Top ASIC Regulated Forex Brokers

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Affiliate Disclosure DailyForex.com adheres to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some of the reviews and content we feature on this site are supported by affiliate partnerships from which this website may receive money. This may impact how, where and which companies / services we review and write about. Our team of experts work to continually re-evaluate the reviews and information we provide on all the top Forex / CFD brokerages featured here. Our research focuses heavily on the broker’s custody of client deposits and the breadth of its client offering. Safety is evaluated by quality and length of the broker's track record, plus the scope of regulatory standing. Major factors in determining the quality of a broker’s offer include the cost of trading, the range of instruments available to trade, and general ease of use regarding execution and market information.

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) is a well-known and trusted regulator. It is known for its consumer-friendly engagement, education, and policing of the Australian financial system. It also ranks among the more active Forex broker regulators.

I have conducted an in-depth review of ASIC Forex brokers and compiled a list of the most competitive ones with a trustworthy reputation and clean regulatory track record. Read on to view my broker shortlist, and to learn more about what ASIC does and how ASIC works to protect you as a Forex trader.

1
The ratings shown on DailyForex.com are determined by hours of research from our editorial team into over 10 factors, including account fees, deposit/withdrawal options, regulatory status, tradable assets, and more.
ECN-style trading
Daily market research and Autochartist access
2
The ratings shown on DailyForex.com are determined by hours of research from our editorial team into over 10 factors, including account fees, deposit/withdrawal options, regulatory status, tradable assets, and more.
High level regulation in multiple jurisdictions
Impressive range of tradeable assets including vanilla options and gold options
3
The ratings shown on DailyForex.com are determined by hours of research from our editorial team into over 10 factors, including account fees, deposit/withdrawal options, regulatory status, tradable assets, and more.
Trade 1,000+ financial instruments
Experience low, competitive spreads
Multiple funding and swift withdrawal options
CFD service 86% lose money
4
The ratings shown on DailyForex.com are determined by hours of research from our editorial team into over 10 factors, including account fees, deposit/withdrawal options, regulatory status, tradable assets, and more.
One of the best platforms for CFD traders.
Trailing stop losses
Get Started
CFD service 86% lose money
74% of retail CFD accounts lose money
5
The ratings shown on DailyForex.com are determined by hours of research from our editorial team into over 10 factors, including account fees, deposit/withdrawal options, regulatory status, tradable assets, and more.
Best social trading platform on the market
Excellent choice of options for crypto traders
Get Started
74% of retail CFD accounts lose money

FP Markets

5.0/5 in this category
In Summary
ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500

FP Markets is among the cheapest ASIC Forex brokers in terms of trading fees charged, offering traders raw spreads from 0 pips for a commission of $6.00 per 1 standard lot. Deep liquidity, fast order execution, no requotes, and a no dealing desk (NDD) execution model make it ideal for high-frequency traders and scalpers. FP Markets upgrades the out of the box MT4/MT5 trading platforms offered with twelve plugins. It also offers a proprietary mobile trading app and an in-house copy trading service, complementing the embedded MT4/MT5 solutions and Myfxbook Autotrade.

The minimum deposit is $100, ensuring relative accessibility, but the maximum leverage of 1:500 is only available through its St. Vincent and the Grenadines subsidiary, while the ASIC-regulated brokerage restricts it to 1:30.

Pros
  • Choice of trading platforms and auxiliary trading tools

  • Very competitive cost structure and excellent asset selection

  • Low minimum deposit requirement and leverage of up to 1:500

  • Well-regulated and trustworthy

Cons
  • Availability of Iress geographically restricted

AvaTrade

5.0/5 in this category
In Summary
Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreads

AvaTrade is one of the ASIC Forex brokers with the widest choice of trading platforms. Besides offering both the well-known MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, it offers a proprietary web-based trading platform for manual traders, its mobile app AvaTradeGO, and its dedicated options platform AvaOptions. AvaTrade has also established itself as a popular choice for social traders, with services from DupliTrade, ZuluTrade, and its in-house social trading platform Ava Social.

The commission-free cost structure is not especially cheap but is still competitively positioned, and the minimum deposit is only $100. Traders are offered maximum Forex leverage through ASIC of 1:30. A hidden gem available at AvaTrade is its educational unit SharpTrader, where over 40 lessons and more than 200 videos await beginner traders.

Pros
  • High-quality educational offering via SharpTrader

  • Excellent choice of trading platforms catering to various trading needs

  • Broad asset selection and cross-asset diversification opportunities

  • Well-regulated and trusted broker with oversight from a central bank

Cons
  • Trading costs competitive but nothing special

Eightcap

4.5/5 in this category
In Summary
Competitive pricing + excellent daily videos

Eightcap established itself among the best Forex brokers due to its superb trading infrastructure, excellent order execution amid deep liquidity, competitive fees, and cutting-edge trading tools. Manual traders get a well-designed AI-powered economic calendar, and Eightcap upgrades MT4 via Capitalise AI, which enables algorithmic trading in a code-free environment. MT5 traders benefit from Flash Trader, while the dedicated cryptocurrency solution Crypto Crusher caters to cryptocurrency traders.

Copy traders get the embedded MT4/MT5 services, and Eightcap connects social traders to the active TradingView community. Beginner traders get an outstanding educational and research offering via Eightcap Labs and Eightcap Trade Zone.

Pros
  • Low minimum deposit and high leverage of up to 1:500

  • Competitive cost structure

  • Excellent technology infrastructure and seasoned management team

  • Daily research and quality educational content

Cons
  • Limited leverage in some areas

Plus500

4.5/5 in this category
CFD service 86% lose money
In Summary
Wide range of CFDs + trailing stop losses

Plus500 is a global Forex broker founded in 2008. It maintains an excellent regulatory environment provided by the FCA in the UK, the CySEC in Cyprus, the ASIC in Australia, the FMA in New Zealand, the FSCA in South Africa, the FSA in Seychelles, and the MAS in Singapore. Plus500 offers traders a choice of more than 2,800 assets to trade, including nearly 900 options contracts, in a commission-free trading environment. This extremely wide range of choice can make Plus500 an appropriate choice for traders looking to pursue wide diversification of assets. Plus500 is licensed to offer CFDs through ASIC (AFSL #417727), and through the FMA (FSP #486026), for licensed CFDs in New Zealand. Plus500 trading services are also available in South Africa (Authorised Financial Services Provider #47546).

Pros
  •  Broad asset selection in equities and options

  • Free and unlimited demo account

  • Advanced free-of-charge analytical trading tools

  • Global and regulated fintech platform

Cons
  • Sub-standard trading platform without support for automated or social trading

eToro

4.5/5 in this category
74% of retail CFD accounts lose money
In Summary
Best broker for social traders and crypto traders : 74% of retail CFD accounts lose money

eToro was founded in the early days of the online retail Forex era, in 2007 – this broker occupies a unique space as the king of social and copy trading. eToro has a long track record and unique reputation to protect, although this image is more focused on its copy trading model than on any other individual feature, except maybe its special relationship with cryptocurrencies. eToro is regulated in Cyprus, the U.K., Australia, and the United States although its U.S. offering is firmly differentiated from its offering to the rest of the world. eToro is a leading cryptocurrencies CFD broker. Following its 2019 acquisition of Danish blockchain company Firmo and Belgian crypto portfolio tracker application Delta, it released its cryptocurrency wallet for mobile devices.CFD crypto is not available for users in the US and under FCA regulation.

eToro Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Active investment community ideal for social trading

  • Dedicated tools for social trading

  • Broad cryptocurrency selection

  • Expanding educational offering for beginner traders

Cons
  • Internal withdrawal fees

  • Low retail leverage and higher minimum deposits, but within a reasonable range

Understanding What ASIC Does

The establishment of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in 1998 followed the recommendations from the Wallis Inquiry. It regulates the Australian financial system, including Forex and CFD brokers, and enforces laws to protect consumers, investors, and creditors. The ASIC reports to the Treasurer of Australia, a senior minister of the Crown in the Commonwealth Government.

ASIC was at the forefront of regulatory moves to shutter the now-defunct binary options sector, which was filled with scams, fraud, and a business model always favoring brokers over traders. ASIC was also instrumental in uncovering the massive fraud by disreputable Forex brokers outside Australia claiming ECN execution via multiple liquidity providers while routing orders via their international subsidiaries.

What are the responsibilities of ASIC?

ASIC’s core day-to-day activities are:

  • Promoting and growing the Australian financial market
  • Policing Australian regulated (ASIC approved) Forex brokers and other licensed institutions
  • Educating and protecting consumers by administering and enforcing rules and regulations
  • Engaging with the public and provide quality information
  • Maintaining the integrity of and trust in the Australian financial system

How does ASIC regulation protect Forex traders?

  • ASIC regulated Forex brokers must have a license and adhere to strict rules and regulations which are monitored and enforced by ASIC
  • ASIC enforces maximum Forex leverage of 1:30, which goes some way to protecting Forex traders from being overleveraged
  • ASIC publishes reports about investigations, maintaining transparency, and enhancing trust in the Australian financial system
  • ASIC provides educational content and Money Smart, its online portal, to help educate the public about important aspects of the Australian financial system
  • ASIC assists consumers with deposit recovery in the event of institutional default
  • ASIC works to ensure that the Forex and CFD brokers it regulates offer traders what they advertise and promise

What are the most essential ASIC Forex broker guidelines?

  • ASIC Forex brokers must maintain minimum operating capital of A$1 million
  • Segregation of client deposits with Tier 1 Australian banks
  • Maintain an AFC license
  • Conduct in-depth risk management for broker and client
  • Operate under best business practices
  • Offer conflict resolution to clients

Legislative basis of ASIC enforcement

  • Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (ASIC Act)
  • Business Names Registration Act 2011
  • Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act)
  • Insurance Contracts Act 1984
  • National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (National Credit Act)
  • Banking Act 1959
  • Life Insurance Act 1995
  • Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003
  • Retirement Savings Accounts Act 1997
  • Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993
  • Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act).

Final Thoughts

Forex / CFD traders in Australia may choose between locally regulated or international brokers, but ASIC regulated brokers attract clients from all over the world due to Australia’s well-deserved reputation as an excellent retail Forex hub. This means that Australian resident traders mostly open accounts with ASIC-regulated brokers and have little reason to look beyond Australia unless they are seeking a broker offering extremely high leverage. Until recently ASIC allowed its regulated brokers to offer much higher maximum leverage to retail traders, but ASIC has implemented new regulations which put maximum leverage in line with what can be offered in the European Union. Despite this, ASIC is still seen as a more flexible and practical regulator than is typically found within the European Union.

Forex / CFD traders looking for an ASIC-regulated broker will face mostly the same considerations as traders anywhere in the world in selecting the best Forex broker:

  • broker regulation and reputation
  • minimum deposit
  • a suitable selection of assets
  • a fee structure which suits the intended trading style

For example, day traders will be more focused on competitive spreads while longer-term traders who typically hold positions open overnight will need to pay closer attention to whether overnight swap rates offered are competitive.

FAQs

Who is the best Forex broker for Forex trading in Australia?

The best Forex brokers offer low trading costs, deep liquidity, and ultra-fast order execution. They will also offer at least one trading platform which supports algorithmic and social trading and be well-regulated.

What is ASIC in Forex trading?

ASIC is the Australian regulator responsible for policing Australian financial institutions, including Forex and CFD brokers.

Is Forex regulated in Australia?

Yes, Forex brokers are regulated in Australia, by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).

Huzefa Hamid

I’m a trader and manage my own capital. I trade the major Forex pairs, some Futures contracts, and I rely entirely on Technical Analysis to place my trades. Today, I am also a Senior Analyst for DailyForex.com. I began trading the markets in the early 1990s, at the age of sixteen. I had a few hundred British pounds saved up (I grew up in England), with which I was able to open a small account with some help from my Dad. I started my trading journey by buying UK equities that I had read about in the business sections of newspapers. The 1990s were a bull market, so naturally, I made money. I was fortunate enough in my early twenties to have a friend that recommended a Technical Analysis course run by a British trader who emphasized raw chart analysis without indicators. Having this first-principles approach to charts influences how I trade to this day.