ActivTrades vs FP Markets: Which Broker Is Better?

ActivTrades operates through a regulatory structure that includes ActivTrades PLC, authorised by the UK FCA under licence number 434413, which is one of the group’s strongest regulated entities. The group also has entities or registrations connected to Portugal and Brazil, as well as international companies linked to Mauritius and the Bahamas, allowing it to serve clients in different markets under different legal frameworks.

Client protection depends on the entity under which the trading account is opened. FCA requirements and UK complaint procedures do not automatically apply to accounts opened with an international entity, and traders should distinguish between a full investment-services licence, local registration and regulatory frameworks with different powers.

Before opening an ActivTrades account, traders should confirm the legal company name and licence number shown during registration, then review the applicable client-money protection, compensation and complaints procedures. This is particularly important for traders choosing ActivTrades for its platforms or operating history.

ActivTrades client fund protection includes holding eligible client money separately from the company’s operating funds under the rules of the legal entity responsible for the account. Negative balance protection is also available where applicable. The broker additionally advertises client-fund insurance of up to GBP 1 million for certain eligible clients, above the basic statutory protection limits.

This additional insurance is not a general guarantee and remains subject to the policy terms, client eligibility, coverage limits and account entity. Traders should verify the legal company serving their account and review the applicable segregation, compensation and insurance conditions before relying on the advertised protection amount.

FP Markets operates through entities that include First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd, authorised by ASIC under licence number 286354, and FP Asset Management Cyprus Ltd, regulated by CySEC under licence number 371/18. The group also has entities connected to the FSCA in South Africa and the FSA in Seychelles, allowing it to provide services across different international markets.

ASIC and CySEC licences support the group’s overall regulatory profile, but an account opened with a Seychelles or South African entity may be subject to different leverage limits, investor-protection arrangements and complaint procedures. Available instruments, funding methods and certain account features may also vary according to the legal company serving the client.

Before choosing FP Markets Standard or Raw accounts, or trading through MT4 or MT5, traders should verify the responsible entity and its licence number. This makes it possible to compare execution costs and commissions with the applicable level of regulatory oversight instead of assuming that all FP Markets clients receive the same protection.

FP Markets states that eligible client funds are held in segregated bank accounts under the requirements of the regulatory entity responsible for the account. Negative balance protection may also be available under the conditions applied by certain FP Markets group companies, helping eligible clients limit liability resulting from a negative trading-account balance.

Client-money rules, investor compensation arrangements and complaint procedures may differ between the ASIC-regulated Australian entity, the CySEC-regulated European entity and international entities supervised by FSCA or FSA. Traders should match the legal company and licence number in their client agreement with the relevant regulatory register before transferring funds.