Forex Regulations Worldwide – What’s the Status?

Forex trading has developed rapidly in recent years. People were always fond of trading different assets such as stocks, indices, shares, metals, but Forex has proved to be the first option for the majority of traders. It is the largest financial market in the world, with more than $4 trillion circulated every day. The emergence of Forex brokers is directly related to the growing popularity and in various countries, more and more young people engage in trading.

When we talk about Forex trading and brokers it is necessary to mention that this field is regulated differently in various countries. You need to understand that before you start trading it is necessary to check the requirements and conditions that exist in your country. Not every broker allows services to customers from any location. In our guide, we will have a closer look at the regulations in different countries, which countries allow/prohibit Forex trading, and which regulators are considered the best ones on the market.

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What are the Regulations Worldwide?

Regulation of the Forex market is critical to ensure security and mutual trust between traders and operators. Companies operating with a lack of regulatory oversight are able to transact illegal transactions without facing serious consequences. Moreover, most of the “unregulated” operators cannot provide their clients with even basic funds to protect their monetary investments. Market regulation dictates that Forex operators keep clients ‘investments separate from the capital of the operators themselves, thus not being able to spend clients’ funds or use them to cover their own expenses.

To avoid transactions with questionable companies, traders are advised to work only with operators who operate in a trustworthy jurisdiction. Recent research has shown that regulation of the Forex market can be a stimulating process, as the regulatory environment varies significantly in different jurisdictions. The most famous regulators of the Forex market are CySEC – Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission and FCA – Financial Conduct Authority.

It is generally accepted that Forex operators and foreign exchange service providers operating in Europe are subject to regulation by the regulatory authorities of the European Union. However, in reality, there is no single regulator in the region. On the other hand, each country that is part of the European Union has its own rules and legislation in the field of regulation of financial and foreign exchange services.

Completely allowed

The Forex currency market operates all over the world, the geography of its participants is huge. As is the case with various regulatory bodies in EU countries, operators and traders from other countries operate the market according to their own rules and laws. Major players in the Forex market make decisions on the placement of their trades, depending on the advantages and disadvantages of the local policy of a particular state in relation to foreign exchange markets.

When it comes to the countries where Forex trading is completely allowed we can mention Asian and African countries that have shown a rapid surge in recent years. Countries like:

offer favorable conditions to customers and they can be sure about the safety of funds and personal information. Forex brokers only need to meet the requirements in order to start operating within the country’s borders, but once they meet the requirements there is nothing left, except to start trading with these brokers.

Partially allowed

It may seem strange, but the regulatory structure in the United States is considered one of the most stringent in the world. US residents and citizens are only entitled to interact with Forex operators that are regulated by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) or the National Futures Association (NFA). Thus, those companies that are not regulated by these structures cannot deal with traders living in the United States.

Transparency of transactions is one of the key factors for regulators in the United States, which obliges Forex operators when working with citizens and residents of the country to provide a wide range of data to the public, including information such as the number of real accounts registered with the company, the level of profitability of transactions, etc. On the one hand, the US regulatory structure creates a highly transparent and tightly controlled market space. But, on the other hand, this situation prompts many Forex operators to leave this space, leaving the US market.

Illegal

Illegal

Forex trading is not allowed everywhere. There are certain countries that prohibit trading or only allow people to have business with brokers that have a local license. The countries where FX is completely prohibited are Belarus, China, and North Korea. It should also be noted that in some Islamic countries if someone is caught trading Forex there are massive fines, and a person could find himself in jail.

As for Muslim countries, where you are only allowed to trade with Islamic Account things are a little different. They do not pay interest, as it is considered unethical according to Islam, but in total trading is allowed in these countries.

Which FX Regulators are Considered Best?

All financial regulators can be divided into two groups: local and offshore. The former control the operation of companies and markets in their jurisdiction on their territory (for example, the SEC controls the US financial markets), they are distinguished by strict regulatory conditions and maximum transparency. Offshore regulators are loyal to their charges: the requirements are soft, an audit may not be carried out at all.

Below we have provided the most reputable and recognizable supervisory agencies (mostly local) that regulate the activities of financial companies in Russia, the USA, Australia, Great Britain, Switzerland, and the European Union as a whole. Of the offshore regulators, we will single out CySEC (the Republic of Cyprus) – which complies with the EU MiFID directive.

FCA

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is the agency that oversees financial services in the UK. The FCA reports to the Minister of Finance. The main functions of the organization include the prevention of market manipulation, ensuring transparency of transactions with consumers by financial firms. If your broker is FCA compliant, you are safe.

The FCA has been operating since April 1, 2013, and regulates the activities of more than 50,000 UK businesses (banks, insurance, and investment companies, etc.). It is definitely one of the best regulators in the world and the majority of brokers are licensed by the FCA.

BaFIN

BaFin was established on May 1, 2002, and is fully subordinate to the German government in its activities. At the same time, the organization cooperates with the national Federal Bank and, when making decisions, relies on the Resolution of the Federal Law on Financial Control.

As in many similar organizations, the main mission of BaFin is to control the activities of banking and insurance services, to combat financial violations in general. This helps prevent the risk of loss of funds for those who chose to trust financial institutions with a weak reputation.

CySEC

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is the state supervisory authority of the Republic of Cyprus, which since 2001 has been exercising control over organizations dealing with financial and foreign exchange transactions, in particular, brokers (issues licenses and regulates activities, including imposing fines). It complies with the EU MiFID directive.

CySEC should be considered absolute protection. The nature and scope of its activities do match what other European regulators, such as FCA – ensure a high level of consumer protection and reducing the level of financial crime. It is believed that CySEC is one of the best regulators. If the offshore Forex broker you work with is subject to CySEC, that’s a really attractive option.

SEC

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the main regulator of the securities market, one of the four main regulators of the United States – members of the presidential working group on financial markets. It was established back in 1934. It usually works alongside the CFTC.

The main functions of the SEC are regulation and supervision of transactions with securities, supervision of brokers, dealing centers, securities traders, stock exchanges, etc. the regulator also monitors mergers and acquisitions of controlling stakes and controls acquisitions. It also protects the interests of investors.

FSCA

The Financial Services Authority of South Africa was established in 1990. The main office of the organization is located in the Republic of South Africa in Pretoria.

The purpose of the formation of the financial regulator was to supervise the activities of companies and organizations conducting financial activities that provide appropriate services to the population of the South African continent. A few years later, the powers of the FSCA were expanded. According to the Law on Financial Consulting and Intermediary Services in 2001, the regulator was authorized to supervise banking companies and the largest stock exchange in Johannesburg. Today, the financial regulator controls pensions, mutual and investment funds, insurance companies, and brokers.

How to Choose the Best Broker for Trading?

choose the best brokerFinding a good broker is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Checking regulations of different countries is necessary, but you should also determine how to choose the best broker for trading. Here are some criteria which will help you to choose the best broker. Keep in mind that regulation is the most important one.

Duration of work on the market

On the main page on the Internet, the brokerage firm publishes information about registration, the periods of activity in the foreign exchange and exchange market. If a company has existed for more than ten years, it means that it has already established itself in trade, earned a certain status, rating. Young firms are able to achieve a maximum market position in a short time, but very often there are sharp falls after the peak.

Regulation and license

Brokerage services are required to undergo state registration and licensing of activities in various countries. Regulation is necessary because, in case of conflict situations, the regulator will try to settle the dispute, find a compromise. If a broker conducts unregistered activities, the trader is not immune from risks. In problematic cases, it will not work to achieve the truth through the courts.

Trading account size and start-up capital requirements

It is especially important for beginners to trade with a minimum deposit in order to reduce the temptation to make out-of-control bets, to reduce the excitement of easy profit. Some companies allow you to open an account and replenish it with a couple of hundred dollars, while others require customers to deposit a thousand dollars or more. The total turnover on the trading account will become an indicator of the broker’s activity.

Leverage and bonus programs

If the user of the trading platform does not have a large amount of money but wants to get the maximum possible profit, the broker offers a lending program. The optimal leverage of brokerage firms is 1:100. Large leverage will allow a trader to win large sums, but the risk increases in proportion to the winnings.

Customer loyalty programs are a good marketing ploy. Firms attract new users with demo accounts, bonuses for training strategies. Regular players receive commission benefits and participate in promotions.

Package of services

The main function of the broker is to implement the trading preferences of clients in order to obtain benefits. It is easier for an investor to plan deals if the intermediary presents rich analytics, detailed timely forecasts of events. If the client does not have free time, it is optimal to conduct currency transactions using automated assistants. For beginners, trading strategies, thematic and training materials will be useful. Experienced traders will be interested in investment accounts and portfolios. If the user wants to save time and effort, he transfers the capital to the trust of the broker.

Commissions

This is one of the important indicators of choosing a broker for trading and investment. It is necessary to compare the data on the spread, the size of remuneration between the trading leaders and give preference to a company with an average level of fees. High fees are not always justified by the profit received, and at the lowest rates, the trader will get savings even in a losing trade.

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