| Updated: December 16, 2024Established in 2008, Plus500 is a global leader in finance, operating proprietary technology-driven trading platforms. With a comprehensive portfolio of tradable instruments, 25+ million registered customers, and a presence in 50+ countries, the brand has been continually committed to excellence in providing top-rated trading experience.
In keeping with its mission to expand its product offering, the company has recently launched its futures trading operations in the United States. The entity catering to US citizens is Plus500 US Financial Services LLC, registered as a Futures Commission Merchant with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA).
With a low deposit requirement of $100, the broker unlocks seamless access to an extensive assortment of futures markets on Agriculture, Cryptocurrencies, Energy, Equity Indices, Forex, Interest Rates, and Metals
This publication aims to deliver a comprehensive review of the company’s operations in the US and cover important aspects, including regulation, range of financial instruments, supported trading platforms, payment methods, account types, and customer service.
Plus500 US Key Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Regulated by the US CFTC and member of the NFA
- Well-rounded portfolio of futures markets
- Competitive pricing structure
- Proprietary trading platform on desktop, web, and mobile
- A sufficient range of secure payment methods
- Listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and among the companies making up the FTSE 250 index
Cons:
- No investor compensation scheme for US customers
- No negative balance protection
- Lack of customer support by phone
Regulations
Plus500 US Financial Services, LLC (“Plus500USFS”, formerly Cunningham Commodities, LLC) is the entity that provides trading services to US citizens. Its registered office is at 2 Pierce Place, Suite 200, Itasca, Illinois 60143.
The company is a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
It is the National Futures Association (NFA), a self-regulatory organization for the US derivatives industry that registers and examines the operations of intermediaries on behalf of the CFTC. The organization is tasked with keeping a register of license holders, providing financial information, as well as a record of disciplinary and regulatory details. Plus500 US is registered under NFA ID number 0001398.
The company complies with all regulatory requirements and has adopted a customer-first approach, with a focus on keeping clients’ data and funds safe. All customer funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from the company’s operating funds.
Traders can be fully confident in the company’s reliability, as it is listed on the LSE’s Main Market for Listed Companies and is among the constituents of the FTSE 250 index.
Trading Instruments
As per the definition of a Futures Contract, provided by the CME Group (of which Plus500 US is a full member), it is a legitimate agreement to purchase or sell a standardized asset (a commodity or a financial instrument) at a specified time in the future, facilitated through a futures exchange.In full compliance with the rules set forth by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC, Plus500 US provides trading services via futures on:Agriculture
8 Futures Contracts, including Soybean Meal, Corn, and Wheat
Cryptocurrencies
4 Futures Contracts: Micro Bitcoin, Micro Ether, Bitcoin Friday (BFFZ406), and Bitcoin Friday (BFFZ413)
Forex
15 Futures Contracts: AUD, GBP, CAD, CHF, NZD, JPY, BRL, ZAR, MXN, Euro FX, E-mini Euro FX, Micro AUD/USD, Micro GBP/USD, Micro EUR/USD, Micro CAD/USD
Interest Rates
10 Futures Contracts, including 2Y T-Note, Micro Ultra 10-Year U.S Treasury Note, and US T-Bond
Energy
10 Futures Contracts, including Micro WTI Crude Oil, Brent Crude Oil, and Natural Gas
Equity Indices
11 Futures Contracts, including E-mini S&P MidCap 400, Micro E-mini S&P 500, and Micro E-mini Dow Joes
Metals
8 Futures Contracts, including Gold, Micro Gold, Platinum, and Silver
Intraday margin is the initial amount of money customers need to trade one futures contract throughout a trading day. Traders should note that on the Plus500 US platform, the specified Intraday Margin is variable and changes daily for each of the listed financial instruments. The Intraday Margin for trading one futures contract on the Australian Dollar is $400, at the time of publication. Customers may check out the attractive day trading margins on the website, with just $100 needed to start trading.
In the table below, readers can have a look at the Intraday Margin for several instruments across the asset classes supported by Plus500 US, valid at the time of publication:
| Plus500 US Intraday Margins for Futures Contracts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | Instrument | Intraday Margin |
| Agriculture | Soybean Meal | $715 |
| Corn | $250 | |
| Wheat | $250 | |
| Cryptocurrencies | Micro Bitcoin | $100 |
| Micro Ether | $20 | |
| Bitcoin Friday | $25 | |
| Forex | Australian Dollar | $400 |
| Micro AUD/USD | $40 | |
| E-mini Euro FX | $150 | |
| Interest Rates | 2Y T-Note | $200 |
| Micro Ultra 10-Year U.S Treasury Note | $100 | |
| Micro 10-Year Yield | $45 | |
| Energy | Micro WTI Crude Oil | $80 |
| E-mini Natural Gas | $250 | |
| Micro Natural Gas | $100 | |
| Equity Indices | Micro E-mini S&P 500 | $50 |
| Micro E-mini Dow Jones | $50 | |
| Micro Nikkei (USD | $150 | |
| Metals | Gold | $500 |
| Platinum | $690 | |
| Silver | 2,200 | |
*Intraday Margin valid as of 05.12.2024
Standard contract commissions of $0.89 and micro contract commissions of $0.49 apply. The liquidation fee per contract is $10. In addition to these fees, there is an NFA Regulatory Fee of $0.02 per side per contract. The broker charges no data, platform, and routing fees. Inactivity fees are also waived.
Plus500 US has taken care to provide a well-rounded Futures Trading Academy, including educational videos and articles on all supported financial instruments. Customers are empowered to learn everything there is to know about the Futures trading markets, so they can trade with ease and confidence.
Trading Platforms
 Platforms |
 PC / MAC |
 Smartphones |
 Tablets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus500 WebTrader |   |   | |
| Proprietary | | | |
Plus500 US provides a proprietary Plus500 WebTrader platform, accessible via web browsers and mobile devices. The feature-rich platform unlocks seamless access to the above-mentioned Futures contracts to US citizens.
Plus500 WebTrader stands out with its user-intuitive, customizable layout. It is available in more than 30 languages and users can enable two-factor authentication to enhance their security. The platform is equipped with robust charting functionalities with 100+ technical indicators. Multiple chart types are at the disposal of traders, including Candles, Line Charts, and Range Bars. Eleven timeframes, from one minute to one week, are available for charts.
Moreover, traders will benefit from other popular features such as watchlists, placing orders directly from charts, and live chat support, accessible directly through the trading platform. Traders can place all standard order types, including market, limit, and stop loss orders. Thanks to a convenient search functionality, located at the top of the screen, they can easily find a specific instrument.
The platform is available in demo mode as well, enabling traders to explore the futures markets without risking real funds. As they gain confidence, they can easily switch to live trading with a single click.
The mobile platform is available for iOS, Android, and Windows. It shares the great features and functionalities available on the web platform, including 2-FA, demo mode, and multiple charting tools.
Payment Methods
Plus500 US has implemented several payment methods allowing US traders to manage safely and conveniently their deposits and withdrawals on its Futures trading platform. These include Visa and Mastercard debit cards, wire transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. There are no fees on deposits and withdrawals, reducing customers’ non-trading costs to a minimum. It takes one to three business days to process a withdrawal request.
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
 | $100 | No Fees | Instant |
 | $100 | No Fees | Instant |
 | $200 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
 | $100 | No fees | Instant |
 | $100 | No fees | Instant |
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
| $200 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
| $100 | No Fees | 1-3 Business days |
Account Types
Plus500 US supports one account type catering to the needs of retail traders. The process of registering an account is easy and can be completed within minutes. To sign up for a live account, US traders are required to deposit a minimum of $100.
The account application process starts with providing an email and setting a password. Alternatively, traders can set up their accounts by using their Google or Facebook profiles. Some additional information such as date of birth, Social Security Number, and annual income is also required. Customers need to tick the box indicating that they have read and agreed to the End-User License Agreement.
Opting for a demo account is also possible. This allows inexperienced traders to explore the futures markets without risking real money. The demo account replicates live quotes and simulates real market conditions, enabling traders to practice their strategies and get used to the intricacies of live trading. As soon as they get comfortable with the trading platform and become more confident they can switch to a live trading account.
Customer Support
Plus500 US supports a 24/7 live chat service. Customers can rely on timely and professional assistance from support representatives whenever they need it. Telephone support, however, is not available. The website is supported in English and Spanish. Readers must note that, as Plus500 US states, all official correspondence with customers is conducted in written form.
In addition to the helpful and professional team of customer support officials, traders can obtain useful information from the Support Center. It contains answers to frequently asked questions about Futures trading, account verification, and funding, among others.
Conclusion
All in all, Plus500 US provides outstanding conditions for US traders interested in exploring the benefits of futures markets. With robust regulation from the CFTC and membership in the NFA, they can trade confidently and pick from a well-rounded portfolio of futures contracts across several asset classes. Last but not least, the competitive commissions along with the robust proprietary trading platform perfectly equip customers for successful futures trading.