Deriv licence record
Is Deriv regulated by the MFSA?
Yes, according to our records. Deriv is matched to a licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority (Malta). Confirm it on the register before relying on it.
What the MFSA licence means
Based on our licence database, Deriv holds a licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the financial regulator for Malta. We classify the MFSA as tier 2 — strong regulation. Credible regulators with real rulebooks, but fewer safeguards than tier 1 (e.g. no compensation scheme or looser leverage rules).
For Deriv clients whose account is held by its MFSA-regulated entity, the key protections are: compensation — Investor Compensation Scheme — 90% of loss up to €20,000; retail leverage — 30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules); negative balance protection — mandatory for retail clients; client money — MiFID II client asset rules. Disputes can be taken to Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services.
Deriv is also matched to licences from Labuan FSA, BVI FSC and VFSC. Note that clients outside Malta may be onboarded to a weaker entity (Labuan FSA, BVI FSC or VFSC) instead.
Protection at a glance
- Regulator tier
- Tier 2 — Strong regulation
- Compensation scheme
- Investor Compensation Scheme — 90% of loss up to €20,000
- Retail leverage
- 30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules)
- Negative balance protection
- Required for retail clients
- Client money
- MiFID II client asset rules
- Complaints
- Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services
How to verify this licence
- Open Deriv's client agreement or website footer and note the exact company name and MFSA licence number.
- Search that name or number on the official MFSA register. Check the status is current, not cancelled or suspended.
- Confirm the website domain you're using (deriv.com) is the one listed on the register — clone firms copy genuine licence numbers.
- Search the MFSA warnings page and IOSCO I-SCAN for the brand name.
Deriv's other licences
Frequently asked questions
Is Deriv regulated by the MFSA?
Our database records Deriv as holding a licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority. Confirm the current status on the MFSA register: https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/
Does the MFSA licence protect all Deriv clients?
No. It protects clients whose account is with the specific Deriv company licensed by the MFSA. Clients onboarded to a different group entity are covered by that entity's regulator instead.
Is there a compensation scheme for Deriv clients under the MFSA?
Investor Compensation Scheme — 90% of loss up to €20,000
What leverage can Deriv offer under the MFSA?
30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules)