Rock-West Review 2025

Trust

Rock-West Regulators

When reviewing brokers, we examine the licenses held by each of their entities to determine how effectively they protect clients. We use a simple three-tier system to rank regulatory bodies, with Tier 1 being the most trusted and offering the highest level of protection.

This is what I discovered about the single entity operating under the Rock-West trade name:

• MAIV Limited is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles under license number SD044. We rate the FSA as a Tier-3 regulator.

How Does Rock-West Protect You?

Brokers operate multiple entities globally, but regulatory protections vary. Some regulators enforce stricter financial standards than others, so traders should understand the safety measures of the entity with which they choose to open an account.

Here is how Rock-West protects you:

✅ Segregated accounts – Client funds are kept separate from the broker’s own money.

✅ Negative balance protection – Your losses cannot exceed your deposit. However, while Rock-West states on its website that it provides negative balance protection, this could not be verified in the broker’s legal documents.

❌ No compensation scheme – Clients are not covered if the broker becomes insolvent.

To learn more about the most essential safety mechanisms and how they apply to you, click here.

Stability and Transparency

In our Trust category, we assess how stable and transparent a broker is. This includes how long they’ve been in business, the size of the company, and how openly they share important information.

According to LinkedIn, Rock-West has been operational for 6 years and employs 45 professionals. I also checked its website and legal documents and discovered a couple of minor transparency issues.

• The broker claims to guarantee negative balance protection, but its Client Agreement does not confirm this.
• Rock-West does not provide live spread data on its website.

Is Rock-West Safe?

Despite some gaps in protection, I would rate Rock-West’s safety as moderate. The broker is licensed and regulated by the FSA Seychelles, keeps client funds in segregated accounts, and provides clear, easily accessible legal documents.

These measures help reduce risk, but the lack of confirmed negative balance protection and no participation in a compensation scheme mean Rock-West doesn’t offer the same level of security as brokers regulated in stricter jurisdictions.

Fees

Rock-West Trading Fees

Rock-West Spreads

I tested Rock-West’s spreads on 27 August 2025 during the London and New York opens. The results are shown in the table below:

Rock-West’s spreads are average-to-high across most instruments, particularly in forex and indices. However, Bitcoin spreads fluctuate greatly—from razor-thin to average for the industry average. Crude oil spreads also exceeded the benchmark, while stock CFDs were unavailable during testing.

Rock-West Swaps

A swap fee is a trader’s cost for holding an open position overnight because of changing interest rates. Swap long refers to the charge deductible or credit receivable for holding a buy position open overnight. In turn, swap short relates to the charges/credits deductible or receivable for holding a selling position open overnight.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units).

Live testing revealed that Rock-West’s swaps exceed the industry benchmark on all instruments I checked. This means the broker is unsuitable for overnight trading. However, swap charges fluctuate over time.

Rock-West Non-Trading Fees

Rock-West does not charge handling fees on deposits or withdrawals, though your bank or payment provider may apply their own fees.

The broker applies a $10 inactivity fee for dormant accounts after 12 months of no activity. This fee is charged once per year until you resume trading or your account balance reaches zero.

Are Rock-West’s Fees Competitive?

Rock-West’s fees are reasonable overall, though not the lowest. The broker can offer very tight spreads on BTC/USD, particularly around the London open, but on most other popular instruments, spreads were average or above the industry benchmark.

On the plus side, Rock-West keeps non-trading costs minimal. The only charge is a $10 inactivity fee applied once a year, making it more forgiving than many competitors.

Platforms and Tools

MetaTrader 5 Desktop

I tested the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) desktop platform and found it relatively easy to navigate. The main dashboard is intuitive, with charts, order types, and trading instruments located in familiar places. Even first-time users can pick up the basics without much effort.

However, one thing stood out: the platform design feels a bit outdated. Compared to more modern trading platforms, MT5’s chart visuals are rugged and lack the sleek, polished look that many traders today prefer.

Availability & Features

The RockWest MT5 platform is available for Windows and Mac users and supports 52 languages, including English, Spanish, German, Arabic, and Chinese, making it accessible to traders around the globe.

MT5 features include:

• Price Alerts: Set alerts when an instrument hits a specific price — ideal for spotting trade entry opportunities.
• Customizable Watchlists: Keep tabs on your favorite instruments with ease.
• One-Click Trading: Enter trades instantly at market price — perfect for scalpers or fast-paced traders.
• Chart Trading: Place and manage orders directly from the chart, including entry points, volume, stop-loss, and take-profit levels.

In my view, MT5 really shines when it comes to automated trading. It supports Expert Advisors (EAs) and comes with an easy-to-use strategy tester, allowing algo traders to fine-tune their systems for different market conditions.

Charting & Analysis Tools

MT5 is loaded with analytical tools, including:

• 38 built-in technical indicators: From trend-following to oscillators and volume-based tools.
• 24 drawing tools: Including Fibonacci retracements, Elliott Waves, and more for technical pattern spotting.
• 21 timeframes: Great for multi-timeframe analysis — one of the largest offerings in the industry.
• 3 chart types: Line, bar, and candlestick options let traders view price action in their preferred format.

That said, the charts can get visually cluttered quite fast — even when only two indicators are active. This can make it harder to interpret price action clearly and may not be ideal for traders who rely heavily on clean, minimalistic chart setups.

Order Types

MT5 offers three execution modes and covers all the core order types needed by most traders:

• Market Orders: Instant execution at the best available price — ideal for quick entries
• Limit Orders: Target a specific price level for entry, though execution isn’t guaranteed.
• Stop Orders: Protect open positions with predefined risk levels. Stop-loss orders automatically convert into market orders once triggered.

MT5 Desktop: My Key Takeaways

MetaTrader 5 is a solid platform for fast and straightforward trading, particularly if you’re into algorithmic strategies or use EAs. It’s reliable, packed with tools, and supports detailed trade execution.

However, its interface feels dated compared to more modern alternatives like TradingView or cTrader. If you’re a trader who values sleek design and customizable charting, MT5 might feel a bit too rigid and visually overwhelming.

MT5 App

The MT5 mobile app is available on iOS and Android, enabling quick and easy access to the market on the go. It is very useful for opening, terminating, and adjusting open positions.

You can also use the app to place market, limit, and stop orders, as well as to adjust the exposure of your open trades.

MT5 App: My Key Takeaways

The MetaTrader app stands out for its convenience, making it an essential tool for adjusting trades, especially during periods of heightened volatility. However, it is cumbersome and not the best choice for analyzing price action.

Rock-West App

Rock-West has also developed a proprietary mobile app. At the time of the review, the app only supported basic account management, including making deposits and withdrawals. However, the app did not feature charting or order-placing capabilities.

Rock-West Execution Model

Rock-West operates as an ECN broker without a dealing desk. Client orders are matched electronically (buying orders to selling orders and selling orders to buying orders) using Electronic Communication Networks (ECN).

Tradable Instruments

Rock-West offers a limited selection of indices, an average range of forex pairs and commodities, and an above-average lineup of cryptocurrencies compared to industry norms. However, unlike most CFD brokers, it currently does not provide any share CFDs.

What Are CFDs?

CFDs (Contracts for Difference) let you trade on the price movements of assets—like gold—without actually owning them.

For example, if you go long on gold and the price rises, you profit; if it falls, you lose—without ever buying real gold.

The biggest perk? You can quickly jump in or out of the market to take advantage of even the smallest price changes.

What CFDs Can You Trade With Rock-West?

Rock-West Instruments: My Key Takeaways

Rock-West stands out with its extensive crypto offering of 168 digital assets, including several rare crosses that few brokers provide. On the downside, it is missing some essential asset classes, such as share CFDs and ETFs. The broker’s website notes that share CFDs will be added soon, but at the time of writing, they were still unavailable.

Customer Support

Customer Support Channels

Customer Support Test

When we test a broker’s customer support, we evaluate the agent’s knowledge of their own website, how long it takes them to respond to questions, and how detailed their answers are.

I contacted Rock-West’s support via live chat and asked a few questions of varying complexity to test the breadth of the agents’ knowledge.

The agents were polite, responsive, and generally helpful. They answered straightforward questions—such as those about Rock-West’s copy trading—quickly and clearly. However, when I asked about the broker’s pricing mechanism on the RAW account, it took more time and probing before I received a satisfactory response.

Deposit and Withdrawal

How Do You Deposit Money With Rock-West

How Do You Withdraw Money With Rock-West

Account Types and Terms

Rock-West offers two account types: a Standard account with floating spreads from 1.4 pips and a RAW account with spreads from 0.0 pips plus an $8 round-turn commission. The minimum deposit is $50, and USD is the only base currency. The broker also supports swap-free trading.

How to Open an Account With Rock-West

To open an account with Rock-West, follow these simple steps:

1. Click ‘Register’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. Fill in your name, email address, and phone number.
3. Choose a trading password and agree to Rock-West’s T&Cs.
4. Confirm your email address.
5. Configure your trading account.
6. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to verify your account.

Rock-West Account Types

Rock-West’s Standard account is geared towards casual and beginner traders. It features a low deposit requirement of only $50 and a high maximum retail leverage of 1:2000.

In contrast, the RAW account has only a marginally larger deposit requirement of $250 and a lower maximum leverage of 1:100. Its $8 round-turn commission per traded lot (100,000 units) exceeds the industry average of $6.

Demo Accounts

Rock-West offers a demo account that lets traders explore the broker’s available platforms and test their strategies in a risk-free environment. Since markets are constantly changing, it’s crucial to keep your skills sharp without risking real money. You can open a demo account before or alongside your live CFD account.

Swap-Free (Islamic) Accounts

Rock-West offers Islamic accounts for swap-free trading in accordance with Shariah Law. Please contact the broker for additional information.

What is CFD Leverage?

Leverage determines a trader’s overall market exposure. When trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs), positions can be opened for a fraction of their value because of leverage. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that they can open bigger positions. Leverage multiplies the profits a trader generates from winning positions, but also the losses incurred from failed trades.

What Leverage Does Rock-West Offer?

In the table below, I have listed the maximum retail leverage available with Rock-West for instruments from different asset classes:

Rock-West Restricted Countries

Rock-West does not accept as clients residents of the member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Canada, CAR, Crimea, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Lybya, Kosovo, Somalia, North Korea, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, the USA, Zimbabwe, and any other restricted country or jurisdiction where trading is prohibited by law.

Research

Research Tools

• Economic Calendar: The economic calendar informs traders of upcoming market events and economic releases that can stir a market reaction and create viable trading opportunities.

• Technical Analysis: Rock-West publishes analyses that examine potential day trading opportunities, usually outlining price developments with entry and exit points, stop-loss levels, and price targets. However, this content would be far more useful if supported by price charts. Another odd drawback is that some analyses cover instruments that are not even available on the broker’s platform.

• News Screener: This tool allows traders to stay on top of the latest market developments. It tracks economic releases and financial updates and breaks down their immediate impact on the market.

Rock-West Research: My Key Takeaways

In my view, Rock-West’s research is useful but pretty basic. The technical analysis feels a bit rough and only gives a surface-level look at trading opportunities. What’s missing are price chart breakdowns, which are crucial for this kind of content. I also think the broker could really benefit from adding third-party research tools like Trading Central and Autochartist to bring in more depth and perspective.

Education

Rock-West has published over 50 educational articles on its website, available from the Info Centre section. These are mostly opinion pieces that touch on general trading topics like the habits of successful traders. While easy to read, I found the content too broad and lacking depth—there’s little on practical skills such as reading price action or applying proper risk management.

The broker’s YouTube channel adds a few dozen how-to videos, but these too are basic and unsophisticated, offering limited value for traders who want detailed, actionable guidance.

The Bottom Line

After testing Rock-West, I’d say it’s a broker that leans heavily toward crypto traders. With 168+ digital assets and some of the tightest BTC/USD spreads I’ve seen (sometimes under $1), it’s one of the better options in the industry if your focus is on cryptocurrencies.

That said, once you step outside of crypto, the picture changes. Forex, indices, and commodities spreads were average to high in my tests, and the complete lack of share CFDs or ETFs makes the overall product range feel limited compared to most brokers. The educational content is also quite basic, which makes Rock-West less appealing for beginners.

On the safety side, Rock-West is licensed by the FSA Seychelles, an offshore regulator. It does segregate client funds, but the absence of negative balance protection and a compensation scheme puts it behind brokers regulated in stricter jurisdictions.

Overall, I see Rock-West as a solid choice for traders who prioritize crypto variety and copy trading tools. But if you’re looking for a wider range of assets, consistently lower costs, or tighter regulatory safeguards, Rock-West may not fully meet those expectations.

FAQ