- Jump to:
- Pros & Cons
- Regulations
- Trading Instruments
- Trading Platforms
- Payment Methods
- Account Types
- Customer Support
- Conclusion
Established in 2008, Plus500 is a global leader in finance, operating proprietary technology-driven trading platforms. With a comprehensive portfolio of tradable instruments, 25+ million registered customers and a presence in 50+ countries, the brand has continually been committed to excellence, providing a top-rated trading experience.
In keeping with its mission to expand its product offering, the company has recently launched its futures trading operations in the United States. The entity catering to US citizens is Plus500 US Financial Services LLC, registered as a Futures Commission Merchant with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA).
With a low deposit requirement of $100, the broker offers seamless access to an extensive assortment of futures markets in Agriculture, Cryptocurrencies, Energy, Equity Indices, Forex, Interest Rates and Metals.
This publication aims to deliver a comprehensive review of the company’s operations in the US and covers important aspects, including regulation, the range of financial instruments, supported trading platforms, payment methods, account types and customer service.
| General Information about Plus500 US | |
|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 (debit cards), $200 (wire transfers) |
| Supported Languages | English, Spanish |
| Supported Currencies | USD |
| Website | https://us.plus500.com/ |
| Support Email | support@plus500.com |
| Headquarters Address | MATAM, Building 22, Haifa, 31905, Israel |
Plus500 US key pros and cons
Pros:
- Regulated by the US CFTC and a member of the NFA
- Well-rounded portfolio of futures markets
- Competitive pricing structure
- Proprietary trading platform on desktop, web and mobile
- A sufficient range of secure payment methods
- Listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and among the companies making up the FTSE 250 index
Cons:
- No investor compensation scheme for US customers
- No negative balance protection
- No customer support by phone
Regulations
Plus500 US Financial Services, LLC (“Plus500USFS”, formerly Cunningham Commodities, LLC) is the entity that provides trading services to US citizens. Its registered office is at 2 Pierce Place, Suite 200, Itasca, Illinois 60143.
The company is a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Plus500 US is regulated by the National Futures Association (NFA), a self-regulatory organisation for the US derivatives industry that registers and examines intermediaries on behalf of the CFTC. The organisation is tasked with keeping a register of licence holders, providing financial information, as well as a record of disciplinary and regulatory details. Plus500 US is registered under NFA ID number 0001398.
The company complies with all regulatory requirements and has adopted a customer-first approach, with a focus on keeping clients’ data and funds safe. All customer funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from the company’s operating funds.
Traders can be fully confident in the company’s reliability, as it is listed on the LSE’s Main Market for Listed Companies and is among the constituents of the FTSE 250 index.
| Regulator | Licence |
|---|---|
| CFTC | 0001398 |
Trading Instruments
As per the definition of a Futures Contract, provided by the CME Group (of which Plus500 US is a full member), it is a legitimate agreement to purchase or sell a standardized asset (a commodity or a financial instrument) at a specified time in the future, facilitated through a futures exchange.In full compliance with the rules set forth by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC, Plus500 US provides trading services via futures on:Agriculture
Eight futures contracts, including soybean meal, corn, and wheat.
Cryptocurrencies
Four futures contracts: Micro Bitcoin, Micro Ether, Bitcoin Friday (BFFZ406), and Bitcoin Friday (BFFZ413).
Forex
Fifteen futures contracts are available: AUD, GBP, CAD, CHF, NZD, JPY, BRL, ZAR, MXN, Euro FX, E-mini Euro FX, Micro AUD/USD, Micro GBP/USD, Micro EUR/USD, and Micro CAD/USD.
Interest Rates
10 futures contracts, including the 2-Year T-Note, Micro Ultra 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note, and U.S. T-Bond
Energy
10 futures contracts, including Micro WTI Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil, and Natural Gas.
Equity Indices
11 futures contracts, including E-mini S&P MidCap 400, Micro E-mini S&P 500, and Micro E-mini Dow Jones
Metals
Eight futures contracts, including Gold, Micro Gold, Platinum, and Silver.
Intraday margin is the initial amount of money customers need to trade one futures contract throughout a trading day. Traders should note that on the Plus500 US platform, the specified Intraday Margin is variable and changes daily for each of the listed financial instruments. The Intraday Margin for trading one futures contract on the Australian Dollar is $400 at the time of publication. Customers can check the attractive day-trading margins on the website, with just $100 needed to start trading.
In the table below, readers can review the Intraday Margin for several instruments across the asset classes supported by Plus500 US, valid at the time of publication:
| Plus500 US Intraday Margins for Futures Contracts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Instrument | Intraday Margin |
| Agriculture | Soybean Meal | $715 |
| Corn | $250 | |
| Wheat | $250 | |
| Cryptocurrencies | Micro Bitcoin | $100 |
| Micro Ether | $20 | |
| Bitcoin Friday | $25 | |
| Forex | Australian Dollar | $400 |
| Micro AUD/USD | $40 | |
| E-mini Euro FX | $150 | |
| Interest Rates | 2Y T-Note | $200 |
| Micro Ultra 10-Year U.S Treasury Note | $100 | |
| Micro 10-Year Yield | $45 | |
| Energy | Micro WTI Crude Oil | $80 |
| E-mini Natural Gas | $250 | |
| Micro Natural Gas | $100 | |
| Equity Indices | Micro E-mini S&P 500 | $50 |
| Micro E-mini Dow Jones | $50 | |
| Micro Nikkei (USD) | $150 | |
| Metals | Gold | $500 |
| Platinum | $690 | |
| Silver | $2,200 | |
*Intraday Margin valid as of 05.12.2024
Standard contract commissions of $0.89 and micro contract commissions of $0.49 apply. The liquidation fee per contract is $10. In addition to these fees, there is an NFA Regulatory Fee of $0.02 per side per contract. The broker charges no data, platform or routing fees. Inactivity fees are also waived.
Plus500 US has provided a well-rounded Futures Trading Academy featuring educational videos and articles on all supported financial instruments. Customers are empowered to learn everything there is to know about the futures markets so they can trade with ease and confidence.
Trading platforms
Platforms |
PC / MAC |
Smartphones |
Tablets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus500 WebTrader | |||
| Proprietary |
| Trading Information | |
|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary Mobile, Plus500Futures |
| Demo Account | |
| Hedging | |
| Scalping | |
| US Traders | |
| Arabic Traders | |
Plus500 US offers a proprietary Plus500 WebTrader platform, accessible via web browsers and mobile devices. The feature-rich platform grants US citizens seamless access to the aforementioned futures contracts.
Plus500 WebTrader stands out with its user-friendly, customisable layout. It is available in more than 30 languages, and users can enable two-factor authentication to enhance security. The platform is equipped with robust charting capabilities, including 100+ technical indicators. Multiple chart types are available, including Candlesticks, Line Charts and Range Bars. Eleven timeframes, from one minute to one week, are supported.
Moreover, traders can benefit from other popular features such as watchlists, the ability to place orders directly from charts, and live chat support, all accessible within the trading platform. Traders can place all standard order types, including market, limit and stop-loss orders. Thanks to a convenient search functionality located at the top of the screen, they can easily find specific instruments.
The platform is available in demo mode as well, enabling traders to explore the futures markets without risking real funds. As they gain confidence, they can switch to live trading with a single click.
The mobile platform is available for iOS, Android and Windows. It shares the features and functionality of the web platform, including two-factor authentication, demo mode and multiple charting tools.
Payment methods
Plus500 US has implemented several payment methods, allowing US traders to manage their deposits and withdrawals safely and conveniently on its futures trading platform. These include Visa and Mastercard debit cards, wire transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay. There are no fees on deposits or withdrawals, reducing customers’ non-trading costs to a minimum. It takes one to three business days to process a withdrawal request.
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
| $100 | No Fees | Instant | |
| $100 | No Fees | Instant | |
| $200 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days | |
| $100 | No fees | Instant | |
| $100 | No fees | Instant |
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days | |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days | |
| $200 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days | |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days | |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
Account types
Plus500 US supports one account type catering to the needs of retail traders. The process of registering an account is straightforward and can be completed within minutes. To sign up for a live account, US traders are required to deposit a minimum of $100.
The account application process starts with providing an email address and setting a password. Alternatively, traders can set up their accounts using their Google or Facebook profiles. Some additional information, such as date of birth, Social Security number and annual income, is also required. Customers need to tick the box indicating that they have read and agreed to the End-User Licence Agreement.
Opting for a demo account is also possible. This allows inexperienced traders to explore the futures markets without risking real money. The demo account replicates live quotes and simulates real market conditions, enabling traders to practise their strategies and become accustomed to the intricacies of live trading. As soon as they feel comfortable with the trading platform and more confident, they can switch to a live trading account.
Customer support
Plus500 US provides a 24/7 live chat service. Customers can rely on timely and professional assistance from support representatives whenever they need it. Telephone support, however, is not available. The website is available in English and Spanish. Readers should note that, as Plus500 US states, all official correspondence with customers is conducted in written form.
In addition to the helpful and professional customer support team, traders can obtain useful information from the Support Centre. It contains answers to frequently asked questions about futures trading, account verification and funding, among other topics.
Conclusion
All in all, Plus500 US offers outstanding conditions for US traders interested in exploring the benefits of the futures markets. With robust regulation from the CFTC and membership in the NFA, they can trade confidently and choose from a well-rounded portfolio of futures contracts across several asset classes. Last but not least, the competitive commissions, along with the robust proprietary trading platform, perfectly equip customers for successful futures trading.
Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.
