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OANDA regulation and how it scores

Regulation carries the heaviest weight in the score, which is why it is scored first. Here is OANDA's licensing and the protections behind it.

Facts last checked . Read the full OANDA review.

Regulation and safety

Regulated by
CFTC/NFA; FCA; ASIC; CIRO; MAS; JFSA and other regional regulators
Regulator tier
Tier 1
Register entry
NFA BASIC, ID 0325821
Client money segregated
Yes, where required by the applicable entity
Held at
Major regulated financial institutions; entity-dependent
Negative balance protection
Yes in applicable jurisdictions such as UK/EU retail; not universal
Compensation scheme
Jurisdiction-dependent; eligible UK clients may receive FSCS protection
Audited by
Independent external/statutory auditors
Not available to
Jurisdiction-dependent; services are provided only where the relevant OANDA entity is permitted to operate

Check the licence yourself: NFA BASIC, the FCA Register, ASIC Connect, the MAS Financial Institutions Directory.

What this means

Regulation carries the heaviest weight in the score, which is why it is scored first.

OANDA holds tier-one authorisations from ASIC, FCA, MAS, CFTC/NFA and CIRO. That matters more than any headline spread: it determines your leverage cap, whether losses can exceed your deposit, and what happens to your money if the firm fails.

ASIC caps retail leverage at 1:30, requires negative balance protection, and obliges the broker to hold client money in a separate trust account.

The FCA caps retail leverage at 1:30, mandates negative balance protection, and covers eligible clients under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore applies some of the tightest conduct requirements in the region, and fewer firms hold its licence.

Client money is held separately from the firm's own money, at Major regulated financial institutions; entity-dependent. That separation is what makes your balance recoverable if the company fails, rather than part of the pool its creditors divide up.

Negative balance protection applies, so a losing position cannot take the account below zero and leave you owing the broker money.

Covered by Jurisdiction-dependent; eligible UK clients may receive FSCS protection, which pays eligible clients up to its limit if the firm fails owing client money.

Questions about OANDA regulation

Is OANDA tier-one regulated?

OANDA's strongest licence is recorded as Tier 1.

Who regulates OANDA?

OANDA is regulated by CFTC/NFA; FCA; ASIC; CIRO; MAS; JFSA and other regional regulators.

Does OANDA offer negative balance protection?

Yes. OANDA offers negative balance protection, so a losing position cannot leave you owing the broker more than your account held.

Regulation at brokers under the same regulator

More about OANDA