In Which Jurisdictions Does The Broker IC Markets Operate Legally?
IC Markets operates legally in multiple jurisdictions, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Singapore, South Africa, and several other countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The broker is regulated by CySEC (Europe) and the FSA (Seychelles), ensuring compliance with international financial standards. However, IC Markets is restricted in some countries (the U.S., Canada, and several other regions due to local regulations).
IC Markets is a global brokerage platform for stock and Forex trading, but its services are restricted in some countries due to regulatory constraints. For example, it does not accept clients from the United States. To check if IC Markets is available in your country, visit its official website or contact customer support. This article explores the countries where IC Markets is legal or restricted.
Is IC Markets legal and safe?
IC Market is a legal broker that is duly regulated by top regulatory bodies. This broker holds licenses from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the CySEC and complies with the standards established by these regulators. IC Markets operates through two additional regulated brands as well:
In the Seychelles, IC Markets (SC), owned by Raw Trading Ltd., is under the governance of the FSA.
IC Markets (EU) caters to traders in Europe and complies with the latest ESMA regulations regarding leverage and other restrictions.
IC Markets Available Countries
All of these IC Markets platforms abide by strict financial standards, including capital adequacy and audit requirements. Money belonging to clients is kept in client-segregated trust accounts by IC Markets Global. This is kept apart from company funds owned by IC Markets Global and complies with client money-handling guidelines. IC Market does not use its client funds to cover operational costs or goals.
IC Markets again hire an outside auditor to verify regulatory compliance and strengthen operational procedures. Along with monitoring the movement of sensitive and private customer data inside and outside the organization, they enforce controls and security tactics to keep data safe. No client information is intentionally disclosed unless the client requests it or the broker is required to do so by law. Additionally, a trader must be at least eighteen (18) years old or of legal age in the countries where IC Market services are legitimate.
Available IC Markets countries
IC Markets operates as a global platform, welcoming traders from various parts of the world. With extensive experience in equity, CFD, and Forex markets across North America, Europe, and Asia, the broker has built a strong presence in multiple regions.
The broker provides access to its platform in multiple regulated jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local financial authorities. IC Markets is available in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and South Africa, among others. Traders in these regions can easily register, access competitive spreads, and take advantage of IC Markets’ advanced trading tools.
The IC Market platform is available for registration and trading by traders in the following nations.
Australia
Thailand
United Kingdom
South Africa
Singapore
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Hong Kong
India
France
Italy
Denmark
Brokerages that offer financial services like Forex and other instrument trading are required to abide by regulations in some of these countries. For instance, brokers are not allowed to give traders bonuses or leverage greater than 1:30 in EU member states. Thus, IC Market complies with these and other guidelines established by the nation's financial regulators in which it provides investing services. Find out if IC Markets is legal in Jamaica?
Which country is IC Markets banned from?
While IC Market accepts clients from every continent, traders are not allowed to open accounts with origins in the following restricted or sanctioned nations due to governmental regulations and company policies. IC Markets' services may not be available in the following countries:
United States of America
Israel
Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)
New Zealand
Abkhazia (the Republic of Abkhazia)
Afghanistan
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
American Samoa
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Angola
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Congo
Congo - Brazzaville
Diego Garcia
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guam
New Caledonia
Niue
Cuba
Cuba (Guantanamo Bay)
Lebanon
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Chatham Island (New Zealand)
Congo - Kinshasa
Cook Islands
South Sudan
Sudan
Mayotte
Myanmar
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Martin
Senegal
Syrian Arab Republic
Tokelau
Wake Island
Zanzibar
Zimbabwe
U.S. Virgin Islands
Because US CFTC regulations prohibit US clients from trading with brokers outside of the US, IC Markets Global does not accept US clients for popular countries like the US. While the rules or reasons preventing IC Markets from offering services in these countries can change over time, you can contact customer support to verify if the IC Market can offer trading services in your country of residence. Therefore, contacting customer support through the platform is an additional method to confirm that IC Markets services are available in different countries.
Is Forex trading risky?
It is true that trading foreign exchange, or Forex, carries some risk, and those who are considering it should be aware of this. Investing in stocks, commodities, and currency markets on top brokerages like IC Markets carries no assurance that you will make money. This is because there is always some risk involved in Forex trading due to the high level of speculative activity and the numerous international variables involved.
However, only trade with money you can afford to lose if you are trading Forex and CFDs, which carry a high level of risk to your capital. Trading Forex and CFDs is not appropriate for every investor. Find out what other assets are available for investment, make sure you are aware of all the risks, and, if necessary, seek independent financial advice from professionals.
Although IC Markets Global provides its clients with superior liquidity, low latency connectivity, and state-of-the-art trading platforms, they do not remove the risks of trading currency pairs.
However, traders can drastically lower these risks by employing thoughtful risk management strategies and structured trading plans. Also, it is recommended that traders thoroughly read and comprehend the IC Markets Risk Disclosure.
For traders looking to join IC Markets, knowing the supported countries is essential to determine eligibility. The broker offers its services in many regions, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, and South Africa, ensuring compliance with local financial regulations.
Always ensure that your trading activities comply with both local laws and the broker's terms
When considering trading with IC Markets, it's crucial to understand that their regulatory status varies by region. For instance, in Europe, IC Markets operates under the authorization of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), ensuring compliance with European financial regulations. Conversely, in regions like the Seychelles, they are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which may offer different levels of investor protection. Therefore, it's essential to verify the specific regulatory framework governing IC Markets in your country to ensure it aligns with your expectations for investor protection and legal compliance.
Additionally, be aware that broker does not accept clients from certain countries due to regulatory restrictions. However, some regions have regulations that restrict access, so traders should verify if their country is supported by checking the list of allowed countries of IC Markets. Notably, residents of the United States, Canada, Brazil, Israel, New Zealand, Iran, and North Korea are prohibited from accessing their services.
Attempting to bypass these restrictions, such as by using VPNs or falsifying residency information, can lead to legal complications and the potential closure of your trading account. Always ensure that your trading activities comply with both local laws and the broker's terms of service to avoid unforeseen issues.
Summary
IC Markets allows traders from many regions to participate in the market, offering competitive spreads, advanced trading tools, and strong regulatory oversight. If you're looking to register and trade, knowing where the broker operates legally is important. The IC Markets accepted countries are Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and South Africa.
FAQs
What countries are IC Markets accepted in?
IC Markets is heavily involved in the Asian, European, and certain North American equity, CFD, and forex markets. Hence, the broker accepts traders from Denmark, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Germany, Thailand, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, Italy, etc.
Is IC Markets regulated in Europe?
Yes. CySEC is the European regulator for IC Markets. IC Markets EU complies with all relevant national and international laws and regulations on investment firms. Generally, they meet all the requirements in terms of finances, including audits and capital adequacy.
Are IC Markets allowed in the USA?
No; due to US CFTC regulations prohibiting US clients from trading with brokers, IC Markets Global does not accept US clients.
Is IC Markets legal?
Absolutely. IC Markets is a legal and reputable broker offering traders access to trading Forex CFDs, commodities CFDs, index CFDs, stock CFDs, futures CFDs, bond CFDs, and digital currencies.
Which countries does IC Markets operate in?
IC Markets operates in multiple regions, including Australia, the UK, Germany, Singapore, and South Africa. Traders in these IC Markets list of accepted countries can register and access the platform under local financial regulations.
Why is IC Markets banned in some countries?
IC Markets is restricted in certain regions due to regulatory policies or financial sanctions. The IC Markets list of restricted countries include the U.S., North Korea, Iran, and Cuba, where trading with offshore brokers is prohibited.
Is IC Markets a regulated broker?
Yes. CySEC is the European regulator for IC Markets. IC Markets EU complies with all relevant national and international laws and regulations on investment firms. Generally, they meet all the requirements in terms of finances, including audits and capital adequacy.
Does IC Markets provide services to traders in all countries?
No. While IC Markets operates in many regions, its services are not available in all countries due to regulatory and compliance reasons. Traders should verify their eligibility based on their location by checking IC Markets’ official website or reaching out to customer support.
Related Articles
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data. He is also an educator in the field of finance and technology.
As an author for Traders Union, he contributes his deep analytical insights on various topics, taking into account various aspects.
Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).