How to make passive income with Forex trading: Social trading, EAs, and the best brokers

The allure of passive income has drawn countless individuals to explore new financial opportunities, and Forex trading has become a standout choice. In 2025, ‘set-and-forget’ trading systems are at the forefront of this trend, offering a seamless way to earn without the stress of constant market tracking. These automated strategies allow traders to capitalize on market movements with minimal involvement, making Forex more appealing to both newcomers and experienced investors.

This article examines the growing popularity of these systems, how they work, and the key benefits they provide. For those looking to generate income with less effort, ‘set-and-forget’ trading could be the ideal solution.

Forex ‘set-and-forget’ automatics trading systems

The pursuit of passive income has led many to explore the financial markets, with Forex trading emerging as a key contender. Unlike traditional investing, Forex offers opportunities to generate consistent income through highly liquid markets that operate 24/5. In 2025, ‘set-and-forget’ trading systems are gaining traction, transforming how individuals approach Forex by automating the process and making it accessible to everyone—from seasoned professionals to complete beginners.

What are set-and-forget trading systems?

‘Set-and-forget’ systems refer to automated trading strategies or tools that operate based on pre-defined rules. These systems are particularly appealing because they reduce the need for traders to be actively involved in monitoring and executing trades. Once the system is set up, it performs market analysis, places trades, and manages risks according to the programmed parameters.

Examples of set-and-forget systems:

• Expert advisors (EAs): These are like smart programs you can add to trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5. They follow pre-set rules to trade for you. For example, you can set them to buy when prices are rising or sell when they drop. All you need to do is download an EA, set it up with your trading account, and let it handle trades while you check in occasionally.
• Copy trading platforms:  Platforms like eToro and ZuluTrade let you copy professional traders’ moves. You pick a trader to follow, and their trades automatically happen in your account. This is great for beginners because you don’t have to decide when to buy or sell. Just choose a trader, set a budget, and watch how they manage your trades.

More about Social Trading: PAMM, MAM, and Copy trading

• Trading bots: Think of these as super-smart robots that trade for you. They analyze market trends and execute trades fast, sometimes in milliseconds. You choose a bot, tell it how you want it to trade (like focusing on small profits or bigger trends), and let it run on your trading account. Just check occasionally to make sure it’s working as expected.

How do set-and-forget trading systems work?

• Pre-programmed rules: Traders set criteria for entering and exiting trades, such as price levels, technical indicators, or news events.
• Continuous market analysis: Automated systems constantly analyze market data and search for opportunities that match the pre-set criteria.
• Trade execution: When conditions are met, the system executes trades immediately, removing delays caused by human decision-making.
• Risk management: Many systems include built-in features like stop-loss and take-profit levels to protect capital and secure gains.

Popular trading strategies for passive income

Here’s a closer look at how some trading strategies are adapted into ‘set-and-forget’ systems:

1. Trend-following strategy:

• Objective: Capture profits from long-term trends.
• Example: A trading bot identifies when the price crosses above the 50-day moving average and triggers a buy order. It uses trailing stops to lock in profits as the trend progresses.
• Advantages: Effective in trending markets with sustained price movements.
• Risks: May underperform in choppy or range-bound markets.

2. Range trading strategy:

• Objective: Profit from predictable price oscillations between support and resistance levels.
• Example: An EA buys when the RSI shows oversold conditions near support and sells at overbought levels near resistance.
• Advantages: Works well in stable, sideways markets.
• Risks: Loses effectiveness during breakouts or high volatility.

3. News trading strategy:

• Objective: Capitalize on volatility following major economic announcements, such as GDP reports or interest rate decisions.
• Example: A bot scans economic calendars and places trades based on the impact of news events, executing high-frequency trades during sharp market movements.
• Advantages: High-profit potential during short-term price spikes.
• Risks: Hazardous in unpredictable market conditions; slippage may occur.

4. Grid trading strategy:

• Objective: Set buy and sell orders at fixed intervals above and below a central price, capturing profits from price fluctuations.
• Example: A grid bot places orders in both directions, allowing traders to profit regardless of whether the price rises or falls.
• Advantages: Works well in volatile markets with no clear trend.
• Risks: Can lead to large drawdowns if the market moves strongly in one direction without retracing.

Real-world example: John’s journey to passive Forex income

John, a busy software engineer, was intrigued by the idea of earning passive income through Forex but lacked the time to trade actively. After researching, he decided to use a copy trading platform, choosing to mirror the strategies of a top-rated trader with a strong track record.

Starting point:

• John opened an account with eToro and deposited $10,000.
• He selected a professional trader, Alex, who specializes in a scalping strategy—making small but frequent trades on high-volatility pairs like GBP/JPY.
• Alex had a verified annual return of 20%, with a low drawdown of 8%, indicating a consistent and relatively safe approach.

Setup and monitoring:

• John allocated 70% of his funds to Alex’s strategy and diversified the remaining 30% across two other traders, one focusing on trend-following and another on news-based trading.
• The copy trading system automatically replicated Alex’s trades in John’s account in real-time, ensuring identical entries, exits, and risk management.

Performance over six months:

• Alex’s scalping strategy executed an average of 10 trades per day, with a win rate of 65%.
• John’s portfolio grew by 12% ($1,200), with most profits coming from Alex’s trades. The trend-following and news-based strategies contributed an additional 5% combined.
• He spent just 30 minutes a week reviewing his portfolio and adjusting allocations based on performance.

Takeaways:

• By leveraging the expertise of professional traders, John avoided the steep learning curve of Forex trading.
• The system’s automation allowed him to generate income while focusing on his career, demonstrating how copy trading can make Forex accessible for non-traders.

Lessons from John’s example:

• Diversification: Spreading funds across multiple strategies reduced the impact of underperformance in any single strategy.
• Low risk, steady growth: By choosing traders with proven track records and moderate risk levels, John achieved consistent returns without excessive volatility.
• Minimal effort: Automation handled all aspects of trading, from execution to risk management, requiring little input from John.

The best FX brokers to earn passive income

The right broker can make all the difference in earning passive income through Forex. For 2025, we’ve rounded up the top FX brokers offering reliable platforms, low costs, and excellent support for automated and copy trading systems, perfect for ‘set-and-forget’ strategies.

Pro tip: Before selecting a Forex broker, research those with the best reputation among real traders.

eToro FX trading

The right broker is key to success in passive Forex trading. Among the top choices for 2025 is eToro, a leading social trading platform renowned for its user-friendly interface and innovative features. Ideal for beginners and seasoned traders alike, eToro allows users to replicate the trades of top-performing investors seamlessly. Regulated by authorities such as the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC, it ensures a secure and transparent trading experience. With access to diverse assets like stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and indices, eToro empowers traders to build diversified portfolios effortlessly while maximizing their passive income potential.

Risk disclaimer: eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.

HF Markets FX trading

HF Markets (HotForex) stands out as a top choice for earning passive income through Forex trading. Established in 2010 and regulated by authorities like CySEC, FCA, and FSCA, it offers a secure environment and a wide range of tools for traders of all levels. With over 500 instruments, competitive spreads starting from 0.1 pips, and leverage up to 1:1000, HF Markets provides excellent opportunities for diversification and profit.

Key features include Copy Trading to replicate strategies of top traders, VPS hosting for seamless automated trading, and robust platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5. HF Markets combines reliability with innovation, making it an ideal broker for traders seeking a “set-and-forget” approach.

BlackBull Markets FX trading

BlackBull Markets is a top-tier Forex and CFD broker, offering a seamless trading experience through its advanced MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. Known for its robust analytical tools and user-friendly interface, BlackBull Markets allows traders to integrate Expert Advisors (EAs) into the MT5 platform for automated trading. This makes it an excellent choice for those pursuing passive income strategies like algorithmic or copy trading.

Renowned for exceptional customer support and comprehensive educational resources, BlackBull Markets caters to traders of all experience levels. With a strong focus on security, transparency, and reliability, it provides an ideal environment for navigating the dynamic Forex market while maximizing potential passive income opportunities.

AvaTrade FX trading

AvaTrade is a globally recognized broker, ideal for passive income strategies. Founded in 2006 and regulated by top-tier authorities like ASIC and the Central Bank of Ireland, AvaTrade offers access to over 1,250 instruments across Forex, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Key features include support for Expert Advisors (EAs) on the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform, enabling automated trading. The platform also offers AvaSocial, a dedicated app for social trading, allowing users to follow and replicate top traders’ strategies. With diverse platforms, competitive spreads, and innovative tools like AvaProtect, AvaTrade is a standout choice for traders looking to maximize passive income opportunities.

NAGA Markets FX trading

NAGA is a modern trading platform combining traditional and social trading features, regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Launched in 2015, it enables traders to connect, share strategies, and copy trades effortlessly, making it ideal for generating passive income.

Key features include an integrated social trading network for automated trade copying, support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) with Expert Advisors (EAs), and access to over 1,000 instruments like Forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. NAGA’s proprietary platform and app offer one-click copying, portfolio tracking, and a built-in cryptocurrency wallet, ensuring a streamlined experience for traders at all levels.

Related articles:

• Social Trading: PAMM, MAM and Copy trading of Forex, stocks, commodities, Gold, and Cryptocurrencies

• Social trading with NAGA: a way into traders’ network

• AvaTrade Social trading: revolutionize your FX trading strategy