Short answer: nine of the brokers we track have an FCA-authorised UK company: ActivTrades, Axi, Darwinex, Eightcap, FxPro, Moneta Markets, Pepperstone, Plus500 and Vantage. The licence only protects you if your account is actually opened with that UK company, which is normally what happens when you sign up as a UK resident.
The list, with FCA numbers
| Broker | UK company | FCA firm reference number (FRN) |
|---|---|---|
| ActivTrades | ActivTrades PLC | 434413 |
| Axi | Axi Financial Services (UK) Ltd | 466201 |
| Darwinex | Tradeslide Trading Tech Limited | 586466 |
| Eightcap | Eightcap Group Ltd | 921296 |
| FxPro | FxPro UK Limited | 509956 |
| Moneta Markets | Moneta Markets Capital Ltd | 613381 |
| Pepperstone | Pepperstone Limited | 684312 |
| Plus500 | Plus500UK Ltd | 509909 |
| Vantage Markets | Vantage Global Prime LLP | 590299 |
Figures come from our broker data, last verified against each broker’s own disclosures on 21 September 2026. FRNs don’t change, but a firm’s permissions can, so check the register before you deposit (how to do that is below).
What the FCA licence actually gets you
- Your money kept apart. Client money has to sit in segregated accounts, separate from the broker’s own funds.
- Compensation if the firm fails. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) covers up to £85,000 per person per firm if an FCA broker goes bust and can’t return client money. It does not cover trading losses.
- Leverage caps. Retail clients get at most 1:30 on major currency pairs, and less on everything else.
- Negative balance protection. You can’t lose more than the money in your account.
- No bonuses. FCA brokers can’t offer deposit bonuses or similar incentives to retail clients.
- An honest loss figure. Every CFD provider has to publish the percentage of its retail accounts that lost money over the last 12 months.
Same brand, different company
Most of these brokers run several legal entities under one brand. The FCA company serves UK residents. Everyone else is usually placed with an entity in another country, often an offshore one with higher leverage and far less protection. If you live outside the UK, an FCA licence on the broker’s footer doesn’t automatically apply to you.
The quickest check: open your client agreement and read the name of the company you contract with. That name, not the brand, decides which rules protect you. Each broker profile on BrokersNest shows which entity serves which region under “Which entity holds your money”.
How to check it yourself in two minutes
- Go to the FCA Financial Services Register (register.fca.org.uk) and search the FRN, not the brand name.
- Check the status says Authorised, and that the firm’s permissions include dealing in investments as principal or agent.
- Compare the website address listed on the register with the site you’re signing up on. Cloned firms copy real FRNs and change the web address.
- Search the FCA Warning List for the brand name too. It lists firms known to operate without permission.
What about the others we track?
Exness, XM, AvaTrade, FXTM, NAGA, IQ Option and Axiory don’t take UK retail clients through an FCA-authorised company in our data. Some hold licences elsewhere in Europe or Australia, and our regulators guide explains what each of those licences means. For a side-by-side view by country, see brokers available in the UK.
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.
