IC Markets vs OneRoyal: Which Broker Is Better?

IC Markets operates through regulated entities that include International Capital Markets Pty Ltd, authorised by ASIC under licence number 335692, and IC Markets (EU) Ltd, regulated by CySEC under licence number 362/18. International services are also provided through Raw Trading Ltd, regulated by the Seychelles FSA under licence number SD018, and IC Markets Global Ltd, regulated in the Bahamas.

The level of protection at IC Markets depends on the entity serving the client. An ASIC or CySEC account does not necessarily provide the same conditions and rights as an account opened with an international entity, and leverage, complaint procedures, negative-balance protection and available products may differ even when the client uses the same Raw Spread account or platform.

Before choosing IC Markets for scalping or algorithmic trading, traders should verify the legal company name and licence number shown during registration. Low spreads, liquidity and execution are important, but they do not determine which entity is responsible for client funds or what legal protection applies if a dispute or account problem occurs.

Regulated IC Markets entities hold eligible client funds in segregated accounts, separate from the capital used for the company’s operations, under the requirements of the relevant regulator. The broker also states that negative balance protection may apply to certain clients and entities under the conditions of the applicable account agreement.

Client-fund protection is not identical across the IC Markets group and may differ between the ASIC-regulated Australian entity, the CySEC-regulated European entity and international entities in Seychelles or the Bahamas. Traders should identify the legal company that will hold their funds before choosing a Raw Spread account or making a deposit.

OneRoyal operates through Royal Financial Trading Pty Ltd, authorised by ASIC under licence number 420268; Royal Financial Trading (CY) Ltd, regulated by CySEC under licence number 312/16; and Royal CM Limited, supervised by the VFSC in Vanuatu under number 700284 for certain international clients and markets.

The ASIC and CySEC entities represent the stronger regulatory side of the OneRoyal structure, while the Vanuatu entity provides an international framework where leverage, protection and complaint procedures may differ. Traders should not assume that every OneRoyal account receives the same regulatory treatment simply because the brand and platform are identical.

Before opening a OneRoyal account, traders should identify the legal company contracting with them and verify its official licence number. This is particularly useful for traders interested in liquidity or multi-asset trading services because it clarifies the entity responsible for the account and the rights available if a dispute or financial problem occurs.

Regulated OneRoyal entities separate eligible client funds from company operating money under the rules of ASIC, CySEC or the regulator responsible for the account. Fund segregation helps reduce the risk of client money being used for the broker’s operating expenses, but it does not guarantee profits, remove trading losses or eliminate counterparty risk.

Investor compensation eligibility and complaint procedures may differ between the Cypriot, Australian and international Vanuatu entities. OneRoyal clients should verify the legal company named in their account agreement, its licence and the client-money rules applying to it before transferring or maintaining funds with the broker.