1. Who is the company, and who supervises it?
Find the legal entity behind the brand, where it is registered, and whether a financial regulator authorises it. Look the entity up on the regulator's own register rather than trusting a logo on the website. Regulation differs a lot between countries — check what protection, if any, applies to clients like you.
Our answer: AlphaFX Pro's company registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not claim to be regulated, and you should weigh that in your decision.
2. STP vs market maker: how are orders executed?
| Model | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Market maker (dealing desk) | The broker takes the other side of your trade and sets its own prices. | A potential conflict of interest: your loss can be the broker's gain. |
| STP / A-book | Orders are passed straight through to external liquidity providers. | Spreads are variable and follow the market; costs come from mark-up or commission. |
| ECN-style pricing | Raw prices from liquidity providers with a fixed commission per lot. | Compare commission plus raw spread, not spread alone. |
Our answer: orders are routed STP / A-book over FIX to institutional liquidity providers. There is no dealing desk and we do not trade against clients.
3. What does a trade really cost?
- Typical (not just minimum) spreads on the pairs you trade, at the times you trade.
- Commission per lot, and whether it is charged per side or per round trip.
- Swap rates for positions held overnight.
- Deposit, withdrawal and inactivity fees.
Our answer: Standard from 1.0 pip with no commission, Pro from 0.6 pip with no commission, Raw ECN from 0.0 pip plus $7 per lot on EUR/USD. Swaps are published per instrument on the Markets page.
4. How do deposits and withdrawals work?
Check which methods are supported, how long withdrawals take, what verification is required and when. A broker that makes deposits easy but withdrawals vague is a warning sign. Withdrawals should normally return to a method in your own name.
Our answer: funding is in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20) into a wallet, from which you transfer to trading accounts. Identity verification (KYC) is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
5. Platform, instruments and leverage
- Can you test the platform on a free demo with the same prices as live?
- Does it support stop loss, take profit and pending orders, and work on your phone?
- Are the markets you want listed, with contract sizes and leverage published?
- Is leverage sensible for each asset class, rather than as high as possible?
Our answer: our own web platform, one login for demo and live, with SL/TP and pending orders, working in a mobile browser. Around 1,300 instruments, leverage up to 1:100 on forex and metals and lower on indices, energies, crypto and shares.
6. Red flags
- Promises of fixed or guaranteed returns — trading never guarantees a return.
- Pressure to deposit more, or 'account managers' who trade for you.
- Bonuses that lock your withdrawals until impossible volume targets are met.
- No identifiable company, address or terms of business.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an STP broker and a market maker?
A market maker takes the other side of your trades; an STP broker passes your orders through to external liquidity providers, so it does not profit from your losses.
Is AlphaFX Pro regulated?
No. AlphaFX Pro's company registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress, and we do not claim regulation. Take this into account when choosing a broker.
Should I test a broker before depositing?
Yes. Open a free demo account to try the platform, check spreads at the times you trade, and read the terms on fees and withdrawals.
What is a fair minimum deposit?
It varies by broker and account type. AlphaFX Pro's Standard account starts at $100, Pro at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $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.