This Pepperstone review offers a full breakdown of the broker’s regulation, execution infrastructure, asset classes, and account offerings. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Melbourne, Pepperstone is a globally trusted forex and CFD broker with a strong regulatory profile and institutional-grade execution for retail clients. It is renowned for competitive spreads, deep liquidity, and support for advanced trading tools including API and social platforms.

Regulation and Safety

Pepperstone is regulated in multiple tier-1 and tier-2 jurisdictions:

• ASIC (Australia) – License No. 414530
• FCA (UK) – License No. 684312
• CySEC (Cyprus) – License No. 388/20
• DFSA (UAE) – License No. F004356
• BaFin (Germany) via passporting
• SCB (Bahamas) – License No. SIA-F217

Client funds are fully segregated in Tier-1 banks. FCA and CySEC clients are eligible for FSCS and ICF protections respectively. Negative balance protection and regular audits further enhance trust and compliance.

Execution Model and Trading Platforms

Pepperstone operates a true ECN/STP model with no dealing desk intervention. Institutional liquidity is aggregated through advanced pricing engines for tight spreads and fast execution.

Supported platforms include:

• MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Full EA support
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): More instruments and better order control
• cTrader: Optimised for scalping and Level II pricing

API trading is available via FIX and cTrader Open API. VPS hosting is supported via third-party providers like Equinix and BeeksFX.

Markets and Instruments

Pepperstone provides access to over 1,200 instruments across seven asset classes:

• Forex – 60+ currency pairs
• Indices – Global cash and futures CFDs
• Commodities – Gold, oil, natural gas, silver
• Shares – US, UK, EU, and AU equities
• ETFs – 100+ via MT5
• Cryptocurrencies – BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC and others
• Bonds – Government bond CFDs (MT5 only)

Accounts, Spreads and Leverage

Two main account types are available:

• Standard Account: Spreads from 1.0 pip, no commission
• Razor Account: Spreads from 0.0 pips + $3.5 per side commission

Islamic (swap-free) accounts are available upon request. Professional clients (under FCA/ASIC) may access higher leverage upon meeting eligibility.

• Leverage: Up to 1:500 (SCB), 1:30 (FCA/ASIC/CySEC)
• Stop-out level: 50%
• Minimum deposit: $0 recommended $200+

Funding and Base Currencies

Pepperstone supports multiple deposit and withdrawal methods:

• Bank wire transfers
• Visa/Mastercard
• PayPal, Skrill, Neteller
• POLi, BPay, UnionPay (region-specific)

Supported base currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, HKD. Deposits are processed instantly for cards and e-wallets; withdrawals processed within 1 business day.

Client Protections and Features

• Tier-1 regulation and client money segregation
• FSCS and ICF protection schemes (where applicable)
• Negative balance protection on retail accounts
• Two-factor authentication and secure client portal
• Third-party audit and financial transparency

Institutional and Retail Offering

Pepperstone caters to both high-volume retail and institutional traders:

• Retail: ECN pricing, social trading tools (Myfxbook, DupliTrade, TradingView)
• Institutional: FIX API, white-label programs, and volume-based pricing

The broker also supports PAMM/MAM accounts for fund managers and IBs.

Pros

• Tier-1 regulation and strong trust profile
• Ultra-tight spreads with ECN execution
• MT4, MT5, and cTrader platform support
• API access and VPS hosting for advanced traders
• Crypto, ETF, and bond CFDs available

Cons

• No proprietary platform
• Cryptocurrency offering not available under FCA regulation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pepperstone regulated?

Yes, Pepperstone is regulated by ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (UAE), and SCB (Bahamas).

What platforms does Pepperstone support?

Pepperstone supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader on desktop, web, and mobile devices.

What are the account types available?

Clients can choose between Standard (spread only) and Razor (raw spread + commission) accounts.

Is there API trading with Pepperstone?

Yes, Pepperstone offers FIX API access and cTrader Open API for advanced users and institutions.

Does Pepperstone offer negative balance protection?

Yes, all retail accounts are protected with negative balance protection under FCA, ASIC, and CySEC rules.