IC Markets
Is FP Markets Safe? FP Markets Regulation, Companies and Protections
FP Markets has run from Sydney since 2005, and its group holds licences from ASIC, CySEC, the FSCA and Seychelles' FSA. Many international clients, though, are served by FP Markets Ltd, a company registered in Saint Lucia in 2025. Here is which company holds your account and what that means for your money.
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FP Markets is an Australian broker that began in Sydney in 2005. Its group operates several companies: First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd holds an Australian Financial Services Licence from ASIC, First Prudential Markets Ltd is licensed by CySEC in Cyprus, and its regulation page also names the FSCA in South Africa and the FSA in Seychelles. For many clients outside Australia and Europe, however, the company you sign up with is FP Markets Ltd, which its own FAQ describes as registered under the laws of Saint Lucia.
That distinction is the most important thing to know about FP Markets' safety. A strong group with licences in Australia and Europe doesn't mean every account sits under those regulators.
| Founded | 2005, Sydney |
|---|---|
| Australia | First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd, ASIC AFSL 286354 |
| Europe | First Prudential Markets Ltd, CySEC 371/18 |
| Also named | FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles) |
| International company | FP Markets Ltd, Saint Lucia, reg. 2025-00853 |
| Client money | Segregated accounts with AA- rated banks |
FP Markets' companies
| Company | Authority | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd | ASIC (Australia) | AFSL 286354 |
| First Prudential Markets Ltd | CySEC (Cyprus) | 371/18 |
| FP Markets (South Africa) | FSCA | Named on regulation page |
| FP Markets (Seychelles) | FSA Seychelles | Named on regulation page |
| FP Markets (Kenya) | Capital Markets Authority | Licence 193 (CMA list) |
| FP Markets Ltd | Registered in Saint Lucia | Company no. 2025-00853 |
ASIC's register shows licence 286354 for First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd as current, with a commencement date of 31 May 2005. You can check it yourself on ASIC Connect, and the CySEC licence on CySEC's register.
Registered vs regulated
FP Markets' FAQ answers the question 'Who is FP Markets regulated by?' with: FP Markets Ltd, an entity registered under the laws of Saint Lucia, registration number 2025-00853. Its regulation page says being a registered company of Saint Lucia makes it a global entity. A company registration is not the same as a financial services licence from a markets regulator, so clients of FP Markets Ltd don't get ASIC or CySEC protections.
Check the company name on your account application and Client Agreement. If it says FP Markets Ltd (Saint Lucia), the Australian and European licences don't cover your account.
What protections you do get
| Protection | FP Markets Ltd (Saint Lucia) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Segregated client funds | Yes, with AA- rated banks | FP Markets FAQ |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | FP Markets FAQ |
| Investor compensation fund | No | FP Markets FAQ |
| External audit | LNP Audit and Assurance | FP Markets FAQ |
FP Markets says client funds are held separately from the company's own money and are never used for company expenses. On insolvency, its FAQ says client funds would be returned from the client fund accounts, and that clients would be paid from the company's own funds since FP Markets Ltd isn't in a compensation scheme.
How FP Markets prices and executes
FP Markets describes its MT4 and MT5 pricing as Raw: prices stream from its liquidity providers with no interference from it, and there's no dealing desk intervention or requotes. It does have a trade desk that monitors risk and exposure. Its servers sit in Equinix's NY4 and LD4 data centres. Our FP Markets spreads guide shows what that pricing looks like in practice.
Who can open an account
FP Markets only accepts clients from certain jurisdictions. Its FAQ says that if you can't find your country on the application form, it can't accept your application. Australian residents are served by the ASIC company and EU residents by the CySEC company; the Saint Lucia company serves many other regions.
Disputes and complaints
FP Markets publishes a Dispute Resolution Process among its legal documents, which explains how to complain and what happens if the matter isn't settled. Start with Customer Support, put your complaint in writing, and keep every reply. Our FP Markets customer support guide lists the right teams.
Red flags to watch
- Deposit only through your own FP Markets Client Portal; FP Markets doesn't accept third-party deposits.
- Be wary of anyone offering to trade your account for a share of profits outside FP Markets' official MAM or PAMM services.
- FP Markets doesn't offer bonuses, so 'FP Markets bonus' offers from third parties are a warning sign.
- Turn on two-factor authentication in your Client Portal under Profile, then Profile Details.
Is FP Markets safe?
The FP Markets group has a long record and strong licences in Australia and Cyprus. For clients of those companies, it is a well-regulated broker. Clients of the Saint Lucia company get safeguards that are the company's own: segregated funds, negative balance protection and an external audit, without a markets regulator or compensation fund behind them. Compare it in IC Markets vs FP Markets.
Checking a licence yourself
- Find the company name in your FP Markets application or Client Agreement.
- Search licence 286354 for First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd on ASIC's professional register.
- Look up 371/18 for First Prudential Markets Ltd on CySEC's list of investment firms.
- For FP Markets Ltd, note that it is a Saint Lucia registered company rather than a licensed one.
- Confirm that the website and email domains you use match FP Markets' official ones.
FP Markets is a good example of why the brand isn't the protection. Its ASIC licence is real and long-standing, but if your agreement names the Saint Lucia company, that licence isn't the one looking after your money.
Nadia registered with FP Markets and read her Client Agreement before depositing. It named FP Markets Ltd, registered in Saint Lucia. She was comfortable with segregated funds and negative balance protection, kept her balance to an amount she could afford to lose, and withdrew profits monthly.
Frequently asked
Is FP Markets regulated?
Its group is. First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd holds ASIC licence 286354 and First Prudential Markets Ltd holds CySEC licence 371/18; the FSCA and Seychelles' FSA are also named. FP Markets Ltd, which serves many international clients, is registered in Saint Lucia.
Which FP Markets company will hold my account?
It depends on where you live. Australians join the ASIC company and EU residents the CySEC company; many other clients join FP Markets Ltd in Saint Lucia.
Does FP Markets segregate client funds?
Yes. FP Markets says client funds are held in segregated accounts with AA- rated banks, separate from its own money.
Does FP Markets offer negative balance protection?
Yes, according to its FAQ.
Is FP Markets Ltd covered by a compensation fund?
No. FP Markets' FAQ says FP Markets Ltd is not a member of an investor compensation fund.
When was FP Markets founded?
Its Sydney head office has operated since 2005. FP Markets Ltd in Saint Lucia was registered in 2025.
Is FP Markets a market maker?
FP Markets says it offers Raw pricing streamed from liquidity providers, with no dealing desk intervention or requotes, while a trade desk monitors its risk.
Who audits FP Markets?
FP Markets' FAQ says it is audited by LNP Audit and Assurance Pty Ltd.
Does FP Markets offer bonuses?
No. FP Markets says it doesn't offer bonuses, calling them a gimmick some brokers use.
Where is FP Markets Ltd based?
Its registered office is at Ground Floor, Rodney Court Building, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.
Who owns FP Markets?
FP Markets says it is an Australian owned, private limited group of companies.
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