Markets.com regulation

Trying to find out whether Markets.com is regulated? Not sure which authorities are overseeing Markets.com and why this matters?

Rest assured, the lack of regulation at Markets.com is not a reason for worry. Our brokerage experts have determined that Markets.com is a fully regulated broker, overseen in Cyprus, UK, Australia, South Africa, British Virgin Islands. We gathered all the information on the regulatory profile of Markets.com and will explain why this matters.

Why Markets.com is trustworthy

Why [Broker name] is trustworthy

Krisztián Gátonyi

Forex • Market Analysis • Algo Trading

I have more than 15 years of experience as a forex trader, actively trading on a daily basis with many currency pairs. I put great emphasis on risk management and self-discipline: I keep a trading journal to help me stick to my strategy, and I have sharpened my keen sense of broker safety by testing more than 50 forex brokers.

Learn about our methodology

Krisztián Gátonyi

Forex • Market Analysis • Algo Trading

I have personally tested several brokers globally and I am familiar with the regulatory and licensing procedures of at least a dozen financial authorities globally. Here are my key insights into the regulatory status of Markets.com as of June 2024:

• Markets.com is regulated by several authorities of which at least one is top-tier, which is vital for safeguarding your money.
• Markets.com must separate client funds/assets from its own operations; this makes all the difference for the safety of your investments.
• As Markets.com is regulated by several authorities, it is super important that you open an account with an entity that has top-tier regulation.
• Explore the services of Markets.com in our comprehensive Markets.com review for 2024 and browse other top-tier regulated brokers with our unique Find My Broker tool.

Think of a broker with strict regulatory oversight like a lifeguard at the beach. Just as the lifeguard keeps you safe in the water, offering immediate help when you need it, brokers operating with top-tier regulation protect your investments. They make sure your investments are secure and handled with integrity and transparency.

Markets.com operates in several countries and is supervised by the following financial authorities:

• EEA countries (EU, Switzerland, Norway) - Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
• UK - Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Australia - Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• South Africa - Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
• All other clients - BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC)

Why does all this matter? We are contacted by an alarming number of people who ended up working with unregulated brokers and they share with us some sad and frightening stories. Here’s an example.

Marco invested a substantial amount using what appeared to be a credible online trading platform. Initially, his investments showed gains, and he was able to make several withdrawals without issues. Encouraged, he increased his investments, but when he tried to withdraw some profits after a successful trade, his requests went unanswered, and customer service became unreachable. Further investigation revealed the broker was not regulated by any financial authority. Eventually, the platform vanished overnight, taking John's investments with it, leaving him with no recourse to recover his funds.

Choosing a broker with top-tier regulation means you're in safe hands. This level of strict oversight ensures that your investments are protected, you're getting fair pricing, and trading conditions are transparent and favorable.

As a broker with top-tier regulation, Markets.com is legally required to keep the funds and assets of its clients separate from its own money. This is a game changer in terms of the safety of your investments.

Client fund segregation is like having your money in a separate safe from Markets.com’s own cash. Thus, if your broker ever runs into financial trouble, your funds won't be touched to settle their debts - they're entirely off-limits. It’s a crucial setup because it protects your money, ensuring that what you’ve invested stays secure and accessible only to you. This segregation is a requirement imposed by top-tier regulators and not something you can request your broker to do. You will only have access to this safety net if your broker has the appropriate regulation.

In the highly unlikely event that Markets.com commits fraud and uses client assets for its own purposes, you can still recover your money if you have access to investor protection.

Markets.com operates several subsidiaries; which one of these will serve you will depend on your residence. The investor protection amount you are eligible for depends on the country of the subsidiary you are signing up with.

Markets.com provides negative balance protection for retail clients. This means your balance cannot go negative if you trade with leverage, which limits some of your risks.

Since Markets.com is regulated by multiple authorities, it's crucial to open an account with an entity that has top-tier regulation. This ensures your investments are always protected under the highest standards.

Whenever possible, avoid signing up with entities that are regulated in off-shore countries such as the Seychelles, the Bahamas, St. Vincent and Grenadine, etc. While you may have access to a much higher level of leverage for your trades, this is extremely risky and you run a much higher risk of losing all your invested money.

In addition, rules and regulations imposed by regulators in these countries are typically less severe, potentially damaging the safety of your investments. If you are offered the option to choose which entity you open an account with, go with the one that operates under a stricter regulator.

For detailed insights into trading conditions, costs, and service quality at Markets.com, check out BrokerChooser's Markets.com review for 2024. All our broker reviews are based on the analysis of nearly 600 data points and direct experience. When we review a broker, we go hands-on by opening a real-money account and trading on its platforms, giving us a complete view of what it offers and how it performs.

The BrokerChooser team has personally tested and reviewed more than 100 brokers globally, all of which have top-tier regulation. All our experience and expertise is included in the Find My Broker tool. Simply answer a few questions and get a personalized broker list.

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