Do I need a new broker account?

Yes, currently we only support IIFL Securities. If you don't have an IIFL account, we'll help you open one during onboarding. We do not support Zerodha, Angel One, Upstox, or other brokers at this time.

Where does my money sit?

Entirely in your own IIFL Securities trading account. StoneBridge has order-placement authorization through IIFL's broker API, but no withdrawal access and no custody of client funds. You can withdraw or close your account directly with IIFL at any time.

Are returns guaranteed?

No. Automated trading carries the same market risk as discretionary trading, sometimes more. Past backtest or live performance of any strategy does not guarantee future results. You may experience losses, including substantial drawdowns. You should only deploy capital you can afford to risk.

Is StoneBridge SEBI-registered?

StoneBridge Research is a technology platform provider. We are not a SEBI-registered Investment Advisor, Research Analyst, Portfolio Manager, or Stockbroker. Our strategies are systematic rule-based programs that execute through IIFL's regulated brokerage API. They are not investment advice or buy/sell recommendations.

Is the platform fully machine-driven, or is there a human in the loop?

The strategy logic itself (entries, exits, stop-losses, position sizing rules) is rule-based code. Layered on top of that, our team runs an oversight function: we monitor live strategy behaviour, adjust risk parameters as volatility regimes shift, refine strategy logic over time, and can pause a strategy during extreme events such as major news, gap-risk windows, or technical anomalies in the market. This is operational management of the strategy as a system. It is not personalised investment advice to individual users. Every subscriber on a given strategy runs the same rules, with the same risk overlays, at the same time.

Can I stop a strategy mid-trade?

Yes. You can disable any strategy from the dashboard at any time. Open positions will continue to follow the strategy's defined exit rules unless you square them off manually through your IIFL account.

What happens if there's a technical outage?

If our platform is temporarily down, no new orders are placed during the outage. Existing positions remain at IIFL (your broker account, your positions). When the service resumes, the strategy picks up its normal execution logic. We post status updates and notify users by email and dashboard alerts.

What's the minimum capital required?

It varies by strategy. Most strategies have a recommended minimum between ₹20,00,000 and ₹25,00,000 depending on lot sizes, margin requirements, and risk-per-trade math. Specific minimums are shown on each strategy page in the dashboard.

We charge a subscription fee per strategy, billed monthly. Brokerage, exchange fees, GST, STT, and other statutory charges are paid directly to IIFL Securities in your trading account. Please contact us for current pricing.

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Explainer4 min read

What is margin pledging, and how does it work?

16 June 2026

When you own shares, ETFs, or other securities, they usually just sit in your demat account. Margin pledging is a regulated way to put those holdings to use as collateral, without selling them. This explainer walks through what pledging is, why people do it, how the mechanics work, and the risks to keep in mind.

01What pledging actually means

Pledging means you offer securities you own to your broker as collateral. In return, you receive collateral margin that can be used to meet margin requirements. Crucially, you continue to own the pledged securities. They stay in your own demat account, and you generally remain entitled to their corporate benefits such as dividends, subject to your broker's terms.

02Why pledge instead of selling

You keep your long-term holdings rather than exiting positions you want to hold.
You avoid the transaction of selling, including any tax event that selling might trigger.
You retain your market exposure to those securities while still freeing up usable margin.

03How the mechanics work

You hold eligible securities in your own demat account.
You pledge them through your broker, authorising the pledge with an OTP from the depository (CDSL or NSDL).
The broker applies a haircut, so you receive margin worth somewhat less than the full market value of the pledged securities.
You can use that margin within your own account, and you can unpledge the securities later, subject to your broker's process.

04The risks to understand

Pledging does not remove market risk. Because you still own the securities, their price can rise or fall as usual. A few specific points are worth understanding before you pledge:

Haircut: the margin you receive is less than the market value, and the haircut can change with market conditions.
Margin shortfall: if the value of your collateral falls or your margin usage rises, you may face a shortfall, which can lead to positions being squared off.
You remain the owner: gains and losses on the pledged securities are still yours.
Pledged securities can be invoked by the broker if obligations are not met, per the terms you agree to.

05Where StoneBridge fits in

StoneBridge uses this same standard, regulated pledging mechanism, inside your own IIFL Securities account. You keep custody of your securities and funds, and StoneBridge never holds your money. This article is background on how pledging works in general. It is not advice to pledge, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell anything.

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