FXCM

Retail Forex and CFD Brokeragefxcm.com

FXCM is a multi-asset online forex and CFD broker offering proprietary Trading Station plus MT4 and TradingView integrations to retail traders, active traders, corporates, and institutional clients across 20+ regulated jurisdictions under the Stratos Group.

Company typePublic
Founded1999
HeadquartersNew York, United States
Headcount501–1,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What FXCM does

FXCM (Forex Capital Markets), founded in 1999, is a multi-asset online forex and CFD broker serving retail traders, active/professional traders, corporate clients, and institutional counterparties across 20+ jurisdictions. The company operates through the Stratos Group umbrella, with five regulated subsidiaries spanning FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), ASIC (Australia), FSCA (South Africa), and ISA (Israel), alongside a primary operating entity (Stratos Global LLC) registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

FXCM's product architecture is centered on its proprietary Trading Station platform (desktop, web, and mobile), supplemented by MetaTrader 4 and TradingView Pro integrations. It exposes three free APIs (FIX, Java, ForexConnect) for algorithmic trading, offers proprietary premium data products (Speculative Sentiment Index dating to 2009, Trade Tape millisecond order flow dating to 2012, Real Volume indicators), and provides institutional prime brokerage with deep liquidity from 15+ major global banks. Thematic Trading Baskets (CryptoMajor, Forex Baskets, Stock Baskets) package multi-instrument exposures.

Revenue is generated primarily through spread-based pricing on forex and CFD trades, commission on Active Trader accounts, and leverage/margin fees, with leverage up to 1000:1 on new accounts. A tiered Active Trader Rebate Program pays monthly cash rebates ($2.5-$15 per million notional across four tiers) and FXCM Plus/eFXplus subscriptions add premium research. Distribution combines self-serve digital onboarding, demo accounts, a Friends & Family referral program (up to $400 per referral), and dedicated institutional relationship management. The company was previously NYSE-listed (FXCM), was renamed Global Brokerage Inc in 2022, and now trades on OTCMKTS as GLBR; in 2025-2026 the Stratos Group is migrating Tradu brand CFD clients into FXCM as part of broader European restructuring.

FXCM firmographics

Firmographics

Name: FXCM
Legal name: Stratos Global LLC
Website: https://fxcm.com
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1999
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 501–1,000 employees
Short description: FXCM is a multi-asset online forex and CFD broker offering proprietary Trading Station plus MT4 and TradingView integrations to retail traders, active traders, corporates, and institutional clients across 20+ regulated jurisdictions under the Stratos Group.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

FXCM industry classification

Industry

Product category: Retail Forex and CFD Brokerage
NAICS: Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (52316), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (523160)
SIC: Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)
akta.pro primary industry: Retail FX/CFD Broker Trading Venues (FSAFADAD)
akta.pro secondary industries: FX Electronic Trading Platforms (Spot/Forwards/Swaps) (FSAFANAC), FX Market Making (FSACANAC)

Keywords

Online forex trading
CFD trading platform
Foreign exchange brokerage
Algorithmic trading APIs
Retail FX broker

Where FXCM is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: New York
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

FXCM business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

Spread-based trading revenue: FXCM generates revenue primarily through spreads on forex and CFD trades. When executing customers' trades, FXCM is compensated through spreads, charging commissions at open and close of trades, and adding mark-ups to rollover. Commission-based pricing is applicable to Active Trader account types.
Active Trader Rebate Program: High-volume traders can qualify for competitive monthly cash rebates based on notional trading volume. Over $2.1 million USD was paid out in trading rebates to active traders between November 2022 and October 2023.
Leverage and margin fees: Revenue derived from leverage offered on forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrency CFDs. Leverage up to 1000:1 on forex and CFDs for new accounts.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Transaction based/ take rate	Pay-as-you-go	Standard forex trading with variable spreads
Transaction based/ take rate	Monthly	Active Trader Rebate Program tiers
Hybrid	Monthly	TradingView integration with deposit tiers
Subscription	Monthly	Market data access

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

FXCM product offering

Product offering

Core offering

FXCM is an online forex and CFD broker that provides retail and institutional clients with multi-asset trading access via its proprietary Trading Station platform, MetaTrader 4, and TradingView Pro integrations. The firm executes trades across forex, shares, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrency CFDs, earning revenue from spreads, commissions, and leverage mark-ups, and supplies FIX, Java, and ForexConnect APIs for algorithmic trading.

Product overview

FXCM (Forex Capital Markets) is a multi-asset online forex and CFD broker offering a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its proprietary Trading Station platform. The core trading platform is available in desktop (download), web (Trading Station Web 3.0), and mobile (PWA) variants, supplemented by integration with third-party platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView Pro. The product suite includes three free trading APIs (FIX, Java, ForexConnect) for algorithmic and automated trading; premium market data products (Speculative Sentiment Index, Trade Tape, Real Volume); a tiered Active Trader Rebate Program; and thematic Trading Baskets (CryptoMajor, Forex Baskets, Stock Baskets). FXCM also provides institutional prime brokerage and liquidity services, corporate account options, multi-method deposit/withdrawal services via MyFXCM, and trading education resources. The company is part of the Stratos Group, operating under regulatory oversight from the FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), and ASIC (Australia), among others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Tradu: A brand launched in 2023 offering CFD trading services, now being migrated to FXCM as part of restructuring.
Trading Station
FXCM Plus

Products and services

Trading Station FXCM's proprietary all-in-one forex and CFD trading platform available on desktop, web (Trading Station Web 3.0), and mobile (PWA), featuring robust charting, pre-loaded indicators, Real Volume data, Trader Sentiment (SSI), Market Depth, automated strategy backtesting and optimization, custom indicators, price alerts, and one-click trading.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

Quantifiable outcome

Over $2.1 million USD paid in trading rebates to active traders (Nov 2022 - Oct 2023)
+1 more outcomes

Companies that use FXCM

Customer profile

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

FXCM technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: Yes
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

FXCM partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

MetaQuotes Software (MetaTrader 4)coreTechnology or IntegrationFXCM offers MetaTrader 4 platform as one of its primary trading interfaces, providing MT4 with no trading restrictions, scalping allowed, free VPS access, and EAs support. MT4 is available on desktop, web, and mobile with full order functionality.
TradingViewcoreTechnology or IntegrationFXCM provides TradingView Pro live trading integration, allowing traders to execute directly from TradingView charts. FXCM offers free TradingView plan upgrades (Essential, Plus, Premium) based on deposit amounts ($300, $1,000, $5,000).
Global Banks and Market Makers (15+)coreTechnology or IntegrationDeep liquidity pools from over 15 major global banks, financial institutions, and market makers providing anonymous 24-hour execution with variable pricing tiers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

FXCM competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

eToro: eToro is a multi-asset retail broker and social-investing platform offering FX, CFDs, shares, and crypto under FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and FinCEN regulation. It competes with FXCM for retail traders but differentiates via social/copy trading and a broader product mix including real equities.
OANDA: OANDA is a long-established retail and institutional FX and CFD broker with a proprietary platform, multi-jurisdictional regulation, and active API/data offerings. It is among the closest direct competitors to FXCM in retail FX/CFD brokerage, platform ownership, and institutional liquidity services.
XM (Trading Point Holdings): XM is a large retail FX/CFD broker operating MetaTrader platforms with high-leverage offerings, multi-jurisdictional licensing (CySEC, ASIC, IFSC, FCA), and significant active-trader rebate programs. It is a close direct peer to FXCM in retail segmentation, leverage tiers, and platform strategy.
Plus500: Plus500 is a publicly-listed retail CFD broker operating a proprietary simplified platform across multiple regulated subsidiaries (FCA, CySEC, ASIC, MAS, FSA). It is a direct competitor to FXCM in self-directed retail CFD trading, though it leans more toward casual traders and less toward active/algorithmic flows.
CMC Markets: CMC Markets is a publicly-listed retail CFD and FX broker with a proprietary Next Generation platform, FCA/ASIC/MAS regulation, and institutional liquidity. It is highly comparable to FXCM in product scope (FX, indices, commodities, shares, crypto CFDs), proprietary platform strategy, and multi-jurisdictional licensing.
Pepperstone: Pepperstone is a global retail FX/CFD broker built on MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView, serving active traders with tight spreads and tier-1 liquidity. It overlaps FXCM directly in active-trader rebates, MT4/TradingView distribution, and offshore-domiciled entities regulated by ASIC, FCA, CySEC, DFSA, and SCB.

Broad incumbents

Interactive Brokers: Interactive Brokers is a global multi-asset broker with deep institutional and active-trader offerings, FIX/API access, and extensive regulation (SEC, FCA, etc.). While not a retail-CFD specialist like FXCM, it competes for active/algorithmic FX traders and institutional flow.
Saxo Bank: Saxo Bank is a multi-asset broker serving retail, active, and institutional clients via SaxoTraderGO/Pro under FCA, DFSA, MAS, and ASIC regulation. It overlaps FXCM in FX/CFD trading, active-trader rebates, institutional prime-of-prime offerings, and platform-plus-API distribution.
IG Group: IG Group is a publicly-listed, large multi-asset broker offering retail and institutional FX, CFD, share dealing, and spread betting under FCA and other regulators. It competes with FXCM across retail platforms, regulated subsidiaries, and institutional services, but with a broader product and capital-markets footprint.

Emerging players

Robinhood: Robinhood is a US retail broker expanding into FX (via Futures Forex in 2024) and crypto with a self-serve mobile-first platform. While it does not yet operate a global multi-jurisdictional FX/CFD franchise like FXCM, it represents the next-generation retail trading experience FXCM must compete against for younger traders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

FXCM compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance5 records

FXCM financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

FXCM leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

FXCM subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries5 records

FXCM funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

FXCM M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FXCM

What does FXCM do?

Is FXCM a public or private company?

FXCM is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.

When was FXCM founded?

FXCM was founded in 1999. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is FXCM based?

FXCM is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.

How does FXCM make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Spread-based trading revenue is the primary driver. The others are active Trader Rebate Program and leverage and margin fees.

Who are FXCM's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are eToro, OANDA, XM (Trading Point Holdings), Plus500, CMC Markets and Pepperstone. Broad incumbents are Interactive Brokers, Saxo Bank and IG Group. Robinhood is listed as an emerging player.

Does FXCM have an API?

Yes. FXCM offers three free APIs: FIX API (FIX Protocol standard for real-time institutional interface, up to 250 price updates/sec, requires $5,000 minimum balance), Java API (wrapper SDK of FIX API, provides live streaming and historical prices, compatible with Java-compliant OS), and ForexConnect API (offers same functionality as Trading Station including all order types, streaming live prices, position management, historical rates, and account reports; supports C++, C#, Java, VB, VBA, .Net, Linux, iOS, and Android). Active Trader accounts receive free API access. Developer documentation is at github.com/fxcm/FIXAPI.

What industry is FXCM in?

FXCM's product category is Retail Forex and CFD Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAFADAD, Retail FX/CFD Broker Trading Venues, with a secondary code of FSAFANAC, FX Electronic Trading Platforms (Spot/Forwards/Swaps). Its NAICS code is 5231 and its SIC code is 6211.