They shouldn't have traded that big. Those retail traders wouldn't give their profits to a losing counterparty.
This is real life - not a video game. There is no such thing as a "move so extreme it shouldn't never really happen"
Leverage is the Siren luring traders with the promise of riches and greatness. She is most effective in shipwrecking traders' margin accounts, continually luring them back again and again. Only the rare Odysseus can sway himself from the seductive and dangerous proposition offered by leverage.
However, most seafaring passengers are not so lucky, as evidenced by the flotsam and jetsam regularly seen floating in the financial waters.


RE: Oanda clears negative CHF balances
What happens in this case? You have two traders that had an identical long EUR/CHF position that incurred a $20,000 loss.
- Trader 1 had an account balance of $2,500.00 and was using up most of his margin.
- Trader 2 had an account balance of $20,000.00 and was using a small fraction of his margin.
Oanda decides to clear the negative balances, but not cancel the trades. Trader 1 got lucky, but Trader 2 gets shafted.
- Trader 1 ends up with a negative balance of about $17,500
- Trader 2 ends up with a negative balance of about $0.00
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Absolute DisgraceRE: Oanda clears negative CHF balances
What happens in this case? You have two traders that had an identical long EUR/CHF position that incurred a $20,000 loss.
- Trader 1 had an account balance of $2,500.00 and was using up most of his margin.
- Trader 2 had an account balance of $20,000.00 and was using a small fraction of his margin.
Oanda decides to clear the negative balances, but not cancel the trades. Trader 1 got lucky, but Trader 2 gets shafted.
- Trader 1 ends up with a negative balance of about $17,500
- Trader 2 ends up with a negative balance of about $0.00
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