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Risk·77–82% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Trade only with capital you can afford to lose.
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Forex Brokers2026

Regulator profile · UK

FCA — Financial Conduct Authority

Tracked byUpdated

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the United Kingdom's independent financial-services regulator. It supervises around 50,000 firms and sets the conduct rules for retail forex and CFD providers operating in the UK.

Brokers in United Kingdom accepting residents under FCA
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom · England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Founded
2013
Mandate
Took over conduct supervision from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Financial Services Act 2012. It enforces the Senior Managers Regime, runs the Financial Services Register and operates client-money rules under CASS.
Consumer protection
Authorised firms must contribute to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers up to £85,000 per eligible client if a firm fails. Negative balance protection is mandatory for retail CFD clients.
Retail leverage caps
Retail leverage is capped at 1:30 for major currency pairs, 1:20 for non-major pairs and gold, 1:10 for non-gold commodities and major equity indices, 1:5 for individual equities, and 1:2 for crypto CFDs (which are banned for retail clients since 6 January 2021).
Public register
Free public lookup of every authorised firm and individual. Each entry shows the firm reference number (FRN), permitted activities and any current restrictions or warnings. Open register ↗
Dispute resolution
Retail clients can escalate unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which can award up to £430,000 binding on the firm. Decisions are free for the consumer.
Editor notes
FCA enforcement actions are public and indexed in our regulator-actions feed. The FCA banned retail crypto-derivatives in 2021 — UK residents trading crypto CFDs typically do so via offshore entities of the same broker group.

Brokers we track with a FCA licence

2 brokers

  1. Editorial top pick

    01FxPro

    FCACySECSCBFSCA
    Open account at FxPro →
    Avg spread
    0.30pip
    midpoint of broker range
    Cost / lot
    $10.00
    incl. $7 commission
    Min deposit
    $100
    Max leverage
    1:500
    EU/UK retail: 1:30 · SCB (Bahamas) entity: 1:500

    Four diversified regulators (FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB) with 18+ years operating history · MT4/MT5 Standard accounts are spread-only at ~1.2 typical pips — only use cTrader or Raw if you want commission-based pricing

    Fits ifYou are EU or UK retail and want double tier-1 cover (FCA + CySEC) at one broker
    PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, FxPro Edge

    Founded in 2006 · Verified Jun 1, 2026

    Full FxPro details →

  2. 02Tickmill

    FCACySECFSAFSCA
    Open account at Tickmill →
    Avg spread
    0.20pip
    editorial estimate
    Cost / lot
    $8.00
    incl. $6 commission
    Min deposit
    $100
    Max leverage
    1:1000
    EU/UK retail: 1:30 · Seychelles entity: 1:1000

    Raw account: 0.0 from-spread + $6 round-turn — ECN-style pricing in a commission-based tier · Broker publishes "from" spreads only — realised typical is not disclosed on the accounts page

    Fits ifYou are EU or UK retail and want FCA + CySEC double cover with ECN-style commission pricing
    PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5

    Founded in 2014 · Verified Jun 1, 2026

    Full Tickmill details →

Frequently asked

How do I verify a broker is FCA-regulated?
Search the firm's name or FRN at register.fca.org.uk. The entry must show "Authorised", "Active" status and specifically list "investment services" or "MiFID activities" among permitted activities. A firm marked "EEA Authorised" is using a passporting permission that is no longer valid post-Brexit for new UK retail clients.
What does FSCS coverage actually pay out if a broker fails?
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme covers up to £85,000 per eligible client per failed firm, applied to investment claims as cash compensation rather than restoration of positions. Eligibility extends to most retail individuals; corporate clients above the SME threshold are typically excluded. Open trading positions may be closed and converted to cash before compensation is calculated.
Can UK residents legally trade with offshore (non-FCA) brokers?
Yes, but the FCA's protections — FSCS coverage, FOS dispute resolution, conduct supervision — do not apply to offshore relationships. The FCA cannot intervene if an offshore broker withholds funds. Major UK banks often refuse outbound transfers to known offshore broker entities under their AML programmes.
Why are crypto CFDs banned for UK retail clients?
The FCA banned the sale, marketing and distribution of crypto-derivatives (CFDs, futures, options, ETNs) to UK retail clients on 6 January 2021, citing extreme price volatility, valuation difficulty and high incidence of financial crime. UK residents who want crypto exposure must use spot exchanges (FCA-AML-registered for fiat services) or offshore CFD entities not soliciting UK retail.
What happens if my broker loses or surrenders its FCA permission?
The FCA can implement an orderly wind-down requiring client funds to be returned and positions closed by a deadline. If the firm fails outright, FSCS pays compensation up to £85,000. Most well-run brokers transfer client books to a sister entity in another jurisdiction before winding down the UK entity.