What does "Verified" mean on this site?
It means we checked the broker's regulatory license directly against the regulator's own public register (ASIC, FCA, CySEC, and others depending on the entity), confirmed the company details on that license match who they claim to be, and re-check periodically in case a license lapses or changes. It is not a guarantee of future performance, and it isn't an endorsement from the regulator itself — it just means the basics checked out.
How do I check a broker's license myself?
Go straight to the regulator's own register rather than trusting a badge on the broker's website — anyone can copy an image. Search the regulator's site (for example the FCA register or ASIC Connect) by the company's exact legal name, and confirm the registered address, license number, and permitted activities match what the broker states. See our full walkthrough on the How to Spot a Scam page.
Can a regulated broker still be a scam?
A related but different problem: clone firms sometimes impersonate a real regulated broker's name and license number while running an entirely separate, unregulated operation. Always reach the broker through a URL you typed yourself or verified independently, not a link from an unsolicited message, and cross-check the domain against the one listed on the regulator's register.
What's the minimum amount I need to start trading?
It depends on the broker. Minimum deposits on this list range from $0 to a few hundred dollars, so check the comparison table above before you sign up. A low minimum deposit says nothing about how safe a broker is — verification status and regulation matter far more than the deposit amount.
Do brokers pay to be featured on this list?
We may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which brokers pass our verification checks or how we describe them — a broker that failed our checks would not appear here regardless of any commission on offer.
