IC Markets EU High Leverage: How EU Traders Get 1:500
Last updated: February 2026
EU traders visiting IC Markets are automatically redirected to IC Markets EU — capped at 1:30 leverage under ESMA rules. The solution is IC Trading (ictrading.com): the same IC Markets infrastructure, same raw spreads from 0.0 pips, same platforms — but regulated by FSC Mauritius, offering up to 1:500 leverage to EU clients. And you still qualify for the TradersPartner $100 bonus.
Opens IC Trading — 1:500 leverage · $100 bonus via TradersPartner
Why EU Traders Can't Access IC Markets Global (1:500)
IC Markets operates under three separate regulatory entities. When you visit icmarkets.com from an EU country, the website detects your location and automatically redirects you to IC Markets EU (icmarkets.eu) — regulated by CySEC (Cyprus) under license 362/18. This is not optional: EU residents cannot bypass this redirect to open an IC Markets Global account.
IC Markets EU is subject to ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) regulations, which cap retail client leverage at:
| Instrument | IC Markets EU (CySEC) | IC Trading (FSC) |
|---|---|---|
| Major forex pairs | 1:30 | 1:500 |
| Minor forex pairs | 1:20 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:10 – 1:20 | 1:200 |
| Commodities (gold) | 1:20 | 1:100 |
| Shares (CFDs) | 1:5 | 1:20 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 | 1:2 |
These ESMA caps apply to every CySEC-regulated broker — it is not specific to IC Markets. No EU-regulated broker can legally offer retail clients more than 1:30 on major forex. If a broker advertises higher leverage to EU clients under EU regulation, that is a red flag.
IC Trading: The High-Leverage Solution for EU Traders
IC Trading (ictrading.com) is a separate legal entity — Raw Trading Ltd — regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (FSC, license GB21026834). It is part of the same group as IC Markets and shares the same core trading infrastructure, but is not bound by ESMA restrictions.
EU residents can legally open an IC Trading account. IC Trading accepts clients from European countries and does not apply geo-blocking like IC Markets Global does. The FSC is not an EU regulator, so ESMA leverage caps do not apply.
What's Identical Between IC Markets and IC Trading
- ✓Same 25+ liquidity providers — institutional-grade pricing from Tier-1 banks
- ✓Same Equinix NY4 data center — average execution under 40ms
- ✓Same platforms — MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader
- ✓Same raw spreads — from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD on Raw Spread accounts
- ✓Same account types — Standard, Raw Spread (MT4/MT5), Raw Spread (cTrader)
- ✓Same minimum deposit — $200
- ✓Same deposit methods — bank wire, Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, crypto
- ✓Same client fund segregation — Westpac and National Australia Bank (NAB)
- ✓Same TradersPartner IB offer — $100 bonus or commission discount
Key Differences to Be Aware Of
- ⚠Regulation: FSC Mauritius (Tier-2) vs CySEC (Tier-1 EU). Lower regulatory oversight than IC Markets EU.
- ⚠No guaranteed negative balance protection (IC Markets EU provides this under CySEC rules).
- ⚠No EU investor compensation fund (ICF). CySEC-regulated accounts have coverage up to €20,000.
- ⚠Margin stop-out at 50% — same as IC Markets Global, but no NBP guarantee.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money due to leverage. The majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Open an IC Trading account only if you understand these risks and can afford potential losses.
How to Open an IC Trading Account as an EU Resident (Step by Step)
Use the TradersPartner IC Trading referral link
Click the "Open IC Trading Account (EU)" button on this page. This ensures TradersPartner's IB ID (camp 78920) is attached to your registration, so you qualify for the $100 bonus or commission discount from the start.
Complete the IC Trading registration
Fill in your personal details, country of residence, and trading experience. IC Trading accepts EU country residents. The registration form is on ictrading.com — a separate website from icmarkets.com.
Verify your identity (KYC)
Upload a government-issued ID and proof of address. IC Trading typically completes verification within 24 hours. Standard AML/KYC requirements apply.
Fund your account (minimum $200)
Deposit via bank wire, Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, or cryptocurrency. Most electronic deposits are instant. Choose your preferred account currency (USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, CAD, SGD, NZD, HKD, JPY available).
Set your leverage to up to 1:500
Once your account is active, log in to the IC Trading client area and set your leverage. You can choose any level from 1:1 to 1:500 on major forex pairs. You can change this at any time.
Contact TradersPartner to claim your bonus
After trading 50 lots, contact TradersPartner via Facebook or the contact form to claim your $100 cash bonus (paid via PayPal). Or choose the commission discount (save up to $1.50/lot) — activated within 24 hours.
IC Markets EU vs IC Trading vs IC Markets Global — Full Comparison
| Feature | IC Markets EU | IC Trading | IC Markets Global |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website | icmarkets.eu | ictrading.com | icmarkets.com/global |
| Regulator | CySEC (Cyprus) | FSC (Mauritius) | ASIC + FSA (Seychelles) |
| Max forex leverage | 1:30 | 1:500 | 1:500 (up to 1:1000) |
| EU residents accepted | ✓ (auto-redirected) | ✓ (manual signup) | ✗ (geo-blocked) |
| Negative balance protection | ✓ (mandatory) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Investor compensation fund | ✓ Up to €20,000 | ✗ | ✗ |
| Raw spreads from | 0.0 pips | 0.0 pips | 0.0 pips |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5, cTrader | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Min. deposit | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| TradersPartner bonus | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Is IC Trading Right for You?
IC Trading is best suited for EU-based traders who specifically need higher leverage than ESMA restrictions allow, and who are experienced enough to manage the additional risk that comes with that. It is the only legitimate way for EU residents to access 1:500 leverage within the IC Markets group ecosystem.
If regulatory protections like negative balance protection and the EU investor compensation fund are important to you, IC Markets EU (icmarkets.eu) remains the better choice despite its 1:30 leverage cap. The CySEC regulatory framework provides meaningfully stronger client protections.
If you are a scalper, day trader, or algorithmic trader who requires higher leverage to execute your strategy — and you understand the risks involved — IC Trading gives you the same institutional-grade execution and tight spreads as IC Markets, without the ESMA leverage restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can EU residents open an IC Markets Global account for 1:500 leverage?▼
No. IC Markets automatically redirects EU-based visitors to IC Markets EU (icmarkets.eu), which is regulated by CySEC and limited to 1:30 leverage under ESMA rules. EU residents cannot open a new IC Markets Global account. The solution is IC Trading (ictrading.com) — a separate entity under the same Raw Trading Ltd group, regulated by FSC Mauritius, which accepts EU clients and offers up to 1:500 leverage.
Is IC Trading the same as IC Markets?▼
IC Trading is a separate legal entity (Raw Trading Ltd, regulated by FSC Mauritius) but uses the same liquidity infrastructure as IC Markets — the same 25+ liquidity providers, same Equinix NY4 data center, same MT4/MT5/cTrader platforms, and same raw spreads from 0.0 pips. The key difference is regulation: IC Trading is not bound by ESMA leverage restrictions, so EU clients can access up to 1:500 leverage.
Is IC Trading safe for EU clients?▼
IC Trading is regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (FSC, license GB21026834) and client funds are held in segregated accounts at Westpac and National Australia Bank (NAB) — the same top-tier banks used by IC Markets. The FSC is a Tier-2 regulator, meaning it does not offer the EU investor compensation schemes available under CySEC. This is a trade-off EU traders must evaluate: more leverage and flexibility versus the reduced regulatory protections of a Tier-1 CySEC-regulated entity.
What leverage does IC Trading offer EU clients?▼
IC Trading offers up to 1:500 leverage on major forex pairs, 1:200 on indices, 1:100 on commodities, and 1:2 on cryptocurrencies. This is the same leverage structure as IC Markets Global, and dramatically higher than the 1:30 cap on major forex pairs imposed by ESMA on EU-regulated brokers.
Can I get the TradersPartner $100 bonus through IC Trading?▼
Yes. TradersPartner is an official Introducing Broker for both IC Markets and IC Trading. If you sign up through our EU referral link (camp ID 78920), you qualify for either the $100 cash bonus (paid via PayPal after trading 50 lots) or the permanent commission discount (save up to $1.50/lot). The same offer applies regardless of whether you open via IC Markets EU or IC Trading.
What is the minimum deposit for IC Trading?▼
The minimum deposit is $200 for all IC Trading account types — identical to IC Markets. Accepted payment methods include bank wire, Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC).
Does IC Trading have negative balance protection?▼
IC Trading does not offer negative balance protection as a guaranteed feature, unlike IC Markets EU which provides it under CySEC requirements. The margin stop-out level is 50% — when your equity falls to 50% of used margin, positions are automatically closed. EU clients considering IC Trading should be aware of this difference and trade with appropriate risk management.
How do I switch from IC Markets EU to IC Trading?▼
You cannot transfer an existing IC Markets EU account to IC Trading — they are separate entities. You need to open a new IC Trading account. Use TradersPartner's EU referral link to ensure our IB ID (camp 78920) is attached, so you qualify for the $100 bonus or commission discount from day one. You can continue operating both accounts simultaneously if you choose.
Open IC Trading — 1:500 Leverage for EU Traders
Same IC Markets infrastructure. Raw spreads from 0.0 pips. Up to 1:500 leverage. $100 bonus via TradersPartner (paid via PayPal after 50 lots) or permanent commission discount.
Global (IC Markets): ASIC regulated, up to 1:500 leverage · EU (IC Trading): CySEC regulated, up to 1:30 leverage