ECMarkets is a long-established overseas forex broker founded in 2012
Our services for Japan will begin in 2025
This overseas forex broker is characterized by its high execution rate and fast withdrawals, and its maximum leverage of 1,000 times is also relatively high among overseas forex brokers.
However, it has low recognition in Japan, and many people are probably wondering if Japanese people can use it, its safety, and whether withdrawals will be refused
Therefore, this time we conducted a thorough investigation into ECMarkets' reputation, customer reviews, security, and cases of withdrawal refusals
What you will learn from this article
- Positive reviews and testimonials for ECMarkets
- Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets
- What are the security and reliability requirements for ECMarkets?
- Are there any cases of withdrawal refusals on ECMarkets?
- Who would I recommend ECMarkets to?
- Things I learned from actually using ECMarkets
- Bonus campaign currently running at ECMarkets
- About ECMarkets account types
- How to open an ECMarkets account
- ECMarkets deposit and withdrawal methods
Contents
- 1 Positive reviews and testimonials for ECMarkets
- 1.1 ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ① USD/JPY and Gold are swap-free
- 1.2 ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ② Narrow spreads
- 1.3 ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials #3: Low minimum deposit, making it easy to start
- 1.4 ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ④ Fast execution and stable servers
- 1.5 ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials #5: Low transaction fees
- 2 Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets
- 2.1 Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets ① No permanent bonus campaigns
- 2.2 Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets #2: There are rumors of withdrawal refusals
- 2.3 ECMarkets' negative reviews and comments #3: Incomplete Japanese support
- 2.4 Negative reviews and comments on ECMarkets #4: Lack of information in Japanese
- 3 What are the security and reliability requirements for ECMarkets?
- 4 Are there any cases of withdrawal refusals on ECMarkets?
- 5 Who would I recommend ECMarkets to?
- 5.1 ECMarkets is recommended for: ① People who primarily engage in scalping
- 5.2 ECMarkets is recommended for people like this (2): Those who want to hold investments long-term without worrying about swaps
- 5.3 ECMarkets is recommended for people like this ③: Those who prioritize the trading environment over bonus campaigns
- 5.4 ECMarkets is not recommended for the following people: ① Those who want to use overseas vendors with many Japanese users
- 5.5 ECMarkets is not recommended for the following people: ② Those who want to trade using bonuses
- 6 Things I learned from actually using ECMarkets
- 7 Bonus campaign currently running at ECMarkets
- 8 About ECMarkets account types
- 9 How to open an ECMarkets account
- 10 ECMarkets deposit and withdrawal methods
- 11 ECMarkets Frequently Asked Questions
- 11.1 Q. Is using ECMarkets illegal?
- 11.2 Q. Can Japanese people use ECMarkets?
- 11.3 Q. Has ECMarkets received a warning from the Financial Services Agency?
- 11.4 Q. Is using ECMarkets dangerous?
- 11.5 Q. What is the maximum leverage on ECMarkets?
- 11.6 Q. Have there been any cases of withdrawal refusals on ECMarkets?
- 11.7 Q. Does ECMarkets support inquiries in Japanese?
- 11.8 Q. Is ECMarkets running any bonus campaigns?
- 11.9 Q. Is scalping prohibited on ECMarkets?
- 11.10 Q. Does slippage occur on ECMarkets?
- 11.11 Q. Can I open a corporate account with EC Markets?
- 11.12 Q. Is automated trading possible on ECMarkets?
- 11.13 Q. Can I change my account type in ECMarkets midway through my account?
- 11.14 Q. What is the stop-loss level for ECMarkets?
- 11.15 Q. Is opening an ECMarkets account free?
- 12 summary
Positive reviews and testimonials for ECMarkets
This time, we investigated positive reviews and word-of-mouth primarily on social media, but we couldn't find any posts in Japanese
Therefore, I will introduce reviews from review posting sites
- Positive reviews and testimonials about ECMarkets ① USD/JPY and Gold are swap-free.
- ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ② Narrow spreads
- ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials #3: Low minimum deposit, making it easy to start
- ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ④ Fast execution and stable servers
- ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials #5: Low transaction fees
Positive reviews and testimonials about ECMarkets ① USD/JPY and Gold are swap-free.
ECMarkets allows you to hold USD/JPY and Gold without swap fees
In particular, many overseas forex brokers have large negative swaps for gold, making long-term holding difficult. However, with ECMarkets, you can hold gold long-term without worrying about swaps
Therefore, this is a significant advantage for those considering trading in gold
ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ② Narrow spreads
ECMarkets is an overseas forex broker that boasts narrow spreads, and among its account types, the ECN account and PRO account have the narrowest spreads, starting from a minimum of 0.0 pips, them among the narrowest in the industry .
With a high execution rate, it's well-suited for scalping. While overseas forex brokers are often said to be unsuitable for scalping due to their spreads, ECMarkets is an overseas forex broker that is well-suited for scalping in this respect as well
ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials #3: Low minimum deposit, making it easy to start
ECMarkets a minimum deposit of 10 USD (equivalent), which means you can start trading with as little as 1,500 yen.
Therefore, even beginners and users who want to try trading can easily deposit funds and start trading
ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials ④ Fast execution and stable servers
ECMarkets is focusing on strengthening its trading environment
Therefore, the servers are stable, and order execution is extremely fast, averaging 0.02 seconds.
As traders become more advanced, they place more importance on the trading environment, so ECMarkets is a recommended overseas forex broker for intermediate to advanced traders
ECMarkets' positive reviews and testimonials #5: Low transaction fees
ECMarkets charges a trading fee of 3 USD round trip per lot for ECN accounts
For similar account types, competitors like TitanFX charge 3.5 USD round trip and XMTrading charges 10 USD round trip, so it's clear that trading fees are relatively inexpensive
Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets
We also investigated negative reviews and comments, mainly on social media, but we couldn't find any in Japanese
Therefore, I will introduce reviews from review posting sites
- Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets ① No permanent bonuses
- Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets #2: There are rumors of withdrawal refusals
- ECMarkets' negative reviews and comments #3: Incomplete Japanese support
- Negative reviews and comments on ECMarkets #4: Lack of information in Japanese
Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets ① No permanent bonus campaigns
Instead of offering permanent bonus campaigns such as deposit bonuses, ECMarkets focuses on improving the trading environment by providing features like fast execution and narrow spreads.
However, since trading using bonuses is not possible, this platform is not suitable for those who want to start with a small amount of capital but have ample margin by utilizing deposit bonuses or account opening bonuses
Negative reviews and comments about ECMarkets #2: There are rumors of withdrawal refusals
we found posts about accounts being frozen and withdrawals being impossible as soon as profits were made, and about withdrawals not being processed even after more than a week had passed since the withdrawal request
While there are few reviews about ECMarkets, many reviews mention withdrawal refusals, suggesting that a significant number of users have experienced withdrawal refusals from ECMarkets
on cases of withdrawal refusals by ECMarkets, please see here
ECMarkets' negative reviews and comments #3: Incomplete Japanese support
ECMarkets does offer support for inquiries in Japanese, and they do have Japanese staff, but they don't seem to be there all the time. Depending on the time of day, you might receive a response in English, or a response in unnatural Japanese that sounds like it was put through translation software
When I contacted them via chat during weekday business hours, I was immediately connected to a Japanese staff member and was able to ask my questions in native Japanese. However, I received no response to my email inquiry
Negative reviews and comments on ECMarkets #4: Lack of information in Japanese
ECMarkets is a long-established overseas marketplace founded in 2012, but its services for Japan only started in 2025, which is quite recent
Therefore, there is little information available on the web or social media, and even the official Japanese website doesn't offer much information
As the number of users increases, so will the number of posts and information available. However, it seems that many users are hesitant to open an account because they feel uneasy about the limited amount of information available
What are the security and reliability requirements for ECMarkets?
| Operating company | EC Markets Limited |
| Year of establishment | 2012 |
| location | Cyberati Lounge, Ground Floor, The Catalyst, Silicon Avenue, 40 Cybercity, 72201, Ebene, Republic of Mauritius. |
| Licenses held | The UK's Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ( ASIC ), the New Zealand Financial Supervisory Authority ( FMA ), the Seychelles Financial Services Authority ( FSA ), Mauritius Financial Services Commission ( FSC ), the South African Financial Regulatory Authority ( FSCA ), and the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority ( SCA ). |
| Maximum leverage | Up to 1,000x |
| Stop-loss level | 30% |
| Fund management method | Separate management |
| Trading Tools | MT4/MT5/App |
| Japanese support | can be |
| Margin call | None (Zero-cut system adopted) |
ECMarkets is a long-established overseas forex broker founded in 2012, but its services for Japan only began in 2025 .
Although they have been operating overseas for a long time, their entry into the Japanese market was delayed, so their name recognition in Japan is still low, and there are hardly any posts in Japanese on social media
However, they are making efforts to attract Japanese users, including translating their official website into Japanese and providing Japanese language support
The maximum leverage is 1,000 times , which is a relatively high leverage ratio among overseas forex brokers.
The fund management method employed by this overseas forex broker is segregated accounts, which is common among such brokers. Operating funds and customer funds are managed separately, so customer assets are not used for operational purposes
Among the financial licenses it holds is one from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ), which is said to be difficult to obtain, so it can be said to be highly reliable.
In addition to the standard MT4/MT5 trading tools, we also offer our own proprietary trading app
All account types utilize a zero-cut system, so margin calls will not occur
Before using a broker, be sure to check if it is highly rated in a comparison ranking of recommended overseas forex brokers
What financial licenses does ECMarkets hold?
ECMarkets as a group holds seven licenses from the following authorities: the UK Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ( ASIC ), the New Zealand Financial Supervisory Authority ( FMA ), Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Mauritius Financial Services Commission ( FSC ), the South African Financial Services Authority ( FSCA ), and the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority ( SCA ).
In particular, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA ) is known for its strict regulations and difficult-to-obtain financial license, so ECMarkets, which holds an FCA license, can be said to be highly secure.
Furthermore, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ( ASIC ) has established world-class standards for customer protection, and its standards for FX brokers in particular are said to be extremely strict.
Overseas forex brokers holding both of these licenses are rare, making them extremely safe
How does ECMarkets manage its funds?
we manage funds segregated accounts , keeping customer funds and operating assets separate
Therefore, even if ECMarkets were to face operational difficulties, there is a possibility that customer funds would be returned
Furthermore, ECMarkets has implemented a system that provides compensation of up to 1,000,000 USD
Traders are automatically enrolled free of charge, so you can be assured of a high level of security regarding fund management in the event of unforeseen circumstances
Are there any cases of withdrawal refusals on ECMarkets?
Upon investigating cases of withdrawal refusal at ECMarkets on social media and review sites, we found multiple reviews on review sites stating that users had been refused withdrawals by ECMarkets
Although the posts did not include evidence, everyone reported that their withdrawals were denied, and when they inquired about the reason, they were refused disclosure of the reason, citing security concerns
Since the reasons are not disclosed, this is just speculation, but common reasons why overseas forex brokers refuse withdrawals include: ① fraudulent use of bonuses, ② mismatch in account information, ③ failure to meet withdrawal conditions, and ④ engaging in prohibited transactions
ECMarkets does not offer any permanent promotional bonuses, so option ① is not applicable. This means there may have been a discrepancy between the identity verification documents you submitted and the account information you entered, or you may have engaged in any transactions or activities prohibited by ECMarkets
I also inquired about transactions prohibited on ECMarkets, but I did not receive a response
However, it's important to note that hedging or arbitrage (arbitrage trading) between brokers is prohibited by many overseas forex brokers
To protect yourself from withdrawal refusals, it might be a good idea to make frequent withdrawals or try withdrawing a small amount before depositing a large sum of money to check if withdrawals are possible
Who would I recommend ECMarkets to?
Here, we'll introduce who ECMarkets is recommended for and who it's not recommended for
ECMarkets is recommended for: ① People who primarily engage in scalping
ECMarkets narrow spreads, a high execution rate, and high leverage, making it ideal for scalping.
Many overseas forex brokers have wide spreads and are not suitable for short-term trading, but ECMarkets is suitable for scalping
Of course, scalping is not prohibited on ECMarkets, so you can do it as many times as you like
ECMarkets is recommended for people like this (2): Those who want to hold investments long-term without worrying about swaps
Some stocks on ECMarkets are swap-free
Stocks with large negative swaps are not suitable for long-term holding, and may not be possible even if you want to hold them long-term. However, if a stock is designated as swap-free, you can hold it long-term without worrying about swaps
ECMarkets also offers swap-free trading for popular gold , making it especially recommended for traders who primarily trade gold.
ECMarkets is recommended for people like this ③: Those who prioritize the trading environment over bonus campaigns
Instead of running bonus campaigns, ECMarkets is focusing on improving its trading environment.
As of August 2025, there are no ongoing bonus campaigns, and there are no bonus campaigns planned for the future
As a result, server upgrades have been implemented, enabling high execution rates and narrow spreads
The quality of the trading environment has a greater impact on traders who trade frequently, so this overseas forex broker is especially recommended for those who trade often
ECMarkets is not recommended for the following people: ① Those who want to use overseas vendors with many Japanese users
ECMarkets has a Japanese-language website and offers Japanese language support, but the number of Japanese users is still small, and searching for "ECMarkets" on social media yields very few Japanese posts.
While it's understandable to some extent since the service for Japan only launched in 2025, the current situation is still far too limited
Sharing information with other users is currently difficult, so this service is not suitable for those who want to use overseas providers with a large number of Japanese users
ECMarkets is not recommended for the following people: ② Those who want to trade using bonuses
ECMarkets does not offer any permanent promotional bonuses.
Furthermore, no limited-time campaign bonuses have been offered as of August 2025
This is due to a policy of focusing on improving the trading environment instead of offering campaign bonuses, but it is not suitable for people who want to start trading with ample margin from the beginning using bonuses, even with a small amount of capital
Things I learned from actually using ECMarkets
Here, I'll share the advantages and disadvantages I discovered after actually using ECMarkets
Benefits I discovered after actually using it
Fast withdrawals
Some reviews mentioned slow withdrawals, but when I actually submitted a withdrawal request, the money was withdrawn immediately .
Processing times vary depending on the withdrawal method, but if you want to withdraw your funds as quickly as possible, we recommend using a method other than bank transfer for deposits and withdrawals
Incidentally, the official website states that the withdrawal rate within two hours is 98.5%
If your withdrawal hasn't been processed after two hours, it may be on hold, so please check if you've received an email from the support team
The trading environment is favorable
As stated on their official website, ECMarkets is committed to improving its trading environment, achieving high execution rates and narrow spreads
In particular, the execution was extremely fast, and there was no slippage whatsoever.
There were some reviews mentioning that the spread widens depending on the time of day, but I couldn't confirm this while trading during Tokyo hours
However, be aware that spreads may widen significantly during periods of market volatility, such as before and after the release of important economic indicators
Disadvantages I discovered after actually using it
You may not receive an answer through chat support
ECMarkets supports inquiries in Japanese
I actually tried contacting them via chat, and I was immediately connected to Japanese support
However, when I inquired about the terms of the transaction, I was told that they could not answer due to authority issues
I've made similar inquiries to other companies before, but this is the first time I've been refused on the grounds of lack of authority, and I haven't been able to get the information I most wanted
The stop-loss level is high
ECMarkets' stop-loss level is 30%
A margin call will be issued if the margin falls below 50%, and a forced stop-loss will occur if it falls below 30%
Many overseas forex brokers have stop-loss levels ranging from 0% to 20%, which is slightly higher than other companies
In actual trading, I found that, due to the high leverage, I was frequently stopped out. While this is a system designed to protect traders, I felt it was quite stressful for traders who want to trade up to their margin limit
Bonus campaign currently running at ECMarkets
As of August 2025, we could not find any bonus campaigns currently running on ECMarkets
We were also unable to find any information about upcoming bonus campaigns
About ECMarkets account types
STD account
| spread | 1.0 pips ~ |
| Transaction fees | none |
| Maximum leverage | 1,000 times |
| Minimum deposit amount | 10USD (equivalent) |
| Minimum trading lot | 0.01 lot |
| Maximum order quantity | Unlimited |
| Maximum number of orders per order | 50 lots |
| Margin Call | 50% |
| Stop-loss level | 30% |
| Zero Cut System | can be |
This is a standard account type
The spread is a bit wide, but there are no transaction fees
This is recommended for those opening an account for the first time or those considering various trading strategies
ECN account
| spread | 0.0 pips ~ |
| Transaction fees | 1.5 USD per lot (one way) |
| Maximum leverage | 1,000 times |
| Minimum deposit amount | 10USD (equivalent) |
| Minimum trading lot | 0.01 lot |
| Maximum order quantity | Unlimited |
| Maximum number of orders per order | 50 lots |
| Margin Call | 50% |
| Stop-loss level | 30% |
| Zero Cut System | can be |
This account type offers extremely narrow spreads, but incurs transaction fees
This account type is designed for scalping and does incur trading fees, but they are set lower than those of competitors
While it's designed for scalping, it's also suitable for medium- to long-term trading such as swing trading
PRO account
| spread | 0.0 pips ~ |
| Transaction fees | none |
| Maximum leverage | 1,000 times |
| Minimum deposit amount | 5,000USD (equivalent) |
| Minimum trading lot | 0.01 lot |
| Maximum order quantity | Unlimited |
| Maximum number of orders per order | 50 lots |
| Margin Call | 50% |
| Stop-loss level | 30% |
| Zero Cut System | can be |
This is the highest-tier account type
While it offers extremely narrow spreads and no trading fees, the minimum deposit is a hefty 5,000 USD (equivalent)
This is the type of account you should open if you can meet the minimum deposit amount
How to open an ECMarkets account
This section explains how to open an account with ECMarkets
① Access the official website
Go to the official ECMarkets website and tap "Register" in the upper right corner
You can also access it from here
② Perform email verification

Enter your email address and tap "Get email verification code"
A verification code will be sent to the email address you entered, so enter it in the email verification code field
If you don't receive the email, please check if the email address you entered is correct and if it has been filtered into your spam folder
③ Enter a password of your choice
Enter a password of your choice, check the "I have read and agree" box at the bottom, and tap "Register"
Make sure to write down your password so you don't forget it
④ Open an account
Tap "Open an actual trading account"
Enter your personal information on the next screen
The information you enter must match the identification documents you will submit later, so please double-check everything after entering the information to ensure there are no errors
⑤ Submission of identity verification documents
Upload identification documents such as your driver's license or passport
Make sure the entire identification document is visible and that there are no parts that are illegible due to reflections
⑥ Submission of proof of current address (certificate of residence)
I will submit proof of residence
The following documents can be used as proof of residence:
- Bank statement
- Internet, cable TV, and telephone line bills
- Local tax invoice
- Utility bill
- Tax return
- Government-issued residence certificate
Please prepare a document issued within the last three months
⑦Account opening completed
After uploading your proof of residence, tap "Confirm"
After that, EC Markets will conduct a review, and you will usually receive an email with the review results within 1-2 business days
If your application is successfully approved, your account will be opened
ECMarkets deposit and withdrawal methods
The following are the deposit and withdrawal methods supported by ECMarkets:
- Bank transfer
- Debit card / Credit card
- STICPAY
- OTC365
- Cryptocurrency
ECMarkets does not charge any fees, but the other party may charge fees
Be especially careful with bank transfers, as banks are highly likely to charge fees
ECMarkets Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is using ECMarkets illegal?
A. No
Using ECMarkets is not illegal
Q. Can Japanese people use ECMarkets?
A. Yes
Japanese citizens residing in Japan can also use ECMarkets
Q. Has ECMarkets received a warning from the Financial Services Agency?
A. Yes
In October 2022, the company received a warning from Japan's Financial Services Agency for "soliciting over-the-counter derivative transactions via the internet."
Q. Is using ECMarkets dangerous?
A. No
ECMarkets has received a warning from Japan's Financial Services Agency, but this warning is for soliciting Japanese citizens without proper authorization. Other major overseas forex brokers have also received similar warnings
Therefore, this does not mean that ECMarkets is dangerous
Q. What is the maximum leverage on ECMarkets?
A. The maximum leverage is 1,000x for all account types
Q. Have there been any cases of withdrawal refusals on ECMarkets?
A. Several posts regarding withdrawal refusals by ECMarkets have been found
Here you can find a detailed explanation of cases where ECMarkets has refused withdrawals.
Q. Does ECMarkets support inquiries in Japanese?
A. Yes
ECMarkets offers support in Japanese, and you can contact them via email or chat
Q. Is ECMarkets running any bonus campaigns?
A. No
ECMarkets does not currently offer any ongoing bonus campaigns
Q. Is scalping prohibited on ECMarkets?
A. No
ECMarkets does not prohibit scalping
Q. Does slippage occur on ECMarkets?
A.ECMarkets is characterized by its fast execution, as indicated by its listing of execution times of 0.02 seconds
Because the server is stable, the slippage rate is low, but it's not 100% guaranteed to never occur
Q. Can I open a corporate account with EC Markets?
A. Yes
You can open a corporate account by submitting the necessary documents
When opening a corporate account, you need to contact support in advance
Q. Is automated trading possible on ECMarkets?
A. Yes
Automated trading is available on ECMarkets
Q. Can I change my account type in ECMarkets midway through my account?
A. No
ECMarkets does not allow you to change your account type midway through your account
Q. What is the stop-loss level for ECMarkets?
A. 30% for all account types
Q. Is opening an ECMarkets account free?
A. Yes
ECMarkets allows you to open an account for free
summary
ECMarkets is a long-established overseas forex broker founded in 2012
However, services for Japan are scheduled to begin in 2025, so their operating history in Japan is still relatively short.
This overseas forex broker is characterized by its high execution rate and fast withdrawals, and its maximum leverage of 1,000 times is also relatively high among overseas forex brokers
permanent campaign bonuses, they focus on improving the trading environment , which is indeed good. However, there are few Japanese users, and I could hardly find any posts from ECMarkets users on social media.
There were posts on review sites from users who reported that ECMarkets had refused or withheld withdrawals, with the reason given being that they could not disclose the reason for security reasons
Therefore, although the exact reason is unclear, overseas forex brokers with good trading environments often have strict trading rules, and violators may have their accounts frozen or their profits refused
While it doesn't offer bonuses, it boasts narrow spreads and high execution rates, making it a suitable overseas FX broker for intermediate to advanced traders who prioritize a good trading environment. Depending on future promotions targeting Japan, there's a possibility of advantageous campaigns for new registrants, making it an overseas FX broker to watch in the future