GMO Gaika combines domestic FX trading with separate CFD and currency binary-option services. Its operational detail matters as much as its spread headline: cash passes through the FX account, while additional-margin rules and trading permissions vary by product. This profile covers the Japanese contracting company and the account routes described in its current public documents.[3][22]
Account comparison01
Account and service routes at a glance
| Account / service | Contract and customer scope | Platform and principal condition |
|---|---|---|
| Gaikaex FX | GMO Gaika, Inc. (GMO外貨株式会社) — Japan residents; retail clients | Native FX tools. Separate daily maintenance-call rules apply.Source 13Source 1 |
| Gaikaex CFD | GMO Gaika, Inc. (GMO外貨株式会社) — Eligible Japan residents; retail clients | CFD web/app. Product-specific margin rates and trading hours apply.Source 19Source 1 |
| Optore | GMO Gaika, Inc. (GMO外貨株式会社) — Eligible Japan residents; retail clients | Optore web. Additional derivatives-experience and suitability rules apply.Source 9Source 1 |
Company and product map
Sections ↑At a glance02
What is available under this operator
| Service | What the customer receives | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| GMO Gaika | Established in September 2003; wholly owned by GMO Financial Holdings. | The account operator is GMO Gaika, Inc.; the group relationship does not merge its contract with a sister brokerage.Source 1 |
| Gaikaex FX | 24 currency pairs through the FX account. | Leveraged OTC trading, with a separate physical-delivery procedure.Source 3 |
| Gaikaex CFD | Index, commodity and volatility-linked CFDs. | Separate product accounts and margin procedures.Source 22 |
| Optore | Currency binary options: ladder and range contracts. | Premium-funded options with discrete expiry decisions.Source 25 |
| Investment funds | The former service stopped new purchases in December 2021; account-screen access ended in November 2022. | Remaining website references are historical service material.Source 11 |
Who can open each account?
Sections ↑At a glance03
Eligibility is product-specific
| Account | Published requirement | Additional restriction |
|---|---|---|
| FX individual | Japan resident aged 18–80 inclusive; approval required. | The age rule does not waive suitability or documentation checks.Source 6 |
| FX individual — tax and banking | A domestic receiving-bank account, personal email and reachable contact details are required. | The FAQ excludes customers with overseas tax obligations and employees of FX providers.Source 5 |
| FX corporate | A Japanese registered head office or branch and an authorised resident trading representative. | Published example capital threshold: JPY 1 million; other company criteria apply.Source 5 |
| CFD | Individual accounts only; age 18–80 and at least JPY 1 million in financial assets. | Securities and commodity CFD accounts are opened together.Source 8 |
| Commodity CFD | At least JPY 1 million available for investment and three months’ experience of products capable of losses beyond principal. | Borrowing to trade does not meet the stated eligibility conditions.Source 8 |
| Optore | Pass the knowledge test and complete the asset settings before trading. | The product explanation additionally requires at least one year of other derivatives experience.Source 9Source 10 |
At a glance04
Geographic access
| Situation | Published position | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Living abroad | The service is intended for domestic use. | The broker asks customers to refrain from trading from outside Japan.Source 7 |
| Temporary travel abroad | The same restriction includes temporary overseas stays. | Residency at account opening does not establish permission to trade while travelling.Source 7 |
FX accounts, trade sizes and leverage courses
Sections ↑At a glance05
FX contract and exposure limits
| Item | Published rule | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Normal minimum | 1,000 base-currency units. | ZAR/JPY, TRY/JPY, MXN/JPY, CNH/JPY and HKD/JPY require 10,000.Source 4 |
| Order ceiling | Usually 2 million base units. | USD/JPY, CNH/JPY, HKD/JPY, USD/CHF, EUR/CHF, GBP/CHF, AUD/CHF and CAD/CHF: 1 million, opening or closing.Source 4 |
| Total holding ceiling | 40 million base units. | Hedged exposure uses the larger side.Source 4 |
At a glance06
Leverage selection and fee model
| Area | Published offer | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Retail leverage courses | 1×, 10× or 25×. | Course selection changes required trading margin.Source 13 |
| Corporate leverage | Courses up to 100×, subject to the applicable risk ratio. | TRY/JPY, MXN/JPY and CNH/JPY have a 25× ceiling.Source 4 |
| FX commission and account fees | No FX trade commission, opening fee or account-management fee. | Spread, swap and certain payment charges remain separate.Source 3 |
FX pricing by order size and trading session
Sections ↑At a glance07
Selected JPY-pair spreads, in sen
| Pair | Up to 10,000 units: core / other | Over 10,000 units: core / other |
|---|---|---|
| USD/JPY | 0.1 / 0.1 | 0.2 / 4.0Source 12 |
| EUR/JPY | 0.1 / 6.0 | 0.4 / 10.0Source 12 |
| GBP/JPY | 0.4 / 10.0 | 0.9 / 15.0Source 12 |
| AUD/JPY | 0.2 / 6.0 | 0.5 / 10.0Source 12 |
| NZD/JPY | 0.4 / 8.0 | 0.7 / 12.0Source 12 |
| TRY/JPY | 0.6 / 3.0 | 1.5 / 3.0Source 12 |
| MXN/JPY | 0.1 / 0.8 | 0.2 / 0.8Source 12 |
| ZAR/JPY | 0.2 / 2.1 | 1.3 / 2.1Source 12 |
The small-order USD/JPY headline therefore cannot be applied to a larger order. On the same schedule, EUR/USD is quoted in points: 0.1 in core hours and 4.0 outside for orders up to 10,000 units; 0.3 and 4.0 respectively for larger orders. These are broker-published levels, not measured average transaction costs.[12]
FX financing, execution and margin events
Sections ↑At a glance08
FX orders and their limits
| Order or setting | Behaviour | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Native orders | Real-time, one-touch, limits, stops, IFD, OCO, IFO and trailing orders are documented. | The appropriate order type depends on the chosen native tool.Source 15 |
| Monday opening gap | A qualifying pre-existing limit or stop executes at the opening price. | Either favourable or adverse slippage can occur, including on limits.Source 16 |
| Linked orders at the open | After an IFD/IFO entry fills, its exit becomes active for subsequent prices. | Both legs do not necessarily execute using the same opening quote.Source 16 |
| Swap accounting | Swaps are credited on the next business-day cycle. | The amount depends on the pair, position and applicable day.Source 4 |
At a glance09
Two different FX margin mechanisms
| Mechanism | Trigger or deadline | What follows |
|---|---|---|
| Intraday warning / closeout | Warning below 100% maintenance; automatic closeout below 50%. | The warning is normally once per business day; a gap may leave a deficit.Source 13 |
| Daily maintenance test | Retail maintenance margin uses 4%, including on the 1× and 10× courses. | This is distinct from the course’s entry-margin calculation.Source 14 |
| Additional-margin deadline | Midnight JST on the day the call arises. | Deposit must arrive, or positions must be closed sufficiently. Unrealised market recovery alone does not cure the call.Source 14 |
| Uncured call | New orders are restricted and pending entry orders are cancelled; expiry of the deadline leads to compulsory closing. | A pending withdrawal can also fail if the call exists when processed.Source 14 |
| Residual debt after loss | The FX explanation requires payment by 15:00 JST two business days after the deficit arises. | Deposited principal is not a maximum-loss guarantee.Source 17 |
At a glance10
FX dealing week
CFD product families and contract sizes
Sections ↑At a glance11
CFD market access
| Family | Examples / scope | Margin and minimum size |
|---|---|---|
| Stock indices | Japan 225; five US variants; Germany 40, Euro 50, China A50 and Hong Kong H. | 10% margin / 10×; minimum 0.1 contract.Source 19 |
| Commodities | Energy, spot precious metals, copper, grains and livestock; precious metals also have JPY variants. | 5% margin / 20×; minimum 0.1 contract.Source 19 |
| Variety | US VI, referencing VIX futures. | 20% margin / 5×; minimum 0.1 contract.Source 19 |
At a glance12
Selected CFD contract multipliers
| Instrument | Quote and multiplier per contract | Exposure at 0.1 contract |
|---|---|---|
| Japan 225 | JPY; index × 10. | Index × JPY 1.Source 19 |
| US NQ100 / NQ100 Mini | USD; index × 1 / × 0.1. | Index × USD 0.1 / × USD 0.01.Source 19 |
| WTI / natural gas | USD; price × 10 / × 100. | Price × USD 1 / × USD 10.Source 19 |
| US VI | USD; quoted value × 10. | Quoted value × USD 1.Source 19 |
At a glance13
CFD fees and exposure caps
| Item | Published rule | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Trading, opening, maintenance, transfer and compulsory-closing execution fees: JPY 0. | Spread and adjustment payments remain relevant.Source 18 |
| Selected holding caps | Japan 225: 1,000 contracts; US NQ100: 200; NQ100 Mini: 1,000. | Value limits can bind before the contract-count limit.Source 18 |
| US VI limits | 500 contracts overall, including at most 100 short; JPY 50 million position value and JPY 10 million per order. | The smallest applicable limit governs.Source 18 |
CFD margin, liquidation and adjustments
Sections ↑At a glance14
CFD closeout does not follow the FX account model
| Rule | Mechanism | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Position closeout | A closeout rate is fixed when each trade opens. | Only the affected position is closed when that rate is reached.Source 20 |
| Optional margin | Additional allocated margin can move the position’s closeout level. | This ties up additional resources and changes effective leverage.Source 20 |
| Separate product ledgers | Index, commodity and variety CFD accounts are assessed separately. | A common login does not create one undifferentiated margin balance.Source 20 |
| Additional-margin call | Normally determined after the business day; cure by 03:00 JST on the following business day, excluding holidays. | Deposit, closing trades or permitted margin reallocation must satisfy the applicable formula.Source 20Source 18 |
| Missed deadline | All positions in the affected account are closed; a closed market can delay execution. | New orders and transfers remain restricted until the call is resolved.Source 20 |
At a glance15
CFD rules that affect standing orders
| Item | Published treatment | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery after a call | Market recovery by itself does not clear an established call. | Resolution normally needs about ten minutes after a qualifying action.Source 18 |
| Order expiry | Day, current-week or next-week expiry; market orders are day orders. | Price-adjustment events can override the selected expiry.Source 18 |
| Telephone dealing | No operator orders, including during system failures. | Access relies on the supported online service.Source 18 |
At a glance16
CFD adjustment payments
| Underlying | Adjustment type | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Futures-based contracts | Price adjustment when the reference contract month changes. | Intended to offset the mark-to-market jump from the roll, rather than create a free gain.Source 21 |
| Spot gold, silver and platinum, including JPY variants | Financing adjustment. | Applies to all six variants in the dedicated adjustment matrix.Source 21 |
| Orders during a price roll | All pending orders for the affected instrument expire at the adjustment-day close. | Resubmission starts from 07:30 JST, or 06:30 in US summer time, on the following day.Source 21 |
Optore binary options: structure and cash at risk
Sections ↑At a glance17
Contract mechanics
| Feature | Published rule | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs | USD/JPY, EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY, AUD/JPY, NZD/JPY, EUR/USD, GBP/USD and AUD/USD. | Eight underlying currency pairs.Source 24 |
| Premium and payout | Purchase in one-contract units, JPY 40–990 each; successful expiry pays JPY 1,000. | An unsuccessful expiry loses the entire premium.Source 24 |
| Position direction | Opening transactions are purchases only. | Held options may be resold during the dealing window; naked short-option positions are unavailable.Source 24 |
| Partial resale | A single purchase lot cannot be split for resale. | The original purchase quantity is the minimum resale unit.Source 24 |
At a glance18
Ladder and range settlement
| Type | Successful outcome | Boundary rule |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder high / low | Decision price at or above / below the selected strike. | Equality belongs to high.Source 24 |
| Range in / out | Price inside / outside the chosen strike interval. | Lower boundary is inside; upper boundary is outside.Source 25 |
| Expiry timing | Eleven two-hour rounds between 07:25 and 05:25 the following morning, JST. | Purchasing and resale stop sixty seconds before each decision. Touching the level earlier does not determine payout.Source 25 |
At a glance19
Optore spending limits and prerequisites
| Control | Published condition | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | Full premium must be in the Optore balance before purchase. | Transfer from the FX account after completing the knowledge test and asset settings.Source 9 |
| Maximum round quantity | Up to 300 contracts per pair/round: 200 ladder and 100 range. | Lower declared investment amounts reduce the allowance; reselling does not restore the used purchase quota.Source 10 |
| Daily purchase limit | JPY 5 million. | A turnover cap, separate from the annual loss setting.Source 10 |
| Annual loss ceiling | Exceeding the declared ceiling triggers suspension. | The rules page conflicts on duration: one year in one passage, versus the remaining calendar year in another.Source 24 |
Moving money between product accounts
Sections ↑At a glance20
The funding route
| Destination | Route | Effect on other services |
|---|---|---|
| CFD | Bank → FX account → internal CFD transfer. | The FX credentials also access CFD, but funds still require transfer.Source 22 |
| Optore | Bank → FX account → Optore; withdrawals return through the FX account. | Moving cash out of FX reduces its available collateral and can affect open FX positions.Source 26 |
| Bank deposit methods | Cash transfers and supported online-bank deposits. | Credit-card funding is not available.Source 28 |
Deposits: amount limits and timing
Sections ↑At a glance21
Bank funding options
| Method | Terms | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Deposit | JPY 2,000 minimum; JPY 100 million maximum per deposit; broker fee JPY 0. | Normally immediate through supported online banking, excluding maintenance.Source 28 |
| Ordinary transfer | Use the personalised receiving account shown after login. | Payments received by 15:00 are normally credited within 30–60 minutes; later receipts may wait until the next bank day.Source 27 |
| Names and completion | The sending bank account and FX account must have the same holder; family or third-party accounts are excluded. | Finish the bank’s return-to-broker step; prematurely closing the window can delay credit.Source 27 |
JPY withdrawals and balance rechecks
Sections ↑At a glance22
Withdrawal methods
| Route | Time and size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time JPY | Up to JPY 3 million; on-time bank-day window 08:50–14:30 JST. | JPY 0 broker fee.Source 30Source 31 |
| Outside that window | Before 08:50: processed from 08:50; after 14:30: next bank day. | The real-time cap also applies to the daily aggregate, resetting at 14:30.Source 29 |
| Ordinary JPY | Over JPY 3 million; requests by midnight normally pay from the morning of the second following bank business day. | JPY 0 broker fee; daily withdrawal ceiling JPY 200 million.Source 29 |
At a glance23
Cash can change before a withdrawal is sent
| Scenario | Broker action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Off-window real-time request | Withdrawable cash is checked at 08:40 on the next bank day. If it is below the requested amount, the request is cancelled. | An earlier successful request is not final payment.Source 29 |
| Ordinary request | Cash is checked at 09:00 on the scheduled day; if lower, only the then-available amount is paid. | This is a reduced payment, unlike the real-time cancellation rule.Source 29 |
Foreign-currency withdrawals and delivery
Sections ↑At a glance24
Foreign-currency payment conditions
| Item | Published rule | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Broker fee | JPY 1,500 per request, taken from the yen balance upfront. | Insufficient yen prevents the request; incorrect-bank-detail failures do not automatically refund the fee.Source 32 |
| Bank destination | A suitable domestic bank account is required; no overseas remittance. | Some routes needing intermediary-bank instructions are refused or returned, with possible extra charges.Source 32 |
| Timing | Requests by New York close normally enter processing from the afternoon of the second following bank business day. | Receiving-bank timing and charges can vary.Source 30 |
| Cancellation | Until 07:00 JST, or 06:00 in US summer time, on the request’s New York-close cycle. | Timely cancellation returns the broker’s withdrawal fee.Source 32 |
At a glance25
Foreign-currency fee refund
| Requirement | Refund mechanism | Exclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly FX volume | At least 1 million units, excluding physical receipt/delivery transactions. | Qualifying withdrawal fees return on the third bank business day of the following month; receiving-bank charges are excluded.Source 29 |
At a glance26
Physical currency delivery
| Feature | Published service | Constraint |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies | JPY, USD, EUR, AUD, NZD, GBP, CHF, CAD and HKD. | A funded FX position can be used to receive or deliver currency.Source 33 |
| Minimum delivery | 1,000 currency units; HKD requires 10,000. | Foreign-to-foreign conversion is unavailable.Source 33 |
| Total cost | FX dealing spread plus any applicable payment costs. | The foreign-withdrawal rebate requires its own monthly trading conditions; a delivery transaction does not by itself make every charge free.Source 33 |
Platforms, demo access and automation
Sections ↑At a glance27
Tools by use case
| Tool | Useful functions | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Gaikaex mobile | Smart and normal one-touch modes; one-to-four chart splits with four saved arrangements. | The normal mode exposes more detailed trading controls.Source 34 |
| Gaikaex for Windows PC | Custom layouts, chart-based orders and Pro/mini display modes. | The downloadable application is Windows-only.Source 35 |
| Cymo / browser | Included among current trading tools in the passkey rollout. | Common FX credentials; device setup still matters.Source 39 |
| FX demo | Free registration using an email address, with separate credentials. | Native mobile/tablet and browser practice; no live execution test is implied.Source 36 |
| MT4 charting | Service ended on 1 October 2022. | The existing installation may open but cannot connect to the retired broker chart server.Source 37 |
| Automation | No broker-provided automated trading system; external system trading is also excluded by the FAQ. | Native contingent orders should not be confused with unrestricted EA/API execution.Source 38 |
Security, safeguards and help
Sections ↑At a glance28
Passkey rollout
| Item | Published schedule | Operational effect |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory phase | Begins progressively on 17 October 2026. | As of this profile’s 10 October check, that start date is still in the future.Source 39 |
| Registration scope | Linked to the common FX login across services; each used device needs appropriate setup. | Missing setup by the applicable deadline can restrict trading and withdrawals.Source 39 |
At a glance29
Client-asset arrangements
| Product | Published protection mechanism | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| FX | Trust arrangements with SMBC, Mizuho Trust & Banking and SBI Clearing Trust. | Daily required-amount calculation and up to two business days before trust placement; foreign balances are valued in JPY.Source 42 |
| CFD | SMBC trust arrangements described in the CFD disclosure. | Trust timing and the available trust balance can differ from the client balance at a particular moment.Source 23 |
| Return following failure | A beneficiary representative distributes available protected funds. | Trust custody does not guarantee principal or full repayment; direct repayment claims against the trust bank are not provided by this arrangement.Source 42 |
| Protection labels | The same segregation page contains a legacy investment-fund compensation section. | That historical securities section should not be treated as a blanket guarantee for FX and CFDs.Source 42Source 11 |
At a glance30
Support and complaint routes
| Route | Access | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| General enquiries | Forms can be submitted throughout the year; replies are handled weekdays 08:00–17:00 JST, excluding holidays/year-end closures. | Separate forms exist before and after account opening.Source 41 |
| Telephone help | General telephone customer support ended on 30 August 2024. | Older 24-hour telephone-support descriptions are obsolete.Source 40 |
| Complaint | Identify the submission as a complaint through the broker’s form. | Existing clients can use the logged-in contact route.Source 43 |
| External dispute resolution | FINMAC: 0120-64-5005; Japan Commodity Futures Industry Association consultation: 03-3664-6243. | The appropriate route depends on the product and dispute.Source 43 |
Editorial assessment
Sections ↑Company background & evidence
Sections ↑- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Founded
- 1 September 2003
Legal entities & licences
These are source-dated records, not a blanket assessment of the broker. Read each issuer, identifier, status and scope together.
GMO Gaika, Inc. (GMO外貨株式会社)
JapanSource 1
| Issuer & identifier | Recorded status | Date & scope |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Services AgencyKanto Local Finance Bureau (Kinsho) No. 271 | Authorised | Checked 10 Oct 2026Named entity in the official register.Source 2 |
Sources & further reading
- Company outline GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Registered financial instruments business operators — 31 August 2026, page 19 Financial Services Agency · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Gaikaex FX service GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- FX trading rules GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- FX account opening criteria GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Age and residence requirements GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Trading while outside Japan GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- CFD account and commodity eligibility GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Optore knowledge test and account-start procedure GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Optore product explanation — current linked version GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Investment-fund service closure GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- FX spreads by order size and session — 2 October 2026 GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Margin-maintenance ratio and automatic closeout GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Additional margin and compulsory closing GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- FX order types GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Monday opening-gap execution rules GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- FX product explanation — June 2026 linked version GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- CFD trading rules and limits GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Current CFD instrument specifications GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- CFD closeout and additional-margin procedures GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- CFD price and financing adjustments GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- CFD access, transfers and first orders GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Securities and commodity CFD product explanation GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Optore detailed trading rules GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Optore ladder, range and trading sessions GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Optore internal funding transfers GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Quick Deposit and bank-transfer procedures GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Funding methods, minimum and maximum GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- JPY and foreign-currency withdrawal procedures GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Withdrawal timelines GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Deposit and withdrawal fees GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Foreign-currency withdrawal conditions GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Physical foreign-currency delivery GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Gaikaex smartphone trading app GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Gaikaex for Windows PC GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Free FX demo account GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- MT4 chart-service termination GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Automated and external-system trading GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Passkey schedule and device requirements GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- End of telephone support GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Contact methods and service hours GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Product-specific asset segregation GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
- Complaint and external ADR channels GMO Gaika · Accessed 10 Oct 2026
This profile reports dated public information, including broker-published services and terms. It does not independently test or guarantee execution, pricing or withdrawals. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Permissions and protections apply only to the named legal entity, service and client category; check the current official records and your contract.