MFSA · Malta (EU)
Malta Financial Services Authority
Applies the same EU framework as Cyprus, with a smaller and generally more established group of investment firms.
- Retail leverage
- EU (ESMA-aligned) retail caps of 30:1 on major FX, down to 2:1, with negative balance protection.
- Compensation
- Investor compensation scheme cover of up to €20,000.
- Capital
- EU capital requirements for investment firms, scaled by activity.
- Supervision & substance
- Maltese licensed entity with local governance and compliance functions.
- Stocks, futures & crypto
- MiFID II covers stocks, futures, and options. Malta was early to regulate crypto, and now licenses crypto service providers under MiCA.
- Trade-off
- Same retail leverage limits as the rest of the EU.
What it means for you: A credible EU home for European clients, with a compensation scheme behind it.
Common questions about MFSA
Is MFSA a good regulator for forex brokers?
In our view, MFSA is a strong international regulator (Tier 2 · Strong international). Applies the same EU framework as Cyprus, with a smaller and generally more established group of investment firms. A credible EU home for European clients, with a compensation scheme behind it.
What leverage can brokers regulated by MFSA offer retail clients?
EU (ESMA-aligned) retail caps of 30:1 on major FX, down to 2:1, with negative balance protection.
Is there a compensation scheme if a broker regulated by MFSA fails?
Investor compensation scheme cover of up to €20,000.
Does MFSA regulate stocks, futures, or crypto?
MiFID II covers stocks, futures, and options. Malta was early to regulate crypto, and now licenses crypto service providers under MiCA.
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.
See how all 31 regulators compareSimilar regulators
CySEC
Cyprus (EU)
Tier 2 · Strong internationalFinansinspektionen
Sweden (EU)
Tier 2 · Strong internationalFinantsinspektsioon
Estonia (EU)
Tier 2 · Strong internationalWe have done the broker homework.
See which brokers made our shortlist, the entities and licences behind each one, and member pricing.
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.