[2026 Survey] Over 70% of FX Traders Start for 'Supplementary Income', Over 60% Trade 'Within 1 Hour Per Day', 56.3% Not Profitable
According to a 2026 survey by Finance Media Inc., over 70% of FX traders started for supplementary income, and more than 60% trade for less than one hour daily. However, 56.3% of traders are not achieving monthly profitability, with mental management and loss-cutting decisions identified as major challenges.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 4, 2026 at 10:35 (3 min after Collected)
Finance Media Inc. (Location: Tokyo, URL: https://finance-media.co.jp/) conducted the "FX Trader Trading Style Actual Survey 2026" in April 2026, targeting 176 individuals with FX trading experience. While entry for supplementary income is prevalent, the survey revealed that a minority of traders are generating stable profits, and mental management and the decision to cut losses are the biggest challenges.
▪︎Survey Outline
Survey Name: FX Trader Trading Style Actual Survey 2026
Survey Period: April 2026
Survey Target: Individuals aged 18 and over with FX trading experience
Valid Responses: 176 men and women
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Survey Organizer: Finance Media Inc.
Detailed Survey Results URL: https://finance-media.co.jp/fx-trader-survey/
●Summary of Survey Results
- The top reason for starting FX was "wanted supplementary income" at 73.9%. SNS/videos (8.5%) and friends/acquaintances (8.5%) followed.
- Day trading (42.0%) was the most common trading style. Combined with scalping, 71.5% are short-term/ultra-short-term traders.
- Daily trading time was "within 1 hour" for 63.6%. Traders engaging for limited hours as a side job/dual employment are mainstream.
- 56.3% of traders are not profitable on a monthly basis. "Significantly positive (over 50,000 yen per month)" accounted for only 6.3%.
- The biggest hurdles are "mental management" and "the decision to cut losses." Psychological management is the greatest practical challenge, more so than technical knowledge.
Result ① Reason for starting FX: "Wanted supplementary income" is the overwhelming top at 73.9%
"Wanted supplementary income (73.9%)" was the overwhelming top reason for starting FX. This significantly outpaces the second-place reasons, revealing that a strong motivation for increased income drives entry into FX.
Responses indicating discovery through SNS/YouTube also stood at 8.5%, showing cases where video content serves as an entry point into FX.
Result ② Trading style: Day trading 42.0%, Scalping 29.5% for a total of 71.5% short-term traders
"Day trading (42.0%)" was the most common main trading style, followed by "scalping (29.5%)." Combined, 71.5% are short-term or ultra-short-term traders.
For dual-employed traders who trade during work or daily life, styles that do not carry positions over to the next day tend to be preferred.
Result ③ Daily trading time: "Within 1 hour" is 63.6%. Trading as a side job is mainstream
"30 minutes to 1 hour (32.4%)" and "less than 30 minutes (31.3%)" were the top responses for average daily trading time, with 63.6% of traders spending within 1 hour. Although FX is available for 24-hour trading, it shows that many traders engage in it as a side job alongside their main profession, trading within limited hours.
Result ④ FX operating funds: "Less than 100,000 yen" is the most at 39.8%. Approximately 70% have less than 500,000 yen
"Less than 100,000 yen (39.8%)" was the most common amount for FX operating funds, with approximately 70% of traders having less than 500,000 yen.
This suggests that small-amount trading, with an awareness of risk management, is common, and many cases involve allocating only a portion of their available funds to FX.
Result ⑤ Monthly profit/loss: 56.3% of traders are not profitable. "Significantly positive" is only 6.3%
Regarding monthly profit/loss, "slightly positive (37.5%)" was the most common, but summing "around zero (24.4%)," "slightly negative (20.5%)," and "significantly negative (11.4%)," 56.3% of traders are not profitable.
"Significantly positive (profit of 50,000 yen or more per month)" was only 6.3%, indicating the difficulty of achieving stable profits in FX.
Result ⑥ Biggest hurdle: "Mental management" and "Decision to cut losses" are overwhelmingly numerous
When asked in free-form about "what they find most difficult in FX," many voices such as the following were received:
- I can't endure unrealized losses and cut losses too early, or I can't let profits run and take profits too quickly. Maintaining mental strength is the most difficult.
- Managing my mindset to consistently stick to loss-cutting rules without being swayed by emotions is the hardest part.
- The impatience to make quick profits leads me away from the royal road of long-term and diversified investment.
- When the market moves against my expectations, I hesitate whether to cut losses immediately or wait a bit longer.
- It's most troublesome when market movements don't follow technical analysis due to statements from key figures.
- I'm scared of losing a lot of money in an instant if I lose control.
Even with knowledge of technical analysis, managing emotions and psychological aspects is considered the biggest challenge in actual trading.
▪︎Survey Outline
Survey Name: FX Trader Trading Style Actual Survey 2026
Survey Period: April 2026
Survey Target: Individuals aged 18 and over with FX trading experience
Valid Responses: 176 men and women
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Survey Organizer: Finance Media Inc.
Detailed Survey Results URL: https://finance-media.co.jp/fx-trader-survey/
●Summary of Survey Results
- The top reason for starting FX was "wanted supplementary income" at 73.9%. SNS/videos (8.5%) and friends/acquaintances (8.5%) followed.
- Day trading (42.0%) was the most common trading style. Combined with scalping, 71.5% are short-term/ultra-short-term traders.
- Daily trading time was "within 1 hour" for 63.6%. Traders engaging for limited hours as a side job/dual employment are mainstream.
- 56.3% of traders are not profitable on a monthly basis. "Significantly positive (over 50,000 yen per month)" accounted for only 6.3%.
- The biggest hurdles are "mental management" and "the decision to cut losses." Psychological management is the greatest practical challenge, more so than technical knowledge.
Result ① Reason for starting FX: "Wanted supplementary income" is the overwhelming top at 73.9%
"Wanted supplementary income (73.9%)" was the overwhelming top reason for starting FX. This significantly outpaces the second-place reasons, revealing that a strong motivation for increased income drives entry into FX.
Responses indicating discovery through SNS/YouTube also stood at 8.5%, showing cases where video content serves as an entry point into FX.
Result ② Trading style: Day trading 42.0%, Scalping 29.5% for a total of 71.5% short-term traders
"Day trading (42.0%)" was the most common main trading style, followed by "scalping (29.5%)." Combined, 71.5% are short-term or ultra-short-term traders.
For dual-employed traders who trade during work or daily life, styles that do not carry positions over to the next day tend to be preferred.
Result ③ Daily trading time: "Within 1 hour" is 63.6%. Trading as a side job is mainstream
"30 minutes to 1 hour (32.4%)" and "less than 30 minutes (31.3%)" were the top responses for average daily trading time, with 63.6% of traders spending within 1 hour. Although FX is available for 24-hour trading, it shows that many traders engage in it as a side job alongside their main profession, trading within limited hours.
Result ④ FX operating funds: "Less than 100,000 yen" is the most at 39.8%. Approximately 70% have less than 500,000 yen
"Less than 100,000 yen (39.8%)" was the most common amount for FX operating funds, with approximately 70% of traders having less than 500,000 yen.
This suggests that small-amount trading, with an awareness of risk management, is common, and many cases involve allocating only a portion of their available funds to FX.
Result ⑤ Monthly profit/loss: 56.3% of traders are not profitable. "Significantly positive" is only 6.3%
Regarding monthly profit/loss, "slightly positive (37.5%)" was the most common, but summing "around zero (24.4%)," "slightly negative (20.5%)," and "significantly negative (11.4%)," 56.3% of traders are not profitable.
"Significantly positive (profit of 50,000 yen or more per month)" was only 6.3%, indicating the difficulty of achieving stable profits in FX.
Result ⑥ Biggest hurdle: "Mental management" and "Decision to cut losses" are overwhelmingly numerous
When asked in free-form about "what they find most difficult in FX," many voices such as the following were received:
- I can't endure unrealized losses and cut losses too early, or I can't let profits run and take profits too quickly. Maintaining mental strength is the most difficult.
- Managing my mindset to consistently stick to loss-cutting rules without being swayed by emotions is the hardest part.
- The impatience to make quick profits leads me away from the royal road of long-term and diversified investment.
- When the market moves against my expectations, I hesitate whether to cut losses immediately or wait a bit longer.
- It's most troublesome when market movements don't follow technical analysis due to statements from key figures.
- I'm scared of losing a lot of money in an instant if I lose control.
Even with knowledge of technical analysis, managing emotions and psychological aspects is considered the biggest challenge in actual trading.