German online brokers Trade Republic and ING have experienced technical difficulties that occurred during this week’s market plunge, when both platforms experienced delays due to extraordinary trading volumes.

Trading Platforms Experience Delays as Markets React to Trade War Concerns

The technical issues coincided with a steep selloff in global markets as investors responded to escalating trade tensions and Trump’s Tarrifs. Germany's DAX index initially plummeted more than 10% before recovering some ground to close down 4.7% on Monday. By Tuesday's close, the German benchmark had rebounded 2.5% to 20,280, while the S&P 500 remained under pressure, falling 1.6% to 4,982—approaching its lowest levels in a year.

Trade Republic, which serves 8 million customers across 17 countries and manages approximately €100 billion ($110 billion) in assets, acknowledged that some users encountered "loading delays when viewing their portfolios" following "enormous market fluctuations." The company emphasized that despite these issues, trading capabilities remained operational throughout the disruption.

I’m closing my account — this is the worst platform I’ve ever used.
Every time the market is volatile, the platform freezes. I can’t buy or sell, and my account balance doesn’t even show up. This isn’t the first time it’s happened.#traderepublic pic.twitter.com/1MSw5cirIh

— Pax (@MktPax) April 7, 2025

Similarly, ING Germany reported experiencing "slight delays" lasting "a few minutes" on its trading platform due to "very high trading activity," but assured that customers could execute orders at all times.

GameStop Drama Redux

This isn't the first time Trade Republic has faced technical challenges during periods of heightened market activity. In 2021, the platform experienced disruptions amid the surge in trading volume related to GameStop, BlackBerry, and other stocks that became the focus of a conflict between retail investors and hedge funds.

Market analysts note that the latest volatility stems from concerns about U.S. trade policies under President Trump, which have revived recession fears among global investors.

The imposition of 104% tariffs on Chinese imports, alongside threats of broader trade restrictions, has heightened uncertainty, prompting a flight to safe-haven assets and exacerbating pressure on global equities. These aggressive policies, aimed at reshaping U.S. trade balances, have sparked fears of retaliatory measures and a potential economic slowdown, driving the market turmoil that overwhelmed trading platforms this week.