Can I Trade Forex Without a Broker?

The foreign exchange market is the world’s most active financial market and is popular with both experienced and beginner traders. Every day, millions place forex trades through brokers from all over the world. If you are a beginner in foreign exchange/forex trading, you may wonder if you could avoid some costs by trading without a broker. Here we will discuss the perks of using a forex broker and trading without a broker. 

What Are the Perks of Using a Forex Broker

The most common form of foreign exchange trading is speculating on currency pairs in the global market. You do not own the currency itself when you buy a currency pair in the forex market. Rather you are speculating that the base currency will rise. Understanding this fundamental element of forex trading will help you comprehend the need for a broker. You need a broker to access the global forex market, as they serve as a bridge to the foreign exchange market and other traders. Trading with a broker means you can easily access leverage or margin trading. Another significant benefit of using a broker is that they are already established in the market, meeting regulations, local laws, and license requirements.

The main function of a forex broker is to connect traders and the global investment markets. As mentioned above, the broker provides liquidity for your transaction. When you place a buy order, that order can only be executed if there is a sell order on the same currency pair. All of this is carried out through an advanced online trading platform. So, if you want to trade in the typical way, online and in international markets, you need a broker. 

Why Beginners Should Use Forex Brokers 

Using the best forex brokers offer the best trading platforms, such as MT4 or cTrader, the industry standards, is advisable for everyone, particularly beginners. So, what is the best forex broker for beginners? Choosing a broker that offers demo forex accounts is particularly important for beginner traders. Another important feature for beginners to look out for is whether they provide high-quality educational tools and articles. 

Once you select your broker, you will choose your currency pairs to trade. What are the most popular currency pairs? Some popular currency pairs are EUR/GBP, GBP/USD, EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, NZD/USD, and AUD/USD. The most liquid currency pairing is EUR/USD. The US dollar has long been the go-to currency for investors and traders, and in 2019 around 88% of all Forex trades included USD. However, beginners need to keep in mind that this is a continuously evolving market and is significantly impacted by geo-political events. Therefore, continuous education and keeping up with world events are key to success. A recent example is the Euro becoming weaker in the face of rising gas prices and the ongoing crisis. It is advisable for a novice forex trader to start with a smaller portfolio, around $100, so you can become familiar with live trading conditions.

What is Trading Forex Without a Broker 

An alternative way to deal in foreign currency is to literally buy a currency at a bank and later sell it at a higher exchange rate. A popular form of this type of trade is your local currency exchange. Trading forex in this form does not connect you to the global financial market. Therefore, currency options are usually limited to the local currency and a few major currencies. Usually, the objective of currency exchange through a physical bank is to meet the needs of foreigners visiting the country, or those traveling abroad, who will need the local currency to use during a stay. Anyone who wants to send a payment in a foreign currency also uses this type of offline currency exchange service, and you don’t need a broker to exchange this form. All you need is your local financial institution or bank. Local laws govern this form of forex trading, depending on the region. 

The downside of this type of trading is that you do not gain access to the world market, for this, traders must use a broker. The only way to trade without a broker is to do it offline, and trading currencies offline requires significant capital. Keep in mind also that many banks have a set minimum they accept for exchanges. The strategies you can pursue are limited, and much depends on your region and its laws. Another difficulty with this type of trading is that you will most likely be required to register a business and get a license to operate a company. Meaning you would have to set aside a considerable amount of money. As a forex trader in the global market, your broker provides liquidity giving you a third party to your trade at any time.

Conclusion

The benefits of using a broker when trading forex is unmistakable, providing access to the global market, liquidity, and the best trading pairs. If you are a beginner and want to start trading seriously, it is vital to select a broker that gives you access to the forex markets but also a diverse selection of assets, including stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrency.