Desk file · 2026 edition · record confidence: medium
IQ Option
We opened the file on IQ Option the way we open every file: register first, marketing never. Trading since 2013, run out of Limassol, Cyprus, and carrying 2 licence entries on the public record, 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CySEC | 247/14 | Cyprus | T2 | IQOption Europe Ltd (listed by CySEC as IQBroker Europe Ltd, ex IQOption Europe Ltd) | cysec.gov.cy |
| None disclosed (Antigua and Barbuda registration ILLC 004) | Antigua and Barbuda | T3 | Sky Ladder LLC | iqoption.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
- IQOption Europe Ltd holds CySEC licence 247/14, dated 30 July 2014, with Cyprus company registration number HE327751; the CySEC register lists the entity as IQBroker Europe Ltd (ex IQOption Europe Ltd) (https://www.cysec.gov.cy/en-GB/entities/investment-firms/cypriot/40647/).
- CySEC published a decision imposing an administrative fine of EUR 180,000 on IQ Option Europe Ltd (https://www.cysec.gov.cy/en-GB/public-info/decisions/38973/).
- The FCA register entry for IQOPTION EUROPE LTD states the firm is running off its UK business and cannot deal with new customers (https://register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id=001b000000k1yJqAAI).
- Outside the EEA, IQ Option states services are provided by Sky Ladder LLC, registered in Antigua and Barbuda under registration number ILLC 004, with no financial-services licence disclosed.
- Regulators in several jurisdictions, including Brazil's CVM and the Reserve Bank of India, have published alerts or orders concerning IQ Option or entities using the brand.
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
- EUR/USD spread
- date of the CySEC EUR 180,000 decision
- negative balance protection
- current CySEC licence status under the IQBroker name
| Founded | 2013 |
| Head office | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Minimum deposit | not verified |
| Leverage cap | 1:30 (EEA retail) |
| EUR/USD | not verified pips |
| Tier-1 entries | 0 |
| 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.