Is XTB safe?
XTB is regulated by FCA and 4 more authorities, keeps client funds in segregated accounts, and clients are covered by FSCS (£85,000).
Operating: 5 of 6 register entries hold a live authorisation as of 2026-09-17; the rest no longer take new clients.
Verdict based on verified regulatory data below. We are not affiliated with regulators.
Legal entities behind XTB
Each row is one register card, read on the date shown. A brand can span several licences with different statuses — the one you contract with decides your protection.
| Entity | Regulator | Reference | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB MENA Limited | DFSA · United Arab Emirates (DIFC) | F006316 | AuthorisedRegister wording: Authorised Firms · Date of Licence 08-Jul-2021 · Restrictions: Dealing in Investments as Principal is limited to deals undertaken on a Matched Principal basis only. | 2026-09-17 |
| XTB International Limited | FSC Belize · Belize | 6442514 | AuthorisedRegister wording: Trading in Securities as Agent, Trading in Securities as Principal, Arranging Transactions in Securities · Status Active · Registration Date 01/01/2025 | 2026-09-17 |
| XTB S.A. | KNF · Poland | Open register card | AuthorisedRegister wording: Firmy inwestycyjne - Domy maklerskie · date of authorization 08-11-2005KNF's entity search prints no licence number. 6884980 is the id of the firm's card in that search, not a licence number. | 2026-09-17 |
| XTB Limited | FCA · United Kingdom | FRN 522157 | AuthorisedRegister wording: Authorised · since 17/01/2011 | 2026-09-17 |
| XTB Ltd | CySEC · Cyprus | 169/12 | AuthorisedRegister wording: Investment Firms (Cypriot) · licence 169/12 of 18/04/2012 | 2026-09-17 |
| XTB Ltd | FCA · United Kingdom | FRN 595249 | No longer authorisedRegister wording: Cancelled · since 31/12/2020 | 2026-09-17 |
Register records for all brokers (CSV, JSON) · Register change log
Why this broker scores 100/100
Full methodology →How safe is your money
Segregated client accounts
Client funds held separately from operating capital. Required by regulator.
Investor compensation: FSCS (£85,000)
If broker becomes insolvent, your covered assets are reimbursed up to the scheme's limit.
Publicly traded company
Listed on a regulated exchange — financials are public.
24 years of operations
Founded 2002. No major regulatory actions on record.
Negative balance protection
You cannot lose more than your account balance.
CFD/crypto exposure
Offers high-leverage products. 74–89% of retail CFD accounts lose money in the long run.
Independent reviews
What could go wrong
- Above-threshold pricing aggressive: 0.2% commission with a 10 EUR minimumBeyond €100k/mo turnover (€1.2M annually), commissions ramp to 0.2% with a 10 EUR floor — that's €10 on a €100 trade (10%!). Designed to keep XTB profitable on heavy users; if you're trading €200k/mo, costs add up fast vs IB.
- No options or futures — derivatives are CFD-onlyIf you want to write covered calls, trade SPX options or use futures for hedging, XTB cannot serve you. CFDs on indices and commodities exist but are not the same instrument (different leverage, tax, settlement).
- Demo expires after 30 days of inactivityUnlike IBKR or Admirals (unlimited demo), XTB resets the demo account every 30 days idle. Friction for users wanting to paper-trade strategies over months.
Frequently asked questions
Is XTB regulated?
Is XTB legit or a scam?
Is XTB still operating, or closing down?
Is my money protected at XTB?
What happens if XTB goes bankrupt?
How we verified this review
Every fact below is verified against primary sources. We refresh on a schedule and on reader feedback.