BlackBull Markets Editor’s Verdict

BlackBull Markets is a New Zealand-headquartered Forex broker and FinTech company. It prides itself on speed and precision, promising traders ECN/NDD execution with deep liquidity through the MT4/MT5 trading platforms. I have conducted an in-depth review to determine if their advertised ECN, deep liquidity, and price aggregation, as well as institution-level pricing for retail traders, lives up to the hype.

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Overall
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Fees
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Deposit and withdrawal
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Asset selection
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Ease of account opening
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Regulation and security
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Pros
  • ECN/NDD execution model with deep liquidity

  • Institution-grade pricing for retail traders via proprietary price aggregation

  • ZuluTrade and Myfxbook for social trading

  • Leverage of up to 1:500

Cons
  •  Limited deposit options

BlackBull Markets Overview

ECN/NDD Execution with Institution-Level Pricing

HeadquartersNew Zealand
RegulatorsFMA, FSA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established2014
Execution Type(s)ECN/STP, No Dealing Desk
Minimum Deposit$0
Negative Balance Protection
Trading Platform(s)MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Trading View
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD1.3 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD2.0 pips
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold$0.90
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin$131
Retail Loss RateUndisclosed
Minimum Raw Spreads0.0 pips
Minimum Standard Spreads0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex$6.00 per round lot
Funding Methods6 (bank wires, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, Union Pay, FasaPay, selected cryptocurrencies)
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts

Three requirements any successful trader needs from an ECN/NDD trading environment are deep liquidity, institution-level pricing, and high leverage. BlackBull Markets delivers all three, and I especially like the underlying technology they utilize to achieve this. It ensures high-speed trading and offers scalpers and other high-frequency traders the precision trading they require. It would be great if they could in the future offer a wider selection of assets to trade.

Blackbull Markets Regulation & Security

Trading with a regulated broker will limit the potential for fraud and malpractice. I always recommend traders to check for regulation and verify it with the regulator by checking the provided license with their database. BlackBull Markets presents clients with two well-regulated subsidiaries.

The primary regulator of BlackBull Markets is the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA). It also maintains a subsidiary, BBG Limited, authorized by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA). BlackBull Group UK Limited provides payment clearing services.

Country of the RegulatorNew Zealand, Seychelles
Name of the RegulatorFMA, FSA
Regulatory License Number403326, SD045

All client deposits remain segregated from corporate funds, and the custodian bank is the ANZ Bank. BlackBull Markets is also a member of the New Zealand Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL) dispute resolution scheme.

The one thing I could not find, which left me disappointed, was a reference to negative balance protection. It appears that BlackBull Markets does not offer it, making highly leveraged trading an especially high-risk approach with this broker. I searched their legal documents, but none confirmed the existence of negative balance protection. However, from a regulatory perspective, I can strongly recommend this broker. From a security perspective, client deposits remain well-protected, but I cannot ignore the absence of negative balance protection, particularly for leveraged trading accounts.

BlackBull Markets is a well-regulated and compliant Forex broker.

BBG Limited Seychelles RegulationI checked the official Seychelles FSA website, which confirms the regulatory status of BBG Limited.

BBG Limited Seychelles Regulation

Blackbull Markets Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD1.3 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD2.0 pips
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold$0.90
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin$131
Minimum Raw Spreads0.0 pips
Minimum Standard Spreads0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex$6.00 per round lot
Deposit Fee
Withdrawal Fee
Inactivity FeeNo

Minimum Spread
Commission per Round Lot
Cost per 1.0 Standard Lot
0.8 pips
$0.00
$8.00
0.1 pips
$6.00
$7.00

Here is a screenshot of the BlackBull Markets MT4 trading account during the London-New York overlap session, the most liquid one, where traders usually get the lowest spreads.

BlackBull Markets MT4 Trading Platform

I like the spreads available at BlackBull Markets, which confirm the existence of institution-level pricing for retail traders. A typical raw spread of only 0.1 pips during the London/New York overlap is very competitive and an excellent offer from BlackBull. Traders must deposit a minimum of $2,000 for access to these spreads. In my opinion, this is arguably a little high, but well within an acceptable range. High-volume traders may negotiate rebates with BlackBull Markets, and I appreciate the flexibility this broker provides in that department.

One of the most ignored trading costs is swap rates on leveraged overnight positions. Depending on the trading strategy, it may become the most significant fee per trade. I always recommend that traders check them before evaluating the total trading costs.

MT4/MT5 traders can easily access swap rates from their platform by following these steps:

1. Right-click on the desired symbol in the Market Watch window and select Specification.

2. Scroll down until you see Swap Long and Swap Short.

Below is a list of trading cost examples for buying and selling the EUR/USD, holding the trade for one night and seven nights, in the commission based BlackBull Markets trading account.

Taking a 1.0 standard lot buy/sell position, in the EUR/USD at the tightest spread and holding it for one night will cost the following:

Minimum Spread
Commission per Round Lot
Swap Long
Swap Short
Total Trading Costs
0.1 pips
$6.00
-$2.912
X
$9.912
0.1 pips
$6.00
X
-$0.265
$7.265

Taking a 1.0 standard lot buy/sell position, in the EUR/USD at the tightest spread and holding it for seven nights will cost the following:

Minimum Spread
Commission per Round Lot
Swap Long
Swap Short
Total Trading Costs
0.1 pips
$6.00
-$20.384
X
$27.384
0.1 pips
$6.00
X
-$1.855
$8.855

What Can I Trade on Blackbull Markets?

BlackBull Markets offers traders an excellent asset selection, placing it in the Top 5 brokers in the industry. Forex traders get 60+ currency pairs, but the bulk consists of 23,000+ equity CFD and the underlying asset for direct share dealing from 80+ global stock exchanges. It results in a broad-based choice of trading instruments ideal for demanding asset managers and long-term dividend income-generating portfolios. BlackBull Markets has also added cryptocurrency CFDs, and the only asset class not offered is ETFs.

Asset List and Leverage Overview

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds
ETFs
Options
Futures
Synthetics

Blackbull Markets​ Leverage

BlackBull Markets offers maximum leverage of 1:500 for Forex traders, plus gold and silver. Indices and oil remain capped at 1:100. A three-tier system exists, lowering it to 1:200 above 0.50 lots and 1:100 above 1 lot.

BlackBull Markets 3-Tier Leverage

Blackbull Makrkets Trading Hours

Forex trading is available from (all times shown in UTC) Monday 00:00 to Friday 24:00. Most commodities from Monday through Friday from 01:00 to 24:00. European index CFDs are tradeable Monday through Friday between 09:00 to 23:00, while US ones are available between 01:00 to 23:15 and from 23:30 to 24:00.

Asset ClassFromTo
Currency PairsMonday 00:00Friday 24:00
CryptocurrenciesMonday 01:00Friday 24:00
CommoditiesMonday 01:00Friday 24:00
Crude OilMonday 01:00Friday 24:00
GoldMonday 01:00Friday 24:00
MetalsMonday 01:00Friday 24:00
Equity IndicesMonday 01:00Friday 24:00
StocksMonday 10:00Friday 23:00
Stocks (non-CFDs)Monday 10:00Friday 23:00

Account Types

I like the ECN Prime account at BlackBull Markets as it offers the best cost structure.The minimum deposit is $2,000 here compared to $0 for the ECN Standard account, but the minimum trading costs are $7 versus $8. I am a high-volume and high-frequency trader, so the $1 price difference results in thousands of dollars per year in more profits from the same trading strategy. The maximum leverage is 1:500, but most traders get between 1:100 and 1:200, which remains competitive.BlackBull Markets also offers an Islamic account, institutional one, and a special offer for active traders.

BlackBull Markets Account Types

Demo Account

Regrettably, BlackBull Markets limits its demo account to just 30 days, and it is only available on the MT4 trading platform. While the trading conditions are not identical to a live one, BlackBull Markets should allow for longer than 30 days. Traders may select a demo balance between $5,000 and $100,000.

BlackBull Markets Demo Account

Blackbull Markets Trading Platforms

BlackBull Markets offers traders the core MT4/MT5 trading platforms, upgraded with the Autochartist plugin, assisting manual traders via automated chart pattern recognition and trading set-ups.BlackBull also offers the integrated use of TradingView as a standalone platform in addition to the MetaTrader solutions. Since BlackBull Markets is a FinTech company, I would like to see a proprietary solution. MT4 remains the leader in algorithmic trading, but MT4 and MT5 support it, and both have a built-in copy-trading system. BlackBull Markets offers MT4/MT5 as a desktop client, webtrader, and mobile app.

Overview of Trading Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin

I like that BlackBull Markets offers the FIX API, allowing algorithmic traders to connect advanced trading solutions. Free VPS hosting from NYC Servers or BeeksFX is available for ECN Prime accounts with trading volume above 20 lots, which is an offer I find reasonable. BlackBull Markets also supports social trading via market leaders ZuluTrade and Myfxbook Autotrade plus newcomer HokoCloud. BlackBull Markets also allows its clients to connect their accounts to TradingView, an active community with 30M+ traders.

Research and Education

BlackBull Markets maintains a research section, providing daily news and views, a stock research report section covering assets listed in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, and model equity portfolios for Australia and New Zealand. The research also consists of technical analysis, but the entire package costs $45 monthly.

Beginner traders get fifteen videos, and numerous short Trading Guides, offering an in-depth introduction to trading. While I prefer more content, BlackBull Markets presents enough information for beginners. A Trading Glossary is also available.

Customer Support

Customer Support Methodsemail-support chat-support
Support Hours24/7
Website Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • French
      • German
      • Other
      • Chinese
      • Portuguese
      • Thai
  • Traders have access to customer support 24/7 via live chat, which I find the most convenient form to connect. A phone number, including a toll-free for New Zealand, and nine e-mail addresses are also listed, one with support in Chinese. I appreciate the transparency at BlackBull Markets, as fully detailed contact information is provided.

    BlackBull Markets answers some questions in its FAQ section and describes its products and services well. Therefore, I believe that most traders will not require assistance unless there is an emergency. In such a case, BlackBull Markets ensures a customer service representative is available.

    BlackBull Markets Contact Information

    Blackbull Markets Bonuses

    While BlackBull Markets does not offer bonuses, it maintains an Active Trader Account where it presents qualifying traders with monetary incentives like lower commissions or services like free VPS hosting. Given the excellent trading infrastructure and competitive trading costs, I do not consider the absence of incentives for new retail traders as a negative factor.

    BlackBull Markets Active Trader Account

    Opening an Account

    Opening an account at BlackBull Markets is acceptably quick and follows the normal standard in the retail Forex industry. I found some of the additional questions unnecessary, as traders can fill them out as they wish, and there is no verification of the answers. BlackBull Markets includes the account verification with the account opening form, which I like, as it is a requirement and saves traders the extra step from the back office. New traders must submit a copy of their ID and a proof of residency document dated within the past three months.

    BlackBull Markets follows well-established industry practices for onboarding new traders.

    BlackBull Markets Account Opening Form

    Minimum Deposit

    The minimum deposit for the BlackBull Markets ECN Standard account is $0, for the ECN Prime $2,000, and for the Institutional one $20,000. While the minimum deposit for ECN Prime remains higher than some competitive brokers, I found them justifiable by cost and services provided and, therefore, acceptable and an excellent value for deposit requirement.

    Payment Methods

    Traders may deposit into their BlackBull Markets trading accounts via bank wires, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, China Union Pay and FasaPay.

    Withdrawal options
  • Deposit options
  • BlackBull also allows deposits to be made in the following cryptocurrencies:

    • Bitcoin
    • Bitcoin Cash
    • Litecoin
    • Ethereum
    • Tether
    • Stellar
    • Ripple
    • Chainlink
    • USD Coin

    Blackbull Markets Deposits & Withdrawals

    I appreciate the flexibility at BlackBull Markets for deposits, as after the initial deposit, follow-on amounts remain at the discretion of traders. Another positive is that traders may deposit in nine currencies, but not all deposit methods support each of them. I do not like the $5 withdrawal fee, which most brokers do not charge. BlackBull Markets process all withdrawal requests within 24 hours, and the back office handles all financial transactions from an easy-to-use interface.

    BlackBull allows traders to deposit any amount they wish following the initial minimum deposit.

    BlackBull Markets Minimum Deposits

    Traders may deposit using six deposit methods and nine currencies.

    Withdrawals above the deposit amount using payment processors are not possible. Traders must make such withdrawals directly to their bank accounts.

    BlackBull Markets Withdrawals to Payment Processors

    Bottom Line

    I like the trading experience at BlackBull Markets due to its competitive cost structure and excellent trade execution. BlackBull Markets also supports API trading and offers VPS hosting, making it ideal for advanced algorithmic trading. The asset selection, especially for equity traders, ranks among the top 5 brokers within the retail Forex/CFD industry. The minimum deposit for the ECN Prime account of $2,000 is a bit high but remains acceptable. Overall, the core trading environment is outstanding, and I rank BlackBull Markets as a leading choice for demanding equity traders, asset managers, and Forex traders.

    Blackbull Markets Broker Alternatives & Comparisons

    FAQs

    Is BlackBull Markets regulated?

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    BlackBull Markets has a regulatory license from the FMA in New Zealand and the FSA in Seychelles.

    Where is BlackBull Markets based?

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    The headquarters of BlackBull Markets is in Auckland, New Zealand.

    How does BlackBull Markets make money?

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    BlackBull Markets makes money from spreads, commissions, and swap rates on leveraged overnight positions.

    How do I open a live account with BlackBull Markets?

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    Clicking on Live Account on the homepage of BlackBull Markets opens the four-step online application process.

    How do I deposit money with BlackBull Markets?

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    BlackBull Markets accepts deposits by bank wires, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, Union Pay, FasaPay, and selected cryptocurrencies.

    How do I withdraw money from BlackBull Markets?

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    Traders can request withdrawals from the secure back office of BlackBull Markets in a straightforward process, usually completed within 24 hours except for bank wires.

    Is BlackBull Markets legit?

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    BlackBull Market is a legit broker regulated in New Zealand, the UK, and Seychelles with an exceptional regulatory track record.

    Can you trade crypto with BlackBull Markets?

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    BlackBull Markets offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but not physical cryptocurrency trading.

    About the Author

    DailyForex.com Team
    The DailyForex.com team is comprised of analysts and researchers from around the world who watch the market throughout the day to provide you with unique perspectives and helpful analysis that can help improve your Forex trading.