Interactive Brokers licence record
Is Interactive Brokers regulated by the CFTC / NFA?
Yes, according to our records. Interactive Brokers is matched to a licence from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission & National Futures Association (United States). Confirm it on the register before relying on it.
Search the CFTC / NFA register CFTC / NFA warnings All Interactive Brokers licences
What the CFTC / NFA licence means
According to our records, Interactive Brokers holds a licence from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission & National Futures Association (CFTC / NFA), the financial regulator for United States. We classify the CFTC / NFA as tier 1 — top-tier regulation. Strict capital, client-money and conduct rules with active enforcement; usually leverage caps and often compensation schemes.
For Interactive Brokers clients whose account is held by its CFTC / NFA-regulated entity, the key protections are: compensation — No compensation scheme for retail forex (SIPC does not cover spot FX); retail leverage — 50:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on other pairs; negative balance protection — not a regulatory requirement (may be offered contractually); client money — Retail forex dealers must hold high capital (US$20m+) but retail FX funds are not segregated in the same way as futures. Disputes can be taken to NFA arbitration.
Interactive Brokers is also matched to licences from ASIC, CBI, CIRO, FCA, JFSA, MAS and SFC.
Protection at a glance
- Regulator tier
- Tier 1 — Top-tier regulation
- Compensation scheme
- No compensation scheme for retail forex (SIPC does not cover spot FX)
- Retail leverage
- 50:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on other pairs
- Negative balance protection
- Not a regulatory requirement
- Client money
- Retail forex dealers must hold high capital (US$20m+) but retail FX funds are not segregated in the same way as futures
- Complaints
- NFA arbitration
How to verify this licence
- Open Interactive Brokers's client agreement or website footer and note the exact company name and CFTC / NFA licence number.
- Search that name or number on the official CFTC / NFA register. Check the status is current, not cancelled or suspended.
- Confirm the website domain you're using (interactivebrokers.com) is the one listed on the register — clone firms copy genuine licence numbers.
- Search the CFTC / NFA warnings page and IOSCO I-SCAN for the brand name.
Interactive Brokers's other licences
Frequently asked questions
Is Interactive Brokers regulated by the CFTC / NFA?
Our database records Interactive Brokers as holding a licence from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission & National Futures Association. Confirm the current status on the CFTC / NFA register: https://www.nfa.futures.org/BasicNet/
Does the CFTC / NFA licence protect all Interactive Brokers clients?
No. It protects clients whose account is with the specific Interactive Brokers company licensed by the CFTC / NFA. Clients onboarded to a different group entity are covered by that entity's regulator instead.
Is there a compensation scheme for Interactive Brokers clients under the CFTC / NFA?
No compensation scheme for retail forex (SIPC does not cover spot FX)
What leverage can Interactive Brokers offer under the CFTC / NFA?
50:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on other pairs