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From my experience with E*TRADE and based strictly on all the details available, it's important to recognize that E*TRADE is a platform primarily focused on equities, ETFs, mutual funds, options, bonds, and futures. When I was researching and considering whether I could trade Gold (XAU/USD) or Crude Oil directly on E*TRADE, I noticed a critical point: spot forex pairs and spot commodities like XAU/USD and crude oil CFDs are not among their offered instruments. This means that direct trading of gold against the US dollar or crude oil as a CFD is not available on E*TRADE. However, E*TRADE does provide access to some futures contracts, and while this sometimes includes gold and oil futures, it's essential to be cautious given the brokerage’s lack of current valid regulation. The platform is flagged for suspicious regulatory status and potential risk. For me, this matters not just for legal compliance but for safeguarding my capital—especially since some user reviews raise concerns about unexpected account actions and unresolved fund transfers. Because of the absence of spot gold (XAU/USD), spot crude oil, or forex trading, E*TRADE is not suitable for those specific needs. Anyone considering exposure to gold or crude oil via E*TRADE would need to look at indirect methods, such as trading related ETFs, mutual funds, or possibly futures—bearing in mind the risks. Personally, I would exercise significant caution, and if direct commodity or spot forex trading was my goal, I would explore more specialized, properly regulated alternatives.