FXCM — where it wins, where it loses
FXCM wins on regulatory reach. No column in our set puts it behind the field. Priced across ten round-turn EUR/USD lots it comes 34 of 39 in this field.
Column by column
The split
Two lists, no averaging. A broker that takes a column outright appears on the left of it; one that gets beaten on a column appears on the right. Nothing is scored into a single number, because a single number hides which side you actually care about.
Wins on
- regulatory reach
Loses on
No column in this set puts FXCM behind the field.
Cost per 10 lots is the EUR/USD spread cost of ten round-turn standard lots at the figure above, commission excluded. Where a broker publishes a "from" spread rather than an average, the comparison inherits that limitation — see the unconfirmed list further down.
Licensing
Which entity, which regulator, which number
Tier decides how much weight a licence carries in any safety column. Each row links to the page it was read from.
| Regulator | Number | Jurisdiction | Tier | Entity | Read from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCA | 217689 | UK | Tier 1 | Stratos Markets Limited (trading as FXCM) | register.fca.org.uk |
| CySEC | 392/20 | Cyprus | Tier 2 | Stratos Europe Limited (trading as FXCM) | cysec.gov.cy |
| ASIC | AFSL 309763 | Australia | Tier 1 | Stratos Trading Pty. Limited (trading as FXCM) | fxcm.com |
| None (unregulated offshore entity) | Offshore | Tier 3 | Stratos Global LLC | fxcm.com |
Checkable
Facts the comparison runs on
On the record
- 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.
| Trading since | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Base | London, UK |
| Minimum to open | $50 |
| Leverage cap | 1:30 (UK/EU retail) |
| EUR/USD | 1.30 pips |
| Terminals | Trading Station, MT4, TradingView, Capitalise.ai, Mobile apps |
| Account tiers | Standard, Active Trader, Professional |
| Markets | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares CFDs, Cryptocurrency CFDs (selected regions) |
| Record confidence | medium |
| Matchup-ready | yes — enough public cost data to run a head-to-head |
Excluded from the maths
Not verified
Not verified
These fields are not confirmed. They are shown as gaps, not filled in, and they do not feed any column of the matrix:
- 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
Costs less
Who beats FXCM on price
Tickmill
$10.00 per 10 lots · wins on headline spread, platform choice
Eightcap
$10.00 per 10 lots · wins on regulatory reach
JustMarkets
$30.00 per 10 lots · wins on headline spread
CMC Markets
$50.00 per 10 lots · wins on headline spread, no minimum deposit, regulatory reach, platform choice
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money. Verify every figure with the broker before opening an account.