Choosing the right broker can make or break your trading journey.
Selecting the right broker is crucial prior to engaging in any trading activities. Unfortunately, I have experienced significant financial losses due to unreliable brokers and exchanges that did not fulfill their promises or meet expectations.
X = Still Using
XX = This is where I perform the most of my trades in
This info will be updated when there are changes. These are the accounts where I still have funds
| Broker Name | Account Type | Account Opened | Commodities | Crypto | Forex | Futures | Stocks | Options |
| Interactive Brokers | IBKR Pro | 2007 | X | X | XX | X | ||
| WeBull | Margin | 2021 | X | XX | ||||
| MooMoo | Margin | 2021 | * | X | * | |||
| BlueBerryMarkets | Direct Account Leverage x 500 | 2021 | XX | X | XX | XX | ||
| Oanda | V20 MT4 Leverage x 50 | 2017 | X | X | X | |||
| Gemini | Cash | 2017 | XX | |||||
| Coinbase | Cash | 2017 | X |
* = Available on this platform but I do not actively use it there
| Broker Name | Comments (Last Updated Feb 2026) |
| Interactive Brokers | The most trusted and reliable broker I use. Accounts are insured with good spreads for stocks, options, and FX. Low commissions overall. The interface is efficient but lacks polish – many users complain about the steep learning curve. Customer service can involve some redirection given the company size. As a publicly listed company in the USA (IBKR), I can review their earnings reports to gauge financial health. |
| WeBull | No complaints so far. Commission-free trades make it even cheaper than Interactive Brokers for US stocks and options. Money in the account earns interest through Money Bull while maintaining full margin capability (currently 5%+ APY on USD deposits). |
| MooMoo | With WeBull and Interactive Brokers in my portfolio, this account will likely remain dormant. The commissions are now higher than both IBKR and WeBull, which makes it less competitive for active trading. Note: MooMoo Singapore now offers crypto trading (BTC, ETH, BCH, XRP, DOT, ADA) and US options, though I do not use these features here. |
| BlueBerryMarkets | Excellent for forex and CFD trading with up to 500:1 leverage for non-Australian clients. Customer service is outstanding – I have a dedicated account manager. Raw spreads are incredibly tight with USDJPY often at 0.2 pips (yes, less than 1 pip!). Regulated by ASIC (Australia) with Tier-1 status. In 2025, they launched Blueberry X platform and integrated with TradingView. |
| Oanda | Since joining Blueberry, this account holds mostly long-term trades. Note: Oanda operates a B-Book model – they may take the opposite side of your trades before passing to market. One of the few brokers offering guaranteed stop-loss orders. Major update: FTMO Group (prop trading firm) completed its acquisition of Oanda in December 2025. Oanda continues as a standalone business with existing management retained. Long-term implications of a prop firm owning a retail broker remain to be seen. Regulated by 7 tier-1 authorities including MAS (Singapore), FCA (UK), and CFTC (US). The US entity was fined $600,000 by the NFA in May 2025 for compliance failures. Phone support has been discontinued – only web, chat, and email remain. |
| Gemini | I was caught in the Gemini Earn saga (2022-2023), but Earn users received 100% of their crypto back in-kind by 2024. The SEC lawsuit over Earn was dismissed with prejudice in January 2026. Gemini went public on Nasdaq (ticker: GEMI) in September 2025 at $28/share, but the stock has since fallen over 85% amid heavy losses ($159M quarterly loss pre-IPO). In February 2026, Gemini announced it is exiting the UK, EU, and Australia, cutting 25% of staff, and pivoting toward prediction markets. Still operational in the US and Singapore with 160+ cryptocurrencies. However, the trajectory is concerning – this is now a shrinking platform, not a growing one. I am monitoring closely. |
| Coinbase | My first crypto exchange. Listed on Nasdaq (COIN) since 2021 and now an S&P 500 constituent. The SEC dismissed its lawsuit against Coinbase in February 2025, ending the allegation that it operated as an unregistered exchange. This was a major positive for the company. However, in May 2025 Coinbase suffered a data breach – hackers bribed overseas contractors to steal data of 69,000+ customers and demanded a $20M ransom. Coinbase refused to pay and committed to reimbursing affected users. In 2025, Coinbase expanded significantly – acquiring Deribit for derivatives, adding stock trading, and introducing prediction markets. Coinbase Pro has been fully retired and replaced by Advanced Trade. |
Disclaimer: This list represents brokers I personally use and find reliable based on my own experience. Individual experiences may vary depending on market conditions, technology, and regulatory changes.
Always conduct your own research and due diligence before selecting a broker. Trading in financial markets carries inherent risks – carefully consider your investment objectives and risk tolerance before engaging with any broker.
See also: Brokers I stopped using | Broker Checklist