Licenses
Licensing is one of the key signals of legitimacy in the brokerage industry—but it must be verified correctly. Here you can explore major regulators, understand what their oversight typically covers, and review brokers that claim to operate under these licenses. Always confirm a license directly on the regulator’s official register and make sure the company name, website domain, and authorization status match.
The FSCA is the market conduct regulator in South Africa, responsible for supervising the way financial institutions treat customers and market their services. When a broker is genuinely authorized, the FSCA register should show the provider name, license/authorization details, and current status.
Verification matters: scammers often display “FSCA regulated” badges using unrelated company names or outdated registrations. Before depositing funds, check the official FSCA register, confirm the legal entity name, and verify that the website/domain you are using is associated with the authorized company.
The FCA is one of the most recognized financial regulators globally. A legitimate FCA-authorized firm typically appears on the FCA register with a firm reference number (FRN), authorized activities, trading names (if applicable), and contact details.
Be cautious: some firms claim FCA authorization by referencing “appointed representatives” or using similar names to authorized companies. Always verify the FRN on the FCA register and confirm the firm’s website address and contact details match what you are using.
CySEC regulates investment firms based in Cyprus and is widely referenced across the EU trading industry. When a broker is properly authorized, the CySEC register should list the CIF (Cyprus Investment Firm) name, license number, and authorization status.
As with any regulator, verification is critical. Some scam operations reuse legitimate license numbers or present misleading “EU regulated” claims. Confirm the license on the CySEC website and ensure the broker’s legal entity and domain match the registered details.