Darwinex regulation & licences
Our take
Darwinex is a UK-authorised broker and asset manager that lets traders package strategies as investable "DARWINs". It is authorised by the FCA and its asset management arm by Spain's CNMV.
Best suited to: Strategy developers who want to attract investor capital
Licences on record 2
1 Tier 1 — top-tier regulation
2 Tier 2 — strong regulation
Licences are matched from public sources and regulator registers, and entities change over time. A licence held by one company in a group does not cover clients of another. Always confirm on the official register.
Regulatory profile
Darwinex is a forex & CFD broker founded in 2012 and headquartered in United Kingdom.
In our database Darwinex is matched to 2 licences from FCA and CNMV. The strongest of these, the FCA (United Kingdom) is among the regulators we classify as tier 1 — regulators known for demanding capital and client-money standards and active enforcement.
Depending on the entity, eligible clients may be covered by FSCS (FCA) and FOGAIN (CNMV). Negative balance protection is mandatory for retail clients under FCA and CNMV rules. Retail leverage caps apply at the FCA and CNMV-regulated entities (for example 30:1 on major FX pairs at FCA).
Darwinex supports MT4 and MT5. The advertised minimum deposit starts from about US$500 — minimums often vary by account type and entity.
Regulatory strengths
- FCA-authorised
- Unique strategy-investment model
Points to check
- Higher minimum deposit
Protection by entity
| Regulator | Compensation | Retail leverage | Negative balance protection | Disputes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 FCA | FSCS — up to £85,000 per eligible client per firm | 30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients (20:1 minors, gold and major indices) | Required for retail clients | Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) |
| 2 CNMV | FOGAIN — up to €100,000 | 30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules) | Required for retail clients | CNMV Investor Assistance Office |
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Darwinex regulation FAQ
Is Darwinex regulated?
Yes — in our database Darwinex is matched to 2 licences: FCA (United Kingdom) and CNMV (Spain). Which of these protects you depends on the legal entity you open an account with. Always confirm the licence on the regulator's official register.
Is Darwinex a tier-1 regulated broker?
Darwinex holds 1 licence from regulators we classify as tier 1: FCA.
Does Darwinex accept US clients?
Darwinex is not matched to a CFTC/NFA registration in our database. Only CFTC-registered, NFA-member firms may offer retail forex to US residents, so Darwinex generally cannot accept US retail forex clients.
Is my money protected with Darwinex?
Clients of Darwinex's FCA and CNMV-regulated entities may be eligible for statutory compensation (FSCS — up to £85,000 per eligible client per firm; FOGAIN — up to €100,000). Clients of other entities rely on segregation of funds and the firm's financial strength.
What is the minimum deposit at Darwinex?
Darwinex's advertised minimum deposit starts from about US$500. It can differ by account type, payment method and the entity you are onboarded to.
How can I verify Darwinex's licence?
Find the company name and licence number in Darwinex's client agreement or website footer, then search it on the regulator's official register (linked from each licence on this page). Confirm that the website domain you use is listed on the register, and check the regulator's warning list for clones.