Countries Banned from TradeDay: Full List and Workarounds

You're located outside the United States and you want to trade with TradeDay. Maybe you're in Russia, China, Pakistan, or another country with unclear eligibility status. You're wondering: will TradeDay accept traders from your country, or are you automatically banned based on location? And if you are banned, are there legitimate workarounds, or will attempting to bypass restrictions get you permanently flagged?

The short answer: TradeDay restricts access from countries under US OFAC sanctions (Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Belarus, and several others). Additionally, TradeDay has discretionary restrictions on certain high-risk countries (China, Pakistan, Nigeria, parts of India) based on fraud patterns and regulatory compliance. If you're in a banned country and you try to use a VPN to spoof your location, you'll eventually get caught during payment verification or identity check, your account will be terminated, and you'll forfeit any funds.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with TradeDay and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check TradeDay´s website or their faq page.

I'm based in the US so I've never faced geographic restrictions, but I've seen dozens of traders in Discord from banned countries ask "How can I get around this?" The pattern is always the same: they sign up with VPN, pay for subscription, trade for a few weeks, then when they try to withdraw they're asked for ID verification, their real country is discovered, account is terminated with no refunds. There are no legitimate workarounds. If you're in a banned country, you cannot use TradeDay.

This is your complete guide to TradeDay's geographic restrictions: the full list of banned countries, why these restrictions exist, how TradeDay enforces them, what happens if you're caught attempting to bypass them, alternatives for traders in restricted countries, and how to check your eligibility before wasting money on a subscription.

Why Geographic Restrictions Exist

The legal and business reasons for country bans.

Reason 1: US OFAC Sanctions Compliance

What OFAC is: The Office of Foreign Assets Control, a division of the US Department of Treasury that enforces economic sanctions against countries, entities, and individuals.

Why it matters: TradeDay is a US-based company. US law prohibits American companies from doing business with countries under OFAC sanctions.

Legal requirement: TradeDay must restrict access from sanctioned countries or risk severe penalties, including:

• Fines (millions of dollars)
• Criminal prosecution of company executives
• Shutdown of business operations

Countries affected: All countries on the OFAC Sanctions List (updated periodically by US government)

Reason 2: Fraud and Risk Management

The problem: Certain countries have higher rates of credit card fraud, chargebacks, identity theft, and account manipulation.

TradeDay's response: Discretionary restrictions on countries with elevated fraud risk, even if not under US sanctions.

Business decision: It's more cost-effective to exclude high-risk countries than to deal with fraud losses, chargebacks, and payment disputes.

Countries affected: Varies by prop firm, but commonly includes parts of China, Pakistan, Nigeria, India (certain regions).

Reason 3: Regulatory and Compliance Complexity

The challenge: Different countries have different financial regulations around derivatives trading, foreign exchange, and prop firm business models.

TradeDay's approach: Rather than navigate complex compliance requirements in every country, they restrict access to countries where regulatory clarity is uncertain or compliance is too burdensome.

Example: China has strict capital controls and restrictions on foreign trading platforms. Rather than risk violating Chinese regulations, TradeDay restricts access from mainland China.

Reason 4: Payment Processing Limitations

The issue: Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) don't support all countries. Some countries can't process USD credit card transactions with US merchants.

Result: Even if TradeDay wanted to accept traders from certain countries, the payment infrastructure doesn't exist to support them.

Countries affected: Various developing nations, countries with restricted banking systems, countries under sanctions.

Complete List of Banned Countries

The definitive list of where TradeDay restricts access.

Tier 1: OFAC Sanctioned Countries (Definitely Banned)

These countries are under US economic sanctions. TradeDay cannot legally accept traders from these locations.

Important note: OFAC sanctions list changes periodically based on US foreign policy. Check current OFAC list for most up-to-date information.

Tier 2: High-Risk/Gray Area Countries (Discretionary Bans)

These countries aren't under official US sanctions, but TradeDay restricts access due to fraud risk, regulatory uncertainty, or payment processing issues.

China (Mainland): Generally restricted. Hong Kong and Macau may be allowed (check with support).

Pakistan: Restricted by many prop firms including TradeDay due to high chargeback rates and fraud patterns.

Nigeria: Often restricted due to elevated fraud rates.

Turkey: Case-by-case basis. Some traders report being accepted, others denied.

India (certain regions): Some states/regions face restrictions due to regulatory complexity and payment processing issues.

Egypt: Case-by-case, often restricted.

Bangladesh: Often restricted.

Morocco: Case-by-case.

Algeria: Often restricted.

Indonesia: Case-by-case.

Important: TradeDay doesn't publish an exhaustive list of discretionary bans. If you're in a gray area country, contact support before signing up: "I'm located in [country]. Am I eligible to open an account?"

Tier 3: Fully Allowed Countries (Confirmed Access)

United States: Full access (largest user base)

Canada: Allowed

United Kingdom: Allowed

European Union: Most countries allowed (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, etc.)

Australia: Allowed

New Zealand: Allowed

Singapore: Allowed

Japan: Allowed

South Korea: Allowed

Mexico: Allowed

Brazil: Allowed

Argentina: Allowed

Chile: Allowed

Colombia: Allowed

Most of Latin America: Generally allowed

South Africa: Generally allowed

UAE (United Arab Emirates): Generally allowed

Israel: Generally allowed

For complete eligibility details, see the eligibility requirements guide.

How TradeDay Enforces Geographic Restrictions

The detection methods that catch location spoofing.

Enforcement Method 1: IP Address Blocking

What happens: When you try to access TradeDay's website or platform, your IP address is checked against a database of known country locations.

If banned country IP detected: Access is blocked immediately. You can't even load the signup page.

Limitation: VPN can bypass this initial check (but you'll get caught later).

Enforcement Method 2: Payment Method Verification

What happens: When you enter credit card or debit card information, the billing address and card issuer country are checked.

Example:

• You use VPN to appear in the US
• You enter credit card details
• Card is issued by Sberbank (Russia)
• Billing address is in Moscow
• Result: Payment declined, account flagged

Why this works: VPN cannot mask where your credit card was issued. This is the most reliable detection method.

Enforcement Method 3: Identity Verification (KYC)

When it's required: Before your first payout. Riseworks (TradeDay's payment processor) requires identity verification.

What they ask for:

• Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, national ID)
• Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement within 90 days)
• Selfie holding your ID

What this reveals: Your actual country of residence.

If banned country discovered:

• Payout denied
• Account terminated
• All funds forfeited
• No refunds on subscription or activation fees

You cannot fake this: Even if you somehow obtained a fake ID from an allowed country (illegal and fraud), professional verification services detect fake documents.

Enforcement Method 4: Browser/Device Fingerprinting

What TradeDay collects: Time zone, system language, IP geolocation, GPS data (if granted), device settings.

Example red flags:

• IP shows United States (VPN)
• System language set to Russian
• Time zone set to UTC+3 (Moscow)
• GPS coordinates (if enabled) show Russia

Result: Mismatch between stated location and device settings triggers investigation.

For complete VPN policy details, see the VPN policy guide.

Enforcement Method 5: Trading Hours Pattern Analysis

What they monitor: When you trade relative to US market hours and your stated location.

Example suspicious pattern:

• Account claims to be in United States
• Only trades during 1 AM - 5 AM US Central Time
• These hours are 9 AM - 1 PM Moscow time
• Pattern suggests: User is in Russia, not US

Investigation: TradeDay reviews account and requests verification.

Enforcement Method 6: Payment Processor Restrictions

What happens: Even if TradeDay's website lets you through, payment processors (Stripe, etc.) have their own country restrictions.

Result: Payment from banned country gets declined automatically by the processor, regardless of what TradeDay's system shows.

Example:

• You're in Iran
• You use VPN to access TradeDay site
• You try to pay with Iranian credit card
• Stripe automatically declines (Iran is sanctioned)
• Cannot complete signup

What Happens If You Try to Bypass Restrictions

The consequences of attempting to circumvent geographic bans.

Scenario 1: Caught During Signup

What happens:

• You use VPN to access site from banned country
• You enter credit card from banned country
• Payment is declined with error message
• Result: No account created, no money lost, no violation yet

Next steps: Don't try again. You're not eligible.

Scenario 2: Caught During Evaluation

What happens:

• You successfully sign up using VPN + credit card from allowed country (maybe friend's card)
• You pay $150 subscription
• You trade for 2 weeks
• TradeDay notices suspicious patterns (trading hours, device settings)
• Account is flagged for review
• Result: Account suspended, asked to verify identity, unable to provide documents from allowed country, account terminated, $150 lost

Lesson: Even if you get past signup, you'll likely get caught during evaluation.

Scenario 3: Caught During Payout Verification

What happens (most common scenario):

• You successfully passed evaluation using VPN + friend's credit card
• You pay $139 activation fee
• You're funded, trading for 2 months
• You make $6,000 profit
• You request first withdrawal
• Riseworks asks for identity verification
• You submit documents showing you're in Russia (banned country)
• Result: Payout denied, account terminated, $6,000 profit forfeited, $289 in fees lost, possible blacklist from other prop firms

This is the worst outcome: You've invested months of time, paid fees, made profits, and you lose everything because you couldn't withdraw.

Scenario 4: Permanent Ban

What happens: If TradeDay discovers you attempted to bypass geographic restrictions:

• Immediate account termination
• All funds forfeited (subscription fees, activation fees, trading profits)
• Permanent ban (cannot create new account under your identity)
• Possible reporting to fraud databases that other financial services check

Long-term consequences:

• Blocked from TradeDay permanently
• Potentially flagged by other prop firms (some share information)
• Risk of being flagged in financial services databases

Scenario 5: Legal Consequences (Extreme Cases)

If you're in a sanctioned country: Attempting to circumvent OFAC sanctions by using fake identity or fraudulent payment methods is a federal crime in the United States.

Possible penalties (if prosecuted):

• Fines
• Criminal charges
• International warrants

Realistic likelihood: Low for individual traders, but the risk exists, especially if large amounts of money are involved or if you're part of organized fraud.

"Workarounds" That Don't Work

Why attempts to bypass restrictions fail.

Failed Workaround 1: Using VPN

Why traders try it: VPN changes IP address to appear in allowed country.

Why it fails: Payment method and identity verification still reveal real location. You might get past signup, but you'll get caught before withdrawal.

Specific failure point: When you request your first payout and Riseworks asks for ID, your real country is revealed.

Failed Workaround 2: Using Friend's Credit Card in Allowed Country

Why traders try it: Friend in US (allowed country) provides their card for payment.

Why it fails:

• TradeDay's TOS requires the account holder to be the person trading
• When you try to withdraw, verification will ask for your ID, not your friend's
• Mismatch between card holder and account user = fraud

Additional issue: Your friend is now complicit in TOS violation and risks their own future eligibility.

Failed Workaround 3: Buying "Verified" Accounts

Why traders try it: Black market sellers offer "pre-verified" TradeDay accounts with documents from allowed countries.

Why it fails:

• These are stolen accounts or accounts created with fake/stolen documents
• TradeDay detects unusual login patterns (new IP, new device, new location)
• Account gets flagged and locked
• You lose whatever money you paid for the account

Legal risk: Buying stolen accounts is fraud. You're participating in identity theft.

Failed Workaround 4: Using Virtual Credit Cards

Why traders try it: Virtual cards from allowed countries (purchased online).

Why it fails:

• Most virtual card services don't work for recurring subscriptions (TradeDay charges monthly)
• TradeDay and payment processors flag high-risk virtual cards
• You still can't pass identity verification for payouts

Failed Workaround 5: Registering Business Entity in Allowed Country

Why traders try it: Create LLC or company in allowed country, use business account.

Why it fails:

• You still need to prove you're authorized to represent that business
• Verification still requires your personal ID
• If your personal ID shows banned country, account is terminated

Exception: If you actually move to an allowed country, establish residency, get ID from that country, and run a legitimate business there, that's legal. But that's not a "workaround"—that's actually relocating.

Legitimate Alternatives for Traders in Restricted Countries

What you can actually do if you're in a banned country.

Alternative 1: Use Prop Firms That Accept Your Country

Not all prop firms have same restrictions: Different firms have different compliance policies.

Example prop firms with different geographic access:

• FTMO: Allows many countries TradeDay doesn't (including some in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe)
• MyForexFunds: Different restriction list
• The5%ers: More permissive geographic access
• BluGuardian: Accepts traders from various countries

Action: Research prop firms specifically, check their allowed countries list, find one that accepts traders from your location.

Alternative 2: Trade with Local Brokers

What this means: Use a futures broker licensed to operate in your country.

Examples:

• If you're in Russia: Use Russian-licensed brokers (though options are limited due to sanctions)
• If you're in China: Use Hong Kong-based brokers accessible to mainland residents
• If you're in India: Use SEBI-regulated brokers

Trade-off: You're trading your own capital (no prop firm funding), but you can legally trade futures.

Alternative 3: Wait for Policy Changes

Reality: Geographic restrictions sometimes change based on:

• Changes in OFAC sanctions
• Prop firms' fraud risk assessments
• Regulatory developments

Example: If your country improves its fraud prevention infrastructure or if sanctions are lifted, TradeDay might open access in the future.

Action: Check TradeDay's allowed countries list every 6-12 months to see if your country becomes eligible.

Alternative 4: Relocate to Allowed Country

Extreme but legitimate solution: If prop trading is your career goal and you're in a banned country, consider relocating to an allowed country.

Countries with easier immigration for traders:

• Portugal: Digital nomad visa program
• Estonia: E-residency program (for business, but can facilitate relocation)
• Dubai, UAE: Allows traders, relatively easy residence permits
• Mexico: Close to US, allows trading, easier residence permits than US

Realistic?: Only if you're serious about trading as a career and willing to relocate for it.

Alternative 5: Focus on Other Trading Opportunities

If prop trading isn't accessible: Consider other ways to build trading income:

• Forex trading: More accessible globally (though not without restrictions)
• Cryptocurrency trading: Fewer geographic restrictions in many countries
• Stock trading: Local stock markets accessible in most countries
• Freelance trading education: Teach trading skills online

How to Check Your Eligibility Before Signing Up

Save money by confirming eligibility first.

Step 1: Check OFAC Sanctions List

Where to check: US Treasury OFAC website (officially maintained list)

What to look for: Is your country on the "Sanctions Programs and Country Information" page?

If your country is listed: You're definitely banned from TradeDay (and all US-based prop firms).

Step 2: Contact TradeDay Support Directly

Email support before signing up: support@tradeday.com

Subject: "Eligibility Verification - [Your Country]"

Message template:

Hello,

I am located in [Country Name] and interested in opening a TradeDay account. Before I pay any subscription fees, can you confirm whether traders from [Country] are eligible?

Thank you,
[Your Name]


Response time: 24-48 hours typically

Why do this: Avoids wasting $150 on subscription if you're not eligible.

Step 3: Check Payment Processor Compatibility

Test before subscribing: See if your credit/debit card works with US-based merchants.

How to test: Try making a small purchase ($1-5) from any US-based online service that uses Stripe.

If payment is declined: Likely your card isn't compatible with TradeDay's payment processor.

Step 4: Ask in Trading Communities

Where to ask:

• TradeDay Discord (if you can access it)
• Reddit r/Futurestrading
• Futures trading forums

What to ask: "Does anyone from [Country] successfully trade with TradeDay?"

Look for: Recent confirmation (within past 3-6 months). Policies can change.

Step 5: Start with Free Trial (If Available)

Some prop firms offer: Free trial periods or demo accounts

TradeDay's policy: No free trial for evaluation, but you can see if you can access the platform before paying.

Test: Try to create account (without paying). If site blocks you at IP check, you're likely in banned country.

Frequently Asked Questions

My friend in the US will let me use his address and card. Will that work?

No. When you try to withdraw profits, you'll need to verify your own identity with your own documents. TradeDay will discover you're not in the US, and you'll lose everything.

What if I'm traveling temporarily in a banned country?

If you're a US or allowed-country citizen temporarily traveling in a banned country, contact TradeDay support and explain your situation. Provide passport showing your actual citizenship. They may make an exception for temporary travel.

Can I use TradeDay if I'm a dual citizen (one citizenship in banned country, one in allowed country)?

Use the allowed-country citizenship. When you verify identity, submit documents from your allowed-country citizenship. But you must be physically residing in an allowed country—dual citizenship doesn't let you trade from a banned country.

If I move from a banned country to an allowed country, can I use TradeDay?

Yes, once you have legal residency and documents (ID, proof of address) from the allowed country. You'll need to prove your new residence during verification.

Are there any VPNs that TradeDay doesn't detect?

All VPNs can be detected during payment verification and identity verification. VPNs only mask your IP, not your payment method or documents. Don't waste money trying.

What if I use a friend's verified account and trade it for them?

This violates TradeDay's TOS (accounts are single-user). If discovered, both accounts will be terminated. Additionally, your friend is violating TOS and risks permanent ban.

Can I create a company in the US and trade under that company?

Only if you're legally authorized to represent that company and you can provide verification documents for yourself. If you're in a banned country, creating a US company doesn't change your individual eligibility.

Will TradeDay ever lift restrictions on sanctioned countries?

Only if US government lifts OFAC sanctions. TradeDay cannot override US law. Monitor OFAC sanctions list for changes.

Bottom Line: If You're Banned, Don't Try to Bypass It

Geographic restrictions exist for legal compliance and risk management reasons. Attempting to bypass them through VPNs, fake documents, or borrowed accounts will eventually get you caught—usually right when you try to withdraw profits. You'll lose all your money, time, and effort, plus risk permanent bans and potential legal consequences.

If you're in a restricted country:

• Accept that TradeDay isn't available to you
• Research alternative prop firms that accept your country
• Consider relocating if prop trading is your career path
• Focus on local brokers or other trading opportunities

If you're in an allowed country:

• Verify eligibility before paying subscription
• Trade with your legitimate identity and documents
• Don't help friends in banned countries bypass restrictions (you risk your own account)

The only path that works long-term: Trade from an allowed country with legitimate identity and documentation. Everything else leads to account termination and loss of funds.

For complete TradeDay information, check the full TradeDay review.

Trade from allowed countries. Use legitimate identity. Build sustainable income.

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