Gate expands TradFi features: A one-stop guide to start trading gold, forex, and US stock CFDs for beginners

After more than ten years of deep cultivation in the digital asset field, the world-leading trading platform Gate continues to expand its TradFi functions, extending its professional trading service footprint into broader traditional financial markets. Now, you can conveniently trade gold, forex, global stock indices, as well as popular US stocks like Tesla and Apple CFDs on Gate without switching multiple platforms. This article provides a complete guide from registration to completing your first trade, helping you quickly get started with Gate’s TradFi contracts and seize diverse opportunities in global markets.

Overview of Gate TradFi Features: Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance

The core of Gate’s expansion into TradFi functions is the introduction of CFD trading aligned with traditional financial markets. This move marks Gate’s evolution from a single crypto asset trading platform to a comprehensive multi-asset trading platform. It primarily addresses the complexity users face when operating across multiple platforms, allowing you to trade cryptocurrencies and assess traditional market price fluctuations within a single account.

Key features of TradFi contracts include:

• Wide range of trading instruments: covering forex (e.g., EUR/USD), precious metals (e.g., XAU/USD), global indices (e.g., US30, NAS100), and popular company stocks.
• Priced in USDx: This is Gate’s internal accounting and display unit for TradFi assets, pegged 1:1 to USDT. You only need to transfer USDT, and the system will automatically display your balance in USDx without currency exchange or additional fees.
• Following traditional market rules: Fixed trading hours and market close times are set, with overall trading mechanisms, profit/loss calculations, and mainstream CFD market practices maintained.

First Step for Beginners: Registering a Gate Account and Verifying Identity

If you are already a Gate user, you can skip this step and proceed directly to the next section. For new users, registration takes only a few minutes:

1. Open the Gate APP and click the “Register” button at the top right corner of the page.
2. Follow the prompts to complete registration using your email or phone number.
3. To enable all trading features, including TradFi, and ensure account security, identity verification (KYC) is necessary. Please upload the required documents as instructed; the review usually completes quickly.

Funding: How to Deposit into Your TradFi Account

Before trading TradFi, ensure your account has sufficient USDT.

Method 1: Deposit cryptocurrency from an external wallet or exchange

You can transfer USDT or other mainstream cryptocurrencies (e.g., BTC, ETH) held in other wallets or platforms into your Gate spot account. As of January 12, 2026, the trading price of USDT on Gate is approximately $1.00. After deposit, you can exchange within the platform.

Method 2: Purchase on Gate’s spot market

If you are a fiat user, you can buy USDT directly through Gate-supported channels (such as bank cards or third-party payments), or exchange other assets for USDT in the spot trading area.

Complete the fund transfer:

Once you have USDT, transfer it from your “Spot Account” to your “TradFi Account.”

• In the Gate App, go to the “Assets” overview page.
• Find USDT and click “Transfer.”
• Select transfer from “Spot Account” to “TradFi Account,” enter the amount, and confirm.
• After successful transfer, your TradFi account balance will be displayed in USDx, equivalent to the transferred USDT.

Starting Trading: Understanding the Interface and Executing Your First Order

Gate’s TradFi contract trading is mainly conducted through the MT5(MetaTrader 5) system, a widely used professional trading software in the global TradFi sector. All operations on MT5 are synchronized in real-time with the assets page in the Gate App.

Before trading, familiarize yourself with these core concepts:

• Trading hours: Each instrument has specific open and close times, usually corresponding to the underlying asset’s real market hours. Check the contract details before trading.
• Leverage and margin: Different instruments have fixed leverage multiples. For example, major forex pairs typically support up to 500x leverage, while stock CFDs usually support up to 5x. Margin is used in full position mode.
• Trading costs: Gate TradFi offers significant cost advantages, with per-trade fees as low as $0.018, providing a clear and controllable trading cost structure. Overnight positions may incur overnight fees.

Example of executing a trade (trading NAS100 index CFD):

1. Find “NAS100” or “Nasdaq 100 Index” in the MT5 trading terminal.
2. Right-click and select “New Order,” which will open the trading window.
3. Choose the lot size (e.g., 0.01 lots), set stop-loss and take-profit if desired.
4. Click “Market Buy” or “Market Sell” to establish a long or short position.

Risk Management: Understanding Margin Calls and Hedging

TradFi trading, especially with leverage, requires careful risk management.

• Margin call rules: Gate uses a margin ratio-based liquidation mechanism. When your account margin ratio drops to 50% or below, the system will automatically trigger a margin call to control overall risk.
• Hedging positions: You can hold both long and short positions on the same trading pair simultaneously. The system will calculate hedging based on lot size, providing flexible risk management strategies.

Fees and Promotions: Low-Cost Entry with Rewards

To help users get started smoothly, Gate frequently launches incentive activities. For example, new users participating in the TradFi experience event can earn up to 110 USDT in trial rewards. After completing certain trading tasks, you may unlock stage-based incentives up to 3,000 USDT.

Below is a summary table of main trading instruments’ fee rates and leverage for quick reference:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between TradFi trading and crypto perpetual contracts on Gate?

A1: The main difference is that TradFi contracts have fixed trading hours, fixed leverage multiples that cannot be adjusted, and follow traditional financial market rules; whereas crypto perpetual contracts typically trade 24/7 with customizable leverage.

Q2: Are there exchange rate risks or additional costs when using USDx?

A2: None at all. USDx is an internal accounting unit pegged 1:1 to USDT, used only for display, not actual currency exchange, so there is no exchange rate fluctuation risk or fees.

Q3: Can I perform TradFi trading directly on the Gate App?

A3: Core trading operations such as opening and closing positions need to be done on the MT5 terminal (APP). However, your account assets, balances, and positions are synchronized in real-time and displayed in the “Assets” page of the Gate App for easy management.

Q4: As a beginner, where should I start trying?

A4: It is recommended to start with demo trading or small funds to familiarize yourself with MT5 operations and the price movements of specific instruments. Also, make full use of Gate’s beginner tutorials and trial activities to gain experience in a low-risk environment.