CMC Markets licence record
Is CMC Markets regulated by the ASIC?
Yes, according to our records. CMC Markets is matched to a licence from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (Australia), reported reference AFSL 238054. Confirm it on the register before relying on it.
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What the ASIC licence means
Based on our licence database, CMC Markets holds a licence (AFSL 238054) from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the financial regulator for Australia. We classify the ASIC as tier 1 — top-tier regulation. Strict capital, client-money and conduct rules with active enforcement; usually leverage caps and often compensation schemes.
For CMC Markets clients whose account is held by its ASIC-regulated entity, the key protections are: compensation — No statutory compensation fund for OTC derivatives; complaints go to AFCA; retail leverage — 30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients since March 2021; negative balance protection — mandatory for retail clients; client money — Client money held in trust accounts; client money rules tightened in 2022. Disputes can be taken to Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
CMC Markets is also matched to licences from BaFin, CIRO, FCA, MAS and FMA (NZ). Note that clients outside Australia may be onboarded to a weaker entity (FMA (NZ)) instead.
Protection at a glance
- Regulator tier
- Tier 1 — Top-tier regulation
- Compensation scheme
- No statutory compensation fund for OTC derivatives; complaints go to AFCA
- Retail leverage
- 30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients since March 2021
- Negative balance protection
- Required for retail clients
- Client money
- Client money held in trust accounts; client money rules tightened in 2022
- Complaints
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
How to verify this licence
- Open CMC Markets's client agreement or website footer and note the exact company name and ASIC licence number.
- Search that name or number on the official ASIC register. Check the status is current, not cancelled or suspended.
- Confirm the website domain you're using (cmcmarkets.com) is the one listed on the register — clone firms copy genuine licence numbers.
- Search the ASIC warnings page and IOSCO I-SCAN for the brand name.
CMC Markets's other licences
Frequently asked questions
Is CMC Markets regulated by the ASIC?
Our database records CMC Markets as holding a licence from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (AFSL 238054). Confirm the current status on the ASIC register: https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-s-registers/
Does the ASIC licence protect all CMC Markets clients?
No. It protects clients whose account is with the specific CMC Markets company licensed by the ASIC. Clients onboarded to a different group entity are covered by that entity's regulator instead.
Is there a compensation scheme for CMC Markets clients under the ASIC?
No statutory compensation fund for OTC derivatives; complaints go to AFCA
What leverage can CMC Markets offer under the ASIC?
30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients since March 2021