Top 7 Best CySEC Regulated Forex Brokers 2025

This beginner friendly guide helps you choose the best CySEC regulated forex brokers. Read on to learn which platforms our forex experts ranked the best.
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Updated on Apr 15, 2025
Reading time 9 minutes

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is a prominent financial regulator in Europe.

It oversees a wide range of financial services, including forex trading. CySEC regulated brokers must comply with strict rules and regulations, ensuring transparency, fair trading practices, and the protection of client funds. 

CySEC is a member of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which enforces regulations that apply across the EU, making it a popular choice for both brokers and traders.

This page compares and reviews the best forex brokers regulated by CySEC. Our team of broker experts have reviewed and tested each trading platform to ensure it offers a safe and regulated environment for both new and experienced forex traders.

Best 7 CySEC regulated forex brokers overall

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  1. eToro: Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account
  2. Plus500: Best for international trading*

What are the best CySEC regulated brokers?

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You can find our experts’ selections below. All of these forex brokers are regulated by CySEC and are the best ranked platforms to use to trade the FX market. Click on any of the links to register an account in a few minutes, or keep scrolling to learn more about each one.

We found 3 forex brokers for users based in

eToro review
4.6
eToro
Min. Deposit $100
Fees 1%
No. assets 3600+
Demo account Yes

eToro review

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Plus500 review
4.5
Plus500
Min. Deposit $100
Fees From 2%
No. assets 2800+
Demo account Yes

Plus500 review

CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Best CySEC regulated forex brokers
Min. Deposit n/a
Fees -
No. assets n/a
Demo account -

Top 7 CySEC regulated forex brokers, reviewed

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We found 3 forex brokers for users based in

1. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

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4.5
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 1 pip

Fees

3,600

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love eToro because it’s an easy place to trade the currency markets. Forex can be intimidating, but eToro strips back the complexity to give you a platform where you can trade 50+ currencies at competitive prices and with up to 30x leverage*.

*CFDs trading is restricted for US users.

As well as being a broker that offers lots of investor protection, eToro offers a very social trading experience. You can easily see how all the major and minor forex pairs are performing every day, track how investors feel about every one of those currencies, and copy other people’s trade suggestions from your desktop or the eToro app.

The fees: eToro charges a fee on currency trades through the spread. Spreads are variable depending on the currency and start from 1 pip for EUR/USD trades, 1.5 pips for EUR/GBP, and 2 pips for GBP/USD. Overnight and weekend fees apply.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. Plus500. Best for international trading*

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4.5
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.08%

Fees

2,800

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to forex futures for over 10 symbols. 

Plus500 has something for all types of forex traders, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements (starting at $40) and different contracts make it a top choice for day traders. At the same time, its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting. 

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: Plus500 charges a commission of $0.49 per Micro contract and $0.89 per Standard contract (per side). There is an Auto-Liquidation fee of $10 per contract. Other exchange fees may be applicable and can be found on the CME group website. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

What is CySEC regulated broker?

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It’s a forex broker that is regulated by the Cyprus Exchange and Securities Exchange Commission (CySEC) 1 . CySEC regulates all brokers operating in the European Union and is a tier-2 authority. It follows guidelines set out by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). 

CySEC’s main purpose is to ensure European trading firms adhere to strict guidelines while protecting retail investors and traders. 

Benefits of using a CySEC regulated forex broker

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The main benefit of using a CySEC regulated forex broker is the protection against unscrupulous and unlicensed platforms. Even when choosing one, it’s important to make an informed decision and only choose the best CySEC regulated forex brokers. Here are some of the key benefits of using a forex broker regulated by CySEC. 

  • Security. Forex brokers regulated by CySEC must comply with strict rules to ensure the safety of client funds. This means that your trading funds will be kept in a segregated bank account, separate from the broker’s account. Segregated accounts provide an extra layer of protection and mean if the broker goes out of business, your funds will be secure. 
  • Transparency. When you use a CySEC regulated broker, you will be provided information about its services, including fees and charges. Brokers must also provide information about their trade routing model, such as if they’re operating as a market maker or an ECN. 
  • Fair trading practices. One of the most important benefits of using a CySEC regulated forex broker is the trading conditions available. To obtain a licence, brokers must ensure traders have access to accurate and up-to-date market information and must execute orders promptly and fairly. 
  • Compensation. All CySEC regulated trading platforms contribute to a compensation fund. This protects traders if a broker cannot meet its financial obligations. So if you’re CySEC FX broker goes out of business, you may be able to recover some or all of your funds. 

What is ESMA Regulation?

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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) 2 is an independent EU authority that regulates securities markets. Its main objective is to improve investor protection and promote stable financial markets across the region. 

ESMA was established in 2011 and introduces rules that apply to all EU based financial regulators, including CySEC. 

Over the past decade, ESMA has significantly changed the forex and CFD trading industry in Europe. In 2018 introduced measures on leverage restrictions, margin requirements, and more transparent risk warnings. 3 Below, we’ll explore the key benefits of ESMA regulators. 

What protection does ESMA regulation offer?

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ESMA regulation is designed to protect retail traders and offers several layers of protection. Here’s a look at a few of the key ones:

  • Segregated funds. Brokers are required to keep client funds in segregated accounts, separate from the broker’s own funds. This means that, in the unlikely event that the broker becomes insolvent, client funds remain protected and cannot be used to cover the broker’s debts.
  • Negative balance protection. Traders cannot lose more money than they’ve deposited into their accounts. If market volatility causes a trader’s account to go into negative balance, the broker is obligated to reset the balance to zero, ensuring that clients cannot owe more than their initial investment.
  • Leverage restrictions. One of the major changes introduced by ESMA is a cap on leverage ratios for retail traders. Leverage is limited to 30:1 for major currency pairs, reducing the risk of substantial losses caused by over-leveraging. 
  • Compensation scheme. CySEC regulated brokers fall under the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) 4 , which provides compensation of up to €20,000 per client if the broker becomes insolvent. This ensures that even in the worst-case scenario, traders have a financial safety net in place to recover some of their investments.

How to check if a forex broker is regulated by CySEC

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You can check if a broker is regulated by CySEC very easily; the process takes just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it.

Step1. Visit the broker’s website

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Go to the broker’s website and look at its homepage. Here you’ll be able to see what services it offers and other important information. 

Step 2. Find its CySEC licence number

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Now you have to find the broker’s CySEC regulation number. This is usually located on its homepage footer or in its ‘about us’ section. 

Step 3. Cross-reference with the official CySEC website

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Enter the broker’s number to the official Cyprus Exchange and Securities Exchange Commission (CySEC) website. You’ll be able to see if the broker is regulated and what type of licences it holds.

How should I choose a CySEC regulated broker?

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Different features will be important to you and will depend on your experience level and what type of trader you are. If you’re a beginner, you may want a platform with access to education, while if you’re a scalper, for example, low spreads may be the most important factor. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best CySEC FX broker. 

Choose a platform with low fees

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You’ll usually have to pay fees such as spreads, commissions, or payment charges when you trade forex. The best CySEC regulated forex brokers have low fees, ensuring your costs are kept down. Low trading fees are especially important if you plan on making lots of trades, as charges can quickly eat into your profits. 

Use a broker that has a good trading platform

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The most popular trading platform for retail forex traders is MT4, although more and more brokers are now integrating with TradingView. When you’re choosing a broker, check which platforms it has available. Some may offer multiple platforms, so you’ll have a few options to choose from. 

Check the broker’s reputation before joining

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It is easy to find out what type of reputation a broker has by reading online reviews from other customers. There are several review websites where you can find out how a broker treats its customers. You should always go with an FX platform with more positive than negative reviews. 

Make sure it has the type of account you want

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Forex brokers usually offer different types of trading accounts, so you’ll need to make sure you find out what is on offer before registering an account. The most common types of forex accounts are ECNs and standard accounts. If you plan on trading a lot, then an ECN may be best due to its low spreads. Standard accounts usually have higher spreads but a suitable for most. 

Should I use a CySEC regulated broker?

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If you live in the European Union, then yes, using a CySEC regulated forex broker is recommended. Several benefits are available with using a properly regulated platform, such as negative balance protection, which means your trading account will never go below zero. 

You can also access compensation schemes, the best and fairest trading conditions, and more. However, there are some downsides to using a CySEC broker, which includes limited leverage available as the max is 30:1. You also won’t have access to bonuses or other promotions. However, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

What are the risks of using a CySEC regulated broker?

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The main risk of using a CySEC regulated FX broker is losing your money; however, this is generally down to losing trades, as opposed to the broker. Here are a few pros and cons of using a CySEC regulated trading platform.

Benefits

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  • Your funds are kept in a separate account
  • You have access to compensation schemes
  • Negative balance protection
  • You can start with as little as £10

Risks

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What are the fees for using a CySEC regulated forex broker?

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Each forex broker will have its own fee schedule, varying from platform to platform. Generally, brokers will charge spreads, commissions, or a combination of both. Other fees may include payment charges or access to advanced tools such as indicators or trading platforms. 

Methodology: How did we choose the best CySEC regulated platforms?

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Our team of forex experts tested each platform on our list for various aspects. These included fees, markets available, spreads, commissions, customer service, and the payment process. In addition to our testing of services, we also cross-referenced each platform with the official CySEC website to ensure they were regulated. 

Our evaluation was not solely based on our findings but also considered online reviews and research. You can find an in-depth analysis of each of the brokers we have included in our comparison guide. Our rankings are not influenced by any broker, however, we may receive a commission if you register an account using a link on this page. 

Please visit our full review process page for further information about our methodology

FAQs

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01

How good is CySEC?

02

What is the most trusted broker?

03

Why are there so many forex brokers in Cyprus?

04

Is forex legal in Cyprus?

05

How much does a CySEC licence cost?

06

How do I know if a broker is legitimate?


Prash Raval

Prash Raval

Financial Writer

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Prash is a financial writer for Invezz covering FX, the stock market and investing. For over a decade he has traded spot FX full time while running an educational service helping novice traders learn the markets. He has a keen interest in micro and small cap stocks....