From learning to investing: How eToro helps investors build confidence when investing globally

This post was created in partnership with eToro Singapore. All views and opinions expressed in this article are Beansprout's objective and professional opinions.

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For many investors, the biggest challenge isn't opening a brokerage account or placing their first trade.

It's having the confidence to invest.

When you first start looking beyond Singapore, the choices can feel overwhelming. Should you invest in US stocks or ETFs? Which markets should you focus on? How do you know if you're making the right decisions?

While every investor eventually needs to make their own decisions, having the right tools can make the learning process less intimidating. 

eToro takes a different approach from many traditional online brokerages by combining access to global markets with social investing features and educational resources that help investors build confidence over time.

Here, I'll take a closer look at what eToro is, how its social investing features and learning tools work, and some key considerations to help you decide whether it fits your investing needs.

Learn more about the eToro promotion here 

What is eToro?

eToro is a global multi-asset investing platform first founded in 2007.

It offers access to a wide range of investment products including global stocks, ETFs, and forex.

eToro operates globally with over 40 million users across 75 countries.

Many Singapore investors may have heard of eToro before, perhaps through friends abroad, Reddit threads or social media, but may have been hesitant because there was not previously a fully MAS-regulated way to access it locally.

That has now changed.

eToro now operates locally through eToro Singapore Pte. Ltd., a regulated entity subject to MAS requirements.

This gives may give most Singapore investors a peace of mind when using the platform.

How eToro helps investors build confidence when investing globally

#1 - Social investing, a new way to build a portfolio

Many online brokers focus on helping you execute trades.

eToro differs from the rest by welcoming you into a community of investors.

You will be able to see what other investors are buying, follow their portfolios, and engage with them just like social media, but for investing.

This can make investing feel less isolated, as investors can learn from a wider community instead of making decisions alone. 

This social feed is useful for investors who want to learn, stay informed, and understand how others are reacting to market events without relying solely on the news or financial advisors.

It is also useful for idea generation where you can see what the community is discussing across different stocks, themes and markets. 

For example, investors looking at US technology stocks may want to see how others are reacting after a major earnings release. 

eToro also integrates Stocktwits which allows users to track broader market sentiment in real-time, follow live earnings discussions, and monitor trending stocks.

#2 - eToro Academy and Tori AI chatbot to learn and practise before investing

eToro also provides free educational content to help newer investors build knowledge and conviction before making their first purchase.

The eToro academy covers a wide range of topics including investing basics, market concepts, and strategies in navigating the global markets.

The platform also offers investors its own AI chatbot, known as Tori, to act as a personal assistant. This AI-powered personal assistant can help answer general market related questions, summarise market sentiment and news flows, and provide generic insights based on your portfolio.

However, the responses from Tori should not be seen as investment advice. 

Another useful feature provided by eToro is the virtual portfolio which allows investors to practice with US$100,000 in simulated funds before committing real money.

With the virtual portfolio, investors can try placing trades, build watchlists, test portfolio ideas and understand how different assets move using real market data, but without risking actual capital. 

Together, eToro Academy, Tori and the virtual portfolio make eToro more than just a trading app.

They give investors a way to learn, explore and practise before moving into a real portfolio.

#3 - Wide market access from a single account

eToro offers wide market access from just one account.

Investors can access over 6,000 stocks across more than 20 global exchanges including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, London Stock Exchange (LSE), Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) and more.

The eToro account also offers more than 750 ETFs, alongside access to commodities, indices, and forex.

This makes it convenient to build and manage a diversified portfolio across all these different assets and exchanges from just one account without having to use multiple brokerages.

For example, some Singapore investors may want to buy US stocks, gain exposure to global ETFs, or follow long-term themes such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, healthcare or consumer technology.

Others may want access to markets such as Hong Kong, London or Europe without having to manage multiple brokerage accounts.

By bringing these markets and asset classes into one platform, eToro reduces the need to juggle multiple brokerages for different investment products.

#4 - 24/5 US equity trading

Singapore-based investors might find the US market hours inconvenient due to the time zone differences.

The regular US trading session starts at night and often runs into the early morning in Singapore. 

This can make it difficult to buy or sell stocks during normal US market hours, especially for investors who do not want to stay up late. 

eToro offers 24/5 trading on selected US stocks so investors in Singapore can trade on their own schedule and react to market news as they happen.

This is especially useful during earnings season or when major macroeconomic announcements that move markets are made overnight.

For example, investors may want to react to company results, US inflation data, Federal Reserve decisions or other market-moving developments. 

Instead of being forced to wake up at 4am or wait until the next regular trading session, eToro gives investors another window to act. 

#5 - eToro Club Benefits

eToro offers investors a tiered loyalty programme with multiple benefits through the eToro Club. Membership is automatically granted when the required account balance is met. 

The tiers start from US$5,000 for Silver, US$10,000 for Gold, US$25,000 for Platinum, US$50,000 for Platinum+ and US$250,000 for Diamond. 

Depositing just SG$5,000 will get you into this exclusive club and the benefits will only get better the higher your tier becomes.

eToro club members are entitled to receive premium and personalised support service with a dedicated account manager, access to the eToro USD Cash+ programme which can provide up to 3.55% p.a. returns on uninvested US$ cash balance, discounts on currency conversion fees, advanced analytical tools, and more.

Platinum and above members can even get free subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal and Fiscal.ai Pro models. 

Platinum+ and above members can get invitations to top-tier industry events, leading digital publications and more.

Finally, Diamond tier members will also receive priority lounge access at selected major airports and exclusive invites to Diamond Members-only events around the world.

On top of the eToro Club benefits, eToro is also offering a new user welcome promotion.

Eligible users may receive up to US$500 worth of qualified stocks when they make a first deposit of US$5,000 into their account during the promotion period.

The full terms and conditions for the welcome promotion can be found here.

Key risks and considerations

#1 - Spread-based pricing

eToro earns through spreads rather than traditional commissions.

A spread is the difference between the buy and sell price. This is transparent, but worth understanding before comparing eToro with commission-based brokers.

Spreads may also vary depending on market conditions, and may be slightly wider during less active trading hours, including off-peak Asian hours.

#2 - Currency risk from USD/SGD movements 

Singapore investors should also be mindful of currency movements.

Many global assets on eToro are priced in USD. 

This means that even if an investment rises in USD terms, the final return in Singapore dollar terms may still be affected by movements in the USD/SGD exchange rate.

For example, a US stock may rise in USD terms, but the return in Singapore dollar terms may be lower if the US dollar weakens against the Singapore dollar. 

#3 - Withdrawal fees

Withdrawal fees are another point to note.

eToro charges a US$5 withdrawal fee, with a minimum withdrawal amount of US$30.

This may be worth factoring in for investors with smaller balances or those who expect to withdraw frequently.

Withdrawal fees are waived for eToro Club members who are Platinum and above.

#4 - US dividend withholding tax

For investors buying US stocks, US dividend withholding tax also applies.

Singapore investors face a 30% withholding tax on dividends from US stocks.

This means dividend-focused strategies using US stocks may be less efficient than what the headline dividend yield might suggest.

#5 - Platform is relatively new to Singapore

Finally, eToro Singapore is still relatively new locally.

While eToro has been operating globally since 2007, its Singapore entity has only been regulated by MAS since July 2025.

For investors, the MAS licence is an important credibility checkpoint.

However, the local platform’s track record under Singapore oversight is still being established.

This does not take away from eToro’s global experience.

But it is still worth understanding the platform’s fees, features and account terms before deciding whether it fits the way you invest.

What would Beansprout do?

If I had been curious about eToro but was not sure whether it was properly regulated in Singapore, that question now has a clear answer.

eToro Singapore is now a local entity with a CMS license and regulated by MAS. This is an important credibility checkpoint for Singapore investors. 

It is a locally licensed broker I can use with confidence without having to find workarounds to access their offerings.

Beyond regulation, what stands out to me is eToro's approach to helping investors build confidence as they begin investing globally. 

Rather than simply providing a platform to place trades, it offers features such as social investing, educational resources and a virtual portfolio that can make the learning process feel less intimidating.

The social investing features would help me learn from other investors and discover new investment ideas, but I would still treat them as a starting point for my own research rather than a replacement for it.

Likewise, the virtual portfolio and eToro Academy provide a low-pressure way to explore the platform, understand how different markets work and gain confidence before committing real capital.

The spread-based pricing model is also transparent and may reduce trading costs when buying or selling a stock.

I would also keep in mind USD/SGD currency movements, withdrawal fees and US dividend withholding tax, especially if I am buying US stocks or ETFs. 

Additionally, eToro’s ongoing sign-up promotion is attractive for new users who are thinking of trying out the platform.

Exclusive eToro promotion

Learn more about the eToro promotion here.

Disclaimer: This communication is for general information and education purposes only and should not be taken as financial product advice, a personal recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation to buy or sell, any financial product. It has been prepared without taking your objectives, financial situation or needs into account.  Any references to past performance and future indications are not, and should not be taken as, a reliable indicator of future results. eToro makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication.

 This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

eToro Singapore Pte. Ltd. does not offer Copy Trading, Smart Portfolios and spot trading in, or custody of, cryptocurrencies or other digital assets.