Sugar CapitalThe strongest case for a small first deposit has nothing to do with markets. You are testing a process, signup, verification, funding, a first position and, most importantly, a withdrawal, and that test should cost as little as possible.
Run the full loop at the minimum. Deposit, wait, withdraw part of it, and note how long the money takes to return and whether it comes back to the method you used. A platform that handles a small withdrawal cleanly is one worth scaling into gradually.
Only after that round trip does it make sense to think about size, and even then in steps rather than a single move. A larger deposit doesn't make a strategy work better; it only makes the same outcome larger in both directions.
Why the first amount matters more than it seems
The first deposit sets a habit. An amount chosen because it feels comfortable tends to be followed by calm decisions; an amount chosen because it felt like the maximum possible tends to be followed by decisions made under pressure.
A workable starting point
Money you would not need back within a year, in an amount whose loss would be annoying rather than damaging. That figure is personal and nobody else can set it for you.
Adding to it later
Topping up a balance you already understand is a far stronger position than starting large and learning the hard way afterwards.
Questions worth asking before you send anything
How do I withdraw, and to where? What gets deducted, and by whom? Who do I contact if something looks wrong? A platform that answers all three clearly, in writing, is behaving the way it should.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of some or all of the capital you put in. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you originally invested. Never invest money you cannot afford to lose.