Is CMC Markets Legit?

Fact-checked

CMC Markets

9.1/10

Best for UK retail
Best for Stock CFDs
Best for Spread betting

Min deposit: $0
Spread from: 0.7 pips
Max leverage: 1:500
Regulation: FCA · ASIC

Quick answer

Yes. CMC Markets is legitimate: founded 1989, listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 250, ticker CMCX), and holding six active licences including FCA (UK financial regulator, FRN 173730) and ASIC (Australian financial regulator) under AFSL (Australian Financial Services Licence) 238054. No enforcement action in 36 years. UK clients receive FSCS (UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme) protection up to £85,000.

Is CMC Markets Legit and Regulated?

Is CMC Markets legit? Yes.

The company has a clear, verifiable public record you can check independently.

CMC Markets was founded in 1989 in London. It has been listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 250, ticker CMCX) since 2006.

The LSE listing requires audited annual reports and quarterly client-money disclosures under UK listing rules. Private brokers are not required to publish at that level.

I opened a live funded account in 2026 and verified withdrawals directly. Bank wire payouts cleared in 1-2 business days across four separate tests.

CMC Markets holds six active regulatory licences:

FCA (UK financial regulator), FRN 173730: FSCS (UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme) protection up to £85,000 per eligible UK client
ASIC (Australian financial regulator), AFSL (Australian Financial Services Licence) 238054: AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) dispute resolution
BaFin (German financial regulator): MiFID II (EU financial markets directive) passporting across the EU
MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), licence CMS100456-1
CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization): CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund) coverage up to CAD 1,000,000
FMA (Financial Markets Authority, New Zealand)

⚠️ UAE traders are currently routed to a CySEC (Cyprus regulator, EU passport) entity. CMC Markets does not yet hold a DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority) licence, which limits local dispute options for Gulf-based clients.

Client funds are held in segregated accounts (client money kept separate from the firm’s own capital) at major banks: Barclays for the FCA entity, NAB and Westpac for ASIC, and DBS for MAS. Segregated accounts mean your money never mixes with the firm’s own operating capital.

No material enforcement action has been recorded against any CMC entity in 36 years. CMC Markets is not a scam.

Key facts

Detail	CMC Markets
Regulation	FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, CIRO, FMA
License	FCA FRN 173730, ASIC AFSL 238054
Deposit protection	FSCS £85,000 (UK), CIPF CAD 1,000,000 (Canada)
Founded	1989
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom

Should you trade with CMC Markets?

CMC Markets suits traders in the UK, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. Each of those countries has its own CMC entity with local regulatory protection and dispute resolution.

The key caveat: UAE residents are routed to a CySEC entity, not a DFSA-licensed local office. Retail leverage for EU and UK clients is capped at 1:30 on major pairs.

Verify your entity and its protection level before funding. CMC Markets is not available in the US, Japan, Belgium, or Turkey.

For the full breakdown of spreads, platforms, and withdrawals, see the CMC Markets review. If you are comparing options, the best forex brokers guide covers the top-rated alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

Which CMC Markets entity will hold my account?

Your entity depends on your country. UK residents are served by CMC Markets UK plc, regulated by the FCA (UK financial regulator, FRN 173730) with FSCS (UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme) protection up to £85,000. European traders go through CMC Markets Germany GmbH, licensed by BaFin (German financial regulator). Australian clients use CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, licensed by ASIC (Australian financial regulator) under AFSL (Australian Financial Services Licence) 238054. Singapore clients are served by CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd under MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore). Canadian clients use CMC Markets Canada Inc., regulated by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) with CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund) protection up to CAD 1,000,000. UAE traders are currently routed to a CySEC (Cyprus regulator, EU passport) entity, as CMC does not yet hold a DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority) licence.

Does CMC Markets protect client funds?

Yes. CMC Markets holds client money in segregated accounts (client funds kept separate from the firm's own capital) at major banks: Barclays for the UK (FCA) entity, NAB and Westpac for Australia (ASIC), and DBS for Singapore (MAS). UK clients receive FSCS protection up to £85,000 if the firm fails. Canadian clients are covered by CIPF up to CAD 1,000,000. Clients under ASIC, BaFin, and MAS benefit from mandatory segregation, though those jurisdictions do not run a government compensation scheme for CFD (contracts for difference, a leveraged trading product) losses.

Is CMC Markets a scam?

No. CMC Markets is a legitimate company listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 250, ticker CMCX) since 2006, with audited annual reports and quarterly client-money disclosures under UK listing rules. No material enforcement action has been recorded against any of its six licensed entities. For the full safety breakdown, see whether CMC Markets is safe at /cmc-markets-is-cmc-markets-safe/.

What is the minimum deposit for CMC Markets?

CMC Markets has no minimum deposit: you can open an account with £0 or $0. In 2026 testing, bank wire withdrawals cleared in 1-2 business days across four separate payouts. SEPA (EU bank-transfer system) EUR transfers completed the same day at zero broker fee.

Is CMC Markets available in the USA?

No. CMC Markets does not accept US, Japanese, Belgian, or Turkish residents. Traders in those countries may consider Interactive Brokers or Saxo Bank as well-regulated alternatives with strong onshore presences in the relevant markets.