RiskPicksThe $25,000 PDT Rule Is Dead: What FINRA's April 2026 Rewrite Means for Small Accounts
After 25 years, the Pattern Day Trader rule is finished. On April 14, 2026 the SEC approved FINRA's rewrite of Rule 4210. The $25,000 minimum is retired, replaced by a $2,000 margin floor and a real-time intraday margin system. For traders with small accounts, it's the biggest shift in retail access since commission-free trading. Here's exactly what changed, what it means for your account, and how to trade the new framework without blowing up.