Higher Website Traffic Does Not Necessarily Mean Higher Trading Volume

Website traffic does not necessarily translate into higher trading volume, according to data presented at an industry forum held on September 30 at the Amara Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus.

The research revealed a significant gap between the two rankings: the broker ranked first in trading volume placed 57th in website traffic, while the most-visited broker ranked only 14th in trading volume. As Ramzi Ahmad, Director of Intelligence, explained, website traffic reflects a broker's ability to attract prospective traders, while trading volume better reflects its ability to convert and retain clients.

According to market data presented at the Forum, reported broker trading volume reached $50.7 trillion in Q2 2026, up 94.2% quarter on quarter. Active trading accounts totalled 19.4 million in the first half of the year. However, these figures include reported rather than fully verified data and should be interpreted accordingly.

EC Markets recorded the highest average monthly reported trading volume in Q2, at $2.2 trillion, overtaking TMGM, which led in Q1 with $2.1 trillion. Their respective confidence scores were 85% and 95%.

Website traffic, meanwhile, declined across most major regions in Q3 2026. Europe and Asia-Pacific recorded quarterly decreases of 32% and 33%, respectively, while North America saw a 59% drop. Japan was the only market to report growth of more than 18.5%.

Withdrawal complaints also featured in the discussions. According to observations shared at the Forum, around two-thirds of complaints tracked on social media concerned withdrawals, yet only 2% of monitored brokers provided explanations about withdrawals in their communications. The figures highlight a potential gap between traders' concerns and brokers' public-facing messaging.

Data reliability and transparency were also key topics. Speakers stressed the importance of verifying information across sources and ensuring that figures are correctly attributed to brokers, brands and legal entities. They also questioned unsupported claims of market leadership, emphasising that brokers should provide evidence when describing themselves as the biggest in the industry.

The Forum brought together executives and specialists from companies including Tickmill, VT Markets, LMAX, Capital.com, JustMarkets, Libertex Group, IC Markets, Trading 212, TMGM and HFM. Discussions covered regulation, market competitiveness, AI, liquidity, compliance and financial data infrastructure.

Overall, the findings underline that website traffic, trading volume and client complaints measure different aspects of broker performance. A strong online presence does not automatically translate into trading activity, making transparent and verifiable data essential when assessing a broker's market position.