The number of active retail CFD traders stays at 100,000 in Australia.
In 2021, the average Australian trader deposited more than $8,400 into their CFD account.
After a record surge in activity in 2020, the past year has maintained a very high number of Australian retail investors actively seeking to multiply their funds using contracts for difference (CFDs). Finance Magnates Intelligence has analyzed the historical growth in the number of traders, which shows that Australia has one of the highest percentages of investors globally.
More than 100,000 Australians Traded FX/CFDs in 2021
Australia is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of land area but has 'only' 25 million inhabitants. It ranks among the world's largest economies in terms of nominal gross domestic product per capita (ninth) and is one of the best places to live in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI).
It has a strongly developed investment market, with at least 1.4 million retail investors actively involved every year. The number has more than doubled over the last decade and was estimated to be around 650,000 in 2010.
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is among the world's 20 largest by total market capitalization. In December 2021, it amounted to USD 1.9 trillion (in comparison, the world's largest NYSE capitalization was less than USD 28 trillion).
In addition, the buoyant financial market and a large number of retail investors translated into high interest in investing in leveraged derivatives markets, including forex (FX) and contracts for difference (CFDs).
According to the latest Investment Trends report data, more than 100,000 Australians have entered into at least one FX or CFD transaction in 2021.
"On a per-capita basis, this is amongst the largest penetration of CFD/FX in the world. To put things in perspective, the US margin FX market is only twice as big for a population more than an order of magnitude larger," the Investment Trends representative stated.
ASIC Is One of the World's Most Respected Financial Regulators
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is responsible for regulating financial markets in the country, including the retail FX/CFD industry. The institution officially implemented regulations in late 2020 that significantly restricted the sale of CFDs to retail investors, limiting maximum leverage for FX majors to 30:1 and 2:1 for cryptocurrencies.
Australia has one of the best-regulated derivatives markets, and the regulator's license is highly respected and recognized within the industry. In order to operate a legitimate financial business in the country, a company must obtain an AFS license, which is detailed on the regulator's website.
The latest report published by ASIC on the number of licenses issued shows that the institution granted 339 new AFS authorizations in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, receiving 565 registration applications during the same period.
A Large Number of Retail Investors in Australia. An Increase of 40,000 in Four Years
The Investment Trends report published in January 2022 showed that the number of active retail CFD traders stood at 100,000 last year, slipping from the record high of 117,000 reported the year before.
However, this is still a considerable increase compared to previous years. In 2017, 61,000 Australians made at least one transaction in this market; in 2018 and 2019, the figure hovered at around 75,000 to 79,000.
The year of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought above-average market volatility, boosted retail traders' activity, allowing a record number of active investors.
Daniel Lee, Regional Sales Manager for Vantage in Australia
"The
widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 has triggered unrelenting waves
of unforeseen market volatility. This volatility has brought about a new
generation of investors and traders that look to capitalise on both upwards and
downwards price action. Coupling leverage with how quick moving the CFD markets
can be, Vantage has experienced a surge of new clients that have strong
interests with trading forex, gold and indices CFDs," Daniel Lee, the Regional Sales Manager for Vantage in Australia, commented.
"There could be a number of contributing factors to this outcome: relatively high penetration of cash equities investing which is a feeder market, proximity to Asia which tends to be a breeding ground for fintech, a regulatory framework historically more accommodative; but the most direct link is likely the prolific supply side in the form of the many platforms participating in, and contributing to growing, the market," Investment Trends added.
Tightening Leverage Regulations Do Not Bother Australians
In recent years, Australia and the European Union have decided to further limit the leverage that individual traders can use. However, as you can see from the statistics above, the limitation of leverage to a maximum of 30:1 for major FX currency pairs did not scare investors.
According
to Daniel Lee, the Regional Sales Manager for Vantage in Australia, ASIC's
Product Intervention Order "has undoubtedly played an impact on the
Australian landscape for CFD and forex trading."
16% of retail traders have successfully
applied for professional trader status. This is a definite jump from previous
years, including 2020, when a similar status was achieved by 7% of all active
traders.
"Such requests are not
uncommon across the industry, though they are limited to clients who are
qualified for being treated as professional investors. That is, either they
have met the previous experience and knowledge requirements, or they pass the
wealth test, of having a gross income of $250,000 or more per annum in each of
the previous two years and/or net assets of at least $2.5 million," Daniel
Lee added.
Interestingly, FX/CFD traders were also much more willing to look at cryptocurrencies. According to the survey, 33% of them use this asset class or trade cryptocurrencies based on contracts for difference. The youngest representatives of this group have the most bullish attitude and positive sentiment towards bitcoin and altcoins.
The 2021 report notes that 40% of Zoomers and 35% of Millenials believe in the long-term appreciation of digital assets.
Average Trader in Australia Deposits over $8,000 in a Month
According to cPattern data aggregated by Finance Magnates Intelligence, throughout 2021 (data for the period January to October) the average Australian trader deposited more than $8,400 into their FX/CFD account (the median for the same period was almost $7,000). Meanwhile, the average single deposit stood at around $1,220.
Withdrawals of funds during this time were lower, and in 2021 the average for a single month recorded $2852, more than three times the amount of deposits. In contrast, the value of a single withdrawal reached a ceiling of $1450.
Furthermore, statistics of the first deposit (FTD) might be interesting, especially from the broker's point of view. From January to October 2021, the average stood at $1,014 and the median at $643.
Compared to other developed financial markets, these values align with the general trend. However, by comparison, Singapore had much higher numbers for the same period, with an FTD of $1,743.
After a record surge in activity in 2020, the past year has maintained a very high number of Australian retail investors actively seeking to multiply their funds using contracts for difference (CFDs). Finance Magnates Intelligence has analyzed the historical growth in the number of traders, which shows that Australia has one of the highest percentages of investors globally.
More than 100,000 Australians Traded FX/CFDs in 2021
Australia is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of land area but has 'only' 25 million inhabitants. It ranks among the world's largest economies in terms of nominal gross domestic product per capita (ninth) and is one of the best places to live in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI).
It has a strongly developed investment market, with at least 1.4 million retail investors actively involved every year. The number has more than doubled over the last decade and was estimated to be around 650,000 in 2010.
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is among the world's 20 largest by total market capitalization. In December 2021, it amounted to USD 1.9 trillion (in comparison, the world's largest NYSE capitalization was less than USD 28 trillion).
In addition, the buoyant financial market and a large number of retail investors translated into high interest in investing in leveraged derivatives markets, including forex (FX) and contracts for difference (CFDs).
According to the latest Investment Trends report data, more than 100,000 Australians have entered into at least one FX or CFD transaction in 2021.
"On a per-capita basis, this is amongst the largest penetration of CFD/FX in the world. To put things in perspective, the US margin FX market is only twice as big for a population more than an order of magnitude larger," the Investment Trends representative stated.
ASIC Is One of the World's Most Respected Financial Regulators
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is responsible for regulating financial markets in the country, including the retail FX/CFD industry. The institution officially implemented regulations in late 2020 that significantly restricted the sale of CFDs to retail investors, limiting maximum leverage for FX majors to 30:1 and 2:1 for cryptocurrencies.
Australia has one of the best-regulated derivatives markets, and the regulator's license is highly respected and recognized within the industry. In order to operate a legitimate financial business in the country, a company must obtain an AFS license, which is detailed on the regulator's website.
The latest report published by ASIC on the number of licenses issued shows that the institution granted 339 new AFS authorizations in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, receiving 565 registration applications during the same period.
A Large Number of Retail Investors in Australia. An Increase of 40,000 in Four Years
The Investment Trends report published in January 2022 showed that the number of active retail CFD traders stood at 100,000 last year, slipping from the record high of 117,000 reported the year before.
However, this is still a considerable increase compared to previous years. In 2017, 61,000 Australians made at least one transaction in this market; in 2018 and 2019, the figure hovered at around 75,000 to 79,000.
The year of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought above-average market volatility, boosted retail traders' activity, allowing a record number of active investors.
Daniel Lee, Regional Sales Manager for Vantage in Australia
"The
widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 has triggered unrelenting waves
of unforeseen market volatility. This volatility has brought about a new
generation of investors and traders that look to capitalise on both upwards and
downwards price action. Coupling leverage with how quick moving the CFD markets
can be, Vantage has experienced a surge of new clients that have strong
interests with trading forex, gold and indices CFDs," Daniel Lee, the Regional Sales Manager for Vantage in Australia, commented.
"There could be a number of contributing factors to this outcome: relatively high penetration of cash equities investing which is a feeder market, proximity to Asia which tends to be a breeding ground for fintech, a regulatory framework historically more accommodative; but the most direct link is likely the prolific supply side in the form of the many platforms participating in, and contributing to growing, the market," Investment Trends added.
Tightening Leverage Regulations Do Not Bother Australians
In recent years, Australia and the European Union have decided to further limit the leverage that individual traders can use. However, as you can see from the statistics above, the limitation of leverage to a maximum of 30:1 for major FX currency pairs did not scare investors.
According
to Daniel Lee, the Regional Sales Manager for Vantage in Australia, ASIC's
Product Intervention Order "has undoubtedly played an impact on the
Australian landscape for CFD and forex trading."
16% of retail traders have successfully
applied for professional trader status. This is a definite jump from previous
years, including 2020, when a similar status was achieved by 7% of all active
traders.
"Such requests are not
uncommon across the industry, though they are limited to clients who are
qualified for being treated as professional investors. That is, either they
have met the previous experience and knowledge requirements, or they pass the
wealth test, of having a gross income of $250,000 or more per annum in each of
the previous two years and/or net assets of at least $2.5 million," Daniel
Lee added.
Interestingly, FX/CFD traders were also much more willing to look at cryptocurrencies. According to the survey, 33% of them use this asset class or trade cryptocurrencies based on contracts for difference. The youngest representatives of this group have the most bullish attitude and positive sentiment towards bitcoin and altcoins.
The 2021 report notes that 40% of Zoomers and 35% of Millenials believe in the long-term appreciation of digital assets.
Average Trader in Australia Deposits over $8,000 in a Month
According to cPattern data aggregated by Finance Magnates Intelligence, throughout 2021 (data for the period January to October) the average Australian trader deposited more than $8,400 into their FX/CFD account (the median for the same period was almost $7,000). Meanwhile, the average single deposit stood at around $1,220.
Withdrawals of funds during this time were lower, and in 2021 the average for a single month recorded $2852, more than three times the amount of deposits. In contrast, the value of a single withdrawal reached a ceiling of $1450.
Furthermore, statistics of the first deposit (FTD) might be interesting, especially from the broker's point of view. From January to October 2021, the average stood at $1,014 and the median at $643.
Compared to other developed financial markets, these values align with the general trend. However, by comparison, Singapore had much higher numbers for the same period, with an FTD of $1,743.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
Financial Commission Approves Monstrade Giving Clients Mediation and €20K Coverage
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
