CMC Markets for traders in United Kingdom (2026 review)

CMC Markets is a UK-listed company, traded on the London Stock Exchange, with the Financial Conduct Authority as its home regulator — the same home-regulator arrangement as IG. CMC was founded in 1989, making it the oldest firm in this comparison and one of the first UK CFD providers. It offers spread betting and CFDs across more than 10,000 instruments, including FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 stocks and UK gilts. The marketing leans on longevity and the depth of its proprietary platform. The notes below set out the UK authorisation facts, the platform position and the tax treatment a UK trader can verify before deciding.

Regulatory snapshot: United Kingdom

Retail forex and CFD trading is legal and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Post-Brexit the UK runs its own regime: the FCA mirrors the ESMA-style 30:1 leverage cap on majors and negative-balance protection, and adds the s.21 financial-promotions regime and the Consumer Duty, which hold firms to a high standard for fair, clear and not-misleading communications. Our coverage is editorial and non-advisory. Confirm any firm on the FCA Register before depositing.

Regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) · official register

FCA as home regulator

CMC Markets is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, which is its home regulator. CMC is a UK-listed company headquartered in the UK, supervised domestically rather than operating into the UK under a passport. This is the same home-regulator position as IG and the cleanest regulatory arrangement available to a UK retail trader.

CMC was founded in 1989 and has held continuous FCA authorisation. Verify the current permission and the exact legal entity on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk before opening an account, and check that the entity on your account agreement matches the register.

FCA retail rules and Consumer Duty

The FCA PS20/10 rules apply: retail leverage on major currency pairs capped at 30:1, mandatory negative-balance protection, and a prohibition on client inducements. Bonus and incentive offers are not permitted under this regime, in the UK as across the EU.

The FCA Consumer Duty, in force since 2023, requires fair value and clear communications for retail clients. These are obligations on CMC as an authorised firm, not features it advertises, and they apply regardless of how the platform is presented.

FSCS cover and the FOS pathway

Eligible clients of CMC Markets are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person if the firm fails. This is a statutory protection tied to the FCA-authorised entity. Confirm your eligibility and client category rather than assuming cover applies automatically.

If a dispute cannot be resolved with CMC directly, eligible complainants can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. An FOS decision is binding on the firm if the complainant accepts it. This pathway exists because CMC is supervised under the UK regime.

Platforms: Next Generation and MT4

CMC offers its proprietary Next Generation platform, which is browser-based and carries more than 115 technical indicators and pattern-recognition tools. It also offers MetaTrader 4. CMC does not confirm cTrader. MetaTrader 5 availability should be verified directly with CMC before relying on it.

Next Generation is the platform CMC builds its proposition around; MT4 is the familiar third-party option for traders with strategies tied to that environment. Confirm which instruments and tools are available on each platform, as coverage is not always identical.

Spread betting, products and UK tax treatment

CMC offers UK spread betting alongside CFDs. Spread betting profits are free of Capital Gains Tax under current HMRC rules. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change; this is not tax advice, and you should confirm your own position. The product range exceeds 10,000 instruments, including UK equity CFDs and spread bets, FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 stocks, and UK gilts.

A UK trader choosing between spread betting and CFDs should weigh the tax treatment against the all-in cost on the specific markets they intend to trade — spread plus any commission plus overnight financing — rather than the headline instrument count. Breadth is not the same as suitability.

Longevity, funding and account currency

CMC, founded in 1989, is the oldest firm in this comparison and one of the first UK CFD providers. Longevity is a verifiable fact, not a guarantee of cost or service; it tells you the firm has operated through multiple market cycles, not that it is the cheapest or best fit for a given trader.

CMC offers GBP-denominated accounts. Funding methods include Faster Payments, debit card and bank wire. A same-currency account avoids conversion costs on GBP deposits. Confirm current funding fees and processing times with CMC directly, as these are set by the firm and can change.

Frequently asked questions

Is CMC Markets regulated in the UK?

Yes. CMC Markets is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, its home regulator. CMC is a UK-listed company headquartered in the UK and founded in 1989, with continuous FCA authorisation. Verify the current permission and the legal entity on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk.

Is CMC Markets spread betting tax-free?

Spread betting profits are free of Capital Gains Tax under current HMRC rules. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and the rules may change. This is not tax advice; confirm your own position with HMRC or a qualified adviser.

What platforms does CMC Markets offer?

CMC offers its proprietary browser-based Next Generation platform, with more than 115 indicators and pattern-recognition tools, and MetaTrader 4. cTrader is not confirmed. MetaTrader 5 availability should be verified directly with CMC before relying on it.

Am I covered by the FSCS with CMC Markets?

Eligible clients of CMC Markets are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 per person if the firm fails. This protection attaches to the FCA-authorised entity. Eligibility depends on your client category; confirm your own position rather than assuming cover applies.

How long has CMC Markets been operating?

CMC Markets was founded in 1989, making it the oldest firm in this comparison and one of the first UK CFD providers. Longevity is a verifiable fact, not a guarantee of cost or service; weigh it alongside the all-in cost on the markets you intend to trade.

Other brokers in United Kingdom

Other markets for CMC Markets