This Saxo Capital Markets review covers the broker’s global regulatory presence, platform technology, asset coverage, and client protections. Saxo Capital Markets is the international trading arm of Denmark-based Saxo Bank A/S, offering access to over 70,000 financial instruments through institutional-grade platforms for retail and professional traders worldwide.

Regulation and Safety

Saxo Capital Markets operates under the regulatory frameworks of several top-tier jurisdictions. Its global entities include:

• UK: Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd, FCA License No. 551422
• Australia: Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Ltd, ASIC License No. 280372
• Singapore: Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd, MAS-regulated
• Other regions: FSA (Japan), SFC (Hong Kong), FINMA (Switzerland), DFSA (UAE)

Client funds are held in segregated accounts with Tier-1 banks. Eligible clients are covered by the FSCS (UK), Danish Guarantee Fund, or AFCA (Australia), depending on jurisdiction. Strong internal risk controls, 2FA, audit trails, and encryption protocols are standard.

Execution Model and Trading Platforms

Saxo Capital Markets offers Straight Through Processing (STP) with deep liquidity from Tier-1 banks and ECNs. It does not act as a market maker on client trades.

Supported platforms include:

• SaxoTraderGO: Web and mobile trading with multi-asset capability
• SaxoTraderPRO: Advanced desktop platform with DMA, algo orders, and level 2 data

API access and FIX protocol are available to professional and institutional traders. MT4 and MT5 are not supported.

Markets and Instruments

With Saxo Capital Markets, traders can access more than 70,000 financial instruments:

• Forex – 180+ currency pairs
• Stocks – 19,000+ global shares across 50+ exchanges
• Indices – Major and emerging market benchmarks via CFDs or futures
• ETFs – Thousands from providers like iShares, Vanguard, and SPDR
• Options – US, EU, and APAC exchange-traded options
• Futures – Commodities, indices, FX, and rates
• Commodities – Oil, gold, silver, softs, and energies
• Cryptocurrency – Via ETNs and futures (no spot crypto)
• Bonds – Government and corporate bonds with live pricing

Accounts, Spreads and Leverage

Saxo Capital Markets operates a tiered account structure:

• Classic: $2,000 minimum deposit, standard pricing
• Platinum: $200,000+ deposit, up to 30% better spreads
• VIP: $1 million+ deposit, dedicated manager, custom pricing

Typical conditions include:

• EUR/USD spreads from 0.6 pips (Classic) or 0.4 pips (VIP)
• Commission-free trading for most CFDs
• Equity commissions vary by market (e.g., US stocks from $3)
• Leverage up to 1:30 (EU/UK) and up to 1:100 (offshore clients)
• Margin stop-out level: 50%

Funding and Base Currencies

Saxo Capital Markets supports funding in 20+ base currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, SGD, and HKD. Methods include:

• Domestic and international bank wire transfers
• Local bank networks (e.g., FAST in Singapore, BPay in Australia)

Card payments and e-wallets are not supported. Deposit times range from instant (local) to 1–2 days (international). Withdrawals are processed to verified bank accounts only.

Client Protections and Features

Saxo Capital Markets incorporates institutional-grade safety features:

• Segregated client accounts in Tier-1 banks
• Regulatory oversight in multiple Tier-1 jurisdictions
• 2FA authentication and secure socket encryption
• Negative balance protection (retail clients, select regions)
• Regular financial audits and transaction transparency

Institutional and Retail Offering

Saxo serves both retail and institutional traders:

• Retail – Advanced trading tools, SaxoTraderGO, risk analytics
• Institutional – White-label brokerage, FIX API, liquidity access
• Asset managers and hedge funds supported via Saxo Institutional

Saxo Capital Markets provides trade allocation, reporting tools, and portfolio margining for high-volume traders and B2B clients.

Pros

• Multi-licensed by top-tier global regulators
• 70,000+ instruments across all asset classes
• Professional-grade platforms with direct market access
• Strong client protection and segregated accounts
• Institutional features like FIX API and white-label solutions

Cons

• High minimum deposit for Platinum/VIP tiers
• No support for MT4 or MT5
• No crypto spot trading
• Limited funding options (no cards or e-wallets)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saxo Capital Markets regulated?

Yes, Saxo Capital Markets is regulated by the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), and other top-tier regulators.

Does Saxo support MetaTrader?

No, Saxo Capital Markets offers only its proprietary platforms: SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO.

What is the minimum deposit for Saxo?

The minimum deposit is $2,000 for a Classic account. Higher tiers require larger balances.

Can I trade cryptocurrencies with Saxo Capital Markets?

You can gain exposure to crypto via regulated futures and ETPs, but Saxo does not offer spot crypto trading.

Does Saxo offer services for institutions?

Yes, Saxo offers white-label, FIX API, and brokerage infrastructure for institutional clients, family offices, and asset managers.