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CySEC Regulated Forex Brokers 2026

Tier 2 - Well Regulated
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission  ·  Cyprus (EU)  ·  Est. 2001

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is the financial regulatory body of Cyprus and an EU member, meaning CySEC-regulated brokers benefit from EU financial services passporting across all 27 member states. CySEC applies ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) rules, which cap retail leverage at 1:30 for major forex pairs and require client fund segregation and negative balance protection. The Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) provides coverage of up to €20,000 per client. Cyprus has become a major hub for forex brokerage operations due to its EU membership, competitive corporate tax rates, and well-established financial services ecosystem. XM, AvaTrade, and Trading 212 are among the brokers with CySEC licences.

Regulator Type
EU statutory regulator
Compensation Scheme
ICF - up to €20,000 per client
Max Retail Leverage
1:30 major pairs (ESMA rules)
Client Fund Segregation
Required
Negative Balance Protection
Required for retail clients (ESMA)
EU Passport
Yes - valid across all 27 EU member states
Regulatory Register
CySEC register at cysec.gov.cy

Forex Brokers Regulated by CySEC (9 found)

#1
Exness logo
Exness ☛ Islamic
Min deposit: $1.00  ·   Leverage: 1:2000  ·   EUR/USD: 0.10 pips
Regulated by: FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSA
#2
IC Markets logo
IC Markets
Min deposit: $200.00  ·   Leverage: 1:500  ·   EUR/USD: 0.02 pips
Regulated by: ASIC, CySEC, FSA
#3
Pepperstone logo
Pepperstone ☛ Islamic
Min deposit: $200.00  ·   Leverage: 1:500  ·   EUR/USD: 0.09 pips
Regulated by: ASIC, FCA, DFSA, CySEC
#4
XM logo
XM ☛ Islamic
Min deposit: $5.00  ·   Leverage: 1:888  ·   EUR/USD: 0.80 pips
Regulated by: ASIC, CySEC, IFSC
#5
FP Markets logo
FP Markets
Min deposit: $100.00  ·   Leverage: 1:500  ·   EUR/USD: 0.04 pips
Regulated by: ASIC, CySEC
#6
XTB logo
XTB ☛ Islamic
Min deposit: $0.00  ·   Leverage: 1:500  ·   EUR/USD: 0.90 pips
Regulated by: FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA
#7
Capital.com logo
Capital.com ☛ Islamic
Min deposit: $20.00  ·   Leverage: 1:500  ·   EUR/USD: 0.60 pips
Regulated by: FCA, CySEC, ASIC, NBRB, SCB
#8
GO Markets logo
GO Markets ☛ Islamic
Min deposit: $200.00  ·   Leverage: 1:500  ·   EUR/USD: 0.10 pips
Regulated by: ASIC, CySEC, VFSC, FSC
#9
eToro logo
eToro
Min deposit: $50.00  ·   Leverage: 1:30  ·   EUR/USD: 1.00 pips
Regulated by: FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC

What Is the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission?

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is the financial regulatory body of Cyprus and an EU member, meaning CySEC-regulated brokers benefit from EU financial services passporting across all 27 member states. CySEC applies ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) rules, which cap retail leverage at 1:30 for major forex pairs and require client fund segregation and negative balance protection. The Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) provides coverage of up to €20,000 per client. Cyprus has become a major hub for forex brokerage operations due to its EU membership, competitive corporate tax rates, and well-established financial services ecosystem. XM, AvaTrade, and Trading 212 are among the brokers with CySEC licences.

How to Verify CySEC Regulation

Before depositing funds with any broker, verify their regulatory status directly on the CySEC official register. Do not rely solely on licence numbers displayed on a broker's website - always cross-check the number against the public register. The official website is listed in the key facts above. Be wary of clone firms that use the names and registration numbers of legitimate brokers to deceive traders. For a full breakdown of all GCC and international regulators, see our GCC Forex Regulation Complete Guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CySEC a trusted regulator?
CySEC is a Tier 2 regulator - well-regulated and EU-compliant, though historically considered less strict than the FCA or ASIC. Since adopting ESMA rules in 2018, CySEC standards have risen significantly: leverage is capped at 1:30, client funds must be segregated, negative balance protection is mandatory, and the ICF compensation scheme covers up to €20,000. For most retail traders, CySEC regulation provides adequate protection.
How does CySEC compare to FCA regulation?
Both apply ESMA leverage caps (1:30) and require fund segregation and negative balance protection. The FCA's compensation scheme (FSCS, £85,000) is more generous than CySEC's ICF (€20,000). The FCA is also generally considered to have more rigorous enforcement. However, CySEC's EU passport means a CySEC broker can legally offer services across Europe, which FCA brokers lost post-Brexit.
Can Gulf traders use CySEC-regulated brokers?
Yes. Gulf traders can open accounts with CySEC-regulated brokers. XM and AvaTrade both hold CySEC licences and serve Gulf clients. As with all brokers, verify which entity your account is held under - some brokers may route non-EU clients through offshore entities.
What is the ICF and how does it protect traders?
The Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) is a Cyprus-based compensation scheme that covers clients of CySEC-regulated investment firms. If a regulated broker becomes insolvent and cannot meet its obligations to clients, the ICF pays compensation of up to €20,000 per client. Claims must be submitted to CySEC after the broker is officially declared unable to meet client obligations.

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