How to Start Forex Trading: A Guide to Making Money With Forex

Key Takeaways

1. The foreign exchange market is a global marketplace for exchanging national currencies. Online forex brokers offer traders convenient access to trade forex.
2. Because of the worldwide reach of trade, commerce, and finance, forex is the world's largest and most liquid asset market.
3. Currencies trade against each other as exchange rate pairs. For example, EUR/USD is a currency pair for trading the euro against the U.S. dollar.
4. Forex markets exist as spot (cash) and derivatives markets, offering forwards, futures, options, and currency swaps.
5. Market participants may use forex to hedge against international currency and interest rate risk, speculate on geopolitical events, and diversify portfolios, among other reasons.

The foreign exchange market is the world's largest financial marketplace. Millions of dollars change hands every second, with daily trading volume reaching $9.6 trillion as of April 2025.1 While dealing in this massive market was once the exclusive domain of banks and financial institutions, online forex brokers have opened the door for individual investors to try their hand at currency trading.

Trading involves simultaneously buying one currency while selling another in hopes of profiting from changes in their relative values. For example, if you think the euro will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, you might buy euros and sell dollars, aiming to sell those euros later at a higher price. It's about anticipating and capitalizing on these shifts. In our guide, we can cover how to get started.

Online forex trading has a double edge, opening prospects for everyday traders and exposing others to unexpected risks. Market lingo can also become overwhelming for new traders. That's why we've compiled this detailed guide to help you start trading foreign currencies. We'll break down the key concepts and walk you through the most critical steps, from choosing a broker and placing your first trade to developing a solid strategy and, most importantly, managing your risk.

What Is the Forex Market?

The foreign exchange market is where currencies are traded. With no central marketplace, currency trading is all done electronically and over the counter (OTC). All transactions occur via computer networks that connect traders worldwide.

The main markets are open 24 hours a day, five days a week (from Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, until Friday, 4 p.m. ET). Currencies are traded worldwide, but most of the action happens in major financial centers. A 24-hour trading day begins in the Asia-Pacific region, moves to major European centers, then heads to North America, where it ends with the U.S. trading session.2 The forex market is highly dynamic, no matter the time of day, with price quotes changing constantly.

Fast Fact

You’ll often see the terms FX, forex, foreign exchange market, and currency market. These terms are synonymous, and all refer to the forex market.

How Does the Forex Market Work?

The FX market is one of two 24-hour-a-day (during weekdays) trading markets, the other being cryptocurrencies (though crypto markets don’t pause on weekends). The forex market was dominated by institutional firms and large banks, but its popularity among retail traders has significantly grown over the past decade. However, there's a caveat: Newer traders have lured in fraudsters looking to take advantage of less knowledgeable investors.

Where Is It?

Unlike the U.S. stock exchange, which is located on Wall Street in New York City, the world's forex markets have no physical buildings that serve as trading venues. Instead, they operate via connected trading terminals and computer networks. Market participants are institutions, financial product banks, commercial banks, and retail investors worldwide.

Who Trades on It?

Currency trading used to be complicated for individual investors before the internet. Most currency traders were large multinational corporations, hedge funds, or high-net-worth individuals. While commercial and investment banks still conduct much of the world's forex trading, there are also prospects for professional and individual investors to trade one currency against another.

What Is Forex Trading?

At its core, forex trading is about capturing the changing values of currency pairs. If you think one currency will gain in value against another, you'll buy one to sell it later at a higher price.

Along with speculative trading, forex trading is also used for hedging purposes. Individuals and businesses use forex trading to protect themselves from unfavorable currency movements. For example, a company doing business in another country might use forex trading to hedge against potential losses caused by fluctuations in the exchange rate.

By securing a favorable rate in advance through forex trades, a firm can reduce financial uncertainty and ensure more stable costs in its domestic currency. Hedging FX risks is an essential part of international business today.

Tip

Forex is a zero-sum game: for every winner, there's a loser. Successful traders aim for modest but consistent returns rather than trying to get rich quickly.

Forex trading is highly liquid, meaning it's easy to buy and sell many currencies without significantly changing their value. Traders can use leverage strategies to amplify their trading power, controlling a significant position with a relatively small amount of money. Leverage can also amplify losses, so you should have the knowledge, strategy, and awareness of the risks involved.3

Forex trading is also global, encompassing financial centers worldwide. Currency values are influenced by a variety of international events. Economic indicators like interest rates, inflation, geopolitical stability, and economic growth can significantly impact currency prices. For instance, if a country's central bank raises its interest rates, its currency might rise in value due to the higher returns on investments made in that currency.

Similarly, political uncertainty or a poor economic growth outlook can depreciate a currency. These interlocking exchange relations—some currencies growing stronger, others not—mean that forex trading reflects worldwide economic and political developments.

How to Make Money Forex Trading

Making money in forex trading requires more than just buying and selling currencies—it demands a well-thought-out approach combining strategy, discipline, and risk management. While the potential for profit exists, it's crucial to understand that forex trading isn't a get-rich-quick scheme.

Traders mainly make money in forex by correctly predicting currency price movements. When a trader goes "long" on a currency pair like EUR/USD, they profit if the euro strengthens against the dollar. Conversely, going "short" means profiting when the first currency weakens against the second. For example, if you buy euros at $1.20 and sell when the price reaches $1.22, you'd make $0.02 per euro traded.

Fast Fact

Many new traders focus on mastering one or two currency pairs before expanding their portfolio. Popular currency pairs are the EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and GBP/USD.1

Another way to generate returns is through "carry trading," where you profit from interest rate differences between two currencies. By buying a currency with a higher interest rate while selling one with a lower rate, you can earn the difference in rates. For instance, if you buy Australian dollars (with a 4% interest rate) using Japanese yen (with a 0.1% rate), you could earn almost 4% annually, plus any favorable exchange rate movements.

Successful traders typically follow these principles:

1. Start small: Begin with a mini or micro account that lets you trade smaller amounts while learning.
2. Use stop-loss orders: These automatically close trades at preset levels to limit your potential losses.
3. Avoid over-leveraging: While leverage can amplify profits, it also magnifies losses. Most successful traders use modest leverage ratios.
4. Diversify currency pairs: Once you get some experience, you'll want to avoid putting all your capital into a single currency pair.
5. Review your records: Track all trades, including entry/exit points and reasons for trading decisions, so you can learn along the way.

Tip

Success typically comes from managing risks while capitalizing on high-probability trading opportunities rather than seeking huge gains on individual trades.

How to Start Trading Forex

Here's a to-do list to get you started.

1. Learn about forex. You now have the basic concepts, but you'll need to understand the terminology and how the market operates. This includes learning currency pairs, market patterns, and the factors influencing currency prices through the best online forex trading classes.
2. Develop a trading strategy. Learn the different trading strategies, such as various technical analysis strategies, fundamental analysis, and news trading. Choose a strategy that aligns with your trading style and risk tolerance. For more, see Forex Trading Strategy and Education.
3. Develop a plan. Create a trading plan that includes your goals, risk tolerance, strategies, and the criteria you'll use to assess trades. The most crucial part isn't just making a plan but sticking to it in the heat of trading when emotions run high. Successful traders are disciplined traders.
4. Set up a brokerage account. Select a broker regulated by a reputable financial authority, such as the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the U.S., and ensure the broker offers a user-friendly trading platform, good customer support, and low fees. For ideas, see our list of Best Forex Brokers.
5. Practice with a demo account. Many forex platforms provide the ability to paper trade before you put skin in the game. This is a time to ensure you've locked down all the mechanics of trading and tested your strategies. It's better to identify your mistakes and weaknesses in practice mode than when your money is on the line.
6. Start slowly. Once you feel confident with your practice trading, start with real money. Start off small to manage risk and gradually increase your trading size as you gain experience.
7. Stay on top of your holdings. Regularly check your positions and ensure you have enough money in your account. Use stop-loss and take-profit orders to manage risk and protect your profits.
8. Monitor and adapt. Keep up with market news, economic indicators, and geopolitical events likely to affect currency prices. Be prepared to adjust your strategies as market conditions change, which is not the same as adapting your strategy with every price move.

Why Forex Is Hard to Trade

Understanding the hurdles of the forex market is crucial for anyone considering trading currencies.

Market Volatility and Speed

Currency markets can move dramatically in seconds due to economic reports, geopolitical events, or central bank announcements. When the Swiss National Bank unexpectedly removed its currency cap in 2015, the Swiss franc surged 30% against the euro in minutes, causing massive losses for many traders.4

From 2022 to 2024, the Japanese yen (JPY) fell dramatically at times against the U.S. dollar, prompting Japan’s finance ministry to intervene several times in the forex market to support the yen, causing significant swings.5

The lightning-fast pace of the FX markets means that even experienced traders can find themselves caught on the wrong side of a move before they can react.

Leverage Amplifies Losses and Gains

Forex brokers typically offer high leverage—sometimes up to 50 to 1 or higher. While this means you control a $50,000 position with just $1,000, a small price movement against you can wipe out your entire investment. For instance, a 2% move against a position using 50-to-1 leverage would result in a 100% loss.

Market Complexity

Many factors are affecting currency prices simultaneously:

1. Interest rates
2. Economic indicators
3. Political events
4. Market sentiment
5. Central bank policies
6. Global trade flows

Understanding how these factors interact requires significant knowledge and constant monitoring of global events. A trader might correctly analyze economic data but still lose money should an unexpected political development shift market sentiment.

Important

The speed of today's forex market means retail traders are often reacting to price moves rather than anticipating them.

Psychological Challenges

Forex trading can be emotionally taxing. Common psychological pitfalls include:

1. Overtrading when trying to recover losses
2. Holding losing positions too long
3. Closing winning trades too early
4. Making impulsive decisions based on fear or greed

The 24-hour nature of forex markets also makes it physically and mentally demanding. Unlike stock markets with defined trading hours, forex requires monitoring positions around the clock or setting precise exit points to protect against adverse moves during off-hours.

Institutional Disadvantage

After getting experience and learning trading discipline, there's a hurdle no small investor can surmount. Retail traders are competing against sophisticated institutional players with the following:

1. The most sophisticated trading technology
2. Better information access
3. Lower transaction costs
4. Professional research teams
5. Massive trading volumes

Transaction Costs

Spreads and fees, while seemingly small, do add up and can significantly affect profitability, especially for frequent traders. A trader needs to overcome these costs before making any profit.

Types of Markets

Forex is traded primarily via spot, forwards, and futures markets. The spot market is the largest of all three markets because it is the underlying asset (the money) on which the forwards and futures markets are based. When people talk about the forex market, they are usually referring to the spot market.

The forwards and futures markets are more likely to be used by companies or financial firms that need to hedge their foreign exchange risks.

Spot Market

Currencies are bought and sold in the spot market based on their trading price. Prices are determined by supply and demand and reactions to factors such as:

1. Interest rates
2. Economic performance
3. Geopolitical events
4. Price speculation

A finished trade on the spot market is known as a spot deal. It's a bilateral transaction in which one party delivers one currency amount to the counterparty and receives a specific amount of another currency at the agreed-upon exchange rate. After a position is closed, it's settled in cash. Trades take two days to settle.

Forwards and Futures Markets

A forward contract is a private agreement to buy a currency at a future date and at a preset price. Forwards are traded on the OTC markets. Futures contracts are based on the same principle but are standardized. Futures trade on exchanges, not OTC.

In the futures market, futures contracts are bought and sold based on a standard size and settlement date on public commodities markets, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Futures contracts have specific details, including the number of units traded, delivery and settlement dates, and minimum price increments that can't be customized. The exchange acts as a counterparty to the trader, providing clearance and settlement services.6

Both are binding and are typically settled in cash at expiry, although contracts can also be bought and sold before they expire. These instruments can offer protection against risk when trading.

In addition to forwards and futures, options contracts are traded on specific currency pairs. Forex options give holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a currency pair at a set price on a specific future date.7

Fast Fact

Unlike the spot, forwards, and futures markets, the options market doesn't involve an obligation to purchase the currency. Options contracts give you the right to buy or sell the currency, but it's a choice.

Using Forex Markets

There are two features of currencies as an asset class.

1. You can earn the interest rate differential between two currencies: When you hold a currency pair position overnight, you'll either receive or pay interest based on the interest rate differential. You'll earn interest if the currency you bought has a higher interest rate than the currency you sold. This strategy is called a carry trade.8
2. You can profit from changes in the exchange rate: In forex trading, you can profit by buying a currency pair when you anticipate the exchange rate will rise and selling it when you expect the exchange rate to fall. The difference between your entry and exit prices determines your profit or loss.

Forex for Hedging

Companies doing business in foreign countries face currency risks due to fluctuations in currency values when they buy or sell goods and services outside their domestic market. Forex markets provide a way to hedge currency risk by fixing a rate at which the transaction will be completed. A trader can buy or sell currencies in the forward or swap markets in advance and lock in a specific exchange rate.

Locking in an exchange rate helps firms plan, reduce losses, or even increase gains, depending on which currency in a pair is strengthened or weakened.

Types of Forex Accounts

Four types of forex lots exist: nano lots are 100 currency units, micro lots are 1,000 units, mini lots are 10,000 units of currency, and standard forex lots are 100,000 currency units.9

Forex for Speculation

Interest rates, trade, political stability, economic strength, and geopolitical risk all affect the supply and demand for currencies. This creates opportunities to profit from any situation that may increase or reduce one currency’s value relative to another.

A forecast that one currency will weaken is essentially the same as assuming that the other currency in the pair will strengthen. So, a trader anticipating a currency change could short or long one of the currencies in a pair and take advantage of the shift.

Fast Fact

Understanding the relationship between interest rates and currency movements is an essential aspect of long-term success in forex trading.

Basic Forex Trading Strategies

The most basic trades are long and short trades, with the price changes measured in pips, points, and ticks. In a long trade, the trader bets that the currency price will increase and expects to sell their position at a higher price. A short trade, conversely, is a bet that the currency pair’s price will decrease. Traders can also use trading strategies based on technical analysis, such as breakouts and moving averages (MA), to fine-tune their approach to trading.

Depending on the duration and numbers for trading, we can set out four types of trading strategies:

1. A scalp trade involves positions held for seconds or minutes at most, and profits are generally limited to pips.10
2. Day trades are short-term trades in which positions are held and liquidated on the same day. The duration of a day trade can be hours or minutes.
3. In a swing trade, the trader holds the position for longer than a day, which can range from days to weeks.11
4. In a position trade, the trader holds the currency for a long period, sometimes months or even years.

Pros and Cons of Trading Forex

Pros

1. Largest market in terms of daily trading volume in the world
2. Traded 24 hours a day, five days a week
3. Starting capital can rapidly multiply
4. Generally follows the same rules as regular trading
5. More decentralized than stock or bond markets

Cons

1. Leverage can amplify loses
2. Leverage in the range of 50:1 or higher is not uncommon
3. Requires an understanding of economic fundamentals, macro factors, and indicators
4. Less regulated than other markets
5. No income-generating instruments

Pros Explained

1. Largest market for daily trading volume in the world: Forex markets have the largest daily trading volume globally and, thus, the most liquidity.12 This makes it easy to enter and exit a position in any major currency within a fraction of a second for a small spread in most market conditions.
2. Traded 24 hours a day, five days a week: The forex market starts trading each day in Australia and ends in New York.2 The major forex market centers are Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Zurich.
3. Starting capital can rapidly multiply: This is due to the leverage available in forex trading.
4. Generally follows the same rules as regular trading: Forex rules are similar to other trading, and forex requires much less initial capital than other forms of trading.
5. More decentralized than traditional stock or bond markets: No centralized exchange dominates currency trade operations. The potential for manipulation, through insider information about a company or stock, is lower.

Cons Explained

1. Leverage can amplify losses: Leveraged trading amplifies losses in forex trading just as it amplifies gains. Banks, brokers, and dealers in the forex markets allow a high amount of leverage, meaning traders can control large positions with relatively little money, increasing the risk of catastrophic losses.
2. Leverage in the range of 50:1 or higher is not uncommon: Even greater amounts of leverage are available from certain brokers. Still, leverage must be used cautiously because many inexperienced traders suffer significant losses using more leverage than is necessary or prudent.
3. Requires an understanding of economic fundamentals, macro factors, and indicators: A currency trader needs a big-picture understanding of the economies of various countries and their connections to grasp what drives currency values to trade currencies productively.
4. Less regulated than other markets: Forex markets are decentralized. The extent and nature of regulation in forex markets depend on the trading jurisdiction.
5. No income-generating instruments: Forex markets lack instruments that provide regular income, such as regular dividend payments.

Forex Terminology

The best way to get started in forex is to learn its language. Here are a few terms to get you started:

Charts Used in Forex Trading

Three types of charts are used in forex trading.

Line Charts

Line charts identify a currency's big-picture trends. They are the basic and most common type of chart used by forex traders. They display the closing price for a currency for the periods the user specifies. The trend lines identified in a line chart can be used as part of your trading strategy. For example, you can use the information in a trend line to identify breakouts or a trend reversal.

Fast Fact

The trading limit for each lot includes the margin money used for leverage. This means the broker can provide you with capital at a preset ratio. For example, they may put up $50 for every $1 you put up for trading, meaning you'll only need to use $10 from your funds to trade $500 in currency.

Bar Charts

Bar charts provide more price information than line charts. Each bar represents the trading for a chosen time frame, such as a day, hour, minute, or any other period the user selects. Each bar contains the trade's opening, highest, lowest, and closing prices. A dash on the left of the bar represents the period’s opening price, and a similar dash on the right represents the closing price. Colors are sometimes used to indicate price movement, with green or white for rising prices and red or black for declining prices.

Bar charts may help currency traders identify whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market.

Candlestick Charts

Japanese rice traders first used candlestick charts in the 18th century. They are visually more appealing and easier to read than the charts above. The upper portion of a candle is for the opening price and the highest price point of a currency, while the lower part indicates the closing price and the lowest price point. A down candle represents declining prices and is shaded red or black, while an up candle is a period of increasing prices and is shaded green or white.13

The formations and shapes in candlestick charts identify market direction and movement. Some of the best-known are the hanging man and shooting star.

Forex: Trading vs. Investing

Investing and trading are two distinct approaches to participating in financial markets, each with different goals and strategies. Investing typically involves a long-term approach, where the goal is to gradually build wealth over time. Investors may hold assets for months, years, or even decades, aiming to benefit from the appreciation of the asset's value or regular income through dividends or interest payments.

Trading involves a shorter-term approach, seeking to profit from the frequent buying and selling of assets. Traders seek to capitalize on short-term price trends and may hold positions for a few seconds (scalping), minutes, hours (day trading), or days to weeks (swing trading). They often rely on technical analysis, studying charts and patterns to identify trading prospects.

Forex trading is far more common due to the market's high degree of leverage, liquidity, and 24-hour accessibility. Forex traders typically use shorter-term strategies to capitalize on frequent price fluctuations in currency pairs.

Forex Scams, Frauds, and Hucksters

Forex trading scams prey on unsuspecting traders and investors. Scammers take advantage of the market’s complexity, high stakes, and limited regulation by making false promises of easy, low-risk profits.141

Over the years, common scams have included Ponzi schemes that misused investor funds and scams peddling worthless trading advice. The 2013 forex scandal showed that traders at the world's major banks colluded to manipulate exchange rates, leading regulators to increase market oversight.15 However, given the many scams since, vigilance is undoubtedly called for.

Here are some of the best-known recent forex cons.

These are just a few of the schemes in this area of finance. Here are common types of scams:

1. Signal seller scams: Fraudsters sell trading signals or advice, often with false promises of guaranteed profits.
2. High-yield investments: Scammers lure in investors with promises of high returns from nonexistent or worthless investments.
3. Fake brokers: Unregistered or offshore brokers manipulate trading conditions, refuse withdrawals, or disappear with investors' funds.
4. Automated trading systems: These scams involve selling "forex robots" that the cons claim can trade profitably on behalf of the user but often result in losses instead.

Social media and messaging apps have been notable in these scams. Fraudsters often use these channels to build a relationship with an audience before promoting questionable trading schemes.14

Tips on Avoiding Forex Scams

Experts emphasize the importance of education and due diligence in mitigating the risk of falling victim to scams. Here are some tips:

1. Verify broker credentials: Ensure that the broker you're considering working with is registered with reputable regulators like the CFTC or Financial Conduct Authority.1617 Check its regulatory status and history of compliance. There are just six CFTC-registered forex dealers in the U.S. Avoid trading with any others:
2. Charles Schwab Futures and Forex, LLC18
3. StoneX Group Inc. (Forex.com)19
4. tastyfx, LLC20
5. Interactive Brokers, LLC21
6. Oanda Corporation (Oanda, FXTrade.com)22
7. Trading.com Markets Inc. (Trading.com)23
8. Trading.com Markets. “Home Page.”
9. 
   
10. Be skeptical of high returns: Avoid investment prospects that promise high returns with little or no risk. Legitimate investments always have risk, and the best forex brokers emphasize the risks to ensure you understand what you're getting into.
11. Do your research: Investigate the company, management team, and track record. Look for reviews and testimonials from credible sources. Be aware of common scam tactics, like fake accounts, impersonations, and misleading marketing materials, and choose brokers with transparent fee structures, clearly defined trading conditions, and accessible customer support.
12. Use security tools: Employ VPNs, password managers, and antivirus software to protect your trading accounts and personal information.

Forex fraud will likely become more innovative as markets evolve and sophisticated technology enables even more advanced scam schemes. But with vigilance and prudence, forex trading can be navigated more securely.

Is Trading Forex Legal in the US?

Yes, forex trading is legal in the U.S., but it is regulated to better protect traders and make sure that brokers follow financial standards.

How Much Money Do I Need to Start Trading Forex?

You can start trading forex with as little as $100 to $500 funded in a mini account, but you will need significantly more capital for a standard account. Leverage from brokers can allow you to trade much larger amounts than your account balance. Brokers may provide capital at a preset ratio, such as putting up $50 for every $1 you put up for trading. This means you may only need to use $10 of your own funds to trade $500 in currency.

The specific minimum deposit will depend on the brokerage you use and the amount of leverage it allows.

Are Forex Markets Volatile?

Forex markets are among the most liquid markets in the world. The volatility of a particular currency is a function of multiple factors, such as the politics and economics of its country of issue. Unexpected events like a payment default or an imbalance in trading relationships with another currency can result in significant volatility.

Are Forex Markets Regulated?

Forex trade regulations vary by jurisdiction. Countries like the U.S. have sophisticated infrastructure and robust regulation of forex markets by organizations such as the National Futures Association and the CFTC. Developing countries like India and China have restrictions on the firms and capital used in forex trading. Europe as a whole is the largest forex market in the world, but regulations still vary among different member states. In the U.K., the Financial Conduct Authority monitors and regulates forex trades.

Which Currencies Can I Trade in?

Currencies with high liquidity have a ready market and tend to exhibit a smoother and predictable price action in response to external events. The U.S. dollar is the most traded currency in the world. It's the other side of the pair in nine of the world's 10 most traded currency pairs.1 Currencies with low liquidity, however, can't be traded in large lot sizes without causing a market movement.

The Bottom Line

Forex trading offers the potential for significant profits but also carries substantial risks. The foreign exchange market's vast size, liquidity, and 24/5 accessibility make it attractive to traders worldwide. However, the inherent volatility, leverage, and complexity of forex trading can quickly lead to significant losses, especially for inexperienced traders.

To succeed in forex trading, you must develop a deep knowledge of the markets, economic fundamentals, and technical analysis. Managing risk is essential, including proper position sizing and stopping losses. Traders should also stay vigilant against the many frauds that pervade the forex market.

Aspiring forex traders should start with a solid education, practice with demo accounts, and only risk capital they can afford to lose. Partnering with a reputable, well-regulated broker and maintaining realistic expectations are also crucial.