Desk file · 2026 edition · record confidence: medium
FXCM
We opened the file on FXCM the way we open every file: register first, marketing never. Trading since 1999, run out of London, UK, and carrying 4 licence entries on the public record, 2 of them tier-1. Opened under the FCA entity.
What the two desk scores say
Both are out of 10 and both are computed, not felt.
| Cost score | Priced off the spread basis below, not off a headline rate card. | 5.2 |
|---|---|---|
| Safety score | Weighted on licence tier and on how many of the entries we could re-read at source. | 8.2 |
| Cost per 10 lots | Ten round-turn EUR/USD lots priced at the spread basis, commission excluded. | $130.00 |
Spread basis. sampled EUR/USD average on the tightest retail account. Nothing on this page is a live quote; a spread printed on a Tuesday afternoon is not the spread you get thirty seconds after a non-farm payroll release.
Licence entries, one row per entity
Every row links to the document we read it from.
| Regulator | Licence no. | Jurisdiction | Tier | Licensed entity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCA | 217689 | UK | T1 | Stratos Markets Limited (trading as FXCM) | register.fca.org.uk |
| CySEC | 392/20 | Cyprus | T2 | Stratos Europe Limited (trading as FXCM) | cysec.gov.cy |
| ASIC | AFSL 309763 | Australia | T1 | Stratos Trading Pty. Limited (trading as FXCM) | fxcm.com |
| None (unregulated offshore entity) | Offshore | T3 | Stratos Global LLC | fxcm.com |
Which entity actually holds your money is decided at signup, by the country on your application — not by the strongest licence in this table. Read the client agreement you are handed, then match the entity name against the row above.
What we were able to confirm
Confirmed at source
- FXCM has operated as a forex and CFD broker since 1999.
- The Stratos Group, FXCM's parent, is headquartered at 110 Bishopsgate, London.
- Stratos Markets Limited is authorised by the FCA under firm reference number 217689.
- FXCM advertises average EUR/USD spreads of 1.3 pips on its standard offering.
- FXCM states that Stratos Global LLC is not subject to the regulatory oversight that applies to its FCA, ASIC and FSCA entities.
Not verified
The following could not be traced to a primary source at the time of filing. We publish the gap rather than a number that would look tidier:
- Minimum deposit ($50) is from third-party sources, not confirmed on an FXCM page in this research
- FSCA South Africa entity name and licence number
- public listing status
| Founded | 1999 |
| Head office | London, UK |
| Minimum deposit | $50 |
| Leverage cap | 1:30 (UK/EU retail) |
| EUR/USD | 1.30 pips |
| Tier-1 entries | 2 |
| Record confidence | medium |
Platforms and account types on file
Platforms
Account types
Markets
Other records open on the desk
CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A desk file is a record of what the public register said on the day we read it, not a recommendation to open an account.