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Regulation check
Is IC Markets regulated? Licences and safety in 2026
Which regulators license IC Markets, which company you would actually join, and what protection that gives you.
Short answer: Yes, but check which company you join. IC Markets has companies licensed by ASIC and CySEC, but its global accounts are held by a company licensed by the FSA in Seychelles, an offshore regulator. IC Markets (KE) Limited is licensed by Kenya's CMA.
IC Markets regulators and what they mean for you
| Regulator | Country | What it means for retail clients |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC | Australia | Top tier. Retail leverage capped at 30:1 on majors, negative balance protection, client money held in trust. |
| CySEC | EU (Cyprus) | EU MiFID rules. Retail leverage capped at 30:1 on majors, negative balance protection, investor compensation fund up to €20,000. |
| FSA | Seychelles | Offshore. Higher leverage allowed and fewer protections; no compensation scheme comparable to the UK or EU. |
| SCB | Bahamas | Offshore. Higher leverage allowed and fewer protections; no compensation scheme comparable to the UK or EU. |
| CMA | Kenya | National regulator for Kenyan clients. |
Protections apply only if your account is with the company that regulator licenses. Leverage caps and compensation limits are the general rules for each regulator, not a statement about IC Markets' specific terms.
Which IC Markets company would hold your account?
Brokers like IC Markets run several companies under one brand. Where you live decides which one opens your account, and only that company's regulator protects you. Before you deposit:
- Find the company name in the client agreement or account-opening terms.
- Look it up on that regulator's own register, not a link from the broker's site.
- Check the website address and contact details on the register match the site you are using, to avoid clone firms.
Our legal entity guide walks through it step by step.
IC Markets at a glance
| Minimum deposit | $0 (global accounts) |
| EUR/USD pricing | Raw from 0.0 pips + $3.50 per lot per side (MetaTrader) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| US retail forex clients | No |
FAQ
Is IC Markets safe?
IC Markets is regulated, but safety depends on the company that holds your account. A company licensed by the FCA, ASIC or an EU regulator must segregate client money and offer negative balance protection to retail clients; an offshore company usually offers fewer protections.
Which IC Markets company will I join?
It depends on where you live. The company is named in the account-opening documents and client agreement, not on the homepage. Check that name on the regulator's own register.
Does IC Markets accept US clients?
No.
What is the minimum deposit at IC Markets?
$0 (global accounts).
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