Which forex and CFD brokers can I use?
Verdict
- From Hong Kong, Pepperstone, Capital.com and XS all accept residents, and Pepperstone is the one we recommend for its published costs and five platforms.
- None of the three appears in our data with an SFC licence; Pepperstone serves Hong Kong through Pepperstone Markets Limited, regulated by the SCB in the Bahamas (SIA-F217).
- Several big names show no Hong Kong licence either: IG's Hong Kong address redirects to its Chinese site, and Plus500, Forex.com and Trading 212 list no SFC entity.
- Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited is the SFC-licensed firm in our fact pack (CE No. AVD061).
As a Hong Kong resident you can open an account with many international forex and CFD brokers, but most of them serve you from an offshore company rather than under the SFC. Pepperstone is our first choice among the brokers that accept Hong Kong residents. Here is the full picture, including who is actually licensed locally.
The brokers we would use, in order
Pepperstone comes first. It publishes a Razor average of 0.1 pips on EUR/USD with $3.50 commission per side, a Standard account at 1.1 pips with no commission, a $10 minimum and HKD base accounts, and it runs MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and its own app. Your account sits with Pepperstone Markets Limited in the Bahamas; Pepperstone holds no SFC licence. Capital.com is second: it accepts Hong Kong, starts at $20, and adds a guaranteed stop-loss. XS is third: MT4 and MT5, with an Elite account published at 0.1 pips average on EUR/USD plus $6 round turn and a $500 minimum.
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Who holds a Hong Kong licence
This is what each broker's own site or the SFC register showed when our fact pack was built on 21 October 2026.
| Broker | SFC licence found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | No | Served by Pepperstone Markets Limited, SCB Bahamas SIA-F217 |
| Capital.com | No | Licence list: FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SCB Bahamas, UAE CMA |
| XS | No | Licence list: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, Seychelles, Labuan, Mauritius |
| IG | No | ig.com/hk redirects to ig.com/cn |
| Plus500 | No | Not in its footer entity list |
| Forex.com | No | forex.com/en-hk returns a 404 |
| Saxo | Yes | Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited, CE No. AVD061 |
| Tiger Brokers | Yes | CE No. BMU940, but it offers no CFDs or spot forex |
Using an offshore-licensed broker: what changes
- Complaints go to the broker's own regulator, which for Pepperstone is the Securities Commission of The Bahamas.
- Leverage is higher than in strictly regulated markets: Pepperstone's international entity allows up to 1:200 on FX for retail clients.
- Pepperstone's SCB terms still protect retail clients against negative balances, and client money is held in segregated accounts.
- Pepperstone publishes no Hong Kong eligibility statement, so the sign-up form is where acceptance is confirmed.
How to check any broker in five minutes
- Search the firm on the SFC Public Register; a result shows its CE number and licensed activity types.
- If there is no SFC entry, find the company named in the client agreement and search it with that regulator.
- Compare the published spread and commission for the market you trade, not the headline 'from' figure.
- Read the risk warning: Pepperstone's international site says 80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Sources
Registers and broker pages checked for our fact pack.
Is it legal for me to use an offshore CFD broker from Hong Kong?
We cannot give legal advice. Pepperstone publishes no Hong Kong-specific eligibility statement, so check the broker's terms and, if in doubt, ask a Hong Kong adviser.
Does Pepperstone accept Hong Kong residents?
Hong Kong visitors are routed to Pepperstone's international site, run by Pepperstone Markets Limited in the Bahamas, and HKD is an available base currency. Confirm acceptance when you apply.
Is IG available in Hong Kong?
IG's Hong Kong address redirects to its Chinese-language site, and no SFC licence is shown there.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is not investment advice; broker terms change, so check them on the broker's own site before you open an account.