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Leverage & Margin · 2026

IC Markets Leverage & Margin Requirements 2026

Retail leverage caps, professional account leverage, and margin requirements across every instrument IC Markets offers.

ESMA Risk Warning

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Quick Answer

IC Markets leverage: up to 30:1 for EU retail clients (ESMA capped) and up to 500:1 for qualified professional clients. Negative balance protection: yes.

Retail Leverage by Instrument

ESMA-capped leverage limits that apply to retail clients at IC Markets.

InstrumentRetail LeverageMargin
Major FX (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY)30:13.33%
Minor FX (EUR/NZD, GBP/AUD)20:15%
Gold (XAU/USD)20:15%
Major Indices (DAX, S&P 500)20:15%
Minor Indices (IBEX 35)10:110%
Commodities (Oil, Silver)10:110%
Individual Shares5:120%
Cryptocurrencies2:150%

Professional Account Leverage

Up to 500:1 for qualified professionals

Elective professional classification requires meeting at least two of three criteria: 40+ trades per quarter over the previous year, a financial instrument portfolio above EUR 500,000, or at least one year of financial sector employment. Professional status removes ESMA protections including negative balance protection and investor compensation fund coverage. Most retail traders should remain on retail classification despite the leverage trade-off.

Negative Balance Protection

IC Markets guarantees that retail clients cannot lose more than their deposited funds, regardless of market conditions. This protection is mandatory under ESMA rules and was designed to prevent catastrophic losses during extreme gap events like the 2015 Swiss franc shock, when unprotected clients at some brokers ended up owing the broker more money than their accounts contained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What leverage does IC Markets offer?
IC Markets offers maximum leverage of 30:1 for EU retail clients, capped by ESMA rules. Professional clients can access up to 500:1 where they qualify under the MiFID II professional criteria (two of: 40+ trades per quarter, EUR 500,000+ portfolio, one year of financial sector experience).
What is IC Markets's professional leverage?
IC Markets's professional account leverage is up to 500:1. Professional status comes with trade-offs: you lose negative balance protection, investor compensation coverage, and reduced disclosure obligations from the broker. Carefully weigh the benefits against the lost protections before upgrading.
Why is IC Markets's leverage limited to 30:1 for retail?
The 30:1 leverage cap on major forex pairs is an ESMA-mandated rule applied to all EU-regulated brokers including IC Markets. ESMA introduced these limits in 2018 after determining that high leverage was the primary cause of retail CFD losses. The rules are uniform across the EU and cannot be bypassed on retail accounts.
What are IC Markets's margin requirements?
IC Markets follows standard ESMA margin requirements: 3.33% for major forex pairs (30:1), 5% for minor forex and major indices (20:1), 10% for commodities and minor indices (10:1), 20% for individual shares (5:1), and 50% for cryptocurrencies (2:1). Margin requirements are enforced in real time by the trading platform.
Does IC Markets offer negative balance protection?
Yes, IC Markets guarantees negative balance protection for retail clients as required by ESMA. You cannot lose more than your deposited funds regardless of market conditions, even during extreme gap events like the 2015 Swiss franc shock.
Can I increase my leverage at IC Markets?
To access leverage above 30:1 on forex at IC Markets, you must qualify as a professional client. The upgrade process involves submitting trading history (40+ trades per quarter over the past year), proof of a EUR 500,000+ financial portfolio, or documentation of at least one year of financial sector employment. Meeting two of these three criteria unlocks professional classification.

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Regulated leverage, transparent margin requirements, and full ESMA protections for EU retail clients.

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CFD Risk Warning

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This website is for informational purposes only. The content does not constitute investment advice. Trading leveraged products carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. EU retail leverage limits apply (ESMA): up to 30:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on minor FX, 20:1 on major indices, 10:1 on commodities, 5:1 on equities, 2:1 on crypto.