What is the CFTC and how does it regulate forex brokers?
How this answer was verified
- Cross-checked against broker-published fact sheets, regulator licensing databases, and ESMA product intervention notices.
- Reviewed by the FX-Brokers EU editorial desks (Markets, Platforms, Regulation). Desk structure disclosed at /about/editorial-desks.
- Refreshed quarterly. The most recent verification date is shown above. Read our methodology.
Related
What is CySEC and why does it matter for forex traders?
CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) is the financial regulator of Cyprus and the most common EU regulator for retail forex brokers. CySEC-licensed brokers comply with MiFID II, ESMA rules, and the Investor Compensation Fund which protects eligible clients up to EUR 20,000 in the event of broker insolvency.
What is BaFin and which forex brokers are regulated by it?
BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) is the German federal financial supervisor, widely considered the strictest EU regulator. Only a handful of retail CFD brokers hold a direct BaFin licence for their EU operations — the notable ones are Pepperstone (Pepperstone GmbH), IG (IG Europe GmbH) and CMC Markets (CMC Markets Germany GmbH). Most other EU-facing brokers passport in from CySEC instead. BaFin regulation is often preferred over CySEC by risk-conscious EU traders.
What are the ESMA leverage limits for retail forex traders?
ESMA limits retail forex leverage to 30:1 on major currency pairs, 20:1 on minors and major indices, 10:1 on commodities and non-major indices, 5:1 on individual equities, and 2:1 on cryptocurrencies. These limits apply to all EU/EEA regulated brokers since 1 August 2018.
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