The Uncertain Future of US Brokers

The United States of America has long been known as the "land of the free and the home of the brave", but when it comes to the Forex market, this term takes on a completely unique meaning. Increasingly restrictive NFA policies designed to protect US investors have been chasing and, in some cases, punishing US currency brokers. The rates imposed to maintain a brokerage firm are prohibitive for most, and trading conditions are limited compared to those in other regions of the world where regulation is less stringent.

In August 2012, FX Club (also known as Forex Club), formerly one of the best brokers in the United States, abandoned its RFED license, the regulation required to accept retail customers. Since then, the company has been accepting only institutional customers, and will likely continue to do so, at least for the foreseeable future. As part of this change, FX Club became another currency broker, replacing its CEO (after OANDA and GFT, among others), with Michael Klena, of E * Trade, who came to lead the change of the company.

Although the FX Club abandoned its RFED license, the NFA continued to investigate the broker, charging the company for $ 300,000 administrative violations, which the broker solved the day the claims were made.
Just two months after the FX Club closed its doors to US retailers, Advanced Markets made the same strategic decision, opting to give up its RFED license and operate only with institutional traders. This decision is much less surprising, since Admiral Markets (aka AMIFX) has always held that only a handful of retailers are admitted who presumably can transfer their accounts quickly with the broker's help if necessary.

What comes next in the forex retail market in the United States is uncertain, but if the NFA fines and increased regulations on brokers are a clue, it would not be surprising if other US brokers throw in the towel . Although I do not think that industry giants like FXCM or Forex.com will disappear in the short term, smaller entities may find themselves fighting an uphill battle. Some may not be interested in fighting much longer.