United States
How to Trade XAUUSD in the USA
US traders face different rules to the rest of the world: no CFDs, 20:1 leverage, FIFO and no hedging. Here is what is allowed, and how to apply gold analysis inside those limits.
| Route | Best for | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| COMEX gold futures (GC / MGC) | Most US-compliant route for active traders | GC covers 100 ounces; micro gold (MGC) covers 10, making position sizing realistic for smaller accounts. Exchange-regulated, transparent pricing, nearly 24-hour trading with a daily settlement break. |
| Spot XAU/USD at an NFA-registered dealer | Closest to how signals are published | A handful of CFTC-regulated retail forex dealers offer spot gold to US clients at up to 20:1 leverage, under FIFO and no-hedging rules. Prices track the same spot market our levels reference. |
| Gold ETFs and options | Longer holding periods | Instruments such as physically backed gold ETFs trade in a standard brokerage or retirement account during US equity hours. Suitable for swing exposure, not for intraday scalping. |
| Offshore CFD brokers | Not available to US residents | Offshore CFD brokers with high leverage generally do not accept US clients, and using one is outside the US regulatory protections. We do not recommend it. |
The four rules that change how you trade
- No CFDs. Retail gold CFDs are not permitted for US residents.
- 20:1 maximum leverage on spot gold at NFA-registered dealers.
- FIFO. Positions must be closed in the order they were opened.
- No hedging. You cannot hold opposing positions in the same instrument.
In practice that means scale-outs are partial closes on one position, and account size matters more than leverage. Work out your size before entry with the position size calculator and check the tick value with the gold pip calculator.
Choosing a venue
Verify any US dealer's registration in the NFA BASIC database before funding an account, and check that gold is actually offered — many registered forex dealers list only currency pairs. For futures, compare commissions, day-trade margin on MGC, and whether the platform supports resting limit and stop orders at the levels you plan to use.
Our international broker notes are on best brokers for XAUUSD scalping; those brokers generally do not accept US residents, so US traders should treat that page as context rather than a shortlist.
Session timing for US traders
Gold produces most of its daily range between 08:00 and 11:00 New York time, when London and New York overlap. The 08:30 ET data releases — CPI, NFP, jobless claims — are the biggest single-minute movers, and the afternoon is usually thin. Full session detail is on XAUUSD trading hours and the best time to trade gold.
Tax treatment
US tax treatment differs by instrument: regulated futures contracts fall under Section 1256 with 60/40 treatment, while spot forex is generally treated under Section 988 unless an election is made. This is general information, not tax advice — confirm your position with a qualified US tax professional.
Applying our gold analysis in the US
Our levels are spot XAUUSD levels. Futures trade at a small premium to spot, so convert the level rather than copying the number blindly. Everything else — bias, structure, invalidation, R targets — applies unchanged. Start with the free signals and outlook for today, or read gold trading for beginners first.
Common questions
Trading gold in the USA: FAQ
Membership
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Gold and XAUUSD setups with defined entries, stops and targets, plus the daily Gold outlook and a performance log that includes losing trades.