XS vs Equiti: Which Broker Is Better?

XS operates through a broad regulatory structure that includes XS Prime Ltd, authorised by ASIC under licence number 374409, and XS Markets Ltd, regulated by CySEC under licence number 412/22, together with entities supervised by the FSCA in South Africa, the FSA in Seychelles, the FSC in Mauritius and the LFSA in Malaysia. The group also has registrations or related entities connected to the UAE and Kuwait, reflecting its international reach.

Traders should distinguish between a full financial-services licence and registrations or authorisations with a different scope. The appearance of the XS name in a local register does not necessarily provide the same level of protection available under ASIC or CySEC, and trading conditions, leverage and complaint procedures may vary according to the legal company accepting the account.

When researching XS licences, the number of regulators listed is not enough. Traders should identify the specific entity they will contract with and verify its number in the official register. ASIC and CySEC entities may be more suitable for traders prioritising strict oversight, while some international entities may offer greater flexibility under a different level of regulatory protection.

XS applies client fund protection measures according to the regulatory entity responsible for each account. These measures include separating eligible client money from company operating funds, together with controls related to deposits, withdrawals, identity verification and anti-money-laundering requirements. XS agreements also provide negative balance protection under the applicable conditions.

Negative balance protection may limit liability from losses exceeding the available trading-account balance, but legal safeguards are not identical across all entities. Investor compensation eligibility, complaint procedures and client-money protection may differ between the ASIC, CySEC and international entities in Seychelles, Mauritius and other jurisdictions. Traders should verify their legal company before depositing.

Equiti operates through several legal entities, including Equiti Capital UK Limited, authorised by the UK FCA under licence number 528328, and Equiti Global Markets Ltd, regulated by CySEC under licence number 415/22. The group also includes an entity supervised by the Jordan Securities Commission under number 50248 and an international entity regulated by the FSA in Seychelles, giving Equiti a clear presence in Europe and the Arab region.

The Jordanian entity may be especially relevant to traders in Jordan and nearby markets, while the FCA and CySEC entities provide recognised regulatory frameworks for eligible clients. Conditions at the Seychelles entity may differ, however, so Equiti’s licences should not be treated as identical in terms of investor protection.

When assessing Equiti, traders should confirm which legal company will hold the account and client funds, then match its licence number with the official register. This allows traders to understand whether they are dealing with the Jordanian, European or international entity and what regulatory rights apply.

Regulated Equiti entities protect eligible client funds by keeping them separate from the capital used to operate the company. Where required, client money is held with banking institutions under the rules applying to the legal entity responsible for the account. This segregation helps prevent client funds from being used for the broker’s daily operating expenses.

Segregation does not remove trading risk or guarantee that funds will be recovered in every situation. Client protection, complaint procedures and any additional safeguards may differ between the FCA, CySEC, JSC and international Seychelles entities. Traders should verify the legal company holding their funds before depositing.