FBS offers accessible trading conditions with low entry deposits, but international clients contract with an offshore entity without statutory compensation protection.
Spreads from
0.7 pips
Commission
$0 (spread-only)
Min deposit
$5
Established
2009
Regulated by
FSC Belize · CySEC · FSCA (South Africa) · ASIC
Written byLaverlane Team·Updated27 Oct 2026
Researched with AI assistance and verified by our editors
Regulation
International retail clients contract with FBS Markets Inc. in Belize under Tier 3 FSC regulation.
FBS operates through multiple corporate entities depending on geographic jurisdiction. International clients contract under FBS Markets Inc., which appears as an active licensee on the Belize Financial Services Commission register under number 4077102. The group also operates Tradestone Ltd, authorised by CySEC for EU clients, Trade Stone SA (Pty) Ltd, an FSCA-authorised provider in South Africa, and Intelligent Financial Markets Pty Ltd, which states it holds ASIC AFS licence 426359 under the FBS Oceania name. International accounts under FBS.com do not benefit from their coverage, and the site is closed to EU and UK residents.
Regulators in Panama (2012) and Brazil (2017) have published warnings that FBS Markets Inc. is not authorised to offer services to their residents, so check each regulator’s warning page before opening an account.
Key facts
FBS operates as a private international brokerage providing multi-asset CFD trading.
Client-facing entity
FBS Markets Inc.
Regulators
FSC Belize, CySEC, FSCA (South Africa), ASIC
Restricted countries
AF, AL, BY, CN, CD, CU, EG, ER, HT, HN, IN, IR, IQ, JO, KZ, XK, KG, LY, LB, MG, ML, MM, NE, KP, PK, PS, RU, RS, SO, KR, SS, SD, SY, TR, UA, GB, US, VE, EH, YE, IL, AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IS, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE
Negative-balance protection
Yes
Minimum deposit
$5
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:3000
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:500
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:200
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:100
Max leverage (UK/EU retail)
1:30
Max leverage (professional)
1:500
Typical EUR/USD spread
1 pips
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Account currencies
USD, EUR, GBP
Operating as a private international brokerage since 2009, FBS serves retail clients across multiple jurisdictions. The primary operating entity for global accounts is based in Belize, offering flexible trading parameters outside strict ESMA leverage limits.
Best for
Pros & cons
Fund safety
Client deposits reside in segregated accounts, but international balances lack statutory compensation cover.
FBS says it keeps client funds in insured, segregated accounts at multiple tier-1 banks, separate from company balances, but it does not name the insurer or policy terms. International accounts under FBS Markets Inc. operate without coverage from investor compensation funds such as Cyprus’s Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which applies only to clients of its EU entity. Negative balance protection is stated as active, although the company reserves the right to claim debts where it considers a client's actions intentional.
Account terms
Terms of service include strict anti-abusive trading clauses and broad company discretion.
The broker retains discretion to void trades or profits derived from abusive practices such as exploiting off-market prices or latency, and the Trading Conditions allow it to requote (offer you a new price after you place an order) and to refuse certain orders. Real accounts are archived after 90 days of inactivity, although no inactivity fee is charged. The Client Agreement also excludes clients from dozens of jurisdictions.
Costs
Pricing relies on commission-free floating spreads from 0.7 pips, with typical EUR/USD around 1.0 pip.
The broker states commission-free floating spreads from 0.7 pips, which vary with market conditions. Overnight swaps (the daily financing charge or credit for keeping a position open) on other positions can be significant if you hold trades past the daily rollover.
| Instrument | Asset class | Typical spread | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Forex CFD | 1 | pips |
| GBP/USD | Forex CFD | 1.2 | pips |
| USD/JPY | Forex CFD | 1.1 | pips |
| US 100 (Nasdaq) | Index CFD | 2.2 | points |
| US 500 (S&P 500) | Index CFD | 0.6 | points |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | Commodity CFD | 0.31 | $ / oz |
| US Crude Oil | Commodity CFD | 0.02 | $ / bbl |
| BTC/USD | Crypto CFD | 19.72 | $ |
Spreads shown are typical, not guaranteed, and widen during volatile sessions or outside main market hours. Figures reflect the broker's standard retail account.
Markets
Instrument coverage spans over 550 total CFDs across forex, commodities, indices, equities and crypto.
Forex CFD
70 pairs
Index CFD
11 indices
Commodity CFD
Metals, energies, softs
Single-Stock CFD
470 shares
Crypto CFD
Available ✓ · Weekend trading ✓
Real ownership: Stocks / ETFs
N/A for this broker, CFDs only
FBS lists more than 550 CFD assets, including 70+ forex pairs, 470+ stock CFDs, 11 indices, 8 metals, 3 energy instruments and 20 crypto CFDs. Crypto coverage is limited to major coins, which affects traders looking for extensive altcoin pairs.
Platforms
Trading access encompasses MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the proprietary FBS mobile app.
FBS provides MT4, MT5 and a mobile app, which cover standard algorithmic and manual trading setups across desktop and mobile devices. Specialised tools and Expert Advisors (EAs) run on the desktop MetaTrader platforms.
Execution
Orders are routed through STP to several liquidity providers, and FBS does not publish fill-quality statistics.
Market execution at FBS without published fill statistics leaves slippage (the gap between the price you click and the price you get) unmeasurable before you fund a live account. This lack of execution reporting impacts high-volume scalpers sensitive to order fill precision.
Leverage
International forex leverage reaches up to 1:3000 for small accounts, falling as equity grows.
Forex leverage up to 1:3000 applies to equity up to $199 and steps down to 1:2000 up to $4,999, 1:1000 up to $29,999 and lower beyond that. Other assets have fixed caps: 1:500 on metals, 1:200 on most indices and energies, and up to 1:100 on stocks. High leverage amplifies drawdown speed, wiping out low-margin accounts during volatile market gaps.
A margin call warns you when your margin level hits 40%, and stop out starts closing positions when it falls to 20%.
Account types
Account options include the Standard tier with micro-lot sizing capabilities.
| Account | Min deposit | Commission | Swap | Spread | Demo | Islamic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $5 | Spread-only | Variable overnight fees | From 0.7 pips · Variable | Not offered | Not offered |
A $5 minimum deposit on FBS Standard accounts is an easy way in if you’re starting small. Micro-lot capability helps novices manage risk, whereas high-volume traders lack a raw-spread tier.
Funding
FBS does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees, though payment systems may.
FBS offers 200+ deposit and withdrawal methods and says it does not charge commission itself, although individual payment systems can apply fees shown in the Trader Area. Withdrawals are reviewed within 24 hours, then e-wallets are credited almost immediately, cards typically take 3–4 business days and bank transfers 7–10 business days. Withdrawals must go back to the method used for the deposit.
Support
Customer service operates 24/7 via live chat, email, phone and callback.
FBS says its multilingual support team is available 24/7 and replies in under a minute, with a callback option and email and phone contacts. Its Help Center is available in English, Arabic, Indonesian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish and Malay. Continuous chat access at FBS helps global traders resolve account lockouts regardless of local time zones.
Availability
FBS excludes residents of many jurisdictions, including the EU, UK and US.
The Client Agreement says FBS does not provide services to citizens or residents of 43 listed jurisdictions, including the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, China and North and South Korea, and the website also names Israel. Residents of restricted countries cannot maintain active accounts.
FBS may not be licensed in your country. Before sending money to an overseas broker, check that it is authorised to serve residents where you live, and bear in mind the extra risks of cross-border transfers, currency conversion costs and limited recourse if something goes wrong.
Verdict
FBS offers competitive commission-free spreads and a low minimum deposit, which will appeal to beginner retail traders. However, international accounts contract with an offshore entity in Belize, so you’d be trading without investor compensation cover and with high leverage risks.
If you require high leverage and low starting capital, FBS provides an accessible gateway. However, if institutional regulatory protection and fund compensation are mandatory, alternative Tier 1 regulated brokers represent a safer choice.
Traders who focus on flexible leverage limits and micro-lot capabilities will find FBS aligned with their execution strategies.
FAQ
FBS accounts open through an online application process in the broker's Personal Area portal. Applicants select an account type and complete identity verification with an ID and proof of address. Trading can begin once the minimum deposit, from $5 depending on the payment method, is processed.
FBS trading involves speculating on CFDs across forex, commodities, indices, and global equities. The broker offers leverage up to 1:3000 on forex pairs alongside CFDs on indices, commodities, and equities. Execution is processed through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the proprietary FBS mobile app.
FBS account deletion requires contacting customer support once account balances are cleared. Clients must submit a formal closure request to customer support via live chat or email once all pending transactions are cleared. Unfunded or inactive accounts are archived automatically according to the broker's terms of service.
FBS maintains its international headquarters and primary operating presence in Belize. Its international client-facing entity, FBS Markets Inc., operates out of Belize under Financial Services Commission supervision. Regional FBS group operations also maintain corporate presences in Cyprus and Australia for specific regulated branches.
FBS operates under different regulatory framework authorities depending on account location. International retail clients contract under FBS Markets Inc., which says it is registered by the Financial Services Commission of Belize under the Securities Industry Act 2021 (licence number 4077102). European and South African entities hold CySEC and FSCA authorisations, but these do not extend protection to global offshore accounts.
Alternatives
Eightcap offers CFDs on 850+ markets through TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradeLocker, with a Raw account that starts from 0.0 pips. Clients outside the regulated regions contract with Eightcap Global Limited in The Bahamas, which carries no statutory compensation scheme.
Octa offers swap-free forex and CFD trading on OctaTrader, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, with no trading commission and a $25 minimum deposit. Accounts on octabroker.com are with Versustrategy Inc, registered in Saint Lucia, and the legal documents page lists no financial regulator.
JustMarkets offers leverage of up to 1:3000, swap-free trading and MT4, MT5 and its own app, but international clients contract with an offshore Seychelles entity without a statutory compensation scheme.
FXCM offers forex and CFD trading on Trading Station, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView. Accounts on the international website are with Stratos Global LLC, an offshore entity in St Vincent and the Grenadines that sits outside the group’s regulated companies.
ThinkMarkets offers ThinkTrader, TradingView, MT4 and MT5 with 4,000+ instruments and leverage of up to 1:500 on Standard and ThinkZero accounts. International clients contract with a Seychelles-licensed entity.
IronFX operates as a retail CFD broker providing high leverage up to 1:1000 on MetaTrader 4, but international clients contract through an offshore entity without statutory compensation protection.
CFI Financial offers MT5, TradingView and its own app with no minimum deposit and leverage of up to 1:500. International clients trade with CFI International Ltd, licensed in Mauritius.
EC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and its own app with a $10 minimum deposit on STD and ECN accounts and leverage of up to 1:1000. International clients trade with the Mauritius-licensed entity.
General CFD risk warning
CFDs are complex leveraged products and carry a high risk of rapid losses. They do not give you ownership of the underlying asset. Depending on your jurisdiction, broker entity and client classification, protections such as leverage limits and negative-balance protection may differ or may not apply. Where negative-balance protection is not provided, losses may exceed the funds you deposit. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Disclaimer
This page is provided for general information only. Nothing on this page constitutes investment, tax or trading advice, or a recommendation to open an account or trade with a particular broker. Laverlane does not provide personalised investment advice. We are not a broker or financial institution, we do not arrange or execute trades, and we do not hold client funds.
Broker availability, spreads, fees, leverage, products and legal protections, including compensation schemes and negative-balance protection, vary by the broker’s legal entity, your country of residence and your client classification, and may change over time. Where a broker is required to publish its retail CFD loss rate, that figure is shown on its review page. Spreads shown are typical figures as at our verification date; they are not guaranteed and may widen, particularly during volatile market conditions.
Laverlane Scores reflect the information available at our most recent review. They are editorial assessments, not guarantees of a broker’s financial strength, reliability or future performance. Where we report a regulator warning or enforcement notice, it reflects the official public information available at the time of our review.
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