Trade Nation review
Trade Nation is a CFD and spread-betting broker launched in 2014 as Core Spreads, rebranding to Trade Nation in 2020. It is built around fixed-spread pricing, zero commissions and no deposit or withdrawal fees, offered through its own TN Trader platform, an integrated TradingView package, and MT4. The group operates six separately licensed entities: an FCA-regulated firm in the UK and an ASIC-regulated firm in Australia sit alongside lighter-touch entities in Seychelles, the Bahamas, South Africa and Portugal. Product range is comparatively narrow: CFDs and spread bets on forex, indices, commodities, shares and a handful of major cryptocurrencies, with no real share dealing, ETFs, options or futures.
Trade Nation key facts
- Website: tradenation.com
- Category: CFD and spread-betting broker
- Founded: 2014 (as Core Spreads, rebranded 2020)
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Regulation: FCA (UK, FRN 525164) and ASIC (Australia, AFSL 422661), plus FSA Seychelles, SCB Bahamas, FSCA South Africa and CMVM Portugal entities
- Platforms: TN Trader, TradingView (integrated), MetaTrader 4
- Markets offered: 1,000+ instruments across forex, indices, commodities, shares and crypto CFDs
- Minimum deposit: No minimum on standard accounts
- Fee model: Fixed or variable spreads depending on account, zero commission, no deposit/withdrawal fees
- FYI Score: 83.8/100 (ranked #52 of the 136 CFD brokers we track)
Regulation & licences
- UK: Trade Nation Financial UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference 525164); UK retail clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000.
- Australia: Trade Nation Australia Pty Ltd holds an AFSL (422661) from ASIC.
- Outside these two tier-1 jurisdictions, the group trades through separately licensed entities in Seychelles (FSA, licence SD150), the Bahamas (SCB, SIA-F216), South Africa (FSCA, licence 49846) and Portugal (CMVM, licence 601) — oversight and investor protections on these entities are materially lighter than the FCA/ASIC arms.
- Which entity a client is onboarded to depends on country of residence, so the actual protections in place vary by region rather than being uniform group-wide.
Spreads & fees
- Fixed-spread pricing via TN Trader/TradingView, e.g. EUR/USD from around 0.5 pips in main trading hours, widening off-hours; a variable-spread Standard account is also available on MT4.
- Zero commission on standard accounts, and no deposit or withdrawal fees.
- No monthly inactivity fee.
- A swap-free (Islamic) account is available, charging a daily administration fee instead of overnight swaps after a short grace period.
Platforms & tools
- TN Trader: the proprietary web and mobile platform, paired with fixed spreads.
- TradingView integration for charting alongside Trade Nation's own pricing.
- MetaTrader 4 desktop support for traders who want EA/algo compatibility.
- TradeCopier for mirroring third-party trading signals.
Markets & instruments
- 1,000+ tradeable instruments in total, smaller than mass-market CFD competitors.
- Forex: 35 major and minor currency pairs.
- Indices, energy and metals, plus share CFDs on UK, US, European and South African-listed companies.
- CFDs only throughout — no real stock ownership, ETFs, options or futures; spread betting is offered to UK residents alongside CFDs.
Account types
- Fixed-spread account (TN Trader/TradingView), zero commission.
- Standard account on MT4 with variable spreads.
- Swap-free (Islamic) account with an admin-fee structure.
- Elective Professional account for clients who qualify for higher leverage.
Markets
[object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object]
Platforms
TN Trader, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, TradeCopier
Who Trade Nation is for
Suits self-directed CFD and spread-betting traders who value fixed-spread cost certainty and zero account fees over the widest possible asset range. UK and Australian clients get FCA/ASIC-level protections; clients placed with the Seychelles or Bahamas entities do not.
Pros
- Tier-1 regulation via the FCA and ASIC entities, on top of licences in four further jurisdictions
- Fixed-spread pricing gives cost certainty, with zero commission and no deposit or withdrawal fees
- No minimum deposit on standard accounts
- Choice of proprietary TN Trader, integrated TradingView, or MT4
Cons
- Product range is narrower than mass-market rivals: CFDs and spread bets only, no real shares, ETFs, options or futures
- Clients booked through the Seychelles or Bahamas entities get materially lighter regulatory protection than those under the FCA or ASIC arms
- Limited in-house research and education compared with larger brokers
- Not available to US residents
Trade Nation FAQ
Is Trade Nation regulated?
Yes, but the strength of regulation depends on which entity a client is onboarded to. In the UK, Trade Nation Financial UK Ltd is authorised by the FCA (firm reference 525164); in Australia, Trade Nation Australia Pty Ltd holds an ASIC AFSL (422661). Clients in other regions may instead be booked through entities regulated by the FSA in Seychelles, the SCB in the Bahamas, the FSCA in South Africa, or the CMVM in Portugal, which carry lighter oversight than the FCA/ASIC arms.
What was Trade Nation before it was Trade Nation?
The broker launched in 2014 as Core Spreads and rebranded to Trade Nation in 2020.
Does Trade Nation charge commission?
No. Standard accounts are commission-free, with cost built into the spread, and Trade Nation charges no deposit or withdrawal fees. A swap-free account is available for an administration fee instead of overnight swaps.
What can you trade with Trade Nation?
CFDs and, for UK residents, spread bets on forex (35 major and minor pairs), indices, commodities, shares and a small selection of major cryptocurrencies — around 1,000 instruments in total. There is no real share ownership, ETFs, options or futures.
Compare Trade Nation with other CFD brokers
See all CFD brokers ranked by FYI →
Home · CFD Brokers · Brokers · Crypto · Prop firms · Prediction markets · Media · Influencers · Solutions