EasyMarkets vs IC Markets for Japan Traders (2026)

When trading JPY pairs such as USD/JPY or EUR/JPY, IC Markets offers a clear advantage with raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of just $3.50 per lot round-turn. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads which on USD/JPY average around 1.2 pips with no commission. For a Japan trader executing 10 lots per month, IC Markets could save over $800 annually in spread costs. EasyMarkets is more predictable but significantly more expensive for frequent trading. Both brokers have no deposit or withdrawal fees, though IC Markets may charge for certain Bank Transfer currencies.

IC Markets provides a full suite of platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and a proprietary web trader. These are popular among Japan sophisticated traders who use Expert Advisors (EAs) and advanced charting. EasyMarkets offers a simpler web-based platform and a mobile app, but lacks MT4/5. For Japanese traders requiring algorithmic trading or custom indicators, IC Markets is the clear choice. EasyMarkets’ platform is ideal for manual traders who value ease of use and built-in risk management tools like dealCancellation.

IC Markets uses true ECN/STP execution with no dealing desk intervention, offering sub-millisecond order execution and deep liquidity from multiple banks. This is ideal for Japan day traders and scalpers. EasyMarkets operates as a market maker with fixed spreads and guaranteed stop-losses, which can provide price certainty but may lead to requotes during volatile news events. For execution quality, IC Markets is the superior choice for sophisticated Japan traders.

EasyMarkets and IC Markets are not regulated by the FSA Japan, which is important for Japanese traders to understand. They operate under licenses from CySEC, ASIC, and FSA Seychelles (IC Markets) and CySEC, ASIC (EasyMarkets). Japan traders should be aware that they are trading with international entities, not subject to Japan’s leverage or negative balance protection laws. Both brokers offer negative balance protection as a policy, but not as a regulatory requirement. For high-net-worth Japanese traders, the lack of FSA oversight may be acceptable, but it requires due diligence.

Both brokers support Bank Transfer and Credit Card deposits for Japan traders. EasyMarkets processes withdrawals via Bank Transfer within 2-5 business days, while Credit Card withdrawals are typically faster. IC Markets offers similar methods, with Bank Transfer taking 3-7 business days and Credit Card 1-3 days. IC Markets charges no deposit fees, but Bank Transfer may incur intermediary bank fees. EasyMarkets covers one Bank Transfer withdrawal fee per month. For Japanese traders, using JPY accounts may minimise conversion costs, though IC Markets’ JPY account is available only on Standard accounts. Both brokers allow deposits in JPY.

For Muslim traders in Japan, both EasyMarkets and IC Markets provide swap-free Islamic accounts. EasyMarkets offers an automatic Islamic account with no additional conditions, making it straightforward to use. IC Markets provides Islamic accounts upon request, but traders should note that after a holding period (usually 10 days), swap fees may apply on certain instruments. Japan traders should review the specific terms to ensure compliance with Sharia law. Both brokers support Islamic accounts for all account types.

IC Markets offers 24/7 multilingual support including English, but does not have a dedicated Japanese support team. EasyMarkets also provides 24/5 support and has telephone support for Japan traders during business hours. For faster response, both brokers offer live chat and email. IC Markets has a more extensive knowledge base in English. Japan traders may find EasyMarkets’ support slightly more accessible due to local phone numbers.