Stake Review | Is Stake Reliable? Analyzing US Stock Global Access, Fees, and Fund Security

1. Brand Background and Development History

• Full company names : Stake Ltd. (Australia), Stake UK Ltd. (UK), Stake US Inc. (US)

• Founded : 2017

• Headquarters : Sydney (global operations covering multiple countries)

• Core Positioning : Cross-border zero-commission US stock investment channel

Development History :

• 2017: Stake was established in Australia and launched a commission-free US stock investment model.

• 2019: Expanded to the UK and New Zealand markets.

• 2020: Entered the Brazilian market and became one of the main channels for South American investors to enter the U.S. stock market.

• 2021: Launch of options trading beta version.

• 2023: More than 450,000 customers worldwide.

More background information can be found on the Stake official website .

II. Account Types and Trading Conditions

The accounts provided by Stake are mainly divided into:

Advantages :

• Supports fractional share trading with low threshold.

• Global account system, covering US stocks + local stock markets.

limit :

• The product range is limited and lacks foreign exchange, cryptocurrency, and futures.

• Options functionality is still in its early stages.

III. Supervision and Compliance

• Australia : regulated by ASIC (Stake Ltd. holds an AFSL license).

• United Kingdom : regulated by the FCA (registered by Stake UK Ltd.).

• United States : Clearing and execution services are provided through our partner DriveWealth, regulated by the SEC and FINRA .

Customer funds are held in custody by a cooperative clearing institution and are protected by SIPC insurance (up to US$500,000).

IV. Trading Products and Market Coverage

• US stocks : covering the entire NYSE and NASDAQ markets.

• ETFs : All popular ETFs are available for trading.

• ASX stocks (CHESS holdings) : Available only to Australian users.

• US stock options : partially open.

Missing products :

• No Forex, Crypto, or Futures.

5. Fee Structure and Commission Model

The “zero commission” advertised by Stake does not mean it is completely free:

• Stock/ETF trading : Commission-free.

• Foreign exchange conversion fee : When users convert their local currency to US dollars, a spread fee of approximately 0.7%–1% is charged.

• Options trading : The charging model is similar to that of mainstream US brokerages.

• Withdrawal Fees : Wire transfers may incur additional fees.

See Stake Fee Description .

6. Deposit and Withdrawal Methods and Time Limits

• Deposit : Bank transfer, credit/debit card (some countries), wire transfer.

• Withdrawal : Cash withdrawal from bank account.

• Processing time : 1–3 business days, possibly longer for international wire transfers.

Limitations : Cryptocurrency deposits are not supported.

7. User Experience and Customer Service

• Trading interface : The web and app interfaces are user-friendly and suitable for novice investors.

• Customer Support :

• Email: [email protected]

• Online chat: Official website and built-in app

• Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese.

The overall customer service response is fast, but multilingual coverage is limited.

8. User Word of Mouth and Media Reviews

Media coverage :

• TechCrunch called Stake “an important gateway for Australian investors to enter the US stock market.”

• The Financial Times mentioned Stake as "a representative of emerging cross-border securities firms."

User reputation :

• Trustpilot rating is around 4.0/5.

• Advantages : transparent fees, user-friendly interface, and global coverage.

• Disadvantages : High foreign exchange fees and limited product range.

9. Competitor Comparison

10. Risk Warning

• Exchange rate costs : Long-term investors need to consider the cumulative impact of foreign exchange fees.

• Limited product range : only suitable for investors who focus on US stocks.

• Compliance depends on partners : Execution in the US market depends on DriveWealth.

11. Multi-dimensional Rating (1-10 point scale, including comments)

• Regulatory Compliance : 8/10 – Multi-national regulatory coverage and robust compliance.

• Trading Conditions : 7/10 – Zero commission is a clear advantage, but the product is limited.

• Fee Transparency : 6/10 – Foreign exchange fees are high, hindering competitiveness.

• Customer Service : 7/10 – Responsive but lacks Chinese support.

• User Review : 8/10 – This site has a strong reputation on Trustpilot and is favored by international investors.

12. Conclusion and Investor Recommendations

Stake is a cross-border brokerage suitable for international users to invest in US stocks . Its advantages are:

• Zero commission trading

• Global coverage (Australia, UK, New Zealand, Brazil)

• Fractional share function to lower the entry threshold

But its disadvantages are:

• Higher foreign exchange fees

• Lack of multi-asset classes

• The US market relies on partners for execution

Overall Recommendation : If you are a novice or international investor , Stake is a convenient tool for entering the US stock market; however, if you are a professional trader or a multi-asset investor , Interactive Brokers may be more suitable.