ForexLicenses
1Top-tier

FCA regulated forex brokers

Financial Conduct Authority · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the financial regulator for United Kingdom, established in 2013. ForexLicenses.com classifies it as tier 1 (top-tier regulation). We currently match 53 brokers in our database to an FCA licence.

The FCA replaced the Financial Services Authority in 2013 and supervises roughly 42,000 firms, making it one of the busiest conduct regulators in the world. For forex and CFD traders its most important features are the CASS client-money rules, mandatory negative balance protection for retail clients, a permanent cap on retail leverage, and access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if an authorised firm fails. Every authorised firm has a Firm Reference Number (FRN) that can be checked on the public Financial Services Register, which also lists the trading names and web domains a firm is allowed to use — the single best defence against clone-firm scams that copy real FRNs.

Key rules for retail clients

Tier
Tier 1 — Top-tier regulation
Compensation
FSCS — up to £85,000 per eligible client per firm
Leverage
30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients (20:1 minors, gold and major indices)
Negative balance protection
Required for retail clients
Client money
Client money must be held in segregated accounts under the CASS rules
Complaints
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

Brokers licensed by the FCA 53

Broker Licences on record Licence Score Actions
1 I IG Spread betting & CFD provider, since 1974 ASICBaFinCFTC / NFAFCAFINMAJFSA+5 93Very strong Licences Visit site
2 P Plus500 Forex & CFD broker, since 2008 ASICCFTC / NFAFCAMASCySECDFSA+4 92Very strong Licences Visit site
3 S Swissquote Trading bank, since 1996 FCAFINMAMASSFCCSSFDFSA+1 92Very strong Licences Visit site
4 CM CMC Markets Spread betting & CFD provider, since 1989 ASICBaFinCIROFCAMASFMA (NZ) 86Very strong Licences Visit site
5 FC FOREX.com Forex & CFD broker, since 2001 ASICCFTC / NFACIROFCAJFSAMAS+1 86Very strong Licences Visit site
6 S Saxo Trading bank, since 1992 ASICFCAFINMAJFSAMASSFC+2 84Very strong Licences Visit site
7 IB Interactive Brokers Multi-asset broker, since 1978 ASICCBICFTC / NFACIROFCAJFSA+2 83Very strong Licences Visit site
8 O OANDA Forex & CFD broker, since 1996 ASICCFTC / NFACIROFCAJFSAMAS+2 82Very strong Licences Visit site
9 A Admirals Forex & CFD broker, since 2001 ASICFCACySECEFSAFSCACMA (Kenya)+2 78Strong Licences Visit site
10 P Pepperstone Forex & CFD broker, since 2010 ASICBaFinFCACySECDFSACMA (Kenya)+1 78Strong Licences Visit site
11 T ThinkMarkets Forex & CFD broker, since 2010 ASICFCAJFSACySECFSCACIMA 77Strong Licences Visit site
12 X XTB Multi-asset broker, since 2002 FCACySECDFSAFSCAKNFFSC (Belize) 75Strong Licences Visit site
13 E eToro Multi-asset broker, since 2007 ASICFCACySECFSA (Seychelles) 74Strong Licences Visit site
14 CI City Index Spread betting & CFD provider, since 1983 ASICFCAMAS 72Strong Licences Visit site
15 F FXCM Forex & CFD broker, since 1999 ASICFCACySECFSCA 72Strong Licences Visit site
16 T2 Trading 212 Multi-asset broker, since 2004 ASICFCACySECFSC (BG) 72Strong Licences Visit site
17 A Axi Forex & CFD broker, since 2007 ASICFCADFSAFMA (NZ) 71Strong Licences Visit site
18 F Fortrade Forex & CFD broker, since 2013 ASICCIROFCACySEC 71Strong Licences Visit site
19 M Marex Futures broker (FX futures), since 1987 CFTC / NFAFCA 71Strong Licences Visit site
20 H HFM Forex & CFD broker, since 2010 FCACySECDFSAFSCACMA (Kenya)FSC (MU)+1 70Strong Licences Visit site
21 EM EC Markets Forex & CFD broker, since 2011 ASICFCAFMA (NZ)FSCA 69Strong Licences Visit site
22 E Eightcap Forex & CFD broker, since 2009 ASICFCACySECSCBFSA (Seychelles) 69Strong Licences Visit site
23 F FXOpen Forex & CFD broker, since 2005 ASICFCACySEC 69Strong Licences Visit site
24 V Vantage Forex & CFD broker, since 2009 ASICFCAFSCACIMAVFSC 69Strong Licences Visit site
25 E Exness Forex & CFD broker, since 2008 FCACySECFSCACMA (Kenya)FSC (MU)JSC+3 68Strong Licences Visit site
26 F FxPro Forex & CFD broker, since 2006 FCACySECFSCASCBFSA (Seychelles) 68Strong Licences Visit site
27 CC Capital.com Forex & CFD broker, since 2016 ASICFCACySECCMA (Kenya)SCBFSA (Seychelles) 67Strong Licences Visit site
28 H HYCM Forex & CFD broker, since 1977 FCACySECDFSACIMA 67Strong Licences Visit site
29 HM Hantec Markets Forex & CFD broker, since 1990 ASICFCAFSC (MU) 67Strong Licences Visit site
30 T Tickmill Forex & CFD broker, since 2014 FCACySECDFSAFSCALabuan FSAFSA (Seychelles) 67Strong Licences Visit site
31 TN Trade Nation Spread betting & CFD provider, since 2014 ASICFCAFSCASCBFSA (Seychelles) 67Strong Licences Visit site
32 A ATFX Forex & CFD broker, since 2014 FCACySECFSCASCAFSC (MU) 66Strong Licences Visit site
33 MC Markets.com Forex & CFD broker, since 2008 FCACySECFSCABVI FSC 66Strong Licences Visit site
34 E Equiti Forex & CFD broker, since 2008 FCASCACMA (Kenya)JSCFSA (Seychelles) 65Strong Licences Visit site
35 F FXTM Forex & CFD broker, since 2011 FCACySECFSCACMA (Kenya)FSC (MU) 65Strong Licences Visit site
36 A ActivTrades Forex & CFD broker, since 2001 FCACMVMSCB 64Strong Licences Visit site
37 I Infinox Forex & CFD broker, since 2009 FCAFSCAFSC (MU)SCB 63Strong Licences Visit site
38 OF One Financial Markets Forex & CFD broker, since 2004 FCAFSCA 63Strong Licences Visit site
39 TC Trade.com Multi-asset broker, since 2013 FCACySECFSCA 62Strong Licences Visit site
40 L LCG Spread betting & CFD provider, since 1996 FCASCB 61Moderate Licences Visit site
41 LG LMAX Global Forex & CFD broker, since 2010 FCACySEC 61Moderate Licences Visit site
42 A ADSS Forex & CFD broker, since 2011 FCASCA 60Moderate Licences Visit site
43 AM Accendo Markets Spread betting & CFD provider, since 2004 FCA 60Moderate Licences Visit site
44 D Darwinex Forex & CFD broker, since 2012 FCACNMV 60Moderate Licences Visit site
45 EF EBC Financial Group Forex & CFD broker, since 2020 ASICFCACIMA 60Moderate Licences Visit site
46 S Spreadex Spread betting & CFD provider, since 1999 FCA 60Moderate Licences Visit site
47 SF Sucden Financial Futures broker (FX futures), since 1973 FCA 60Moderate Licences Visit site
48 IC ICM Capital Forex & CFD broker, since 2009 FCAFSA (Seychelles) 59Moderate Licences Visit site
49 KT Key To Markets Forex & CFD broker, since 2010 FCAFSC (MU) 59Moderate Licences Visit site
50 CI Capital Index Forex & CFD broker, since 2014 FCASCB 57Moderate Licences Visit site
51 T Tradu Multi-asset broker, since 2023 FCACySECFSA (Seychelles) 55Moderate Licences Visit site
52 Z ZFX Forex & CFD broker, since 2017 FCAFSA (Seychelles) 55Moderate Licences Visit site
53 T Taurex Forex & CFD broker, since 2017 FCA 54Moderate Licences Visit site

Former licence holders

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a broker is FCA regulated?

Search the firm's name or licence number on the FCA official register (https://register.fca.org.uk/s/), confirm the status is current and that the website domain you're using is listed, then check the FCA warning list for clones.

Does the FCA offer investor compensation?

FSCS — up to £85,000 per eligible client per firm

What leverage do FCA-regulated brokers offer?

30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients (20:1 minors, gold and major indices)

Is negative balance protection required by the FCA?

Yes. Negative balance protection is required for retail clients of FCA-regulated firms.

Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Read more.