Quick Answer — E8 Markets Restricted Countries — Quick Facts
- • 35 countries restricted from all E8 products
- • UAE and Hong Kong both restricted — no E8 access for residents
- • US traders: E8 Futures fully accessible, no restriction noted
- • US traders: MT5 and cTrader unavailable (CFD/Forex regulation); MatchTrader and TradeLocker work
- • Restriction is residence/citizenship-based — VPN does not bypass compliance verification
- • Full list verified April 2026 — check E8 terms of service for the authoritative current version
Tested firsthand (Futures): I traded E8 Futures for 18 months across 3 funded accounts serially — around $4K in cumulative payouts, currently no active account. E8 runs a 2-step evaluation on the Futures side; the Forex/CFD side follows its own structure. Key rules to know: max daily loss, trailing drawdown on funded accounts, consistency requirements, and payout eligibility windows. Full breakdown in the E8 Markets rules guide and main review. Verify current wording at the E8 Futures Help Center. Use code VIBES for 10% off at E8 Markets.
E8 Markets restricts traders from 35 countries, blocks MT5 and cTrader for US-based Forex traders, and allows US traders unrestricted access to the E8 Futures track. Those are the three facts most traders searching this topic need. The rest of this article provides the full verified list, the reasoning behind major entries, and a clear breakdown of what US traders can and cannot do.
For the full E8 rules context, see the E8 Markets rules overview.
The complete restricted countries list (35 countries, verified April 2026)
E8 Markets restricts account opening and trading for residents and citizens of the following countries:
| Region | Restricted Countries |
|---|---|
| Middle East / North Africa | Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia |
| East / Southeast Asia | Burma/Myanmar, Hong Kong, North Korea |
| South Asia | Bangladesh, Pakistan |
| Europe / Former Soviet | Albania, Belarus, Kosovo, Russia, Ukraine |
| Americas | Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela |
| Pacific | Midway Islands, Samoa |
| Other | Vatican City, West Bank, Western Sahara |
Total: 35 restricted countries/territories.
Two entries deserve extra attention: UAE and Hong Kong both appear on this list. These are significant financial hubs with large prop-trading communities, and the restriction catches many traders by surprise. Residents of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Hong Kong cannot access any E8 product.
Always confirm against E8's current terms of service at e8markets.com before purchasing an evaluation. Lists can change, and this article reflects the verified state as of April 2026.
Why these countries are restricted
The restricted list follows two distinct logics.
Sanctions compliance. A core set of countries are restricted because they are subject to OFAC (US Treasury), UN Security Council, or EU financial sanctions. E8 Markets, operating from Dallas TX and Prague CZ, must comply with US and EU sanctions regimes. This category covers Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen. These restrictions are legally mandated and not subject to exception.
Regulatory and compliance risk. A second set of countries are restricted because E8 has assessed the compliance burden or fraud risk as too high for current operations. This category includes countries like Kenya, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kosovo. Firms expand these lists through internal risk assessment rather than direct legal mandate, which means this category can change as E8's compliance infrastructure grows.
UAE and Hong Kong specifically. Both are advanced financial markets with strong regulatory frameworks, which makes their appearance on the restricted list notable. UAE has its own financial regulatory environment (DIFC, ADGM) that may create complexity for foreign prop firms seeking to serve UAE-resident traders. Hong Kong operates under a separate regulatory regime from mainland China, and its status on this list reflects E8's current compliance posture rather than a sanctions requirement.
US traders: what you can and cannot access
The US situation is more nuanced than a simple yes/no. United States traders are not on the restricted countries list. They can open E8 accounts. But US-specific platform restrictions apply on the Forex/CFD side.
E8 Futures — fully accessible to US traders:
US traders face no platform restriction for E8 Signature Futures. The available platform stack is:
| Platform | US Available |
|---|---|
| NinjaTrader | Yes |
| Quantower | Yes |
| TradingView | Yes |
| Sierra Chart | Yes |
The E8 Futures track offers $25K, $50K, $100K, and $150K account sizes. Pricing starts at $110 (Signature $25K). For Futures-specific pricing, see the E8 Futures pricing guide.
E8 Forex/CFD — platform restriction applies:
US traders cannot use MT5 or cTrader for E8 Forex/CFD accounts. This is not an E8-specific policy but a downstream effect of US regulatory restrictions on CFD products. MT5 and cTrader in the US context require regulatory accommodations that E8 has not yet implemented.
US traders on the Forex/CFD side can access:
| Platform | US Available |
|---|---|
| MatchTrader | Yes |
| TradeLocker | Yes |
| MT5 | No |
| cTrader | No |
MatchTrader and TradeLocker give US traders access to E8 One and E8 Signature Forex products. The E8 One is E8's 1-step customizable account with profit splits up to 100% and scaling to $1,000,000. The E8 Signature Forex runs on EOD dynamic drawdown with 80% fixed profit split.
For a full breakdown of which products suit which trader profiles, see the E8 One vs Signature comparison and the E8 Markets US traders guide.
Does nationality matter, or only residence?
Prop firms typically verify both residence and citizenship during KYC. Traders who are citizens of a restricted country but resident in a non-restricted country face a case-by-case compliance assessment. In practice, E8's KYC process checks government-issued ID (which shows citizenship) and proof of address (which shows residence). If either matches a restricted country, the account may be declined.
If you hold dual citizenship, the non-restricted citizenship may be sufficient — but verify directly with E8 support before purchasing an evaluation. Contact E8 at help.e8markets.com/en/ for individual guidance.
VPN and jurisdiction-shopping: why it does not work
The restricted country list operates at the KYC and identity verification layer, not at IP-level access. E8 Markets requires government-issued ID and proof of address before activating funded accounts. A VPN changes your apparent IP address but does not change your identity documents.
Attempting to use a VPN to bypass jurisdiction restrictions:
- Violates E8's terms of service
- Risks account closure and profit forfeiture if discovered
- May trigger fraud flags during KYC review
The verification standard used by E8, Rise (their crypto payout rail), and Plane (their bank transfer rail) requires real identity matching. There is no compliant workaround for restricted-country residency.
What to check before buying an E8 evaluation
If you are uncertain about your country's status:
- Read the current E8 terms of service at e8markets.com for the official restricted list.
- Contact E8 support at help.e8markets.com/en/ before paying the evaluation fee.
- If you are a US trader interested in Forex/CFD, confirm you can access MatchTrader or TradeLocker from your setup before committing to a platform-specific product.
- If you plan to use E8 Futures, no additional platform check is needed for US traders.
For traders in non-restricted countries, see the E8 Markets accounts overview for a full product comparison and the E8 Markets platforms guide for detailed platform setup information.
How E8 compares to peers on country restrictions
Most major prop firms carry similar restricted country lists driven by the same sanctions compliance requirements. The core OFAC/UN sanctions countries (Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Cuba, Sudan) appear on virtually every prop firm's restricted list.
E8's list is notable for including UAE and Hong Kong, which some competitors have found ways to serve. If UAE or Hong Kong access is a requirement, consider reviewing alternative firms — the E8 Markets vs competitors overview covers several firms with different geographic availability.
For traders interested in E8 specifically who are near the restricted list boundary, the safest path is direct confirmation with E8 support before any payment.
The bottom line
E8 Markets restricts 35 countries as of April 2026. The key callouts are UAE and Hong Kong, which many traders in those markets do not expect to see on the list. US traders are not restricted at the country level but face a platform limitation on the Forex/CFD side: MT5 and cTrader are unavailable, while MatchTrader and TradeLocker both work. US traders accessing E8 Futures face no restriction. If your country is on the list, there is no compliant workaround. If you are uncertain, check the E8 terms of service or contact E8 support before paying evaluation fees.
Use code VIBES for 10% off any E8 evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries does E8 Markets restrict?
E8 Markets restricts traders from 35 countries as of April 2026: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burma/Myanmar, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Midway Islands, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Samoa, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City, Venezuela, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, and Zambia. Always verify against E8's current terms of service before signing up.
Can US traders use E8 Markets?
Yes, with platform-specific caveats. US traders can access E8 Futures fully, with no restriction noted. On the Forex/CFD side, MT5 and cTrader are unavailable due to CFD regulation, but MatchTrader and TradeLocker are both accessible for US-based Forex traders. US traders can access E8 One and E8 Signature Forex products on the compatible platforms.
Is E8 Markets available in the UAE?
No. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on E8 Markets' restricted countries list. UAE residents and citizens cannot open accounts or trade with E8 Markets. This applies across all E8 products.
Is E8 Markets available in Hong Kong?
No. Hong Kong is explicitly listed as a restricted territory. Residents of Hong Kong cannot access any E8 products, including Futures, Forex, and Crypto tracks.
Why does E8 restrict certain countries?
Prop firms restrict countries for two primary reasons: international sanctions compliance (covering countries like Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Cuba, and Sudan) and local regulatory restrictions on CFD and Forex products (the reason MT5 and cTrader are unavailable to US traders). E8 Markets, headquartered in Dallas TX and Prague CZ, must comply with US and EU financial regulations.
Can I use a VPN to access E8 Markets from a restricted country?
No. E8 Markets' KYC process checks government-issued ID and proof of address, not just IP address. A VPN bypasses geographic IP filtering but does not change identity documents. If your documents show a restricted country, the account will not pass verification. Attempting to use a VPN to circumvent restrictions violates E8's terms of service.
Which E8 platforms are available to US traders?
For Forex/CFD: MatchTrader and TradeLocker. MT5 and cTrader are unavailable to US traders. For E8 Futures: NinjaTrader, Quantower, TradingView, and Sierra Chart are all available with no US restriction.
Does the restricted country list apply to E8 Futures as well as Forex?
Yes. The country restriction list applies to all E8 products. A trader from a restricted country cannot access E8 Futures, E8 Forex, or E8 Crypto. The US platform restriction is a separate issue specific to Forex/CFD regulation, not a blanket country ban.
Is Russia restricted on E8 Markets?
Yes. Russia is on E8 Markets' restricted countries list. Russian residents and citizens cannot open accounts with E8 Markets.
Is Ukraine restricted on E8 Markets?
Yes, Ukraine appears on E8 Markets' restricted countries list. This is less common than Russia's restriction at most prop firms. Ukrainian traders should verify directly with E8 support at help.e8markets.com, as these lists can change.
What happens if my country becomes restricted after I open an E8 account?
E8 Markets' terms of service govern this scenario. Accounts active at the time of a new restriction may be handled individually. Contact E8 support directly for guidance if your country's status changes.
How do I confirm my country's status before buying an E8 evaluation?
Check E8 Markets' terms of service at e8markets.com or contact E8 support at help.e8markets.com/en/ before purchasing. The list in this article was verified April 2026 but may change; use the official source for final confirmation.