stocks, forex, commodities or cryptocurrencies, if you’re making leveraged trades with a UK broker you should check you are covered by negative balance protection. The presence of negative balance protection is a sign that your online broker is legitimate, and it will save you from the worst effects of inattention or bad luck in a trade. Retail traders can also add an extra layer of protection to their trades by setting stop loss orders. Finally, investors should be careful not to negate the effect of negative balance protection by wasting money in a fruitless attempt to turn a losing trade around.

Use our list of the best forex and stock brokers with negative balance protection to start trading.

FAQs

Why Use Brokers With Negative Balance Protection?

To put it simply, negative balance protection is a safeguard that protects retail traders from the most extreme effects of an unlucky or careless leveraged trade by preventing the balance of their trading accounts from going below zero.

Will Negative Balance Protection Stop Me From Losing Money?

Negative balance protection is the last line of defence against being liquidated and placed in debt due to a bad trade. However, investing is an inherently risky business. There is no protection from losing money on any investment, and you should not expect any regulator to step in if you put yourself in debt by losing money you don’t have in a series of bad trades.

Do All UK Trading Brokers Offer Negative Balance Protection?

The British financial regulator, the FCA, requires trading brokers to provide negative balance protection on CFDs and similar products and to close out a customer’s position when their balance falls to 50 percent of the amount required to keep a trade open. If you find a UK broker that does not appear to mention these safeguards for leveraged trades, it would be wise to be extra cautious if you sign up and trade on their platform.

Is Every Trade Covered by Negative Balance Protection?

Many regulators, including those in the UK, Australia, Cyprus and Germany, have made rules requiring negative balance protection in some form. However, by their nature these regulations usually apply to leveraged trades, so trading platforms and brokers which offer different services may not be required to offer this protection. At the same time, some companies that offer leveraged trades do not offer negative balance protection.

Which Broker’s Negative Balance Protection Is Most Reliable?

Since negative balance protection is FCA-regulated, all brokers should follow the same rules when applying it. However, some may provide clients with related services, such as sending them mobile alerts when their balance falls to a level close to a margin call. Pepperstone and CMC Markets are two particularly popular trading brokerages that provide negative balance protection.