Forex & CFD regulators, explained

Australian Securities and Investments Commission · Australia

Australia's strict, well-established markets regulator.

Financial Conduct Authority · United Kingdom

The UK's financial regulator and one of the strictest in the world.

Monetary Authority of Singapore · Singapore

Singapore's central bank and integrated financial regulator.

Federal Financial Supervisory Authority · Germany (EU)

Germany's financial regulator, operating under EU/MiFID rules.

Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority · Switzerland

Switzerland's financial market supervisor, a tier-one regulator.

National Futures Association · United States

The self-regulatory body for the US futures and forex industry.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission · United States

The US federal regulator for derivatives and futures markets.

Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization · Canada

Canada's national self-regulatory organisation for investment dealers.

Financial Services Agency of Japan · Japan

Japan's financial regulator, with a low retail leverage cap.

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority · United States

The US self-regulator for broker-dealers in securities.

Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission · Cyprus (EU)

The EU/Cyprus regulator that licenses many of the brokers serving Europe.

Financial Sector Conduct Authority · South Africa

South Africa's market-conduct regulator — a recognised tier-two authority.

Dubai Financial Services Authority · UAE (DIFC)

The regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Capital Markets Authority · Kenya

Kenya's capital markets regulator.

Financial Markets Authority · New Zealand

New Zealand's financial markets regulator.

Securities and Commodities Authority · United Arab Emirates

The UAE's federal securities and commodities regulator.

Polish Financial Supervision Authority · Poland (EU)

Poland's EU financial supervisor.

Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier · Luxembourg (EU)

Luxembourg's EU financial regulator.

Malta Financial Services Authority · Malta (EU)

Malta's EU financial services regulator.

Financial and Capital Market Commission · Latvia (EU)

Latvia's EU financial regulator (now part of Latvijas Banka).

Portuguese Securities Market Commission · Portugal (EU)

Portugal's EU securities regulator.

Gibraltar Financial Services Commission · Gibraltar

Gibraltar's financial services regulator.

Central Bank of Brazil · Brazil

Brazil's central bank.

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network · United States

A US anti-money-laundering registry — not a markets regulator.

Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten · Curaçao

The central bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

Financial Services Regulatory Authority (ADGM) · UAE (Abu Dhabi)

The regulator of Abu Dhabi's ADGM financial free zone.

Central Bank of Ireland · Ireland (EU)

Ireland's central bank and EU financial regulator.

Estonian Financial Supervision Authority · Estonia (EU)

Estonia's EU financial regulator.

Financial Services Authority (Seychelles) · Seychelles

A popular offshore licence offering high leverage but light protection.

Financial Services Commission (Mauritius) · Mauritius

A mid-to-offshore licence used by many internationally focused brokers.

Securities Commission of The Bahamas · Bahamas

A Bahamas offshore licence common for high-leverage entities.

International Financial Services Commission (Belize) · Belize

A Belize offshore licence with light oversight.

BVI Financial Services Commission · British Virgin Islands

A British Virgin Islands offshore licence.

Financial Services Authority (St. Vincent & the Grenadines) · St. Vincent & the Grenadines

A company registration, not meaningful CFD supervision — be cautious.

Vanuatu Financial Services Commission · Vanuatu

A light-touch offshore licence with minimal protection.

Labuan Financial Services Authority · Malaysia (Labuan)

Malaysia's Labuan offshore financial centre regulator.

Cayman Islands Monetary Authority · Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands financial regulator.

Financial Supervisory Commission (Cook Islands) · Cook Islands

A remote offshore licence with minimal oversight.

Mwali International Services Authority (Comoros) · Comoros (Mwali)

A paper-licence jurisdiction with essentially no supervision.

Bermuda Monetary Authority · Bermuda

Bermuda's financial regulator.