What are the advantages of trading in a forex broker regulated in Seychelles? What's so special about offshore jurisdiction? And what are the options?
Seychelles is known for being a popular offshore financial jurisdiction, and it has some regulations in place for certain types of financial activities.
Within the forex industry, certain forex brokers have established their operations in Seychelles to capitalize on the country's advantageous tax and regulatory climate. These brokers are commonly known as "offshore brokers" and often cater to clients from various regions around the globe.
The Financial Services Authority of Seychelles (FSA) is the primary financial regulatory body in the country, responsible for supervising and regulating financial services, including forex brokers operating within Seychelles' jurisdiction.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that the regulatory measures in Seychelles may not be as stringent as those enforced in major financial hubs like the United States, the European Union, or other heavily regulated nations.
Seychelles Forex Broker License Requirements
Seychelles has become increasingly popular among Forex Brokers and CFD Brokers. The basic requirements to set up a Forex Broker in Seychelles are as follows:
- Domestic Company formation in Seychelles: To obtain the license, there needs to be an incorporation of a Domestic company in Seychelles with a share capital of $50,000. The company must have at least two (2) shareholders and two (2) directors. A person can act both as a shareholder and director of the company. The incorporation takes around 2 weeks.
- Office: The company also needs a fully furnished office fit for FSA approval – as the FSA needs to see that the company has an operating presence in Seychelles. The office includes the following services: Rent, electricity, water, active phone number, cleaning, and basic internet. Do note that the FSA will visit your office for inspection.
- Compliance officer: The company needs to appoint a compliance officer who will help the correspondence with FSA and record keeping.
- Security Dealer License Representative: The company needs to appoint a qualified director as the Securities Dealers License Representative.
- Legal advisor: The legal advisor will liaise with FSA and ensure the company has a proper legal system to support business operations.
- Professional Indemnity Cover: It is mandatory to have professional indemnity coverage. The company can either arrange it or get it arranged by an insurance broker.
Required Documents
To qualify, all the following documents are required from all Directors/Officers, Shareholders, and Beneficial Owners. The document must not be older than 3 months:
- Police Clearance Certificate – Certificate to ensure stakeholders don't have any criminal records
- Declaration of No history of bankruptcy
- Certified Copy of Passport
- Original or Certified Copy of Bank Reference Letter
- 2 Certified copies of Professional Reference Letters
- Original or Certified Copy of utility bills
- Resume/CV outlining experience in Forex Brokerage Activities and Qualifications warranting issuance of a license
An Overview of Seychelles Regulated Forex Brokers
As mentioned previously, Seychelles regulation allows brokerages to provide more flexible trading conditions. Therefore, you can trade with high leverage up to 1:1000 (or sometimes more) in Seychelles-regulated forex brokers.
Also, with the relatively low cost of opening a brokerage service, forex brokers in Seychelles enable their clients to open accounts with a deposit as low as $10 and trade with small trading volumes.
Here are the most prominent examples of Seychelles-regulated forex brokers:
1. Admirals
Admirals is a renowned global broker established in 2001. This broker holds an FSA license with regulation number 8426894-1. Admirals provides a trading platform with a leverage of 1:500 and features variable spreads, with a contract size of 0.01.
Traders can access a wide range of financial assets, including forex, commodities, CFDs, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and much more. What's interesting is that traders can open an account with Admirals with just a $1 deposit.
2. eToro
Founded in 2007, eToro is a financial company that mandates a minimum deposit of $200. The platform falls under the regulation of the FSA with registration number SD076. Traders can enjoy leverage of 1:400, fixed spreads, and a contract size of 0.1.
Additionally, eToro offers access to a wide range of trading options, including 49 currency pairs, 31 commodities and metals, and over 2000 Equity CFDs.
eToro established in early 2007, with a mission to make trading accessible to anyone, anywhere, and reduce dependency on traditional financial institutions. The company has head offices in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, USA, and Australia.
eToro (Europe) Ltd operates as a Financial Services Company authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license no. #109/10. Meanwhile, eToro (UK) Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the license FRN 583263.
As for eToro AUS Capital Pty Ltd, the legal standing is acknowledged by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to provide financial services under Australian Financial Services License 491139.
A broker that belongs to the 4-digit type, eToro offers both short-term options for day traders and long-term options for investors, such as their innovative Smart Portfolios, a fully managed thematic portfolio.
Since 2007, eToro has been at the forefront of the Fintech revolution. The most recent was launched in 2017, which is Smart Portfolios powered by Machine learning Al. Beyond developing Smart Portfolios, the company integrated Microsoft's machine learning technology into Momentum DD.
The new Smart Portfolios investment strategy uses artificial intelligence to find the steadiest traders who are most likely to generate a double-digit return and bundle traders into one fully-managed portfolio. eToro has hundreds of financial assets for trading across several categories including stocks, commodities, crypto assets, currencies, indices, and ETFs. Each asset class has characteristics and can be traded using a variety of investment strategies.
Some positions on eToro involve ownership of underlying assets, such as non-leveraged positions on stocks and cryptos. Employing CFDs will enable a variety of options, such as leveraged trades, short (sell) positions, fractional ownership, and more. For example, traders can invest as little as USD100 in gold, even if a single unit of gold cost USD1,000. Some of eToro's most popular CFD commodities include gold, oil, natural gas, silver, and platinum.
Currencies are traded on eToro only as CFDs. Also, CFDs enable Sell (short) positions and leveraged trade, even for assets that don't offer the option in traditional trading. Some of the popular currencies include EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/JPY, and USD/CAD.
Furthermore, An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is a financial instrument comprising several assets grouped to serve as one tradable fund. After opening an account in eToro, traders can invest as little as USD250 in an ETF that costs USD500. Some of the popular ETFs on eToro include SPY, VXXB, TLT, and HMMJ.
However, eToro also offers additional functions using CFD trading. All leveraged ETF positions in the UK are under FCA regulations. Meanwhile, all CFD positions executed by eToro Australia are under ASIC regulations.
The company has other advantages. In all financial assets that can be traded, eToro does not charge any deposit or trading frees other than spreads.
eToro charges a USD25 fee for withdrawals and the minimum withdrawal amount is USD50. Long (Buy), non-leveraged crypto, stock, and ETF positions are not executed as CFDs and do not incur any fees. eToro does charge overnight or weekend fees for CFDs positions, such as leveraged positions and short (sell) orders.
Fee updates always apply to open positions. Fees are subject to change at any given time and could change daily, without prior notice, depending on market conditions.
As a beginner, trader can use CopyTrading eToro. Different from the features of other brokers, traders can copy the strategies of professional traders without fee or profit-sharing. Therefore, 100% profit is fully owned by traders. For example, while trader A who is copied by trader B, produces a profit of 10% this month, then trader B also gets a profit of 10%.
The company is the world's leading social trading network. Since eToro operates in complete transparency, each trader has valuable information on their eToro profiles, so other traders that are interested to copy their trades can have assistance in creating their best portfolios.
Another feature that is unique to eToro is the personalized, social News Feed. Just like on any social media, traders can post their updates on feed, comment on other's posts, and gradually create a feed that is tailor-fitted to trader's trading and investing interests. On eToro social trading platform, traders will also get notifications when a trader writes a new post and many other important updates.
3. easyMarkets
easyMarkets is a global broker holding a Seychelles license (FSA regulation number 19.09.2020) and has been operating since 2001. This broker not only has headquarters in Seychelles but also in Cyprus, Australia, and the British Virgin Islands.
Formerly known as easy-forex, this broker offers trading services in CFDs, metals, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, options, and global indices with a minimum deposit of $25. The majority of the offered trading accounts allow leverage of up to 1:400 with a minimum lot size of 0.01 lot.
Since 2001, easyMarkets have been writing their stories in financial markets. Simple, Honest, and Transparent, become three values that are carried on easyMarkets. The company has tried to make the process of trading as simple as possible.
They rebranded from easy-forex to easyMarkets in 2016. Over the years, easyMarkets expanded their CFD offerings to include global indices, options, metals, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The company is licensed by CySEC and ASIC.
Another privilege when trading in easyMarkets is its own platform. easyMarkets platform is simple and versatile. Based on reviews from traders, it's friendly to new clients and hosts a lot of features for experienced traders. Clients also receive free guaranteed stop loss, no slippage, fixed spreads, and no funding or withdrawal fees from easyMarkets.
There are three uniques features in the platform. Firstly, dealCancellation gives traders the ability to "undo" their trade. easyMarkets is the only broker that offers a way to close trade before it reaches 60 minutes duration only with a small fee.
Furthermore, traders can enjoy the Inside Viewer. This tool gives traders a deeper understanding of market sentiment by showing them percentage of buying and selling executed in the platform. The third unique feature is Freeze Rate. traders can pause a rate and place their trade at the "frozen" rate using this tool.
easyMarkets also includes financial calendar, market news, trading charts, and trading signals as the platform's perks. They also offer the technology on the mobile interface via iOS and Android devices. Traders can access markets anywhere and at any time.
MetaTrader 4 is also provided by easyMarkets. When using this popular trading platform, traders will get negative balance protection and fixed spreads. Besides that, Vanilla Options is available in this broker.
Because of those innovations, easyMarkets is an award-winning broker, receiving Forex Broker 2019 by The Forex Expo-Dubai, Most Innovative Broker 2018 by World Finance Markets Awards, Best APAC Region Broker 2018 by ADVFN International Financial Awards, Most Transparent Broker 2017 by Forex-Awards, Best Forex Service Provider 2017 by FXWord China, and many more over the years.
Moreover, easyMarkets offers three account types, such as VIP Accounts, Premium Accounts, and Standard Accounts. All of them can be accessed by the Web/App and MT4 platform. easyMarkets provide maximum leverage at 1:200 when using easyMarkets Web/App platform, and maximum leverage of 1:400 when using MT4.
Fixed spreads start from 1.0 pips in forex trading. Traders can become easyMarkets VIP clients with some benefits, such as trading via telephone, access to the tightest fixed spreads, personal analyst, and real-time market updates via SMS.
Traders do not need to pay additional fees whethere it is for commission, account fees, or deposit withdrawal. Account currencies are available in 18 options including EUR, CAD, CZK, JPY, NZD, USD, SGD, and many more. The company offers multiple ways to deposit and withdraw funds, some of them are credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and a ion of eWallets like Neteller, Skrill, and Fasapay.
For any questions or assistance, traders can contact the company directly at one of their local offices or at their headquarters in the Marshall Islands. Besides, traders can chat with their customer service by email, Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, and Live Chat.
Based on the review above, easyMarkets provides easy-to-use platforms with some unique tools and it can be accessed by traders anytime and anywhere. Besides, traders do not need to pay extra fees for trading commission and deposit/withdrawal fees. Traders who register in easyMarkets can enjoy low spreads in EUR/USD pairs from 0.9 in the MT4 platform.
4. BDSwiss
BDSwiss, a broker that recently celebrated its decade-old anniversary, is a broker that also holds an FSA Seychelles license (FSA regulation number SD047).
This broker also offers a variety of financial assets to be traded with leverage of up to 1:400 and a minimum lot size of 0.01 lot. However, the required minimum deposit at BDSwiss is higher, at a minimum of $100.
5. HF Markets
Last but not least, there's HF Markets, formerly known as HotForex (FSA regulation number 8419176-1). It provides trading services ranging from forex, CFDs, cryptocurrencies, commodities, well-known stocks, and much more.
HF Markets is renowned for offering the tightest spreads starting from 0 pips in the Zero Account. With a minimum deposit of $5 and leverage of up to 1:1000, it's no wonder that a total of 1,500,000 live trading accounts have been created since the broker's inception in 2010.
HF Markets is an award-winning forex and commodities broker. Established since 2010, the company provides trading services and facilities to both retail and institutional clients. For more than 9 years in business, HF Markets has around 1,500,000 live accounts opened and 200 employees globally.
Based on its services, HF Markets can be regarded as middle-class category. Clients do not need to prepare a big deposit for joining to trade with this broker. Also, there are various account types, trading software, and tools to facilitate individuals and institutional customers to trade forex and CFD online.
HF Markets is a registered brand name of HF Markets (Europe). Based on the location, the company is regulated by various financial regulators. Here are the details:
- HF Markets (SV) Ltd, registered in St. Vincent & the Grenadine as an International Business Company with the registration number 22747 IBC 2015.
- HF Markets (Europe), authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with Licence Number 183/12.
- HF Markets SA (PTY), is authorized and regulated as a Financial Service Provider (FSP) by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa, under license number 46632.
- HF Markets (Seychelles), incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Seychelles with registration number 8419176-1, regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) under Securities Dealer Licence number SD015.
- HF Markets (DIFC) Ltd, authorized and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) under license number F004885.
- HF Markets (UK) Ltd, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 801701.
If traders have more experienced, knowledgeable, and sophisticated trading environment, they can join to become Professional Clients, who can manage and assess their own risks. For that reason, these kinds of clients are granted access to more favorable rates but afforded lesser regulatory protections than retail clients.
Trading with HF Markets can enable traders to access a variety of trading instruments like CFDs on Forex, Cryptocurrencies, spot metals (gold, silver, and others), energies (oil and gas), commodities (such as coffee, copper, and sugar), indices, bonds, and popular shares such as Google, Apple, and Facebook.
HF Markets offers some of the tightest spreads in the market, starting from 0 pips in Zero Account. This broker quote major foreign exchange currency pairs to five decimal places. Therefore, traders have the opportunity to get more accurate pricing and the best possible spreads.
HF Markets receives numerous highly prestigious titles, including the huge honor of being ed to join the ranks of the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies. Others are Best Client Funds Security Global by Global Brands Magazine, Best Global Forex Copy Trading Platform by Global Forex Awards 2019, Fastest Growing Forex Broker Mena 2019 by International Business Magazine, and many more.
After opening an account in HF Markets, traders will obtain various forex trading platforms to accommodate all of their trading demands. Whether traders like to trade on desktop or prefer to trade on-the-go, they can use MetaTrader 4 on desktop (terminal, multi-terminal, and web terminal) and phone (iPhone, iPad, and Android).
Clients' funds are held in segregated accounts. Only major banks are used by Markets because they believe that successful traders have to give their full attention to their trading rather than worrying about the safety of their funds.
Traders do not need to worry about transaction fees when depositing and withdrawing. Transaction fees are not charged, and diversity of payment methods enable them to choose between Wire Transfer, Bank Card, and online payments (Neteller, iDeal, Sofort Banking, and Skrill). HF Markets ensures that traders make fast transactions 24/5 during the standard hours.
Traders can earn extra income by joining the affiliate program offered by Markets. Clients who join this program will get some advantages, such as 60% of Net Spreads based on the volume traded by sub-clients, up to $15 per a lot of net revenue, and many more. More information about HF Markets can be obtained on their official website which is supported in 27 languages.
From the review above, it can be concluded that HF Markets is one of the award-winning forex and commodities brokers. There are various account types traders can choose in HF Markets, and the broker itself becomes a favorite among traders for its low spreads. This condition is very suitable for traders with limited funds and a desire to get more opportunities to gain maximum profit.
Benefits of Trading with Seychelles Forex Brokers
Trading with Seychelles Forex brokers can offer several benefits to traders. Here are some advantages:
- Seychelles Forex brokers often provide access to a wide range of financial instruments, including major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, and even cryptocurrencies. This variety allows traders to diversify their portfolios and explore different markets.
- Usually, they offered leverage that can reach 1:500, 1:1000, 1:2000, and even higher.
- Lower initial deposit amounts compared to brokers in more established financial centers. Moreover, the minimum deposit can be as low as $1.
- Offer tight spreads, which can reduce trading costs for traders.
- Lower taxes.
Beware the Risks of Trading with an Offshore Forex Broker
It's worth noting that Seychelles forex brokers are offshore brokers. As a trader, there's nothing wrong with being cautious. If you end up registering with an offshore broker, remember that these risks will always exist:
- The broker can just disappear.
- Unlicensed brokers can seize your trading account anytime.
- Your earnings can be nullified by your broker, and you might lose all your profit.
- You may lose your deposit.
This does not mean that all of Seychelles' forex brokers are bad. Some of them are proven reliable but chose to establish an offshore branch to allow higher leverage or accept clients from more countries. Therefore, only choose Seychelles forex brokers with years of experience and good testimonies from clients.
5 Comments
Sep 16 2021
Hello, which forex jurisdiction do you recommend between Seychelles, EAU, South Africa, and New Zealand? Thanks a lot.
Sep 17 2021
Hi, Laura. You can read the best regulations in the world in this article.
Aug 29 2023
Is 77markets (77markets.com) a regulated investment firm / broker registered by the Sychelles Financial Services Authority in accordance with the securities Act 2007? Is it licenced and reputable?
Apr 20 2024
Hey! I came across this part in the article: Seychelles Forex brokers usually offer access to a broad spectrum of financial assets, such as major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, and even cryptocurrencies. This wide selection lets traders spread their investments across various markets and assets.
I'm curious, are there regulations in other places that limit the range of financial instruments available? Also, what risks are associated with brokers offering access to such a wide array of financial assets, especially considering that Seychelles is known for being an offshore regulator?
Apr 24 2024
Hey there! In some regulatory jurisdictions, there are indeed limitations on the range of financial instruments that brokers can offer. For example, certain regulatory bodies may impose restrictions to ensure investor protection or to maintain market stability. These limitations might include restrictions on trading certain types of derivatives or exotic financial products.
As for the risks associated with brokers offering access to a wide range of financial instruments, especially in Seychelles as an offshore regulator, there are a few considerations. One risk is the potential for increased exposure to unregulated or poorly regulated markets and instruments. Offshore regulators may have less stringent oversight compared to well-established regulatory bodies, which could expose traders to higher levels of fraud or misconduct.
Additionally, the wide range of available assets may lead to increased complexity for traders, especially those who are inexperienced or unfamiliar with certain markets. Without proper understanding and risk management, traders may inadvertently expose themselves to higher levels of risk or make uninformed investment decisions.