This article is simultaneously updated with the WeChat public account: Huijia Century Studio.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a powerful and flexible trading platform suitable for traders of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or a professional trader, MT4 allows for efficient market analysis and trade execution. Its rich features, strong automated trading support, and excellent user experience make MT4 one of the most popular trading platforms worldwide.
As long-time investors in the forex circle, many of you may be familiar with MetaTrader. Although new traders might not know MetaTrader, they are likely familiar with MT4 and MT5. Recently, MetaTrader has made frequent changes, which surprised me as it’s the first time I’ve encountered such a situation in my long career.
First, there is the frequent updating of MT4 and MT5, which has drawn some criticism. Why are these updates criticized? Logically, updates should bring more features and improvements. Through discussions with several industry experts, two primary reasons emerged:
1. Frequent updates are inconvenient for many traders because whenever there is a major update, Android and PC users need to find and install new packages.
2. Updates can cause issues for traders using automated trading programs, leading to EA disconnections and older EA versions becoming unusable. Automated trading often involves executing many orders, and disruptions can result in significant losses and increased workload for traders.
Currently, MT5 has been updated to version 1420, rendering many EAs unusable. MetaTrader has taken strict measures against EAs without source codes or pirated EAs, making them completely unusable. If you encounter such a situation, contact us through our homepage for repairs to restore functionality.
Everything has its pros and cons. Protecting programmers' intellectual property rights is beneficial, preventing products from becoming overly common. For instance, in the past, various cracked versions of the Extreme Shadow Northeast Road EA appeared, some containing harmful programs that caused users to lose significant amounts of money. I advise all traders to purchase legitimate, activated EAs.
The first change to MetaTrader 4 has been discussed. Now, let’s talk about the second change.
Some observant investors might have noticed this change: the server query regulatory function. This is a good thing for users. Previously, there were no authoritative regulatory agencies or query institutions in China, with most resources being commercial, such as Tianyan, Forex 110, and Haitou Rankings. Although useful and detailed, these institutions sometimes commercialized certain platforms, misleading investors and causing losses.
Many traders understand that a platform can hold multiple regulatory licenses. Regardless of whether it's regulated by the UK FCA, the Australian ASIC, the Cyprus CySEC, or an offshore license, the critical point is that the servers/platforms used by our registered accounts must be linked to the licenses.
MetaTrader's new regulatory query function allows users to identify if their trading accounts are linked to regulatory licenses. If a platform holds multiple licenses but the account used in MT4/MT5 is not associated with the corresponding license, it raises concerns about the safety and compliance of the funds.
The involvement of regulatory agencies can reduce trading risks and ensure the safety of funds. If users discover that a server is not regulated, they should immediately take action and switch to a regulated server for registration.
Below, I will demonstrate from an iPhone perspective how to query regulation.
1. First, open the MT4 or MT5 mobile app.
2. Click the search button to find your broker’s name and corresponding server (I will use IC as an example).
3. Click the exclamation mark to clearly see the regulatory details for each link.
Here, we can clearly see that this link is regulated by Seychelles. In a previous article, I mentioned that many platforms operate in China under offshore regulations due to foreign exchange controls and policies. Now you can compare your server and platform to check their regulation status.
Of course, some platforms also have servers under primary regulation. Taking IC as an example, this link is directly regulated by Australia.
I believe MetaTrader made this update for the good. Users can now follow the steps mentioned above to verify server regulation. This information helps assess server compliance and safety, enhancing market transparency and providing users with additional protection and confidence. This update fosters a healthier, more standardized market and provides a safer, more stable trading environment for users.
Lastly, a piece of news I obtained through insider information: MetaTrader's layoffs. Yesterday, I posted in a group that large-scale layoffs in the Asian region are almost confirmed.
According to industry insiders, the layoffs may be related to MetaTrader’s sales policies. Last year, MetaTrader faced joint resistance from Apple’s and Android’s official stores due to policy reasons and high complaint rates. This led to stricter sales controls, making it more challenging for brokers to apply for MT4 (main or white label). Many industry insiders believe that the large-scale layoffs are related to these strict controls.
As a long-time industry professional, MetaTrader’s changes are significant. This is the first time I have experienced such changes. I hope the forex industry will become more transparent and continue to advance.
