London-listed CFD and spread-betting provider whose EU business runs through CMC Markets Germany GmbH, supervised by BaFin.
- Headquarters
United Kingdom- Founded
- 1989
- Type
- Forex & CFD brokers
- Licences on record
- 6 (2 European)
- EU client entity
- CMC Markets Germany GmbH (BaFin)
- Platforms
- Own platform, MetaTrader 4, TradingView
- Products
- Forex, CFDs, Spread betting, Stocks
- Website
- cmcmarkets.com
Strengths
- London-listed group operating since 1989
- EU clients served by a BaFin-supervised German subsidiary
- Feature-rich Next Generation platform with advanced charting and pattern recognition
- Wide range of forex pairs and CFDs, including custom baskets
Watch-outs
- Platform depth comes with a learning curve
- MetaTrader and TradingView support is narrower than on the proprietary platform
- Product availability differs between the UK and EU entities
Overview
CMC Markets was founded in 1989 by Peter Cruddas and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2016. It is one of the UK's longest-running CFD and spread-betting providers and has built its own technology throughout.
Which entity serves you
EU residents are served by CMC Markets Germany GmbH, supervised by BaFin, so ESMA retail protections apply along with German investor compensation. UK clients deal with the FCA-authorised UK company and have access to spread betting. CMC also operates in Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Canada under local licences.
Platforms and products
The Next Generation web and mobile platform is CMC's core product: extensive charting, many indicators, pattern-recognition scanners and a wide choice of order types. MetaTrader 4 is available for traders who prefer it, and TradingView integration has been added in some regions. CMC offers a large set of currency pairs and thousands of CFDs on indices, commodities, shares and treasuries, plus proprietary "share baskets".
Our view
CMC is a strong option for traders who want a serious proprietary platform from a listed firm with a German EU entity. As with any CFD provider, read its published retail-loss percentage and compare spreads and financing on the instruments you trade.
Licences on record
Brands often operate several companies. The one that onboards you depends on where you live, and that company's regulator decides your protection. Confirm the entity on the official register before you deposit.
| Regulator | Jurisdiction | Type | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCA Financial Conduct Authority | United Kingdom |
UK | Official register |
| BaFin Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) |  Germany |
EU/EEA – passportable | Official register |
| ASIC Australian Securities and Investments Commission |  Australia |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| MAS Monetary Authority of Singapore |  Singapore |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| FMA NZ Financial Markets Authority (New Zealand) |  New Zealand |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| CIRO Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization |  Canada |
Non-European | Regulator website |
What protection would you get?
If you are a retail client of CMC Markets's European entity, these safeguards apply by law. Which one applies to you depends on the entity you sign with.
- Investor compensation: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments – Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Ombudsman Service
- Best forex brokers in United Kingdom
- Investor compensation: 90% of the claim, up to €20,000 per investor (investment firms) – EdW – Entschädigungseinrichtung der Wertpapierhandelsunternehmen
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Bankenombudsmann (private banks) or BaFin arbitration board
- Best forex brokers in Germany
Verify CMC Markets yourself
- Find the exact company name in the footer of the website and in the client agreement you are asked to sign.
- Search that name on the register of the regulator listed for your country (links above). Make sure the register shows the same website domain.
- Check warning lists for look-alike names: IOSCO I-SCAN covers alerts from regulators worldwide.
- Never download remote-access software or move money because someone "from the broker" phoned you. How clone-firm scams work.
Protection Score breakdown
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Holds at least one European licence (EU/EEA, UK or Swiss) | +40 |
| ESMA/FCA retail protections available (leverage caps, negative balance protection, compensation scheme) | +15 |
| Supervised in 6 strong jurisdictions | +12 |
| Publicly listed group (audited public accounts) | +8 |
| Operating for 37 years | +7 |
| Total | 82/100 |
The score measures structural protection from licences and corporate facts, not costs, service or platform quality. A high score does not mean a firm is right for you. Methodology.
Trader experiences
No verified experiences yet. Have you used CMC Markets? Share what happened with deposits, withdrawals, execution and support.
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About this data
Profile type: reviewed profile. Licence data is from our research and has not yet been re-checked against every register; confirm it on the official register before relying on it. Last updated 30 September 2026.
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