Desk file · 2026 edition · record confidence: high
Interactive Brokers
We opened the file on Interactive Brokers the way we open every file: register first, marketing never. Trading since 1978, run out of Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, and carrying 4 licence entries on the public record, 4 of them tier-1.
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. | not verified |
|---|---|---|
| Safety score | Weighted on licence tier and on how many of the entries we could re-read at source. | not verified |
| Cost per 10 lots | Ten round-turn EUR/USD lots priced at the spread basis, commission excluded. | $not verified |
Spread basis. . 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEC/CFTC/NFA | NFA ID 0258600 | USA | T1 | Interactive Brokers LLC | nfa.futures.org |
| FCA | 208159 | UK | T1 | Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited | interactivebrokers.com |
| Central Bank of Ireland | C423427 | Ireland | T1 | Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited | registers.centralbank.ie |
| ASIC | AFSL 453554 | Australia | T1 | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd | interactivebrokers.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
- Interactive Brokers traces its origins to 1978 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker IBKR and is a component of the S&P 500.
- Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited is authorised by the FCA with register entry number 208159.
- Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland under reference C423427.
- IBKR prices spot FX on a commission basis (quoted in basis points of trade value) rather than a marked-up spread.
- ASIC's media release dated 20 September 2023 states that Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 166 929 568) paid a $832,500 penalty to comply with an infringement notice from the Market Disciplinary Panel; ASIC reports the MDP findings and notes that compliance with the notice is not an admission of guilt or liability (https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2023-releases/23-255mr-interactive-brokers-pays-832-500-penalty-for-negligent-and-reckless-conduct).
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:
- spreadEurusd — IBKR charges commission on raw interbank quotes, so no comparable single spread figure is published
- Negative balance protection applies to UK/EU retail entities under regulatory rules; not verified for all entities
| Founded | 1978 |
| Head office | Greenwich, Connecticut, USA |
| Minimum deposit | None |
| Leverage cap | 1:30 (UK/EU retail); 1:50 (US majors) |
| EUR/USD | not verified pips |
| Tier-1 entries | 4 |
| Record confidence | high |
Platforms and account types on file
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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.