MAS · Singapore
Monetary Authority of Singapore
Singapore's central bank and financial regulator. Rigorous, conservative, and highly respected internationally.
- Retail leverage
- Retail FX capped at 20:1 since October 2019. Accredited investors can access up to 50:1.
- Compensation
- No investor compensation scheme for FX or CFD accounts.
- Capital
- Leveraged FX dealers need a Capital Markets Services licence and must meet MAS base and risk-based capital requirements, set out in MAS's financial and margin regulations.
- Supervision & substance
- Capital Markets Services licence with local management, strict client-money rules, and ongoing MAS supervision.
- Stocks, futures & crypto
- The same licence covers stocks and futures. Crypto providers are licensed under the Payment Services Act, and MAS bans giving retail customers leverage or incentives to trade crypto.
- Trade-off
- Low retail leverage and no compensation scheme.
What it means for you: A top-quality regulator. Strong protection, but the lower leverage applies if your account sits with the Singapore entity.
Common questions about MAS
Is MAS a good regulator for forex brokers?
In our view, MAS is a top-tier regulator (Tier 1 · Top-tier onshore). Singapore's central bank and financial regulator. Rigorous, conservative, and highly respected internationally. A top-quality regulator. Strong protection, but the lower leverage applies if your account sits with the Singapore entity.
What leverage can brokers regulated by MAS offer retail clients?
Retail FX capped at 20:1 since October 2019. Accredited investors can access up to 50:1.
Is there a compensation scheme if a broker regulated by MAS fails?
No investor compensation scheme for FX or CFD accounts.
Does MAS regulate stocks, futures, or crypto?
The same licence covers stocks and futures. Crypto providers are licensed under the Payment Services Act, and MAS bans giving retail customers leverage or incentives to trade crypto.
A licence only protects you if your account is with the entity that holds it. Many broker groups hold several licences and onboard clients through an offshore entity. Check your client agreement, and verify the licence on the regulator's own register.
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Tiers and ratings are M1 Strategic's own assessment, based on public sources listed in our regulator guide. Rules change: always verify with the regulator directly. Not financial advice.