How to Verify a Forex Broker License 2026: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, NFA Step-by-Step

Every year, thousands of new CFD and forex brokers launch websites that look professional, promise “world-class regulation,” and take deposits from retail traders before disappearing. The single most reliable defence is a five-minute check against the regulator database. This 2026 guide walks you through how to verify a license on each major regulator — FCA, ASIC, CySEC, NFA, FSC — with the exact search URL, the fields that matter, and the red flags that separate a legitimate broker from a scam.

We also cover how to verify UZFX directly on the ASIC Central Registry. UZFX operates under AFSL 001291473 and is a regulated ASIC entity with segregated client funds — but the guide is regulator-agnostic. The workflow below applies to any broker you consider depositing with. For broader context on choosing a broker, see our forex broker regulation guide and the UZFX full review.

Why License Verification Matters

Regulatory status determines three things you cannot negotiate:

1. Segregated client funds — regulated brokers must hold retail money in segregated accounts at top-tier banks, separate from operating capital.
2. Compensation schemes — FCA clients are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000; ASIC clients benefit from the Financial Liability Compensation Scheme (FLICS) up to AUD 1 million per claimant; CySEC clients benefit from the ICF up to €20,000.
3. Ongoing oversight — the regulator audits the broker’s financials, capital adequacy, and complaint handling.

An unregulated broker offers none of this. If the broker collapses or acts fraudulently, you have no recourse beyond civil action against an offshore entity.

Where to Check: The Five Regulators You Will See Most

There are dozens of other authorities — BaFin (Germany), AMF (France), CONSOB (Italy), FINMA (Switzerland), MAS (Singapore), SCA (UAE), DFSA (Dubai) — but the five above cover the vast majority of brokers you will encounter.

Step 1: The FCA Register of Firms (United Kingdom)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates all UK retail forex and CFD activity. Since August 2026 the register uses the new URL format:

https://register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id={reference-number}

The old /s/firms/{reference-number} format returns a 404 error and will not resolve. If you have a license number from the broker, paste it into the URL. If you don’t have the number, start from the search form:

https://register.fca.org.uk/s/

Type the broker’s full legal name (not the brand — the entity name). Example: for UZFX, the entity name is UZFX Markets Pty Ltd, not UZFX alone.

What a valid FCA entry shows:

• Reference Number — an 8-digit number (e.g., 552504).
• Firm Name — the exact legal entity name.
• Status — “Authorised” (not “Revoked”, “Withdrawn”, or “Prohibited”).
• Registration Date — when the firm was first authorised.
• Address — the UK-registered address.
• Activities — the permitted activities (e.g., “Dealing in investments as agent”, “Arranging deals in investments”).

Red flags on the FCA register:

• The firm name does not match the brand (e.g., the broker markets itself as “XYZ Trading” but the register says “ABC Capital Ltd”).
• The status is anything other than “Authorised”.
• The activities do not include “Dealing in investments” — this means the broker cannot legally trade CFDs.

Step 2: The ASIC Central Registry (Australia)

ASIC regulates all Australian retail CFD and forex activity. The Central Registry URL is:

https://asic.gov.au/search-register/find-a-register/

Under “Financial Services,” select “AFSL Holders” or “External Providers.” Search by ABN, company name, or license number.

Example: UZFX’s license is AFSL 001291473. Search this number directly and the entry should show:

• ABN — the Australian Business Number of the entity.
• License Type — “AFSL” (Australian Financial Services Licence).
• Status — “Authorised”.
• Approved Activities — including “Dealing in financial products” and “Providing financial product advice”.
• Registration Date — usually 2000s or later for established brokers.
• Address — the registered business address in Australia.

Red flags on the ASIC register:

• The broker claims an ASIC license but the AFSL number cannot be found on the registry.
• The status shows “Prohibited from carrying on financial services business” or “License suspended.”
• The approved activities do not include “Dealing in financial products.”

Note that ASIC licenses are for Australian clients specifically. Many brokers that service other regions (Asia, MENA, LatAm) operate through affiliates with different licenses — always verify the specific entity that will hold your account, not the parent company.

Step 3: The CySEC Public Register (Cyprus / EU)

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) regulates EU retail CFD and forex activity under the MiFID II directive. The public register is:

https://www.cysec.gov.cy/en/Public-Register-of-Centres

Select “Investment Firms” and search by name. A valid entry shows:

• Registration Number — a six-digit number starting with “3” (e.g., 326/17).
• Legal Name — the exact legal entity.
• Status — “Registered” (not “Revoked” or “Suspended”).
• Address — the registered address in Cyprus.
• Scope of Authorisation — the services the firm is authorised to provide.

Red flags on the CySEC register:

• The license number ends in a low number (below 200) but the broker claims to be established only in the last few years. CySEC licenses have been issued since the mid-2000s.
• The scope does not include “dealing in financial instruments” or “receiving and transmitting orders.”
• The entity name on the register does not match the brand.

A CySEC license does not automatically mean the broker is available to all EU residents — some brokers serve only Cyprus. Confirm with the broker’s Terms of Service.

Step 4: The NFA CRD Search and FINRA BrokerCheck (United States)

US retail clients should verify on both the NFA and FINRA:

• NFA: https://www.finra.org/brokercheck
• FINRA BrokerCheck: https://www.finra.org/brokercheck

Enter the firm name and check for:

• Status — “Active” or “Inactive.”
• CRD Number — the Central Registration Depository identifier.
• Brokerage activities — must include “retail foreign exchange trading” or “retail forex.”
• Disciplinary history — any past FINRA or NFA actions against the firm.

A legitimate US-licensed broker will appear on both systems. If it appears on FINRA only, or on NFA only, that is a red flag.

Note: the US is different from the rest of the world — most international brokers do not service US retail clients. If a broker claims to accept US clients and is not on FINRA BrokerCheck, treat it as unlicensed for US clients.

Step 5: The FSC Register (South Africa)

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSC) register is at:

https://www.fsc.za.gov.za/

Look under “Register of Financial Service Providers” and search by name or FSP number. A valid entry shows the FSP number, entity name, and status.

How to Verify UZFX’s ASIC License

ZUZFX is an ASIC-regulated CFD broker operating under AFSL license 001291473. To verify:

1. Open https://asic.gov.au/search-register/find-a-register/
2. Search by AFSL number: 001291473
3. Confirm the entry shows:
   • License Type: AFSL
   • Status: Authorised
   • Approved Activities: Dealing in financial products
   • Registered Address: an Australian address
   • ABN: an Australian Business Number

The ASIC register should return a valid authorised entry. UZFX also holds segregated client funds at an Australian top-tier bank, meaning retail deposits are separate from the broker’s operating capital.

Red Flags: Common Signs of a Fake or Fraudulent Broker

The following patterns indicate a broker is likely not what it claims:

1. No regulator name on the website — legitimate brokers prominently display their regulator and license number.
2. License number that does not resolve — the URL on the regulator register returns “not found” or a different entity.
3. Personal bank accounts for deposits — legitimate brokers use corporate accounts or regulated payment processors.
4. Crypto-only deposits — many legitimate brokers accept crypto, but some fraudulent ones restrict to crypto only to avoid bank audit trails.
5. Promises of “guaranteed” returns — no legitimate broker can guarantee returns; the FCA, ASIC and CySEC all prohibit such promises.
6. Aggressive “sign up now” bonuses — large bonuses tied to trading volume requirements are a common predatory tactic.
7. Refusing to disclose entity name — a legitimate broker will always share the legal entity name in writing.
8. Pressure from support — genuine brokers will not push you to deposit more money or upgrade.

A Six-Step Verification Workflow

Use this workflow before depositing with any broker:

1. Find the license number on the broker’s website (usually in the footer). If it is missing, that is itself a red flag.
2. Search the regulator database using the number. Confirm the entry matches.
3. Cross-check the entity name — the register’s legal name, not the brand. The brand may be operated by an affiliate with a different license.
4. Check the status — “Authorised”, “Active”, or “Registered”. Any other status is disqualifying.
5. Review disciplinary history — FCA and FINRA show past actions. A clean history is not guaranteed, but multiple enforcement actions should raise concern.
6. Contact support and ask for the license number in writing. Legitimate brokers will reply within 24 hours.

Common Myths About Broker Regulation

Myth: “The brand is regulated, so I’m protected.” Not necessarily. Many brands operate through multiple entities with different licenses. What matters is the entity that holds your account, not the parent company.

Myth: “CySEC licenses cover all of Europe.” CySEC licenses apply to retail clients in member states under MiFID II, but some brokers limit service to Cyprus only. Verify the specific terms.

Myth: “A big marketing budget means a good broker.” Many fraudulent brokers spend heavily on marketing. The regulator database is the only reliable filter.

Myth: “The broker is ASIC-regulated, so any affiliate is covered.” Not true. ASIC regulates the specific AFSL holder. If you are opening an account with an overseas affiliate, the ASIC license does not extend to you.

Cross-Checking Beyond the License

Once the license checks out, still cross-reference:

• Trustpilot — read reviews from actual clients, not just testimonials.
• ForexBrokers.com — an independent broker comparison site with audited reviews.
• Reddit r/Forex — search the broker name. Anonymous users tend to be blunt.
• Entity name in Google — search the exact legal name to find court records, complaints, and enforcement actions.
• Domain age — use who.is or whois.domaintools.com. A domain less than 12 months old is a red flag for a “flash-in-the-pan” broker.

Final Verdict

License verification takes less than five minutes. If a broker is regulated, you will find it on the register. If it isn’t, no amount of marketing copy will make it appear. When you’re depositing with a regulated broker such as UZFX — AFSL 001291473, segregated client funds, ASIC oversight — the risk of loss from broker collapse is minimal.

Before depositing: verify the license on the regulator register, cross-check the entity name, contact support for a written license number, and read independent reviews. Do not skip any of the six steps above. A five-minute check today prevents a years-long dispute tomorrow.

Risk Disclaimer

CFDs are leveraged products that carry significant risk of losing money. Before choosing a broker, always verify the license on the regulator database in the country where you intend to trade. If in doubt, contact the regulator directly. You are responsible for the risk decisions you make, and only you can decide how much capital you can afford to lose.

Last reviewed: September 19, 2026 · MarketCFD Editorial Team · Read more: Broker Reviews, Trading Education, UZFX Review.