Understand what a broker license really means.
Broker groups often mention regulators, licenses, and legal entities, but those signals are not equal. Search the guide to understand how strong a license is, what protection may apply, and what still needs direct verification.
Regulator strength varies
FCA, ASIC, MAS, SFC, SEC/FINRA, and offshore registrations should not be treated as the same trust signal.
Entity matters
A broker may hold a strong license in one country but onboard you under a different international entity.
Verify the register
Match legal entity, license number, status, approved domain, and account terms before relying on protection claims.
Trust tiers
Every tier has to earn its badge.
Higher tiers are reserved for regulators with stronger supervision, deeper public registers, clearer enforcement history, and better client-protection signals. Lower tiers keep the warning visible instead of pretending registration equals protection.
Prime authority
Strong regulatory protection
Strict supervision, mature enforcement, and stronger client-money or compensation frameworks.
Established authority
Established oversight
Recognized regulator, but protection, enforcement, and compensation can vary by product and entity.
Offshore verified
Offshore / light-touch supervision
Legal licensing may exist, but investor protection is usually more limited than top-tier regimes.
Identity only
Registration signal only
May indicate a company or business registration, not strong broker conduct supervision.
Warning required
Manual review required
Not enough source detail to treat this as a meaningful protection signal; show it as a warning, not a badge of trust.
Regulator explorer
Browse common broker licenses.
For performance, this page prepares only 3 preview cards per tier. Open a tier page for the full searchable, paginated list.
Strong regulatory protection
Financial Conduct Authority
The FCA is a top-tier UK financial regulator with strict conduct, capital, reporting, and client-money expectations. Protection depends on the exact UK legal entity and product.
Read license guideAustralian Securities and Investments Commission
ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets, and financial-services regulator. An Australian Financial Services Licence is a strong signal, but product protections and eligibility still depend on the account entity.
Read license guideMonetary Authority of Singapore
MAS is Singapore’s central bank and integrated financial regulator. A verified MAS license is a strong trust signal for Singapore services and the licensed legal entity.
Read license guideEstablished oversight
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
CySEC supervises Cyprus Investment Firms inside the EU framework. It is a meaningful regulatory signal, especially for EU clients, but users should check entity, passporting, and compensation eligibility.
Read license guideFinancial Sector Conduct Authority
South Africa’s FSCA is an established conduct regulator. It is a meaningful signal, but investor protection and enforcement expectations are different from FCA/ASIC-style top-tier regimes.
Read license guideDubai Financial Services Authority
The DFSA regulates financial services in the Dubai International Financial Centre. It is a meaningful regulator for DIFC entities, but users should verify scope and entity because UAE financial regulation is zone-specific.
Read license guideOffshore / light-touch supervision
Financial Services Authority Seychelles
Seychelles FSA licensing can show that an offshore entity is regulated locally. It is common for international forex/CFD brokers, but protection and enforcement expectations are generally lighter than top-tier regimes.
Read license guideVanuatu Financial Services Commission
VFSC licensing is an offshore regulatory signal often used by international forex/CFD entities. It can be legitimate, but it should be treated as limited protection compared with stricter onshore regulators.
Read license guideFinancial Services Commission Mauritius
FSC Mauritius is a recognized offshore/non-bank financial regulator. Investment dealer licenses are common in broker groups, but retail protection is generally more limited than top-tier regimes.
Read license guideRegistration signal only
Financial Services Authority of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
SVG registration is often a company-registration signal for international brokers, not the same as strong retail broker conduct supervision. Treat it as weak protection unless stronger licensed entities are also verified.
Read license guideCompanies House
UK Companies House confirms company incorporation and filings; it is not FCA authorization. Treat it as identity evidence, not broker regulatory protection.
Read license guideCompanies Registry Hong Kong
Hong Kong Companies Registry records company incorporation. It is useful for identity checks but is not the same as an SFC license for securities or futures services.
Read license guideManual review required
The strongest license may not be your account entity.
A broker can show an FCA, ASIC, or CySEC entity on its website while onboarding international clients through Seychelles, Vanuatu, SVG, or another entity. BrokerVS treats that as a country/entity caveat, not a simple green check.
See methodologyImportant disclosure
Broker research, not investment advice
Availability, fees, investor protection, and regulation can vary by country and legal entity. Verify the broker and regulator details directly before opening an account.