XX% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Key facts
- UK entity: Hantec Markets Limited — FCA, FRN 502635
- Group: Hantec Group, founded in 1990, with regulated entities in the UK, Australia, Mauritius, Vanuatu, Seychelles and Hong Kong
- UK accounts: Standard (commission-free) and Pro ECN (raw spreads + commission)
- Minimum deposit (UK): $100
- Platform (UK): MetaTrader 4 on desktop, web and mobile
- Retail leverage: up to 30:1 on major FX pairs (FCA limit)
Who is Hantec Markets?
Hantec Markets is the retail trading brand of Hantec Group, a financial services group that has been active in the markets since 1990. The group's roots are in Hong Kong — its bullion arm, Hantec Bullion Limited, is a member of the Hong Kong Gold Exchange — and it has since grown into a multi-regulated broker with offices that include London.
For UK residents the important entity is Hantec Markets Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 502635). That is the company that opens your account, holds your money and is bound by FCA rules on client money, leverage, risk warnings and marketing.
Other group companies serve clients elsewhere under different regulators, which is why you'll see different minimum deposits, platforms and leverage quoted around the web. Everything in this review refers to the UK offering unless we say otherwise.
Regulation and safety
Safety is the first thing we score, and it's where Hantec Markets is strongest. As an FCA-authorised firm, Hantec Markets Limited must:
- Segregate client money from the company's own funds, so it cannot be used to run the business.
- Provide negative balance protection to retail clients — you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Apply the FCA's retail leverage limits and close positions when your margin falls to 50% of the required level.
- Display a standardised risk warning including the percentage of its retail accounts that lose money.
- Not offer bonuses or other trading incentives to retail clients.
Eligible clients of FCA-authorised investment firms can also claim from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) — up to £85,000 per person — if the firm fails and cannot return client money.
| Hantec Group entity | Regulator | Licence / reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hantec Markets Limited (UK) | Financial Conduct Authority | FRN 502635 |
| Hantec Markets (Australia) Pty Limited | ASIC | AFSL 326907 |
| Hantec Markets Ltd (Mauritius) | Financial Services Commission | C114013940 |
| Hantec Markets Financial Limited (Vanuatu) | VFSC | 40318 |
| Hantec (Seychelles) Services Limited | FSA Seychelles | SD164 |
| Hantec Bullion Limited (Hong Kong) | Hong Kong Gold Exchange | Member no. 163 |
Account types: Standard vs Pro ECN
UK clients choose between two live accounts. Both give access to the same markets on MetaTrader 4; the difference is how you pay for trading.
| Standard | Pro ECN | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Spread only, no commission | Raw spread + commission per lot |
| Typical EUR/USD spread | Around 0.9 pips | From 0.1 pips |
| Commission | None | Charged per lot traded confirm current rate |
| Minimum deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Best for | Beginners, occasional traders | Active traders, larger volumes |
A free demo account lets you practise on MT4 with virtual funds before going live. Professional client status, with higher leverage and fewer protections, is available to traders who meet the FCA's experience and portfolio criteria.
Fees and trading costs
For most traders the spread is the main cost. On the Standard account, EUR/USD averages around 0.9 pips — competitive for a commission-free account. The Pro ECN account starts from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD, with a separate commission, which usually makes it cheaper once you trade more than occasionally.
Worked example
One standard lot (100,000 units) of EUR/USD moves roughly $10 per pip. On the Standard account, a 0.9-pip spread costs about $9 per round trip. On Pro ECN, a 0.1-pip spread costs about $1, plus the commission. If the commission is a few dollars per lot, Pro ECN comes out several dollars cheaper per lot — a gap that adds up quickly for active traders.
Other costs to know
- Overnight financing (swap): charged or credited on positions held past the daily rollover. It can be the biggest cost for longer-term trades.
- Deposits and withdrawals: Hantec does not charge its own fees for funding, though your bank or payment provider may.
- Inactivity fee: a small monthly fee may apply after a long period without trading confirm UK terms.
- Currency conversion: funding in a currency different from your account's base currency can incur conversion costs.
Trading platform: MetaTrader 4
UK clients trade on MetaTrader 4, still the most widely used retail forex platform in the world. You can use it on Windows and Mac desktops, in a web browser, and through the MT4 apps for iOS and Android.
- Charting: nine timeframes, dozens of built-in indicators and drawing tools.
- Automation: full support for Expert Advisors (EAs) and custom indicators written in MQL4.
- One-click trading and a full set of market and pending order types.
- Huge ecosystem: thousands of third-party indicators, EAs and tutorials.
The trade-off is choice: Hantec's MetaTrader 5, web trader and copy-trading app are offered through its non-UK entities, so UK clients who prefer MT5, cTrader or TradingView-native trading will need to look elsewhere.
Markets you can trade
Hantec Group advertises more than 2,650 instruments across its entities. The UK offering focuses on CFDs on:
- Forex — majors, minors and exotic pairs
- Precious metals — including gold and silver
- Commodities — such as oil
- Indices — including the UK 100, US 500 and Germany 40
- Share CFDs on major international companies confirm UK availability
Cryptocurrency CFDs are not available to UK retail clients, because the FCA has banned their sale to retail investors since January 2021.
Deposits and withdrawals
The minimum first deposit for UK clients is $100. Hantec supports bank transfer and debit/credit cards, with e-wallets available through some entities confirm UK payment methods. Hantec itself does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees.
As with every FCA broker, withdrawals are normally returned to the same method you deposited with, in your name — a rule designed to prevent fraud and money laundering. Card and e-wallet withdrawals are usually the fastest; international bank transfers can take several working days.
Research, education and support
Hantec provides an economic calendar, market commentary, webinars and an education library, and has offered third-party tools such as Trading Central. Exact tools vary by entity confirm UK tool list.
Customer support is available by live chat, email and phone during market hours confirm hours. In our checks we look for knowledgeable answers to specific questions — for example, which entity holds client money and how long a card withdrawal takes — rather than scripted replies.
Pros and cons
Pros
- FCA-authorised UK entity (FRN 502635)
- Part of Hantec Group, active since 1990
- Raw-spread Pro ECN account from 0.1 pips
- Commission-free Standard account for beginners
- Low $100 minimum deposit
- MetaTrader 4 with full EA support
Cons
- MT5 not offered to UK clients
- No cTrader or native TradingView trading
- No crypto CFDs for UK retail (FCA rule)
- Standard-account spreads wider than Pro ECN
Who is Hantec Markets best for?
- MT4 traders who want an FCA-regulated broker with institutional-group backing.
- Active traders who will benefit from raw spreads on the Pro ECN account.
- Beginners who want a simple, commission-free Standard account and a low $100 starting deposit.
It's a weaker fit if you specifically want MT5, cTrader, native TradingView trading or a share-dealing account alongside your CFD trading.
How Hantec Markets compares
| Hantec Markets | Typical UK CFD broker | |
|---|---|---|
| FCA authorised | Yes (FRN 502635) | Yes |
| Minimum deposit | $100 | £0–£250 |
| Raw-spread account | Yes (Pro ECN) | Often |
| MT4 | Yes | Usually |
| MT5 (UK) | No | Often |
| Max retail leverage (majors) | 30:1 | 30:1 |
Final verdict
Hantec Markets earns its place at the top of our 2026 rankings by getting the fundamentals right: FCA authorisation for UK clients, the stability of a group that has been in the markets for more than three decades, and a Pro ECN account that keeps trading costs low. Its UK platform choice is narrower than some rivals', but for the large number of traders who already live in MetaTrader 4, that focus is a strength rather than a weakness.
As always, open a demo first, read the client agreement, and only trade money you can afford to lose.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hantec Markets regulated in the UK?
Yes. Hantec Markets Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number (FRN) 502635. UK clients are onboarded through this FCA-regulated entity.
What is the minimum deposit at Hantec Markets?
For UK clients the minimum deposit is $100 (or currency equivalent). Entities outside the UK and Australia advertise lower minimums.
Does Hantec Markets offer MetaTrader 5 in the UK?
UK clients trade on MetaTrader 4. MT5 and some proprietary apps are offered through Hantec's non-UK entities.
What leverage does Hantec Markets offer UK clients?
Retail clients are limited by FCA rules to 30:1 on major currency pairs, 20:1 on non-major pairs, gold and major indices, and lower limits on other assets.
Is my money safe with Hantec Markets?
As an FCA-authorised firm, Hantec Markets Limited must hold retail client money in segregated accounts and provide negative balance protection. Eligible clients may also be covered by the FSCS up to £85,000.
Can I trade crypto with Hantec Markets in the UK?
No. The FCA has banned the sale of cryptocurrency CFDs to UK retail clients since January 2021, so crypto CFDs are not available to UK retail accounts.
Is Hantec Markets safe and legit?
Hantec Markets serves UK clients through an FCA-authorised entity, which must segregate client money, provide negative balance protection to retail clients and give eligible clients access to the Financial Ombudsman and FSCS. As with any leveraged product, your trading capital is still at risk.
CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading these products. You should consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.