FocusMarkets Review Overview
FocusMarkets is a multi-asset CFD broker founded in 2019 by former executives from Pepperstone and GoMarkets, offering forex, metals, energies, indices, shares, and cryptocurrency CFDs across roughly 800+ instruments. The company is dual-regulated, holding a genuine Tier-1 license from Australia’s ASIC (Focus Markets Pty Ltd, license 514425) alongside an SVG IBC registration (Focus Markets LLC, registration 356 LLC 2020) used for most international clients. Corporate materials also list EightCap as FocusMarkets’ parent company, following the earlier acquisition of Anzo Capital.
The broker headquarters its main support operations in Melbourne, Australia, with additional operational hubs including London, and states a global team of over 300 professionals. Client funds are held in segregated accounts, and for ASIC-regulated clients specifically, funds sit at Tier-1 National Australia Bank (NAB) under Australian Client Money Rules.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 |
| Regulation | Australia ASIC (license 514425) + SVG IBC (356 LLC 2020) |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1,000:1 international / 1:30 ASIC (major forex pairs) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, Web Trader |
| Tradable Instruments | 800+ across forex, metals, energies, indices, shares, crypto |
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Regulation and Company Background
FocusMarkets’ regulatory setup gives it a genuine two-tier structure: clients onboarded through the Australian entity, Focus Markets Pty Ltd (ABN 96 167 517 544, ASIC license 514425, registered at 35th Floor, 525 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000), get access to Tier-1 ASIC oversight, segregated NAB banking, and the tighter leverage caps (1:30 on major forex pairs) that come with that jurisdiction. Most international clients instead fall under the SVG entity, Focus Markets LLC (registered at 1st Floor, First St. Vincent Bank Ltd Building, James Street, Kingstown, VC0100), which carries the higher leverage ceilings but the weaker regulatory protection typical of an offshore IBC registration.
The company’s leadership background is a point worth noting for due diligence: FocusMarkets was founded by former executives from Pepperstone and GoMarkets, two well-established names in the retail forex space, and the broker’s corporate profile lists EightCap as its parent company following the acquisition of Anzo Capital. This lineage gives FocusMarkets more institutional pedigree than a typical newly-founded offshore broker, even though its 2019 founding date still makes it relatively young.
Account Types
FocusMarkets offers two primary account types: the Standard account, using STP execution with commission-free trading and spreads from around 1.0 pips, and the Pro Account, which uses ECN execution with spreads from 0.0 pips and a $3.50-per-side commission ($7.00 round turn). Both require a $100 minimum deposit. Worth noting for anyone researching the broker independently: the Pro Account was previously branded the “Raw Account” until it was renamed in April 2023, so older reviews and forum posts referencing “Raw” are describing the same product under its old name.
| Feature | Standard | Pro (formerly Raw) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads | From 1.0 pips | From 0.0 pips |
| Commission | $0 | $3.50/side ($7.00 round turn) |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1,000:1 | Up to 1,000:1 |
| Stop-Out Level | 50% | 50% |
| Platforms | MT5, cTrader, Web Trader | MT5, cTrader, Web Trader |
Clients can open up to five trading accounts per profile, and demo accounts are available for practice — MT4-style demos run for 30 days while MT5 demos are valid for 90 days.
Trading Conditions by Asset Class
FocusMarkets’ leverage tiers vary meaningfully by asset class rather than applying one blanket figure. Forex pairs and precious metals both go up to 1,000:1 for international clients (dropping to 1:30 and 1:20 respectively under ASIC), crude oil and natural gas also reach 1,000:1, stock indices are capped at 200:1, individual equities at 20:1 (5:1 under ASIC), and cryptocurrencies are split between 100:1 for Bitcoin and Ethereum versus 20:1 for smaller altcoins like Ripple, Litecoin, and Cardano. Accounts with equity exceeding $10,000 may see their leverage adjusted downward to 500:1 as an additional risk control.
| Asset Class | Maximum Leverage |
|---|---|
| Forex Pairs | 1,000:1 |
| Gold & Silver | 1,000:1 |
| Crude Oil | 1,000:1 |
| Stock Indices | 200:1 |
| Equities (Shares) | 20:1 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 100:1 (BTC/ETH), 20:1 (altcoins) |
The instrument range itself is genuinely broad for a broker of this size: over 50 forex pairs, 650+ individual stocks across the NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, Deutsche Börse, and ASX, and over 140 crypto derivatives spanning major coins and trending altcoins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin. Crypto CFDs trade 24/7, independent of traditional market hours.
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A Note on Islamic Accounts
Anyone specifically needing swap-free trading for religious compliance should check this carefully before signing up: FocusMarkets’ structured trading-conditions data indicates Islamic account support is available, but the broker’s own separately published pros-and-cons summary explicitly states it does not currently offer a swap-free option. This is a direct contradiction within the broker’s own materials rather than something resolvable by reading further into either source, so confirming Islamic account availability directly with FocusMarkets support before relying on it is the safest path.
Trading Platforms
FocusMarkets supports MetaTrader 5 as its primary multi-asset platform, offering 21 timeframes, 38+ technical indicators, an integrated economic calendar, MQL5 Expert Advisor support, and full Depth of Market data. Alongside MT5, the broker also offers cTrader, a modern platform built for speed with over 70 built-in indicators, 26 timeframes, Level II pricing, C#-based algorithmic trading, and integrated social/copy-trading features. A proprietary mobile app and Web Trader round out the platform lineup for browser-based and mobile access, all synchronized in real-time with the desktop platforms. FocusMarkets states connectivity to over 150 liquidity providers across its infrastructure.
| Platform | Available Features |
|---|---|
| MetaTrader 5 | 21 timeframes, EAs, DOM data |
| cTrader | 70+ indicators, C# algo trading, Level II |
| Mobile App | iOS/Android, real-time sync |
| Web Trader | Browser access, no installation |
Deposits, Withdrawals and Fund Safety
FocusMarkets accepts cards (Visa, Mastercard), e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), cryptocurrency (Bitcoin and USDT via ERC20/TRC20), and bank wire transfer, supporting base currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, NZD, JPY, and SGD. The broker maintains a zero-fee internal policy on both deposits and withdrawals, though intermediary banking fees or crypto network charges can still apply outside the broker’s control. Card and e-wallet withdrawals are typically processed within 24 hours, while bank wire withdrawals take 1 to 3 business days, subject to a daily processing cut-off of 12:00 AEST/AEDT. Withdrawals follow a return-to-source policy, and third-party payments (deposits or withdrawals not matching the account holder’s name) are strictly prohibited.
Promotions Overview
Beyond its core trading offering, FocusMarkets runs a welcome deposit bonus, a referral program, and lot-based cashback — though it’s worth flagging that the broker’s own published figures for these promotions aren’t fully consistent. Its main promotional copy describes a 25% welcome bonus capped at $5,000, while a separate account-tier listing describes a 100% bonus capped at $200 instead; similarly, cashback is described both as roughly $3 per lot and, elsewhere, as up to $3.70 per lot. Readers specifically interested in FocusMarkets’ bonus and campaign details should confirm the currently live terms directly with the broker before depositing.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Genuine dual regulation: Tier-1 ASIC alongside an SVG offshore entity | Most international clients are onboarded via the offshore SVG entity rather than the ASIC one |
| Founded by former Pepperstone/GoMarkets executives, with EightCap as parent company | Islamic account availability is contradicted between the broker’s own structured data and pros-and-cons text |
| Broad instrument range (800+) across forex, metals, energies, indices, shares, and crypto | Welcome bonus and cashback figures are inconsistent across the broker’s own published materials |
| Dual platform choice (MT5 and cTrader) plus a low $100 minimum deposit | No MT4 support — traders wedded to that specific platform will need to use MT5 or cTrader instead |
Is FocusMarkets a Good Broker?
FocusMarkets brings a genuinely credible combination of Tier-1 ASIC regulation, an experienced founding team, and a broad multi-asset instrument range spanning forex through crypto, all built on a modern MT5/cTrader platform pairing. Its trading conditions — competitive spreads, high leverage tiers, and a low $100 minimum deposit — are solidly in line with what active retail traders look for. The main areas to approach carefully are the broker’s own inconsistent published figures around its bonus offers, cashback rate, and Islamic account availability, all of which are worth confirming directly with FocusMarkets before committing funds, particularly if you’re being onboarded through the offshore SVG entity rather than the ASIC-regulated one.
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FAQ
- Is FocusMarkets regulated?
- Yes, dual-regulated: Focus Markets Pty Ltd holds Australia’s ASIC license (514425), and Focus Markets LLC is registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines (356 LLC 2020). Most international clients are onboarded via the SVG entity.
- What is FocusMarkets’ minimum deposit?
- $100 on both the Standard and Pro accounts.
- What trading platforms does FocusMarkets support?
- MetaTrader 5, cTrader, a proprietary mobile app, and Web Trader. It does not offer MetaTrader 4.
- What is FocusMarkets’ maximum leverage?
- Up to 1,000:1 for forex, metals, and energies internationally, dropping to ASIC-mandated caps (1:30 on major forex pairs) for Australian-regulated clients. Leverage varies by asset class — crypto and indices carry lower caps.
- Does FocusMarkets offer Islamic swap-free accounts?
- The broker’s structured data indicates support, but its own pros-and-cons summary states it does not currently offer swap-free accounts — a direct contradiction worth confirming directly before relying on it.
- What was the “Raw Account” renamed to?
- The Raw Account was rebranded as the Pro Account in April 2023. It’s the same ECN-style product under a new name.
