FXOpen review: New margin rules for WTI and Brent

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Olga Shendetskaya

24.03.2026

FXOpen review: New margin rules for WTI and Brent — FXOpen changes margin on WTI and Brent oil

FXOpen has announced changes to trading conditions for two oil instruments — XTI/USD and XBR/USD. Starting March 23, 2026, margin requirements for both contracts will be increased, while the maximum leverage will be reduced to 1:25.

Highlights

FXOpen is changing margin conditions for XTI/USD and XBR/USD from March 23, 2026.
Maximum leverage on WTI and Brent is being reduced to 1:25.
Brent has risen by about 50% since February, increasing volatility in the oil market.
Clients are advised to review available funds and open positions before the changes take effect.

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The update applies to CFDs on WTI and Brent crude, which are among the more volatile instruments in the commodities segment. In its notice, FXOpen specifically advised clients to make sure they have sufficient funds in their accounts and to adjust open positions in line with the updated margin requirements.

What exactly is changing for XTI/USD and XBR/USD

The changes affect two instruments: XTI/USD, which tracks WTI crude oil, and XBR/USD, which is linked to Brent crude. For both assets, FXOpen is raising margin requirements while cutting the maximum available leverage to 1:25. The updated parameters will take effect on March 23, 2026.

In practice, this means traders will need more of their own funds to maintain the same position size than before. Lower leverage reduces the size of the possible position relative to the deposit and therefore changes the amount of required margin. For oil market participants, this is particularly relevant because both contracts are actively used in short-term trading amid heightened volatility in commodity markets.

Why the company is changing conditions now

Current oil price swings are being driven less by underlying demand or seasonal factors than by the risk of a physical supply reduction. Since the start of the conflict, Brent has risen by about 50% compared with February levels, while higher energy prices have increased inflation risks and at the same time reduced the likelihood of near-term monetary easing in the United States.

At the same time, the market continues to reflect mixed expectations. On one hand, threats to energy infrastructure and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are sustaining a high geopolitical risk premium. On the other hand, some market participants believe Washington could try to stabilize the situation by easing restrictions on Iranian oil or taking other steps to increase supply. This combination of factors is what is currently preventing prices from rising even more sharply.

Against that backdrop, FXOpen’s decision appears to be a response to continued instability in the oil instruments segment.

What this means for trading oil CFDs

For FXOpen clients, this update means stricter trading conditions for two widely used oil contracts.

Traders have to review both existing positions and the parameters of any new trades.

As previously covered FXOpen updates trading hours for Hong Kong Lunar New Year.

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