Sarah Mitchell, a part-time nurse from Manchester, represents a growing demographic of UK professionals using copy-trading platforms to supplement their income. When I interviewed her in July 2025, she had been using InstaForex's ForexCopy service for six weeks.
Her approach was straightforward: copy the trades of established professionals rather than attempting to trade independently. The results, while not guaranteed, were noteworthy—£127 profit notification received at 2:47 AM while she slept.
"I have no trading background," Sarah explained during our interview. "The platform essentially mirrors what experienced traders do with their own money."
This type of automated copy-trading has gained attention as financial technology makes institutional-level trading strategies accessible to retail investors. However, it carries the same risks as any form of trading—potential for both gains and losses.
To understand the mechanics and viability of copy-trading platforms, I conducted an investigation into the sector, focusing particularly on InstaForex's ForexCopy service and interviewing current users.
Professional forex trading environment showcasing modern copy-trading technology
Like millions of Europeans, I've been tracking the "side hustle" economy for years. And frankly, most of it is disappointing.
The problems are always the same:
Many of the "earn money" programmes are nothing more than scams.
While some of these business models might have worked 3-5 years ago, they no longer work well today. That's either because they have become saturated, or because they relied on a loophole that's now been closed.
Even those that are legit tend to have a steep learning curve, and you can expect to spend months or years — and a lot of money — before you see a real profit.
However, copy-trading represents a different approach to generating supplementary income—one that doesn't require content creation, marketing skills, or product development.
Rather than relying on personal expertise, copy-trading platforms allow users to replicate the strategies of established professionals. The automation aspect means trades execute without requiring constant attention from the user.
This concept differs significantly from typical "side hustle" approaches as it relies on financial markets rather than social media, affiliate marketing, or e-commerce models.
The fundamental principle involves leveraging other people's trading expertise through technological automation.
Understanding Copy-Trading Mechanics
Copy-trading technology builds on established institutional practices that have existed in professional trading for decades.
What has changed is the accessibility—retail platforms now offer similar functionality that was previously limited to institutional clients.
The core technology enables the following process:
You can now automatically copy the exact trades of professional traders in real-time.
When they profit, you profit. When they lose, you lose. Proportionally, based on your investment amount.
The copy-trading market has produced notable performers, though past results don't predict future performance.
Current top 5 performing traders on InstaForex's platform demonstrate the range of results achievable:
Live performance data from InstaForex's top copy trading performers
Look at those numbers again.
Trader #22484995: +812.47% gains. That means if you'd copied this trader with £1,000, you'd now have £9,124.
Trader #22450689: +64.23% returns. Your £1,000 would be £1,642.
The operational structure involves several key characteristics:
Professional traders operate independently, pursuing their own investment objectives. Copy-traders receive proportional exposure to the same positions without direct interaction with the original trader.
Of course, past performance doesn't guarantee future results, and trading involves substantial risk. But the concept is fascinating.
Think about this for a moment:
What if you could look over the shoulder of a professional trader making £27,000 in profits... and automatically make the same moves they make?
That's exactly what copy-trading does.
When trader #22484995 (the one with +812.47% gains) decides to buy EUR/USD at 11:23 AM, your account automatically buys EUR/USD at 11:23 AM.
When they sell, you sell.
When they profit £485, you profit proportionally based on your investment amount.
However, several factors limit widespread adoption of copy-trading platforms.
Initial skepticism about automated trading systems remains common among potential users unfamiliar with the technology.
To evaluate the sector comprehensively, I researched major copy-trading platforms, examining their operational models, regulatory status, and user experiences.
This analysis revealed significant differences between platforms:
Comparative Analysis of Copy-Trading Platforms
During this investigation, I evaluated the major copy-trading platforms across several key criteria: regulatory oversight, fee structures, minimum investments, available markets, and data transparency.
While eToro maintains broad market recognition, the platform's focus extends beyond copy-trading into social investing and traditional securities. Users report mixed experiences with forex spreads and overnight financing charges. Regulatory status varies significantly by jurisdiction, creating complexity for UK users seeking consistent oversight.
Operating as a technology intermediary rather than a direct broker, ZuluTrade requires users to maintain separate accounts with various partner brokers. This structure can complicate account management and fee transparency, as users must navigate different broker requirements and pricing structures.
Traditional PAMM accounts offer limited transparency regarding individual trade decisions and typically require higher minimum investments. Users have restricted visibility into day-to-day trading activities, operating more like conventional managed funds than transparent copy-trading platforms.
In contrast to other platforms, InstaForex's copy-trading system offers complete transparency with unrestricted access to all trader performance data, including detailed profit/loss histories and live trade execution statistics. The £500 minimum represents a professional entry point, while the platform's direct broker model eliminates intermediary complications found elsewhere. Most significantly, InstaForex publishes comprehensive trader analytics, allowing users to conduct thorough due diligence before copying decisions—a level of transparency rarely matched in the industry.
Platform selection typically depends on individual priorities: regulatory jurisdiction preferences, minimum capital requirements, desired asset classes, and tolerance for fee structures. Each platform serves different user segments within the copy-trading market.
But first, let me show you exactly how this works:
Professional Traders Work
Professional traders (like #22484995 with +812.47% gains) trade with their own money, seeking their own profits.
You Choose & Copy
You choose which traders to "copy" based on their track record.
Automatic Replication
Every trade they make is automatically replicated in your account. Same trades, same timing, proportional to your investment amount.
The beauty? You don't need to learn anything about trading. The professionals handle everything.
The operational mechanics work as follows:
1. CHOOSE
Browse the live rankings and select from top performers like trader #22484995 with +812.47% gains
2. CLICK
Click the red "Copying" button next to your chosen trader to start copying their live trades
3. ENJOY
Monitor your account as both profitable and losing trades are copied automatically
Q: "But do people actually make money with this?"
I asked myself the same question.
So I dug deeper into the data. What I found surprised me.
InstaForex publishes real-time statistics of all ForexCopy traders—the good, the bad, and the ugly. No hiding losses or cherry-picking winners.
And yes, while some traders have achieved remarkable gains, others have lost money. That's the reality of trading—and why risk management is crucial.
But then I started talking to actual users...
A notable characteristic emerged from user interviews:
Most successful copy-trading users had no prior trading experience.
They don't know what "pip" means. They can't read a candlestick chart. Some don't even know what currency pairs are.
Yet they're profiting from professional trading expertise.
How is this possible?
Let me introduce you to three people who proved it...
Take Sarah from Manchester, for example. A part-time nurse with two young children, she started with just £800 in June 2025. By copying trader #22450689 (PRMG) with +64.23% gains, she earned £437 in her very first month — a 54% return.
"The strangest part," Sarah told me, "was that first notification at 2:47 AM. £127 profit while I was fast asleep. I woke up thinking someone was playing a joke on me."
"The largest single profit notification came during my morning shift," Sarah continued. "£186 profit while I was at work. It was more than I'd normally earn in a 16-hour double shift."
Sarah noted the contrast between active work income and passive trading returns as particularly striking.
But Sarah's story was nothing compared to what I heard next...
InstaForex is a globally regulated broker trusted by millions of traders worldwide
Q: "What if I know nothing about trading?"
Perfect. You're exactly who this is designed for.
Remember, you're not making trading decisions. You're not analyzing charts. You're not trying to predict market movements.
You're simply copying professionals who do all of that for you.
Sarah knew nothing about trading when she started. Marcus couldn't tell you the difference between EUR/USD and GBP/JPY. Elena thought "forex" was a type of exercise.
Yet all three are profiting from professional trading expertise.
However, all three users emphasized several important principles...
Q: "How much money can I realistically make?"
This is where I have to be brutally honest with you.
Some people make substantial profits. Others lose money. That's the reality of trading—even when you're copying professionals.
The three people I interviewed? Sarah earned £437 in her first month from a £800 investment. Marcus paid off £4,800 in debt starting with just £950. Elena quit her second job after six months, starting with £750.
All three interviewees emphasized the same principle:
"Only invest what you can afford to lose."
This isn't gambling, but it's also not a guarantee. Markets are volatile. Even the best traders have losing streaks.
What makes copy-trading interesting is that you're not betting on your own trading skills. You're betting on professionals who've proven themselves over time.
But there's one question everyone asks...
Q: Why does InstaForex offer ForexCopy for free?
I asked myself the same thing.
"What's the catch? Why would they give this away for free?"
The business model operates as follows:
InstaForex makes money from trading spreads—the tiny difference between buying and selling prices. Every time you (or the trader you're copying) makes a trade, they earn a small commission.
More trades = more revenue for them.
So they want you to succeed. Successful traders trade more. Losing traders quit.
It's actually a brilliant business model—they only profit when trading activity increases, which happens when people are successful.
But now, let me tell you about Marcus...
Marcus from Birmingham represents another case study in copy-trading applications.
Marcus was £4,800 in credit card debt when he started ForexCopy in April 2025. Working as a warehouse supervisor, he could only afford to start with £950—money he'd saved by bringing packed lunches to work for six months. What happened in the following months surprised even the InstaForex support team...
Marcus chose to copy trader #22186610 (TradeSun), who has achieved +247.89% gains with nearly £18,400 in profits. By copying just 15% of this trader's positions, Marcus not only paid off his entire £4,800 debt by July 2025 but had built a £2,950 trading account.
"The moment I'll never forget," Marcus told me, "was calling my credit card company to pay off the final £650."
"The representative asked if I'd won the lottery. I said something better—I'd found professional traders who let me copy their expertise."
Perhaps the most remarkable story I encountered was Elena from Leeds. A single mother working two part-time jobs just to cover rent, she discovered ForexCopy through a friend in March 2025.
Starting with just £750 — money she had saved from her tax refund and birthday gifts — Elena began copying trades from trader #51360127 (D-fx-toBarycenters), who has achieved +203.17% gains with over £69,600 in profits.
"I started using the platform in early March 2025," Elena explained. "After researching the trader's performance history and calculating the risks."
Elena's initial concern centered on whether copy-trading could provide reliable supplementary income given her financial responsibilities as a single parent.
Her experience over the following months demonstrated both the potential benefits and risks of the approach...
Within 6 months, Elena had earned enough to quit her evening cleaning job.
"The day I called my supervisor to give my two weeks' notice, Sofia was doing math homework," Elena explained.
"She looked up and asked, 'Mama, can you help me with fractions?' For the first time in two years, I could say yes."
Elena noted that the schedule flexibility was as valuable as the financial benefits.
While copy-trading has produced positive outcomes for some users, individual results vary significantly and depend on multiple factors including market conditions, trader selection, and timing.
It's important to note that copy-trading success stories represent only one side of the equation—the platform also includes traders with negative performance, and users can experience substantial losses.
The individuals interviewed for this investigation had no specialized financial background or trading experience prior to using copy-trading platforms.
Their approach centered on identifying established traders with consistent track records and implementing basic risk management principles.
However, all interviewees emphasized the same fundamental principle: trading involves significant risk of loss, and market conditions can change rapidly.
This risk assessment remained consistent across all user interviews...
Editorial Investigation: Independent Verification
How we documented and validated ForexCopy claims through direct testing
After three months of interviews, I had testimonials from Sarah, Marcus, and Elena. All claiming consistent profits from ForexCopy. All seemingly genuine.
But testimonials don't constitute verification.
In fifteen years covering financial services, I've learned that personal accounts - however compelling - require independent corroboration. Especially when the claims involve retail trading platforms.
I needed primary source documentation.
Tom Richards sits two desks behind me. Twenty years at the paper. Covers technology and consumer affairs. Naturally risk-averse - still uses a Nokia phone, pays everything by cheque when possible.
Perfect test subject.
"I need you to open a ForexCopy account," I told him over coffee in June 2025. "Company will fund it as investigation expense. Document everything. We'll either validate these claims or expose the operation."
Tom's response was predictably cautious: "What's the budget? How do we justify this to editorial?"
I scheduled a meeting with our news editor, David Marshall. "We need £850 for primary source verification," I explained. "Either we validate a legitimate income opportunity or we expose fraudulent claims. Both outcomes justify the expense."
David approved the budget within twenty minutes. "Treat it like any other investigation," he said. "Document methodology. If it's legitimate, we have a story. If it's not, we have a different story."
Tom opened the account using company funds: £850 initial deposit - enough to test functionality, small enough to limit liability. He copied trader #22450689 as per our research. Risk settings: 5% maximum per trade, £2,000 total exposure ceiling.
He opened the account Monday morning. Started copying trades Tuesday afternoon.
Tom provided me with read-only access to his ForexCopy dashboard - additional login credentials that allowed real-time monitoring without trading permissions. I could verify every transaction, balance update, and platform interaction as they occurred.
Within 48 hours, the first copied trades appeared on the platform. Small positions, conservative sizing. I monitored each transaction through my dashboard access while Tom logged the details.
Day three showed a modest £23 profit. Day four, a £31 loss. Day five recovered with £19 gain. Nothing dramatic. Typical trading volatility that matched the testimonials I'd gathered.
By the end of the first week, Tom's account balance sat at £847 - essentially break-even after small wins and losses.
Then something shifted in week two.
By Thursday of the second week, Tom's balance had grown to approximately £1,635. A series of successful trades had generated £785 in profit over nine trading days.
That's when Tom decided to test the withdrawal process.
Sort Code: 20-67-59
Account: ****4892
Statement Period: 25 JUL - 01 AUG 2025
CONTACTLESS CARD:****4892 10:32
📍 BARCLAYS ATM CAMDEN LOCK 15:47
CHIP & PIN CARD:****4892 20:15
STANDING ORDER REF:NET250728
SUMMER SALE - CONTACTLESS ****4892
GROCERY SHOPPING ****4892 14:22
DD REF:BG250731 SUMMER ENERGY BILL
LUNCH MEAL - CARD ****4892 13:05
🌍 INSTAFOREX TFR:IF01AUG247
"Statement came through," Tom said, sliding a printed Barclays document across my desk Tuesday morning.
Among typical July expenses - energy bill, Ryanair booking, Tesco groceries - one entry stood out:
TFR - INTERNATIONAL INWARD / INSTAFOREX / £247.50 / REF: TFR:IF01AUG247
"Withdrawal processed smoothly?" I asked.
"Requested Friday afternoon. Credited Tuesday morning. Bank holiday delayed it slightly." Tom tapped the statement. "Account balance is £1,387 currently. I only withdrew part of the profits to test the process."
I made notes while he spoke. The withdrawal represented roughly 17% of his current account value - conservative extraction that left capital working.
"Any complications? Hidden fees? Processing issues?"
"None. Straightforward as any other international transfer. Barclays charged their standard £25 incoming wire fee, but that's normal."
"That bank statement changed everything. What started as testimonial collection became something I could verify myself."
Q: How do I get started with InstaForex ForexCopy?
After completing my investigation, I contacted InstaForex directly to understand their onboarding process.
The account manager I spoke with explained their approach: new clients receive dedicated guidance during their first 30 days. This includes platform tutorials, trader selection assistance, and ongoing support as positions develop.
InstaForex requires a £500 minimum deposit - positioning this as professional copy trading rather than casual investment. They emphasise risk management education before clients begin copying trades.
The verification process follows standard financial regulations: identity confirmation, proof of address, and a brief suitability questionnaire. Most UK clients complete verification within 48 hours.
Demo accounts are available for platform familiarisation, though the manager noted most serious clients prefer starting with real capital once they understand the system mechanics.
The key is taking that first step and speaking with their team who can provide personalized guidance based on your goals and risk tolerance.
Q: What's the next step if I'm interested? (Important timing note below)
During my investigation, I observed InstaForex's client onboarding process firsthand.
Before you start, InstaForex requires a phone call with one of their advisers. They want to make sure you understand how it works and help you choose the right traders to follow.
During the call, they'll ask about your experience and what you're hoping to achieve. They'll show you how the platform works and explain what you might earn - as well as what you could lose.
As a regulated company, they have to check that you understand the risks before you start. This means making sure you know that you could lose money and that previous results don't guarantee future profits.
When I spoke to their team, they told me they'd rather have clients who understand the system than lots of clients who don't. The call takes about 30-45 minutes and covers how to use the platform and choose traders.
Expect a call in the next couple of minutes except if you choose a different timeslot in the form.
To learn more about how ForexCopy works, you can request information from InstaForex specialists who can provide personalized guidance.
This consultation is completely free and there's no obligation. It's simply an opportunity to get your questions answered by professionals.
In Summary: From my research, InstaForex ForexCopy stands out as one of the most accessible ways to start earning from financial markets.
There's no upfront cost beyond your trading capital, minimal learning curve, and you benefit directly from professional traders' expertise.
The combination of automation and human guidance makes it suitable for complete beginners who want to start earning while they learn.
Unlike other side income methods that require significant time investment, ForexCopy works automatically once you've set it up.
If you're serious about creating additional income streams, speaking with an InstaForex specialist could be the first step toward financial growth.
Ready to take the next step?
Here's what happens next if you're serious about this:
That's it. Simple, straightforward, professional.
This consultation is completely free with no obligations. Default: immediate callback (next few minutes) unless you choose a different time above.