Optimus Futures Review 2024

Is Optimus Futures regulated?

Optimus Futures is registered with the National Futures Association (NFA), which allows it to provide introducing broker services for futures commission merchants (FCMs) such as Ironbeam, TradeStation or Wedbush. These companies are all regulated by at least one top-tier financial authority, such as the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
What does Optimus Futures's introducing broker status mean? It means that your assets and cash are held at FCMs, like Ironbeam, but the platform, fee structure, and customer support are provided by Optimus Futures.

Is Optimus Futures safe?

To be certain that a brokerage is safe, we highly advise that you check two facts:

• how you are protected if something goes wrong
• the background of the broker.

How you are protected

To check who the relevant regulator is for you, we recommend that you check the background of the FCM where your assets and cash are held, as Optimus Futures is only an introducing broker.

In this review, we tested Optimus Futures's Optimus Flow platform through an account opened with Ironbeam. In this case, Ironbeam would be the entity holding your assets and cash. Ironbeam is regulated by the top-tier US CFTC.

We recommend Optimus Futures's services for experienced traders because futures trading is not covered by investor protection schemes. In addition, there's no negative balance protection. If the balance on your account goes negative, you will be responsible for replenishing those losses.

Background

Optimus Futures was established in 2004. The longer track record a broker has, the more proof we have that it has successfully weathered previous financial crises.

Find your safe broker

Deposit fees and options

Optimus Futures charges no deposit fees.

However, your intermediary bank might charge a fee if you make an international bank transfer.
US residents can use checks and ACH to deposit.

Due to US regulations, US citizens cannot use credit cards to fund their brokerage accounts. They can only use debit cards, where available.

A bank transfer can take several business days. You can only deposit money from accounts that are in your name.

Optimus Futures withdrawal fees and options

Unfortunately, only wire or check withdrawals are available. ACH withdrawal is not available. Wire withdrawals cost between $25-60.

You can only withdraw money to accounts in your name.

How do you withdraw money from Optimus Futures?

• Log into Ironbeam's account
• Click on 'Account Services' and select 'Transfer Funds'
• Add the withdrawal method
• Enter the withdrawal amount and the details of your bank

Can you open an account?

Visit broker

In this review, we tested an Optimus Futures account through the Ironbeam futures commission merchant (FCM). Ironbeam accepts clients from all over the world.

What is the minimum deposit at Optimus Futures?

The required Optimus Futures minimum deposit is $500.

This minimum deposit is relevant if you use if you use Ironbeam as your FCM.
Other FCMs might require a higher minimum deposit:

• GAIN Capital - $2,000 for standard contracts and $500 for E-mini futures
• StoneX, TradeStation, Wedbush, PhilipCapital- $5,000
• ADM Investor services - $10,000

Account types

Optimus Futures provides different account types based on ownership:

• Individual - account is owned by an individual
• Joint - account is owned by two or more individuals
• Corporate / LLC / Partnership / Trust - account is owned by a legal entity

US customers can also select IRA accounts, which is a tax-advantaged account.

How to open your account

The opening of an Optimus Futures account via Ironbeam is fully digital. The approval of the account was quick; it took us 1 business day to open the account. Also, the account opening process was seamless.
The first step is to select an FCM (futures commission merchant), a brokerage house that will clear your futures trades. We picked Ironbeam as it's the most promoted FCM on Optimus Futures and has the lowest minimum deposit requirement.
Opening your account through Ironbeam FCM consists of the following steps:

1. Add your email address and your password.
2. Select the account type and your trading objective.
3. Enter basic personal data, such as name, email, phone number, country of residence.
4. Add other personal information, such as your identity number or employment status.
5. Answer a few questions about your financial status, like net income or net worth.
6. Answer questions about your investment experience.
7. Accept disclosure statements.

Non-US clients should also upload proof of identity and proof of residence. Once you have completed all these steps, you will receive a confirmation email with your credentials.

Visit broker

In this review, we tested the Optimus Flow desktop trading platform, as it is one of Optimus Futures's own trading platforms and has no monthly fee. This platform is only available for Windows.

However, if you feel that it doesn't suit your needs, you can choose from more than 40 other trading platforms, including TradeStation's platforms. Many of these platforms charge a monthly fee, though.

The desktop trading platform is available in many languages.

Look and feel

The Optimus Flow desktop trading platform might be too complex for beginners, but for advanced users it's a well-designed system. Day-traders who take their trading cues from charts will especially like Optimus Flow.
The desktop platform is highly customizable and there are tons of apps and add-ons to personalize your workspace.

Login and security

Optimus Futures provides only a one-step login. A two-step authentication would be more secure and adding this feature should be high on any company's list of security changes.

The first time you want to use your account, you have to log in with your username and password and also set your credentials for the connection. You can set the credentials if you click 'Connections' (you can find on the top) and select 'Configure'.
Each time you log in, you have to choose your data provider and choose whether you want to access your demo account or your real account(s). Once it's activated - marked in green as 'Connected' - you'll be able to see your positions and account balance, and can start trading.

Search functions

The search functions are good.

There are multiple ways to find an asset to trade.
To help you decide whether you found the correct product, there is a 'symbol info' panel that gives you a detailed overview of the product.
The front month for all futures and options products is placed on top of the search result list. You can also do a manual search by browsing various categories, although this requires some prior knowledge of exchanges' product offerings and the symbols of various products.

Placing orders

Optimus Futures provides a wide range of order types on the desktop trading platform.

There is also a wide range of order-placing strategies you can choose from:

• Iceberg
• Local SL/TP
• Limit if touched
• Market if touched
• Orders grid
• Scheduled
• Time Split

There are also order time limits you can use on the desktop platform:

• Good Til Canceled (GTC)
• Day

Alerts and notifications

You can set alerts and notifications on the desktop trading platform.

Alerts are also available for demo accounts.

Portfolio and fee reports

Optimus Futures has clear fee reports.

You can find reports under the 'Trades' info panel.

Visit broker

However, it is not significantly different from that of similar futures-oriented brokers.

This selection is average compared to competing brokers.

Futures

You can trade futures on an impressive number of futures and options markets.

This selection is great compared to competing brokers. Both NinjaTrader and AMP Futures offer fewer futures markets to trade on.

The following exchanges are available for futures trading:

• CME - Chicago Mercantile Exchange
• CBOT - Chicago Board of Trade
• NYMEX - New York Mercantile Exchange
• COMEX - Commodity Exchange Inc.
• CBOE - CBOE Futures Exchange
• EUREX - futures and options market dealing primarily with Europe-based derivatives
• KCBOT - Kansas City Board of Trade
• MGEX - Minneapolis Grain Exchange
• ICE Futures US - Intercontinental Exchange's US-based futures
• ICE Futures Europe - Intercontinental Exchange's EU-based futures
• NYSE LIFFE - the global derivatives business of NYSE Euronext
• SGX - Singapore Exchange
• ASX - Australian Securities Exchange
• LME - London Metal Exchange

The CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX exchanges are part of the CME group. Eurex is part of the Eurex Group and is owned by Deutsche Börse AG.

Cryptos

Bitcoin and Ethereum futures is also available to trade on the following markets:

• CME
• ICE

We recommend Optimus Futures for day traders focusing on futures and technical trading.

Below you can find links to all aspects of Optimus Futures in this comprehensive collection.

Lower fees, lower costs?

We detailed this in our Optimus Futures fees article.

What about the minimum deposit?

Our ultimate guide to the Optimus Futures minimum deposit is updated regularly.

How to start your Optimus Futures account?

Look no further than our evaluation of the Optimus Futures account opening.

How's their trading app?

Here's our expert view after checking the Optimus Futures trading app.

Is the quality of customer service satisfactory?

All you need to know about the Optimus Futures customer service.

Legit or scam?

Is Optimus Futures legit features all the key aspects you need to look at to see if a broker is safe and legit.

Free or premium? Or both?

A glance at actual costs and whether Optimus Futures is really free.

Is this broker good for beginners?

We checked it in Is Optimus Futures good for beginners.

Should you buy your silver bullets on Optimus Futures?

Research for silver bugs in the Silver buy on Optimus Futures guide

What is the minimum account balance at Optimus Futures?

Check out the current account balance requirements at Optimus Futures in our What is the minimum account balance at Optimus Futures article.

I want to trade options, are they available at Optimus Futures?

We explored the topic in Can you trade options on Optimus Futures?

Looking for commission and fees data for Optimus Futures?

We collected them in Optimus Futures commission and fees.

How do you withdraw money from Optimus Futures?

We tested it and collected the options and costs in How to withdraw money on Optimus Futures.