In late May 2025, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms became inaccessible to new users in China, marking the second major disruption in recent months. According to industry sources, the outage lasted over a week and primarily affected new retail traders attempting to register through the MetaTrader mobile apps. Existing users remained unaffected, continuing their trading activities as usual.

The disruption is believed to be linked to China’s intensified use of anti-fraud surveillance tools. Many citizens are now required to install the National Anti-Fraud Center app, which may flag foreign trading applications such as MT4/MT5 as potentially malicious or fraudulent. This classification could have triggered automatic restrictions or connectivity blocks by local ISPs.

Emergency Updates Issued

In response, MetaQuotes issued emergency platform updates — MT4 Android build 1445 and MT5 Android build 4981 — aimed specifically at restoring access for Chinese users. These builds were distributed through direct .apk installations due to limited access to the Google Play Store in mainland China.

One of the affected brokers, Hong Kong-based GFM, confirmed the issue via a post on X (formerly Twitter), offering a workaround:

"Newly registered users in mainland China are currently unable to search for forex broker names to log in. Please use the desktop version of MT5 and input the server IP directly."

They provided direct access links and IP addresses for login as a temporary solution during the outage.

Platform Dependency: A Wake-Up Call for Prop Firms

For proprietary trading firms and funded traders with clients or operations in Asia, the outage underscores the importance of platform redundancy and regulatory adaptability. Firms heavily dependent on MetaTrader may need to consider alternative platforms or develop contingency access models for users in restrictive jurisdictions like China.

Furthermore, the event highlights ongoing pressure on foreign platforms from Chinese regulators, who are tightening control over cross-border trading activity. With more brokers forced to rotate domain names and rely on VPN access, attracting and retaining traders in China has become increasingly difficult.

As platform access becomes a geopolitical issue, prop firms need to stay informed and agile in managing operational risks across global markets.

Stay tuned to PropInsider for the latest developments impacting the global funded trading ecosystem.

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