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Comment by asddddd | Hacker News Reader

They offer 2x margin with the normal rules against pattern day trading with <25k balances, which is pretty mediocre.

There are much better options for high-risk (reckless) trading, like 500x Forex accounts, "binary options", and lots of other nonsense enabled by offshore jurisdictions.

For an easy example of how reckless/risky these alternatives are, look at FXCM/Alpari/etc after the 2015 EURCHF action.

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How do sketchy offshore shops collect on negative cash balances?

500:1 leverage sounds so crazy I wouldn't be surprised if it's used as a money laundering vector.

They don't, or shouldn't have to. Brokers that offer generous margins do something typical brokers do not - they auto-liquidate when you fall below minimum maintenance margin. Most retail brokers would give you a friendly phone call and let you liquidate the next day or so.

Next, forex markets are so heavily traded they have a virtual guaranteed stop. That is, if you set the order you will get it filled no worse than that price.

The only way a broker gets hit is a sudden currency drop, like the Swiss franc did a few years back.

I think most of these x500 Forex shops are bucket shops. They are not even derivatives. More known as CDF which means you are buying/selling against them.

Holy shit you weren't kidding. A search for 500x forex brings up all sorts of day traders doing this stuff. Scary.

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