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The Best Regulated & Licensed Brokers - For Safe and Transparent Trading
The article provides a detailed guide on choosing a safe and transparent regulated broker for trading, highlighting the best brokers worldwide and the essential role of regulatory bodies in ensuring secure trading environments.
Why Choose a Regulated Broker
Choosing a broker to trust for trading is not simple. Around the world, there are thousands of brokerage companies that offer traders the opportunity to invest, and each one tries to attract customers by promoting trading conditions that are advantageous, reliable, and full of opportunities.
Unfortunately, all that glitters is not gold, as it is not difficult to find fictitious companies online that advertise an excellent service at limited costs, with the sole purpose of scamming the unfortunate and extracting as many funds as possible.
It is more than natural for any trader who usually invests their funds using an online service to demand guarantees on the protection of their rights and maximum security on their funds.
For this reason, traders worldwide (regardless of their level of experience or trading volume) protect themselves from scams or data theft by choosing strictly regulated brokers that offer an environment with high levels of security. In practice, every investor knows that a regulated broker is synonymous with security and maximum protection.
But what is a regulatory body? How does it act to protect traders?
Regulation, an essential factor that every platform “should” offer, guarantees the trader access to a safe platform with clear and transparent services.
In practice, all brokers intending to offer their services worldwide are required to acquire licenses granted by regulatory bodies. When a broker obtains a license that allows it to offer financial brokerage services in a specific country, it is said that the broker is regulated.
Licenses contain precise obligations that the broker must respect. Rules imposed with the goal of protecting both the trader’s sensitive data and the capital deposited:
- Sensitive customer data.
- To register and open an account, the trader must send their sensitive data to the broker. All information received, if not adequately protected, could end up in the wrong hands and be used for illegal operations. By choosing a regulated broker, all trader information will be used only for: legal purposes, anti-money laundering laws (such as personal data, tax data, and card serial numbers), enabling the creation of a real account (sending email, password, phone number, bills for confirmation, ID card, etc.).
- Protection of funds.
- For the safeguarding of the capital deposited or invested, regulatory bodies impose a series of obligations on the broker to protect clients in the event of possible insolvencies or bankruptcies. Negative balance protection, Depositing a minimum of social capital in a protection fund, offering an easy-to-consult and totally transparent service.
Regulatory bodies operate by state or region (Europe, Asia, America, etc.) and each broker must request their license to operate legally. Hereafter, some of the regulatory bodies present worldwide:
- CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (Europe).
- FCA Financial Conduct Authority (United Kingdom)
- DFSA Dubai Financial Services Authority
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC
- National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange (Italy)
Ranking of the Best Regulated Brokers
As in every field, in online trading there are companies that stand out for the excellent quality of the service offered and for the high standards of safety and protection. In this section, we will illustrate five leading brokers in the industry that we consider to be among the safest and most regulated in the world:
Rank | Broker | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1 | easyMarkets | Offers extensive regulation, low minimum deposits, high leverage, and comprehensive trading tools. |
2 | HFM | Provides a wide range of markets, high leverage, and robust regulation across multiple jurisdictions. |
3 | TradersTrust | Features high leverage, a variety of trading platforms, and strict regulation. |
4 | FXPro | Known for a broad range of instruments, professional trading conditions, and multi-regulatory compliance. |
5 | WindsorBrokers | Pioneer in online trading with comprehensive market access and strong regulatory safeguards. |
easyMarkets
Go to easyMarkets Official Website
Characteristics | easyMarkets |
---|---|
Regulations | CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission – Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC – Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) – Financial Services Commission FSC British Virgin Islands – South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority FSCA |
Demo Account | Available |
Minimum Deposit | $25 (varies based on the account selected) |
Maximum Leverage | 1:1000 (varies based on the instrument and country of residence of the trader) |
Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, easyMarkets Platform, TradingView, Mobile App |
Negative Balance Protection | Available |
Available Instruments | Forex, metals, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and stocks |
Social and Copy trading | Available |
Stop Out Level | Starting from 30% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Margin Call | Starting from 30% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Spread | Variable starting from 0.0 pips (varies based on the type of account selected) |
Trading Commissions | Starting from zero (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Deposit Commissions | None |
Withdrawal Commissions | Zero. |
Available Accounts | easyMarkets Web/App and TradingView accounts, MT4 accounts, MT5 accounts |
Swap-free account (Islamic account) | Available |
Educational Material | Available |
Promos and Contests | Available (availability depends on the region and country of residence) |
Go to easyMarkets Official Website
A giant in online trading chosen by millions of traders worldwide, easyMarkets is an international broker that offers traders a service with impeccable safety standards. Created initially for trading exclusively on cryptocurrencies, over time the broker has evolved to meet the needs of clients, offering the opportunity to trade on forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, stocks, commodities with both flexible and advantageous trading conditions, including: zero commissions for deposits and withdrawals, no conversion fee, trading commissions starting from zero, and a mandatory minimum deposit starting from $25.
An STP broker, which offers traders the opportunity to trade without any intermediary and with high liquidity, easyMarkets provides access to a safe, reliable, but above all transparent environment.
- Every trader will be able to easily learn in detail the rules, fees to be paid, conditions of use, and risks in trading, simply by accessing dedicated areas.
- Strictly regulated by multiple control bodies: CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission – Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC – Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) – Financial Services Commission FSC British Virgin Islands – South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority FSCA
- Negative balance protection always active and numerous features for excellent risk management.
- Rapid and secure funding and withdrawal.
- Funds segregated in high-level banks and sensitive data protected.
Go to easyMarkets Official Website
HFM
Characteristics | HF Markets |
---|---|
Regulations | CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission – FCA Financial Conduct Authority (United Kingdom) – DFSA Dubai Financial Services Authority – Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) – Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) + 29 national regulatory bodies |
Demo Account | Available |
Minimum Deposit | Zero (varies based on the account selected) |
Maximum Leverage | 1:2000 (varies based on the instrument and country of residence of the trader) |
Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Webtrader, Mobile Trading, and HFM Platform |
Negative Balance Protection | Available |
Available Instruments | Forex, Metals, Stocks, Bonds, Indices, Energies, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, and ETFs |
Social and Copy trading | Available |
Stop Out Level | Starting from 20% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Margin Call | Starting from 50% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Spread | Variable starting from 0.0 pips (varies based on the type of account selected) |
Trading Commissions | Starting from zero (varies based on the account) |
Deposit Commissions | None |
Withdrawal Commissions | Varies based on the payment method selected. |
Available Accounts | Standard account, ECN account, Cent account |
Swap-free account (Islamic account) | Available |
Educational Material | Available |
Promos and Contests | Available (availability depends on the region and country of residence) |
A leader in the industry that prefers maximum safety and transparency in a trading environment carefully structured to meet any trading needs, HF Markets offers millions of customers a professional service with extremely high performance that includes state-of-the-art tools and software, a compatible account list for every style, trading conditions that few have the opportunity to offer, and a wide range of markets to trade on.
But in addition to the indisputable quality of the service offered, created with the sole purpose of allowing clients to interact in the markets by maximizing their skills, HFM ensures impenetrable safety standards for the total protection and safeguarding of both the funds deposited and the sensitive data of the customer.
Numerous solutions and excellent tools for optimal management of the risk factor and total transparency, to allow the trader to quickly access: legal documentation, essential information for the implementation of fund management measures, regulatory bodies and granted licenses, civil liability insurance contract, and more.
It is important to clarify that despite the broker adhering to strict regulations imposed by regulatory bodies, the trader will always be guaranteed total freedom to manage their operations, set additional functions to protect themselves from risks, choose how, how much, and when to invest, and receive essential support from the assistance team.
A noteworthy feature is the number of regulatory bodies from which the broker has requested a license. Dozens of regulations to offer its service worldwide. Incredible.
Country or region | Regulatory body |
---|---|
Europe | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
England | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
Dubai | Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) |
South Africa | Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) |
International | Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) |
Kenya | Capital Markets Authority (CMA) |
France | Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) |
Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
Hungary | National Bank of Hungary (MNB) |
Italy | National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange (CONSOB) |
Norway | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority |
Spain | National Commission for the Securities Market (CNMV) |
Sweden | Finansinspektionen (FI) |
Austria | Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
Bulgaria | Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) |
Croatia | Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (HANFA) |
Czech Republic | Czech National Bank (CNB) |
Denmark | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority |
Estonia | Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) |
Finland | Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) |
Greece | Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) |
Iceland | Financial Supervisory Authority (FME) |
Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland |
Latvia | Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC) |
Liechtenstein | Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
Lithuania | Bank of Lithuania |
Luxembourg | Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector |
Malta | Maltese Financial Services Authority (MFSA) |
Netherlands | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) |
Poland | Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) |
Portugal | Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) |
Romania | Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) |
Slovakia | National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) |
Slovenia | Securities Market Agency (ATVP) |
TradersTrust
Go to TradersTrust Official Website
Characteristics | TradersTrust |
---|---|
Regulations | CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission – Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) – Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) |
Demo Account | Available |
Minimum Deposit | Starting from $50 (varies based on the account selected) |
Maximum Leverage | 1:3000 (varies based on the instrument and country of residence of the trader) |
Platforms | MetaTrader 4, cTrader, WebTrader |
Negative Balance Protection | Available |
Available Instruments | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Metals, Oil |
Social and Copy trading | Available |
Stop Out Level | Starting from 20% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Margin Call | Starting from 50% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Spread | Variable starting from 0.0 pips (varies based on the type of account selected) |
Trading Commissions | Starting from zero (varies based on the account) |
Deposit Commissions | None |
Withdrawal Commissions | Varies based on the payment method selected. |
Available Accounts | Classic account, PRO account, VIP account |
Swap-free account (Islamic account) | Available |
Educational Material | Available |
Promos and Contests | Available (availability depends on the region and country of residence) |
Go to TradersTrust Official Website
International broker aiming to create an innovative environment adaptable to any trading need, Traders Trust allows investing in FX, cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities, and oils exploiting state-of-the-art tools and functions and flexible and advantageous trading conditions. Being strictly regulated by multiple control bodies (CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Seychelles Financial Services Authority FSA, Bermuda Monetary Authority BMA), the broker guarantees maximum safety and support to clients, to interact in the markets fully protected.
High-security measures for handling sensitive data and managing traders’ funds make Traders Trust one of the most popular brokers worldwide, establishing a relationship based exclusively on mutual trust for achieving a single goal: making profits in a transparent and professional environment. A wide range of functions for adequate risk management (including stop loss and take profit), negative balance protection, and funds segregated in high-level banks.
Go to TradersTrust Official Website
FXPro
Characteristics | FXPro |
---|---|
Regulations | FCA Financial Conduct Authority – CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission – Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) – Securities Commission of the Bahamas – Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) |
Demo Account | Available |
Minimum Deposit | Zero (varies based on the account selected) |
Maximum Leverage | 1:200 (varies based on the instrument and country of residence of the trader) |
Platforms | MT4 desktop – mobile – Webtrader – iOS/Android App – FxPro EDGE web – FxPro mobile App for iOS/Android |
Negative Balance Protection | Available |
Available Instruments | Forex, metals, indices, energy, futures, cryptocurrencies, and stocks |
Social and Copy trading | Available |
Stop Out Level | Starting from 50% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Margin Call | N.D. |
Spread | Variable starting from 0.0 pips (varies based on the type of account selected) |
Trading Commissions | Starting from zero (varies based on the account) |
Deposit Commissions | None |
Withdrawal Commissions | Varies based on the payment method selected. |
Available Accounts | MT4 Instant & MT4 Fixed accounts, FxPro MT4 account, FxPro MT5 account, FxPro cTrader, FxPro Platform |
Swap-free account (Islamic account) | Available |
Educational Material | Available |
Promos and Contests | Available (availability depends on the region and country of residence) |
Broker boasting hundreds of international recognitions and sponsoring numerous high-level sports teams, FxPro is undoubtedly one of the top 10 brokers in the world that offers clients a service that borders on perfection. The environment offered by the broker has been structured in a way that allows traders of any level to interact in the markets simply, but using tools and services typical of professional trading with extremely high performance. An STP – ECN broker, it allows clients to interact in the markets without any intermediary, direct access to liquidity providers, to leverage raw prices, and execute operations quickly.
In addition to offering an excellent service for investing in forex, stocks, spot indices, futures, spot metals, and spot energy with competitive and advantageous conditions, the broker ensures a safe and transparent service in every aspect. Regulated and supervised by multiple control bodies, the broker guarantees millions of clients worldwide:
- Very high encryption levels for protecting the sensitive data of the client. Maximum confidentiality on personal information. Passwords and data placed on secure servers.
- Funds deposited in segregated accounts at international level banks and separated from the company’s capital.
- Negative balance protection.
- A wide range of services and solutions for correct risk management (take profit, stop loss, stop out, and margin call).
- Professional support 24 hours a day.
- Security and protection from: FCA Financial Conduct Authority, CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Securities Commission of the Bahamas, Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA)
Windsor Brokers
Go to WindsorBrokers Official Website
Characteristics | Windsor Brokers |
---|---|
Regulations | Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) – Jordan Securities Commission (JSC)- Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA) |
Demo Account | Available |
Minimum Deposit | Starting from $50 (varies based on the account selected) |
Maximum Leverage | 1:1000 (varies based on the instrument and country of residence of the trader) |
Platforms | MT4 desktop – mobile – WB App |
Negative Balance Protection | Available |
Available Instruments | forex, precious metals, commodities, spot indices, treasury, indices, currencies, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies |
Social and Copy trading | Available |
Stop Out Level | Starting from 20% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Margin Call | Starting from 100% (varies based on the account and country of residence) |
Spread | Variable starting from 0.0 pips (varies based on the type of account selected) |
Trading Commissions | Starting from zero (varies based on the account and instrument selected) |
Deposit Commissions | None |
Withdrawal Commissions | Varies based on the payment method selected. |
Available Accounts | Zero account, VIP Zero account, Prime account |
Swap-free account (Islamic account) | Available |
Educational Material | Available |
Promos and Contests | Available (availability depends on the region and country of residence) |
Go to WindsorBrokers Official Website
A true pioneer of online trading, Windsor Brokers was one of the first companies to offer financial brokerage on the web. Since its founding in 1988, the broker has committed significant resources to provide traders with a customer-centered service, enabling optimal market trading with maximum transparency and high security levels. The broker allows trading on forex, precious metals, commodities, spot indices, treasury, indices, currencies, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies through CFDs (contracts for difference) with optimal conditions adaptable to any need or style.
Regulated by multiple entities (Seychelles Financial Services Authority FSA, Jordan Securities Commission JSC, Capital Markets Authority of Kenya CMA), the broker offers strict standards for the security and safeguarding of client data and funds. Among the various solutions for risk management (negative balance protection, stop loss, take profit, funds in segregated accounts), the broker boasts civil liability insurance that covers insolvencies up to five million dollars.
Go to WindsorBrokers Official Website
When choosing a broker for trading, it’s essential to select one that is not only trustworthy but also provides secure and transparent services. In the realm of trading, numerous brokers claim to offer favorable conditions. However, it is crucial to be wary as not all are reliable, and some may be fronts for scams. Opting for a regulated broker ensures a higher level of security and protection for your investments and personal data.
Regulated brokers are those that have received licenses from established regulatory bodies. These licenses are a guarantee that the broker adheres to strict guidelines concerning the security of clients’ funds and personal information. Such brokers must comply with several regulations aimed at protecting traders, including strict data protection measures and ensuring the security of deposited funds.
For instance, regulatory bodies require brokers to keep clients’ funds in segregated accounts, offer negative balance protection, and operate with transparency regarding their trading conditions and fees.
Globally, several regulatory bodies oversee brokers, including:
- CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) in Europe
- FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in the United Kingdom
- DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority)
- ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
- CONSOB (National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange) in Italy
A regulated environment not only offers safety but also ensures fair practices and transparency, which are crucial for building trust between traders and brokers.
Leading regulated brokers often stand out due to their high standard of services. Here are five of the top regulated brokers:
- easyMarkets – Known for low minimum deposits and extensive regulatory adherence across several jurisdictions including CySEC and ASIC.
- HFM (HF Markets) – Offers a wide range of markets and robust regulatory oversight by entities like FCA and CySEC.
- TradersTrust – Features high leverage options and compliance with regulatory standards set by CySEC and the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
- FXPro – Provides a broad array of trading instruments with strong regulations by the FCA and CySEC.
- WindsorBrokers – A pioneer in online trading with comprehensive market access and strong regulatory safeguards from the FSA and JSC.
Each of these brokers brings something unique to the table, whether it’s innovative trading platforms, flexible trading conditions, or comprehensive educational resources, ensuring that traders have a reliable and efficient trading environment.
Choosing a well-regulated broker not only provides peace of mind but also ensures that you have recourse in the event of disputes or misunderstandings. Regulatory bodies offer a framework within which traders can seek resolutions, making trading a safer experience overall.