Trading from Ethiopia: what is different
In July 2024 the National Bank of Ethiopia moved the birr to a market-based exchange rate, and it fell sharply against the dollar. A USD account is unaffected inside the account, but its value in birr moves with the rate.
Ethiopia's capital market is new: the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority was set up in 2021 and the Ethiopian Securities Exchange began trading in 2025. Check what the rules allow before trading with an overseas broker.
Traditional Ethiopian time counts the hours from dawn, six hours apart from the international clock. The session times below are standard East Africa Time (UTC+3): London opens at 11:00 in winter.
Forex market hours in Ethiopia
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Ethiopia.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 03:00–12:00 | 03:00–12:00 |
| London session | 11:00–20:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
| New York session | 16:00–01:00 | 15:00–00:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 16:00–20:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 01:00 | Monday 00:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 01:00 | Saturday 00:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Ethiopia
- XAU/USD (gold) — Ethiopia is also a gold producer.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 11:00 Addis Ababa time in winter.
- Brent crude (UKOIL) — Ethiopia imports its fuel.
- Dow Jones (US30) — from 17:30 Addis Ababa time in winter.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Cent | $10 (balance in USC) | From 1.4 pips | None |
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Ethiopian birr conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Ethiopia.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Ethiopia allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Are the times shown in Ethiopian time?
No. Every time on this page is the international 24-hour clock in East Africa Time (UTC+3).
Can I trade the birr?
No ETB pairs are offered. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT.
What is the minimum deposit from Ethiopia?
The Standard Cent account opens from $10, funded in USDT, with the balance held in US cents ($10 = 1,000 USC). Standard opens from $100, Pro from $1,000 and Raw ECN from $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.