Unlimited Leverage Forex Trading in South Africa: How It Works
BY TIOmarkets
|March 21, 2026Leverage is a standard feature of forex trading, but unlimited leverage is not. Most brokers apply fixed leverage ratios that cap your maximum position size relative to your margin. TIOmarkets offers a different model on its Standard account: an equity-linked approach where the maximum position you can carry is tied directly to your account equity, rather than a fixed ratio. For forex traders in South Africa, this model is accessible from a minimum deposit of R500 on the Standard account.
This guide explains how unlimited leverage works in practice, what conditions and restrictions apply, and what South African traders need to know before using it.
What Unlimited Leverage Means in Practice
Traditional leverage ratios such as 1:100 or 1:500 set a fixed relationship between your margin and the position size you can open. A 1:500 ratio means you need 0.2% of a position's notional value as margin. These ratios cap your maximum exposure at a defined multiple of your deposited funds.
Unlimited leverage removes that fixed cap. Instead of a ratio, the constraint becomes your account equity itself. Under TIOmarkets' unlimited leverage model on the MT5 Standard account, the combined pip value of all your open positions cannot exceed your available account equity, minus spreads and commissions. This means if you have R5,000 in equity, you can open positions with a combined pip value of up to R5,000, not beyond it.
No margin is withheld as collateral against open positions under this model. You can utilise your full account equity for trading. As your equity changes, whether through profits, losses, or additional deposits, your maximum position capacity changes with it.
How the Equity-Based Margin Scaling Works
While the model is described as unlimited leverage, it is not unconditional. TIOmarkets applies a dynamic margin scaling system on the Standard account that adjusts the effective leverage based on account equity.
At equity below $1,000, there is no margin requirement and unlimited leverage applies in full. From $1,000 to $2,499 in equity, a 0.05% margin requirement applies, equivalent to 1:2000 leverage. From $2,500 to $4,999, the margin requirement is 0.1%, equivalent to 1:1000. From $5,000 to $19,999, it is 0.2%, equivalent to 1:500. At equity of $20,000 or above, the requirement is 0.5%, equivalent to 1:200.
All leverage figures are subject to change depending on market conditions and applicable regulatory requirements.
This scaling means the effective leverage available decreases as your account grows. A smaller account benefits from the most flexible conditions. As equity increases through successful trading or deposits, the margin requirement rises proportionally, which moderates the maximum position size relative to equity at higher balance levels.
Restrictions That Apply to Unlimited Leverage
Several conditions govern when and how unlimited leverage can be used. Understanding these before trading is important, particularly for traders who use automated strategies or hold positions through economic events.
Only symbols carrying a "un" suffix in the MT5 platform are eligible for the unlimited leverage feature. Not all instruments available on the platform qualify. Before placing a trade under the unlimited leverage model, confirm the symbol you intend to trade carries the correct suffix.
No positive swaps are available on unlimited leverage symbols. If a position would ordinarily earn a positive swap credit overnight, that credit does not apply when the symbol is traded under the unlimited leverage model.
A 0.5% margin requirement, equivalent to 1:200 leverage, applies to positions opened from 15 minutes before to 5 minutes after high-impact news announcements. This restriction reflects the increased risk of sharp price movements around major economic releases.
The same 0.5% margin requirement applies to positions opened from 21:00 Friday to 01:00 Monday MetaTrader server time. This covers the weekend period when market liquidity is lower and price gaps on the Monday open are more likely.
Expert advisor trading is not compatible with the unlimited leverage feature. If you use automated strategies or EAs, the unlimited leverage model cannot be applied.
Unlimited leverage is available on the Standard account only. It is not available on Raw, VIP Black, or Nano accounts.
Why Unlimited Leverage Carries Significant Risk
The same feature that allows you to use your full account equity to open positions also means that adverse price movements affect your account more rapidly. When no margin is withheld as a buffer, even a small move against an open position affects your equity directly and immediately.
The combined pip value of all open positions is the critical figure to monitor. If your combined pip value equals your equity, a one-pip adverse move across all positions will eliminate your entire equity. In practice, the stop out level acts as a safety mechanism: the Standard account has a margin call at 100% and a stop out at 30%. However, at unlimited leverage, the distance between your current equity and the stop out level can be very small in pip terms if you are trading at or near maximum capacity.
This is why position sizing and total exposure management are especially important when using high leverage. Understanding the pip value of every open position, and how the combined pip value of all positions relates to your current equity, should be part of your standard practice before placing any trade at high leverage levels.
Funding a South Africa Unlimited Leverage Account
To access unlimited leverage at TIOmarkets, you need a Standard account on MT5. The Standard account can be funded in ZAR, with a minimum deposit of R500. Deposits by debit or credit card from South Africa are processed instantly. Bank wire transfers can take up to five business days.
Withdrawals are processed within one business day by TIOmarkets. Funds returned to cards are typically available the same day, though up to five business days can apply. There are no deposit or withdrawal fees when the amount is R500 or the equivalent in another supported currency or more.
ZAR withdrawals are processed by card only. Bank wire, e-wallet, and mobile money methods do not support ZAR withdrawals. Profits can be withdrawn by bank wire or other available methods if the original deposit method does not support the full withdrawal amount.
A 14-day grace period applies following registration, during which you can trade before full verification is required for withdrawal. Full verification must be completed before any withdrawal is processed.
The full per-currency minimum deposit figures confirmed for South Africa are: Standard account R500, Raw account R6,250, VIP Black account R25,000.
Account Types Available to South African Traders
TIOmarkets offers three main live account types alongside a demo account. The Standard account has a minimum spread of 1.1 pips, no commission, leverage up to unlimited on MT5, and a minimum deposit of R500. The Raw account has spreads from 0.0 pips, a commission of $6 per round turn lot, leverage up to 1:500 on request, and a minimum deposit of R6,250. The VIP Black account has spreads from 0.3 pips, no commission, leverage up to 1:500 on request, and a minimum deposit of R25,000.
A Standard account is created automatically when you register. Raw and VIP Black accounts can be opened at any time through the client area under the same user profile.
A demo account with up to $50,000 in virtual funds is available for practising without risk. Demo accounts often execute instantly and may not fully replicate live slippage conditions.
Trading Platforms for Unlimited Leverage in South Africa
The unlimited leverage feature requires MT5. It is not available on MT4. MT5 is available on desktop for Windows and macOS, via web browser, and on mobile for iOS and Android. The desktop version supports expert advisors and automated trading, though EA trading is not compatible with the unlimited leverage feature as noted above.
MT4 is also available for Standard account holders who prefer the older platform, but unlimited leverage applies to MT5 only.
FAQ
Risk disclaimer: 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. Never deposit more than you are prepared to lose. Professional client’s losses can exceed their deposit. Please see our risk warning policy and seek independent professional advice if you do not fully understand. This information is not directed or intended for distribution to or use by residents of certain countries/jurisdictions including, but not limited to, USA & Countries included in the OFAC sanction list. The Company holds the right to alter the aforementioned list of countries at its own discretion.
TIOmarkets offers an exclusively execution-only service. The views expressed are for information purposes only. None of the content provided constitutes any form of investment advice. The comments are made available purely for educational and marketing purposes and do NOT constitute advice or investment recommendation (and should not be considered as such) and do not in any way constitute an invitation to acquire any financial instrument or product. TIOmarkets and its affiliates and consultants are not liable for any damages that may be caused by individual comments or statements by TIOmarkets analysis and assumes no liability with respect to the completeness and correctness of the content presented. The investor is solely responsible for the risk of his/her investment decisions. The analyses and comments presented do not include any consideration of your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. The content has not been prepared in accordance with any legal requirements for financial analysis and must, therefore, be viewed by the reader as marketing information. TIOmarkets prohibits duplication or publication without explicit approval.
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