Has MT4 and MT5 been Banned?

Share this:
Editorial Note: While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for How We Make Money. None of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer.

eToro - Best Forex broker for 2024

eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.

In September 2022, the Metatrader 4 and 5 apps were removed from the app stores due to sanctions related to the fact that the app maker, Metaquotes, is a Russian company headquartered in St. Petersburg. Suspicions of price manipulation and monopolistic practices were also mentioned. However, after investigations, no violations were found, and in March 2023, MT4 and MT5 were reinstated in the app stores, where they are still available for download today.

MetaTrader 4 and 5, commonly known as MT4 and MT5, are globally acclaimed trading platforms developed by the Russian company MetaQuotes Software. These platforms serve as indispensable tools for traders, offering a range of features for analyzing financial markets and executing trades.

However, the intriguing aspect lies in the history of bans that befell MT4 and MT5, prompting their temporary removal from app stores. This article delves into the origins of MetaTrader 5, exploring its Russian roots and taking out the narrative of why MT5 faced bans and its current status.

Start trading Forex now with eToro!
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
  • Which country is MT5 from?

    MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a trading platform developed by MetaQuotes Software, a company based in Russia. The main office of MetaQuotes Software is located in Saint Petersburg. The company was founded in 2000 and is one of the leading developers of software for trading on financial markets. The company also has offices in other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Japan

  • Is MT5 legal in the US?

    Yes, MetaTrader 5 is legal and widely used in the United States for online trading.

  • Is MetaTrader safe to use?

    Generally, MetaTrader is considered a safe and reliable trading platform. However, users should be cautious and use secure practices, such as choosing a reputable broker and keeping their login credentials confidential.

  • Is MT5 still banned?

    As of today, there are no widespread bans on MetaTrader 5. MetaTrader iOS – MT5 app – have been reinstated on the App Store. The trading platform's desktop version is still available to download and the Google Play version hasn't been affected.

Is MT5 a Russian company?

Yes, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a trading platform developed by the Russian company MetaQuotes Software. MetaQuotes Software is a Russian company that focuses on creating software for foreign exchange trading. The primary offerings from MetaQuotes are the online trading platforms known as MetaTrader, including MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

2010. The establishment of MetaQuotes Software Corporation traces back to the year 2000 in Russia, marked by the introduction of FX Charts—an online charting package tailored for margin FX trading.

2005. On July 1, 2005, with the launch of MetaTrader 4 (MT4). MetaTrader 4 has undergone significant improvements over time. A useful "Data Center" feature was added to make the servers more stable, reduce the load on them and improve security against problems such as denial-of-service attacks.

2010: The MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform was released in June 2010. It was developed as a successor to MetaTrader 4, aiming to offer more features, including additional timeframes, more technical indicators, a built-in economic calendar, and support for more financial instruments.

2011: The MetaTrader 5 (MT5) mobile version was officially released for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad on January 18, 2011. The Android version of MT5 saw several updates, with a notable update on June 13, 2014, which included several new features and design changes to be consistent with the Google Style Guide.

To learn in detail about the features of each platform, their differences, and how they can benefit you, read the article: MT4 vs MT5: Which Forex Trading Platform is Better?

Best Forex brokers

1
9.4/10
Go to broker
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.
Minimum deposit:
$50, $100 (for UK clients)
Bonus for deposit:
0%
Regulation:
CySEC, FCA, ASIC
2
9.2/10
Go to broker
Your capital is at risk.
Minimum deposit:
No minimum
Bonus for deposit:
0%
Regulation:
FSC (BVI), ASIC, IIROC, FCA, CFTC, NFA

Has MT4 and MT5 been banned?

The evolution of MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) has been marked by notable incidents, including a brief prohibition from app stores on September 23, 2022, followed by their subsequent reinstatement.

This suspension was linked to multiple factors, detailed as follows:

Allegations of Fraud: The crux of the issue stemmed from Apple's decision to eliminate MT4 and MT5 from its App Store, prompted by concerns over a burgeoning scam network colloquially termed "pig butchering." This scheme exploited the Virtual Dealer plug-in to craft deceptive trading environments, fooling traders with counterfeit market data, including prices, price movements, and misleading profit and loss statements. Metaquotes, the developer behind these platforms, does provide licenses for this plug-in, but Apple's decision to prohibit downloads appeared to be a strategic move to mitigate these fraudulent activities. Notably, while new downloads were blocked, existing users retained their access to the platforms.

Potential Repercussions of Sanctions Against Russia: The backdrop of this ban also included the geopolitical tensions arising from Russia's military actions in Ukraine. In response, many global entities, including prominent tech firms, paused their operations in Russia as a gesture of support to Ukraine and adherence to the sanctions imposed by the European Union. Previously, Apple had already ceased product sales and certain financial services in Russia. However, Metaquotes contested any direct correlation between these sanctions and the exclusion of their applications from the App Store.

Encouraging Market Diversity: Historically, Metaquotes has dominated the trading software landscape, commanding an impressive 84% market share. This near-monopoly status was somewhat disrupted by the ban, inadvertently fostering a more competitive environment. The absence of Metaquotes as the unequivocal market leader presented an opportunity for traders and brokerage firms to consider and adopt alternative trading platforms.

Actually, the specifics of the ban remain somewhat opaque, as neither Apple nor Metaquotes have provided comprehensive explanations. Metaquotes only received succinct communication from Apple, attributing the ban to a failure to conform to the App Store's review protocols.

Is MetaTrader 4 and 5 available on the App Store?

As the facts show, Apps by Metaquotes was reinstated in stores in March 2023.

As of today, the apps are available for download for everyone.

You can install the Android versions from the Google Play Market:

MetaTrader 4 and 5 available on Google Play

You can also download the iPhone versions:

MetaTrader 4 and 5 available on App Store

MetaTrader 4 and 5 available on App Store

Both trading terminals from Metaquotes are trustworthy, regularly updated, and stable in operation - which has led to their popularity.

MT4 is considered easy to learn while containing many features. It is perfect for beginners. Note that to fully utilize MT4, you will need to open an account with a broker (this is not a complicated procedure) to receive stock exchange data on the latest prices. More details are described in the articles:

MT5 is a more advanced platform, but it can be more difficult to master. If you are inclined to choose it, the following articles will help you:

Conclusion

MetaTrader 4 and 5 are products of MetaQuotes Software Corporation, a Russian company. The removal of these products from app stores in the fall of 2022 was a temporary measure related to sanctions, suspicions of manipulation, and monopolistic practices. It took about six months to resolve the issues. After that, the popular MetaQuotes products became available to users again.

Glossary for novice traders

  • 1 Broker

    A broker is a legal entity or individual that performs as an intermediary when making trades in the financial markets. Private investors cannot trade without a broker, since only brokers can execute trades on the exchanges.

  • 2 Trading

    Trading involves the act of buying and selling financial assets like stocks, currencies, or commodities with the intention of profiting from market price fluctuations. Traders employ various strategies, analysis techniques, and risk management practices to make informed decisions and optimize their chances of success in the financial markets.

  • 3 Forex Trading

    Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, is the practice of buying and selling currencies in the global foreign exchange market with the aim of profiting from fluctuations in exchange rates. Traders speculate on whether one currency will rise or fall in value relative to another currency and make trading decisions accordingly.

  • 4 CFD

    CFD is a contract between an investor/trader and seller that demonstrates that the trader will need to pay the price difference between the current value of the asset and its value at the time of contract to the seller.

  • 5 Index

    Index in trading is the measure of the performance of a group of stocks, which can include the assets and securities in it.

Team that worked on the article

Upendra Goswami
Contributor

Upendra Goswami is a full-time digital content creator, marketer, and active investor. As a creator, he loves writing about online trading, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and stock trading.

Dr. BJ Johnson
Dr. BJ Johnson
Developmental English Editor

Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.

Tobi Opeyemi Amure
Cryptocurrency and stock expert

Tobi Opeyemi Amure is an editor and expert writer with over 7 years of experience. In 2023, Tobi joined the Traders Union team as an editor and fact checker, making sure to deliver trustworthy and reliable content. The topics he covers include trading signals, cryptocurrencies, Forex brokers, stock brokers, expert advisors, binary options.

Tobi Opeyemi Amure motto: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.