Forex Affiliate and IB Programs: How They Work and What to Watch
How forex affiliate (CPA) and introducing broker (rebate) programs work, the regulatory rules around them and why disclosure matters.
Most forex comparison sites, educators and signal groups earn money from brokers through affiliate or introducing broker (IB) programmes. ForexLicenses.com is no exception — see our advertiser disclosure. Here is how these arrangements work.
CPA affiliate deals
The broker pays a one-off cost-per-acquisition fee when a referred client deposits and meets activity thresholds. CPA levels vary widely by country and are usually higher for regions with more valuable clients.
IB and revenue-share deals
Introducing brokers receive a rebate per lot traded or a share of spread/commission revenue for as long as the client trades. Hybrid deals combine both.
Regulatory rules
- In the UK the FCA treats promotions of CFDs as financial promotions; unauthorised affiliates must have promotions approved by an authorised firm, and the FCA's 2023 gateway rules tightened who may approve.
- ESMA and EU regulators require risk warnings and ban incentives such as bonuses for retail clients.
- ASIC and CySEC have acted against misleading affiliate marketing, including "guaranteed profit" claims.
- In many countries, paying rebates to clients or offering managed accounts requires its own licence.
The conflict of interest
Revenue-share affiliates earn more when referred clients trade more — and, for market-maker brokers, clients who lose. That is why independent comparison sites should separate commercial relationships from rankings. On ForexLicenses.com the Licence Score is calculated from regulatory data only; commercial partners cannot buy a higher score.