How to Verify a Broker's Regulation
A licence logo on a website proves nothing. Here is the exact step-by-step to confirm a broker is who they claim to be.
Find the legal entity and number
On the broker's site, locate the regulated entity name and its licence number — usually in the footer or a 'Regulation' page. Note which country's regulator issued it.
Check the official register
Go to the regulator's own public register (FCA, ASIC, CySEC, etc.) and search the number. The status should be 'authorised' and the entity name must match exactly.
Confirm the trading entity
Brokers often run separate entities per region. The entity you contract with (named in your account agreement) is the one that must be licensed — not a sibling offshore company.
Cross-check warnings
Search the regulator's warning list for the brand. If a clone firm is flagged, walk away even if the real broker exists. Scammers deliberately mimic licensed names.
Related glossary terms
New to the jargon here? These plain-English definitions will help.
