Is ThinkMarkets Regulated by the Mas as of 2025

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Ryan Hardy sitting before his forex trading desk
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Thinkmarkets 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, Futures, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Crypto, Stocks. It also supports multiple trading platforms and tools such as MT5, ThinkTrader, ThinkCopy.

Thinkmarkets is regulated by several authoritative bodies such as FSA- Seychelles, ASIC, CySEC, FCA, JFSA, FSA in Japan, FSCA, CIMA, FSC-Maritius, NZFMA, DFSA. However, Thinkmarkets is not regulated by the MAS ( Monetary Authority of Singapore). In this article, we will explore Thinkmarkets’ regulations, and its features, and provide a list of alternative brokers that are regulated by MAS.

Does Thinkmarkets Operate Under MAS?

No, Thinkmarkets does not operate under MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) regulation. However, the broker is regulated by several other reputable financial authorities including FSA- Seychelles, ASIC, CySEC, FCA, JFSA, FSA in Japan, FSCA, CIMA, FSC-Maritius, NZFMA, DFSA. 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 Thinkmarkets Have?

FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK under license number 684312. The FCA, established in 2013, is responsible for regulating financial markets and firms in the United Kingdom.

The FCA requires ThinkMarkets to adhere to strict guidelines for financial conduct, including maintaining adequate capital, safeguarding client funds, and ensuring transparency in its operations. This includes keeping client money separate from company funds and providing regular financial reports. FCA regulation helps ensure that ThinkMarkets operates securely and fairly, offering a high level of protection and trust for clients in the UK and across Europe.

ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission):

ThinkMarkets is regulated by ASIC. Founded in July 1998, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) is Australia’s national corporate regulator, overseeing corporations, markets, and financial services in accordance with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001. Being based in Australia, ASIC regulation ensures that the broker complies with Australian laws on financial services, including responsible conduct, risk management, and financial reporting. Client money is kept in segregated accounts, and there is an emphasis on risk disclosure and trader protection.

FSA in Japan:

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the FSA in Japan.  Established in 1997 the FSA Japan regulates and oversees the financial services industry including forex, overseeing banking, securities and exchange, and insurance sectors, and more. The FSA in Japan allows a maximum leverage of 1:400 for retail forex traders and investors. The FSA ensures that ThinkMarkets adheres to guidelines for maintaining adequate capital, protecting client assets, and ensuring transparent operations for clients in Japan and other regions. 

FSA -S : / FSA in Seychelles

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. The FSA, established in 2013, oversees the financial services sector in Seychelles to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and to protect investors.

The FSA requires ThinkMarkets to adhere to guidelines for managing client funds, which include keeping client money separate from company funds and providing regular financial reports. This regulation helps ensure that ThinkMarkets operates securely and transparently, particularly for clients in Seychelles, and maintains a trustworthy trading environment.

FSB (FSCA):

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Financial Services Board (FSB) of South Africa. The FSB, established in 1990, was the financial regulatory authority in South Africa responsible for overseeing non-banking financial institutions before being replaced by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in 2018.

Under FSB regulations, ThinkMarkets was required to maintain strict standards, including holding adequate capital, protecting client funds by segregating them from company assets, and ensuring transparency through regular financial reporting. This regulation helped ensure that ThinkMarkets operated securely and reliably, offering a safe trading environment for clients in South Africa.

CIMA:

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA. CIMA, established in 1997, is the financial services regulator in the Cayman Islands, overseeing banks, insurance companies, and investment firms.

CIMA requires ThinkMarkets to adhere to strict regulations for financial stability and transparency. This includes maintaining adequate capital, protecting client funds by keeping them separate from the company’s assets, and providing regular financial reports. CIMA’s oversight ensures that ThinkMarkets operates securely and reliably, offering a trustworthy trading environment for clients in the Cayman Islands and beyond.

DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority):

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the DFSA. Established on 13 September 2004, DFSA is the regulatory body for financial services within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It oversees a range of financial activities, including forex trading, and ensures compliance with its regulations through a framework of rules and guidelines. The DFSA provides a high standard of investor protection and requires firms to meet rigorous operational standards. For more details, you can visit the DFSA website.

FSC-Mauritius:

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius. The FSC, established in 2001, is the regulatory authority overseeing non-bank financial services in Mauritius.

The FSC requires ThinkMarkets to adhere to strict regulations, including maintaining adequate capital reserves, safeguarding client funds by keeping them separate from the company’s assets, and providing regular financial reports. These requirements help ensure that ThinkMarkets operates transparently and securely, offering a reliable trading environment for clients in Mauritius and beyond.

NZFMA

ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand . The FMA, established in 2011, is responsible for overseeing financial markets and ensuring fair, transparent, and efficient operations in New Zealand.

The FMA requires ThinkMarkets to follow strict guidelines, including maintaining sufficient capital, protecting client funds by keeping them separate from company assets and providing regular financial reporting. This regulation ensures that ThinkMarkets operates securely and fairly, offering a reliable and transparent trading environment for clients in New Zealand.

Best MAS Regulated Forex Brokers: Alternatives to Thinkmarkets

Thinkmarkets 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 FSA- Seychelles, ASIC, CySEC, FCA, JFSA, FSA in Japan, FSCA, CIMA, FSC-Maritius, NZFMA, DFSA. There are several MAS  regulated brokers that can serve as alternatives to Thinkmarkets. These brokers include: 

Forex.COM

Forex.COM

  • Founded In:  2001
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Maximum Leverage: 50:1
  • Regulations: CySEC, CFTC, NFA, CIMA, FCA, FSA, MAS, ASIC, CIRO
  • Trading Platforms : Mobile App, Web Trader, Meta Trader 5 
  • Trading Instruments: Forex, Indices, Stocks , Cryptocurrency, Commodities , Gold and Silver.
MultiBankFX

MultiBankFX

  • Founded In:  2005
  • Minimum Deposit: $50
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations: ASIC, Austrac, Bafin, CIMA, ESCA,  CySEC, FSC, FMA, MAS, TFG,  VFSC, FSCM, FSAS
  • Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, Multibank-Plus
  • Trading Instruments: Forex, Metals, Shares,  indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies
IG

IG

  • Founded In:  1974
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:200
  • Regulations: ASIC, FCA, JFSA, SFC (Hongkong), FSCA, MAS, FMA, GmbH, FINMA 
  • Trading Platforms: MT4, WebTrader, MobileTrader (MobileApp), ProRealTime
  • Trading Instruments: Forex, indices, Cryptocurrencies, Shares, Commodities
CMC Markets

CMC Markets

  • Founded In:  1989
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations : FCA, ASIC, BaFin, IIROC, FMA, MAS
  • Trading Platforms : MT4 , Share trading platforms
  • Trading Instruments: Forex Major, Forex Crosses, Forex Minor, Metals, Oil , CFD, Stock indices
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

  • Founded In: 1978
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations: SEC, CFTC, FCA, FSCS, FINRA, FCM, IIROC, MAS, FSA
  • Trading Platforms : WebTrader, FIX API, MobileTrader
  • Trading Instruments: Stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds

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 Thinkmarkets, 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 Thinkmarkets?

ThinkMarkets is an Australian forex and CFD broker founded in 2010. Today, it has offices in 10 locations and 10 licenses from different countries. On its MetaTrader and ThinkTrader platforms, clients can trade over 4,000 instruments. Real stock trading is available on the ThinkTrader app. Traders are supported with free VPS, Signal Centre, Dynamic leverage, Traders’ gym, etc.

Is Thinkmarkets Considered Safe?

Yes, Thinkmarkets is considered safe. Though Thinkmarkets is not regulated by MAS, it is regulated by other reputed regulatory authorities including FSA- Seychelles, ASIC, CySEC, FCA, JFSA, FSA in Japan, FSCA, CIMA, FSC-Maritius, NZFMA, DFSA. These regulations ensure strict compliance with industry standards and provide protection for client funds.