FXCM regulation & licences
Our take
FXCM was founded in 1999 and was once the largest US retail FX broker. In 2017 it withdrew from the US after CFTC and NFA action, and it is now majority-owned by Jefferies. Its remaining group entities hold licences from the FCA, ASIC, CySEC and the FSCA.
Best suited to: Traders interested in algorithmic trading tools and APIs
Licences on record 4
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
FXCM is a forex & CFD broker founded in 1999 and headquartered in United Kingdom. It is part of Jefferies (majority owner).
In our database FXCM is matched to 4 licences from ASIC, FCA, CySEC and FSCA. The strongest of these, the ASIC (Australia) and the FCA (United Kingdom) are 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 Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) (CySEC). Negative balance protection is mandatory for retail clients under ASIC, FCA and CySEC rules. Retail leverage caps apply at the ASIC, FCA and CySEC-regulated entities (for example 30:1 on major FX pairs at ASIC).
FXCM supports its own proprietary platform, MT4 and TradingView. The advertised minimum deposit starts from about US$50 — minimums often vary by account type and entity.
Regulatory strengths
- FCA and ASIC licences
- Long history and API tools
Points to check
- Not available to US residents since 2017
- Past regulatory issues in the US
Protection by entity
| Regulator | Compensation | Retail leverage | Negative balance protection | Disputes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ASIC | No statutory compensation fund for OTC derivatives; complaints go to AFCA | 30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients since March 2021 | Required for retail clients | Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) |
| 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 CySEC | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) — up to €20,000 | 30:1 on major FX pairs (ESMA rules) | Required for retail clients | Financial Ombudsman of Cyprus |
| 2 FSCA | No compensation scheme; FAIS Ombud handles complaints | No statutory retail leverage cap | Not a regulatory requirement | FAIS Ombud |
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FXCM regulation FAQ
Is FXCM regulated?
Yes — in our database FXCM is matched to 4 licences: ASIC (Australia), FCA (United Kingdom), CySEC (Cyprus) and FSCA (South Africa). 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 FXCM a tier-1 regulated broker?
FXCM holds 2 licences from regulators we classify as tier 1: ASIC and FCA.
Does FXCM accept US clients?
FXCM 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 FXCM generally cannot accept US retail forex clients.
Is my money protected with FXCM?
Clients of FXCM's FCA and CySEC-regulated entities may be eligible for statutory compensation (FSCS — up to £85,000 per eligible client per firm; Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) — up to €20,000). Clients of other entities rely on segregation of funds and the firm's financial strength.
What is the minimum deposit at FXCM?
FXCM's advertised minimum deposit starts from about US$50. It can differ by account type, payment method and the entity you are onboarded to.
How can I verify FXCM's licence?
Find the company name and licence number in FXCM'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.