Is GoTrade Legal in the Philippines? What Filipino Investors Should Know

Two separate questions: your legality as an investor, and the broker's authority to serve Filipinos.

Is GoTrade Legal in the Philippines? The Short Answer

GoTrade is legal to use as an individual investor in the Philippines, but the platform is not licensed by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Philippine law does not stop residents from buying foreign securities with their own money. It does require firms that sell securities to the public to be registered.

So the legal question has two parts. You are not breaking the law by investing. GoTrade, as a foreign broker, may not have the local authorization the SEC expects. Both can be true at once.

What Is GoTrade's Regulatory Status?

According to its own help center, Gotrade is a trading name of Gotrade Securities Inc., a securities licensee regulated by the Labuan Financial Services Authority in Malaysia. Its terms and conditions describe it as a Labuan Securities Licensee under the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010.

A Labuan license is a real license. It is also not a Philippine one. We found no evidence in GoTrade's public disclosures that it holds a Philippine SEC license to act as a broker here.

Question	Answer
Is it illegal for a Filipino to own US stocks?	No. Foreign stock ownership is not inherently illegal.
Does a Labuan license authorize GoTrade in the Philippines?	No. Philippine requirements can still apply.
Does the SEC supervise GoTrade?	No evidence it does. No Philippine SEC license found.
Is your money protected by Philippine law?	Not as it would be with a local broker.
Do you owe Philippine tax on gains?	Possibly. Confirm with an accountant.

What the Philippine SEC Has Said About Foreign Platforms

The SEC has repeatedly said that being licensed abroad does not authorize a platform to sell securities to Filipinos. In its 2024 advisory against eToro, the SEC warned the public about a foreign online broker that was not registered in the Philippines.

In January 2026 the SEC went further and issued an advisory against Interactive Brokers (IBKR). BitPinas reported that the SEC said IBKR lacks the license to offer or sell securities here, that it promoted itself to Filipinos through social media and its app, and that money on unregistered platforms has very limited or no protection from the government.

The same report says the BSP asked the NTC to block about 50 unlicensed trading platforms, and that some Filipinos could not open IBKR. We did not find a similar advisory naming GoTrade. That can change, so check the SEC advisory list before you deposit. If you are weighing the two, our GoTrade vs IBKR comparison covers fees and funding.

Read the Rules First, Then Decide

Compare your options before you fund an account.

Compare brokers → PH vs US stocks →

The Real Risks of Using an Unlicensed Foreign Broker

No local protection. The SEC does not supervise the platform, so you cannot expect Philippine regulatory help if something goes wrong.
Access can change. Regulators can ask for platforms to be blocked. Deposits, withdrawals, or the app itself could stop working.
Foreign recourse. A dispute would likely be handled under foreign rules, which is slower and harder for an individual.
Tax is on you. No broker files your Philippine return. You have to report foreign gains and dividends yourself.
Promoter risk. BitPinas reports that the SEC warned that anyone acting as an agent, promoter, or endorser of an unregistered platform could face liability under Section 28 of the Securities Regulation Code. Treat any referral content, including ours, as information to weigh and not as a recommendation to skip your own checks.

4 Questions to Ask Before You Invest

Get the answers in writing from GoTrade support before you deposit.

Which legal entity holds my account? Get the exact company name.
Which regulator supervises that entity? Labuan, in GoTrade's published disclosures.
Is it authorized to serve Philippine residents? Ask directly, and look at the SEC advisory list.
Who holds my US shares, and what protects me if the broker fails? Ask about the custodian and any investor-protection scheme.

One more note on custody. A third-party article says Gotrade routes US trades through Alpaca Securities LLC, a US FINRA-licensed broker-dealer. That article covers Gotrade's Indonesian offering, so confirm what applies to Philippine accounts with GoTrade itself.

GoTrade Referral Code for Filipino Investors

If you decide to open an account after your own checks, you can use GoTrade referral code 074289 during signup, or open the referral link, which pre-fills it. Our GoTrade referral code guide walks through the signup steps, GCash and Maya funding, and the $1 minimum.

Start small while you learn how deposits and withdrawals behave. Never put in money you cannot afford to have tied up.

Have Your Questions Answered? Start Small

Use referral code 074289 at signup. TipidNation may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Open GoTrade →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GoTrade legal in the Philippines?

Buying US stocks as an individual is not illegal in the Philippines, so using GoTrade for your own money is not a crime by itself. GoTrade is licensed in Labuan, Malaysia, and we found no sign that it holds a Philippine SEC license. That means the SEC does not supervise it.

Is GoTrade registered with the Philippine SEC?

We found no evidence that it is. GoTrade's own help center says it is licensed by the Labuan Financial Services Authority, not the Philippine SEC. Check the SEC website and ask GoTrade directly, because licensing status can change.

Has the SEC issued an advisory against GoTrade?

We did not find one. The SEC has issued advisories against other foreign platforms, including eToro in 2024 and Interactive Brokers in January 2026. Search the SEC advisory list before you deposit, since new advisories can appear at any time.

Could the GoTrade app be blocked in the Philippines?

It is possible. Reports say the BSP asked the NTC to block around 50 unlicensed trading platforms, and some Filipinos lost access to IBKR. Keep records of your account, deposits, and trades in case access ever changes.

Do I pay tax on GoTrade profits in the Philippines?

Tax rules for foreign-sourced gains and dividends are specific to your situation. Philippine tax residents are generally taxed on income from abroad, and US dividends may also face US withholding. Ask a BIR-registered accountant before you file.

Is my money protected if GoTrade fails?

Not by the Philippine government. The SEC says money on unregistered platforms has very limited or no protection from the government. Your protection depends on how GoTrade holds your shares and which custodian is used. Ask GoTrade for those details in writing.

Is there a GoTrade referral code for the Philippines?

Yes. Use GoTrade referral code 074289 when you sign up. You can also open the referral link, which pre-fills the code. Read the legal points above before you deposit.

This article is general information, not legal, tax, or investment advice. Rules and advisories change, so check the Philippine SEC website and the broker's current disclosures. TipidNation may earn commissions from qualifying purchases through affiliate partnerships. This helps support the platform at no additional cost to users.