Short answer: Seven of the brokers we track hold their own ASIC licence in Australia: AvaTrade, Axi, Eightcap, Pepperstone, Plus500, Vantage and XM. A further broker, Moneta Markets, operates in Australia as an authorised representative of another licensee rather than under its own licence.
The list, with AFS licence numbers
| Broker | Australian company | AFSL |
|---|---|---|
| AvaTrade | Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd | 406684 |
| Axi | AxiCorp Financial Services Pty Ltd | 318232 |
| Eightcap | Eightcap Pty Ltd | 391441 |
| Pepperstone | Pepperstone Group Limited | 414530 |
| Plus500 | Plus500AU Pty Ltd | 417727 |
| Vantage Markets | Vantage Global Prime Pty Ltd | 428901 |
| XM | Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Ltd | 443670 |
From our broker data, last verified against each broker’s own disclosures on 21 September 2026. Licence numbers don’t change, but a firm’s permissions can, so check the register before you deposit.
Not on the list: Moneta Markets operates in Australia as an authorised representative (no. 1298177) of AGC Capital Securities Pty Ltd (AFSL 481024). That’s legal, but the licence belongs to another firm, so check who is responsible for your account.
What an ASIC licence gets you
- Leverage caps for retail: 1:30 on major currency pairs, lower on everything else.
- Negative balance protection for retail clients.
- No inducements: bonuses, rebates and gifts to retail clients are banned.
- Client money rules: retail money must be kept separate and can’t be used as the broker’s own margin.
- No compensation scheme for CFD clients if the broker fails. That’s the main gap compared with the UK.
Australian licence, Australian residents
The ASIC entity normally serves Australian residents. Clients elsewhere are usually placed with another entity, often offshore. Check the company name on your client agreement.
How to check it yourself
Search the AFS licence number on ASIC’s Professional Register (asic.gov.au), check it’s current and covers derivatives, and compare the listed website with the one you’re using. More in how to check a broker’s licence.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
