Is ActivTrades Regulated by the MAS as of 2025

ActivTrades is a forex and CFD broker offering online trading services to traders and investors worldwide. The broker provides a diverse range of trading instruments, including Forex, shares, indices, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, commodities, and bonds. It also supports multiple trading platforms and tools such as MT4, MT5, ActivTrader, and Tradingview.

ActivTrades is regulated by several authoritative bodies such as FCA, SCB, CMVM, BACEN, and FSC. However, ActivTrades is not regulated by the MAS ( Monetary Authority of Singapore). In this article, we will explore ActivTrades’ regulations, and its features, and provide a list of alternative brokers that are regulated by MAS.

Does ActivTrades Operate Under MAS?

No, ActivTrades does not operate under MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) regulation. However, the broker is regulated by several other reputable financial authorities including FCA, SCB, CMVM, BACEN, and FSC. These regulatory bodies ensure compliance with various standards for financial stability, transparency, and investor protection, though they do not provide the specific protections offered by the MAS in Singapore.

What Other Regulations Does ActivTrades Have?

SCB (Securities Commission of The Bahamas):

ActivTrades is also regulated by SCB. Established in 1995, SCB  regulates and oversees the financial services industry. The SCB ensures that ActivTrades follows guidelines for maintaining adequate capital, protecting client assets, and ensuring transparent operations for clients from various regions, particularly those outside Europe and Australia.

CMVM

ActivTrades is regulated by the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM) in Portugal under license number 3991. Established in 1991, the CMVM is responsible for overseeing financial markets and firms in Portugal, ensuring they operate within a secure and transparent framework.

The CMVM mandates that ActivTrades comply with rigorous standards of financial conduct, including the maintenance of sufficient capital reserves, the protection of client funds, and the transparency of its operations. This involves keeping client funds in segregated accounts, separate from the company’s own assets, and adhering to strict reporting requirements.

Regulation by the CMVM provides an added layer of security for clients, as it ensures that ActivTrades operates with integrity and fairness. This oversight fosters a high level of trust among clients in Portugal and throughout Europe, ensuring that their interests are protected in the competitive forex trading environment.

BACEN

BACEN operates under the regulatory oversight of the Central Bank of Brazil (Banco Central do Brasil, BACEN), which is responsible for supervising financial markets and institutions in Brazil. BACEN, established in 1964, plays a key role in maintaining financial stability, ensuring that firms like BACEN comply with the necessary legal and financial requirements.

Under BACEN’s regulation, BACEN is required to meet stringent financial guidelines, including maintaining adequate capital reserves, segregating client funds, and ensuring transparency in its financial operations. These measures help protect clients’ funds and ensure that BACEN operates with integrity and in accordance with local regulations. BACEN’s oversight contributes to the reliability and security of BACEN’s services, reinforcing trust among clients in Brazil and across the region.

Best MAS Regulated Forex Brokers: Alternatives to ActivTrades

ActivTrades is one of the leading forex and CFD brokers. The broker is not regulated by MAS. It is regulated by other top-tier regulators including SCB, FCA, CMVM, BACEN, and CVM. There are several MAS  regulated brokers that can serve as alternatives to ActivTrades. These brokers include: 

These brokers operate under MAS regulation. According to MAS rules, they offer leverage up to 30:1 and provide negative balance protection for retail traders. To learn more about MAS-regulated forex brokers, you can read our content on the best MAS-regulated forex brokers.

How Can I Verify If My Broker is regulated by MAS or Not?

To verify if your broker, such as ActivTrades, is regulated by the MAS, follow these steps:

Step 1: Obtain the Broker’s License Number or Name

The first step in verifying whether a broker is MAS-regulated is to gather the necessary details from the broker’s official website. Look for the broker’s licensed or reference number, which is typically listed in the footer, legal section, or “About Us” page. If the license number is not available, the broker’s name can also be used for verification. Having the correct license number or name ensures a more accurate search when checking the broker’s regulatory status.

Step 2: Search the MAS Financial Institutions Directory

Once you have the broker’s license number or name, visit the official MAS Financial Institutions Directory at https://eservices.mas.gov.sg/fid. Enter the license number or the broker’s name into the search bar and hit enter. This directory contains all MAS-regulated entities, and your search results should show the broker’s profile if they are indeed regulated. This step is critical for confirming that the broker you are considering operates legally under MAS oversight.

Step 3: Check License Type and Status

After locating the broker in the MAS directory, carefully review their profile. Look specifically for the license type and status to ensure that the broker is authorized to offer the services you need. If you are trading forex, verify that the broker is licensed to provide “Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts for Leveraged Forex Trading” under “Dealing in Capital Markets Products.” This step confirms that the broker has the necessary permissions to legally offer forex trading and other related financial products.

Step 4: Verify Broker Contact Details

Another essential step is to ensure that the contact details listed on the MAS website match those provided by the broker on their own site. Pay close attention to details such as the broker’s website URL, email address, and phone number. If the contact details differ, it could indicate that you are dealing with an unauthorized broker or a clone firm that is pretending to be MAS-regulated. Verifying these details helps protect you from potential scams or unauthorized firms.

Step 5: Stay Away from Unlisted Brokers

If you cannot find the broker in the MAS directory, this is a red flag. Brokers that are not listed are likely unauthorized, and trading with them can put your funds at serious risk. Unauthorized brokers often operate without regulatory oversight, meaning they may not adhere to client fund protection rules, leaving your investments exposed. Always stay away from brokers that are not listed in the MAS directory to ensure your money remains safe.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs)

What is ActivTrades?

ActivTrades is an online forex and CFD broker that offers MT4, MT5, and the ActivTrader proprietary web and mobile trading platforms. Alex Pusco founded ActivTrades as a stock brokerage in Switzerland in 2001. Later he moved to London in 2005. The broker added MetaTrader 4 in 2007. It also added CFDs on indices and commodities to its offer in 2008. ActivTrades offers over 45 currency pairs, Indexes, ETFs, as well as Commodities and Shares CFDs for your personal investment and trading options.

Is ActivTrades Considered Safe?

Yes, ActivTrades is considered safe. Though ActivTrades is not regulated by MAS, it is regulated by other reputed regulatory authorities including FCA, SCB, CMVM, BACEN, and FSC. These regulations ensure strict compliance with industry standards and provide protection for client funds.