Is Swissquote regulated by the MFSA?

What the MFSA licence means

Based on our licence database, Swissquote 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 Swissquote 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.

Swissquote is also matched to licences from FCA, FINMA, MAS, SFC, CSSF and DFSA. FCA, FINMA, MAS and SFC are rated higher than the MFSA in our methodology, so if you are eligible for those entities you may get stronger protection.

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

1. Open Swissquote's client agreement or website footer and note the exact company name and MFSA licence number.
2. Search that name or number on the official MFSA register. Check the status is current, not cancelled or suspended.
3. Confirm the website domain you're using (swissquote.com) is the one listed on the register — clone firms copy genuine licence numbers.
4. Search the MFSA warnings page and IOSCO I-SCAN for the brand name.

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