Is CMC Markets regulated by the CIRO?

What the CIRO licence means

Based on our licence database, CMC Markets holds a licence from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), the financial regulator for Canada. We classify the CIRO 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 CIRO-regulated entity, the key protections are: compensation — CIPF — up to CAD 1,000,000 per account category; retail leverage — Margin set by CIRO rules; up to roughly 50:1 on major pairs; negative balance protection — not a regulatory requirement (may be offered contractually); client money — Client assets held in trust at a CIRO dealer member. Disputes can be taken to OBSI (Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments).

CMC Markets is also matched to licences from ASIC, BaFin, FCA, MAS and FMA (NZ). Note that clients outside Canada may be onboarded to a weaker entity (FMA (NZ)) instead.

Protection at a glance

Regulator tier

Tier 1 — Top-tier regulation

Compensation scheme

CIPF — up to CAD 1,000,000 per account category

Retail leverage

Margin set by CIRO rules; up to roughly 50:1 on major pairs

Negative balance protection

Not a regulatory requirement

Client money

Client assets held in trust at a CIRO dealer member

Complaints

OBSI (Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments)

How to verify this licence

1. Open CMC Markets's client agreement or website footer and note the exact company name and CIRO licence number.
2. Search that name or number on the official CIRO register. Check the status is current, not cancelled or suspended.
3. Confirm the website domain you're using (cmcmarkets.com) is the one listed on the register — clone firms copy genuine licence numbers.
4. Search the CIRO warnings page and IOSCO I-SCAN for the brand name.

CMC Markets's other licences