HFM regulation & licences
Our take
HFM (formerly HotForex) was founded in 2010 and has one of the broadest regulatory footprints in emerging markets, with licences from CySEC, the FCA, the DFSA, the FSCA, CMA Kenya, the FSC Mauritius and the Seychelles FSA.
Best suited to: Traders in Africa and the Middle East who want local licensing
Licences on record 7
1 Tier 1 — top-tier regulation
2 Tier 2 — strong regulation
3 Tier 3 — moderate regulation
4 Tier 4 — light / offshore
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
HFM is a forex & CFD broker founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cyprus. Formerly HotForex.
In our database HFM is matched to 7 licences from FCA, CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, CMA (Kenya), FSC (MU) and FSA (Seychelles). Most importantly, 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.
HFM's licences span very different levels of protection — from FCA and CySEC to CMA (Kenya) and FSC (MU). The entity you are assigned to normally depends on your country of residence; if you live outside the jurisdictions of its stronger licences, expect to be onboarded to an offshore entity.
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 FCA and CySEC rules. Retail leverage caps apply at the FCA, CySEC and CMA (Kenya)-regulated entities (for example 30:1 on major FX pairs at FCA).
HFM offers MT4, MT5 and its own proprietary platform. The advertised minimum deposit starts at zero (no minimum) — minimums often vary by account type and entity.
Regulatory strengths
- Local licences in South Africa, Kenya and Dubai
- EU and UK entities
Points to check
- Many clients onboarded through offshore entities
- Rebranding can confuse licence checks
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 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 DFSA | No compensation scheme | Set under DFSA conduct rules for retail clients; check the firm's disclosures | Not confirmed — check with the broker | DFSA complaints / DIFC Courts |
| 2 FSCA | No compensation scheme; FAIS Ombud handles complaints | No statutory retail leverage cap | Not a regulatory requirement | FAIS Ombud |
| 3 CMA (Kenya) | No dedicated compensation scheme for online forex clients confirmed | Maximum 400:1 | Not confirmed — check with the broker | CMA complaints |
| 3 FSC (MU) | No compensation scheme | No statutory cap | Not a regulatory requirement | Office of the Ombudsperson for Financial Services |
| 4 FSA (Seychelles) | No compensation scheme | No statutory cap | Not a regulatory requirement | FSA Seychelles |
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HFM regulation FAQ
Is HFM regulated?
Yes — in our database HFM is matched to 7 licences: FCA (United Kingdom), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (United Arab Emirates), FSCA (South Africa), CMA (Kenya) (Kenya), FSC (MU) (Mauritius) and FSA (Seychelles) (Seychelles). 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 HFM a tier-1 regulated broker?
HFM holds 1 licence from regulators we classify as tier 1: FCA.
Does HFM accept US clients?
HFM 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 HFM generally cannot accept US retail forex clients.
Is my money protected with HFM?
Clients of HFM'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 HFM?
HFM advertises no fixed minimum deposit on its standard account, although some account types, payment methods or entities may require one.
How can I verify HFM's licence?
Find the company name and licence number in HFM'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.