IC Markets
"Blocked" and "restricted" cover a range of states. Your account might be limited to closing existing positions, blocked from new deposits, blocked from withdrawals, or fully frozen with no access. Each has a defined cause and a defined path back. The first job is to get the broker to state, in writing, exactly what is restricted and why.
The common causes
| Cause | What it looks like | Typical resolution |
|---|---|---|
| KYC incomplete or expired | Withdrawals blocked, trading may still work | Re-submit current identity and address documents |
| Compliance or source-of-funds review | Withdrawals blocked, sometimes trading too | Provide requested documents; reviews take days to weeks |
| Payment dispute or chargeback | Account frozen pending investigation | Resolve the chargeback with your bank and the broker |
| Jurisdiction change | New trades blocked, close-only mode | Broker cannot serve your new country; withdraw and move |
| Prohibited trading activity | Trades or profits under review | Explain your activity; latency arbitrage and feed abuse are common triggers |
| Duplicate or third-party account | Account suspended | Only one account per person; deposits must be from your own name |
KYC and source-of-funds reviews
The most common restriction is a hold on withdrawals while identity or source-of-funds checks are completed. Regulated brokers must run these, and they can be triggered by a large deposit, a pattern change, or a routine periodic review. Provide exactly what is asked for: a current proof of address, a bank statement, a payslip or other evidence of where the funds came from. A source-of-funds review is a compliance requirement, not an accusation, and complete documentation usually clears it.
Jurisdiction changes
If you move country, or the broker stops accepting clients from your country, your account may go into close-only mode: you can manage or close open trades but not open new ones, and you can withdraw. This is a licensing constraint, not a penalty. Withdraw your balance and open an account with a broker that is licensed to serve your new location.
Prohibited activity
Brokers restrict accounts they believe are exploiting pricing rather than trading the market: latency arbitrage against a slow feed, abuse of a bonus, or coordinated trading across accounts. When this is the stated reason, ask the broker to specify which trades and which rule. Ordinary trading is usually resolved by a clear explanation and your trade history. A genuine arbitrage strategy against the broker's feed, though, will usually see the profit from it reversed under the account terms.
Mei's withdrawals were blocked with a "pending review" note. Support asked for a bank statement showing the source of a recent large deposit, which had come from a property sale. She sent the sale document and the bank statement, and the review cleared in eight days. The restriction was a routine source-of-funds check on a deposit that was large relative to her usual activity, not a problem with her trading.
How to get it resolved
- Ask support, in writing, for the exact restriction, the exact reason, and the exact documents or steps needed to lift it.
- Provide everything requested in one response, clearly labelled.
- Keep every message and document with dates.
- Ask for an expected timeframe, and follow up in writing if it passes.
- If the broker is regulated and does not give a clear answer, escalate to its regulator and, where available, the relevant financial ombudsman.
A restriction is only a scam signal when the broker is unregulated, the reasons keep changing, or you are asked to pay to lift it. A regulated broker running a KYC or source-of-funds review will tell you exactly what it needs and will not charge you for the privilege of accessing your own money.
The difference between a routine restriction and a bad one is whether the broker will put the reason in writing. A regulated broker doing a compliance review names the check and lists the documents. An unregulated operator gives you a vague status, moves the requirements, and eventually asks for a fee. Get the reason in writing first, then decide whether you are dealing with a process or a problem.
Frequently asked
Why is my forex account restricted to close-only?
Most often because the broker can no longer serve clients in your jurisdiction, or a compliance review is open. Close-only mode lets you manage and close existing trades and withdraw, but not open new positions.
What is a source-of-funds review?
A compliance check where the broker asks you to evidence where your deposit money came from, such as a payslip, a bank statement, or a sale document. Regulated brokers must run these, often triggered by a large or unusual deposit. It is a requirement, not an accusation.
How long does an account review take?
A straightforward KYC re-submission clears in one to three working days. A source-of-funds or compliance review typically takes several days to a few weeks, depending on the documents and the broker.
Can a broker freeze my account without telling me why?
A regulated broker must be able to give you a reason and a resolution path if you ask in writing. If it will not, that is a serious warning sign, and you should escalate to its regulator.
My account was blocked for arbitrage. Is that fair?
If you were exploiting a delayed or mispriced feed rather than trading the market, most broker terms allow the profit from that activity to be reversed and the account restricted. If your trading was ordinary, ask the broker to identify the specific trades and rule, and provide your trade history.