Is Trading 212 a Scam or Legit?
Trading 212 holds a valid FCA licence. The number is public and verifiable.
Trading 212 is regulated under FCA licence 609146, issued to Trading 212 UK Ltd. This licence appears in the FCA public register. Trading 212 has been operating since 2006 — 20 years. Scam operations do not maintain long-term regulated status.
The FCA registration
| Regulator | FCA |
| Licence number | 609146 ✓ |
| Registered entity | Trading 212 UK Ltd |
| Status | Authorised |
| Register | register.fca.org.uk |
| Years regulated | 20+ |
What FCA regulation means for you
FCA-regulated brokers must keep client funds in accounts segregated from company funds, provide negative balance protection, and contribute to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers up to £85,000 per client if the broker becomes insolvent.
All regulatory licences
Trading 212 holds 3 regulatory licences across different jurisdictions. The entity that applies to your account depends on your country of residence.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCA | 609146 | Trading 212 UK Ltd | 1:30 max |
| FSC | N/A | Trading 212 Ltd | 1:30 max |
| CySEC | 398/21 | Trading 212 Markets Ltd | 1:30 max |
How to verify Trading 212 yourself
Go to register.fca.org.uk. Enter the licence number 609146 or search by entity name Trading 212 UK Ltd. The result should show the entity name, authorisation status, and the specific regulated activities it is permitted to conduct.
This takes under a minute. If a broker cannot be found on the relevant regulator's register, that is a serious warning sign. All legitimate regulated brokers appear there.
Common complaints and what they mean
Most complaints about Trading 212 fall into standard categories: withdrawal processing times, spread widening during news events, and account verification requests. These are normal business practices, not indicators of fraud.
None of these patterns indicate fraud. They are the normal complaints of a commercial brokerage enforcing its terms. Real forex scams operate without any regulatory licence, refuse all withdrawals, and disappear with client funds. That is not the profile of Trading 212.
Red flags that would indicate a real scam
When researching any broker, watch for these genuine warning signs:
- No licence number listed, or a licence that cannot be found on the official register
- Pressure to deposit more money to unlock withdrawals
- Promises of guaranteed returns or "risk-free" trading
- Platform that only shows profits, never losses
- No physical address or contact information
- Licence from a regulator you have never heard of that has no official website
None of these apply to Trading 212. Its FCA licence 609146 is publicly verifiable, it has disclosed offices in London, UK, and it has operated continuously since 2006.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trading 212 safe to deposit money with?
Trading 212 is FCA-regulated and client funds are held in segregated accounts. UK clients are also covered by the FSCS up to £85,000. This does not eliminate trading risk, but it protects funds from broker insolvency.
Why do people ask if Trading 212 is a scam?
Most forex scam searches come from traders who lost money trading. CFD trading is high-risk — 76% of Trading 212 retail clients lose money. Losing money on a legitimate platform does not make it a scam. Scams refuse all withdrawals and disappear. Trading 212 has processed billions in withdrawals over 20 years of operation.
Is Trading 212 regulated in my country?
Trading 212 holds licences covering 57 countries across 3 regulatory jurisdictions. The entity serving your account depends on your country. Check the full licence table above to find which entity applies to your region.
What happens to my money if Trading 212 goes bankrupt?
FCA-regulated brokers must hold client funds in segregated bank accounts entirely separate from company operating funds. UK clients also have FSCS protection up to £85,000.