Online brokerage Markets.com has officially relinquished its license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), marking a significant pivot in its regulatory and operational strategy. The move coincides with the departure of Chief Executive Officer Stavros Ch Anastasiou, who had led the firm since 2023.
Anastasiou joined Markets.com from Safecap Investments Limited, where he served as Executive Director. His tenure at Markets.com was characterized by efforts to streamline operations and navigate evolving regulatory landscapes. The company has not yet announced a successor, and details surrounding its future leadership remain undisclosed.
The decision to surrender the FCA license suggests a potential shift away from the UK market or a reconfiguration of the firm’s global compliance framework. Industry analysts speculate that Markets.com may be consolidating its regulatory footprint or redirecting resources toward jurisdictions with more flexible oversight.
Finance Magnates, which first reported the development, noted that the company has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the rationale behind the license withdrawal or the CEO’s exit. The FCA has not commented on the matter.
This development adds to a growing trend of brokers reassessing their regulatory affiliations amid tightening compliance requirements and shifting market dynamics. Observers will be watching closely to see how Markets.com repositions itself in the competitive online trading space.
Markets.com is a global online brokerage offering CFD trading across forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and ETFs. Originally part of Playtech’s financial division, it now operates under the Finalto brand, which was acquired by Gopher Investments in 2022.
The platform is known for its proprietary Marketsx interface, alongside support for MetaTrader 4 and 5, and integrates real-time sentiment tools, technical analysis, and fundamental data. It has held regulatory licenses in jurisdictions including Cyprus (CySEC), South Africa (FSCA), Australia (ASIC), and previously the UK (FCA), though it recently surrendered its FCA license amid strategic restructuring.
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