FXCM review

The published minimum deposit is $50, higher than the €4.64 median across brokers on the site. For comparison, CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage $5. Beyond that floor the account size is yours to set, and it shapes position sizing rather than the trading fee.

FXCM is regulated in the UK by the FCA, the sole regulator listed for the brand, and the FCA licence number is 217689. UK clients therefore sit inside the UK regulatory perimeter, with rules on how the firm holds money and treats clients. Anyone outside the UK would need to check their own regulator before opening.

Client money is covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 protection. That limit applies to eligible claims against the firm, typically if the firm becomes insolvent, and it does not cover losses on your trades. A leveraged position that moves against you is a market loss, not something the scheme reimburses, so protection works as a backstop.

The market list covers forex, cfds and crypto, so currency pairs, CFDs and crypto pairs sit in the same account. Shares, ETFs and futures do not appear on it, which is where eToro is broader with stocks, etfs and forex. If your plan leans on currency or crypto trading, the range is enough; if you want to hold shares, it is not the venue.

The account is held with Stratos Markets Limited, the legal entity named for the brand in the UK. The FCA licence 217689 attaches to that company, so its regulatory obligations and the compensation arrangement are what stand behind the balance. Reading the entity name on your account paperwork matters more than the brand name on the site.

The retail figure for FXCM is 63% of retail accounts losing money, below the 70.15% median on the site but far from low. Leverage on currency and CFD positions means a modest move can outweigh a small deposit, and the percentage says nothing about how large individual losses run.

Entry costs matter more than headline rates here. The $50 minimum deposit is the visible number, while the site median is €4.64 and the cost score part sits at 3.6. FXCM is mid-table on price, so pick it for the FCA licence and FSCS up to GBP 85,000 cover rather than to chase the lowest entry.