Structured comparison · last re-checked 2026-09
Interactive Brokers (institutional prime services) vs. Evaluate this broker against traditional prime brokers and direct market access providers for liquidity options.
Interactive Brokers LLC is a global self-directed broker-dealer with a robust institutional multi-asset clearing and introducing-broker program. It holds multiple tier 1 licenses across major financial markets, ensuring regulatory compliance. However, the absence of published venues and connectivity details may limit operational transparency for potential clients.
01
Licence, read on the register
Tier classification follows the same scale as the retail register: tier-2 means real supervision and client-money segregation, without an investor compensation scheme — never misread it as tier-1 protection.
| Regulator | Licence number | Jurisdiction | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEC/FINRA | CRD 36418 (SEC 8-47257) | USA | tier-1 | https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/36418 |
| FCA | not verified | UK | tier-1 | https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php |
| Central Bank of Ireland | C423427 | Ireland | tier-1 | https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php |
| ASIC | 453554 | Australia | tier-1 | https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php |
| SFC (HK) | not verified | Hong Kong | tier-1 | https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php |
| MAS (Singapore) | CMS100917 | Singapore | tier-1 | https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php |
| CIRO (Canada) | not verified | Canada | tier-1 | https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/home.php |
Source: www.interactivebrokers.com · open source ↗
02
The comparison ledger
Where the model wins, where it merely competes, and which claims a counterparty can actually test.
Wins where
- Multi-asset trading needs
- Introducing broker program
- Institutional client services
Merely competes where
- Traditional prime brokers
- Direct market access providers
- Multi-asset clearing firms
Testable claims
- Footer register statements: Interactive Brokers LLC is a member NYSE-FINRA-SIPC, regulated by the US SEC and the CFTC; Interactive Brokers Canada Inc. is a CIRO/CIPF member; Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA
- Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI reference C423427, CRO 657406, ICS member); IB Australia AFSL 453554 (ABN 98 166 929 568); IB Hong Kong regulated by the SFC; IB Securities Japan regulated by Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No. 187); IB Singapore licensed by MAS (Licence No. CMS100917)
- BrokerCheck register: Interactive Brokers LLC CRD 36418, SEC 8-47257, status ACTIVE
- Institutional account minimum and client billing are published fee items; introducing-broker programme offered on the main site
Claims we cannot verify from outside
- Financial-strength and execution-quality marketing statements on the homepage are the firm's own characterisations
03
Perimeter and coverage
| Asset classes | Venues | Connectivity | Clients accepted | Explicitly refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks, Options, Futures, Currencies (FX), Bonds, Funds | Institutions, Financial advisors, Proprietary trading groups, Hedge funds, Introducing brokers ('Launch and scale your brokerage business'), Family offices, Compliance traders |