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Official Research Sources: Regulators, Agreements & Evidence
EDITORIAL DOCUMENTATION
A source ledger for regulatory checks and platform-product claims. Sources must be attributed with their limitations and revisited when material terms change.
Company FAQs, trading conditions, virtual demo offers and fee tables are the broker’s own statements and are not independent laboratory tests. Our broker research library links to individual pages carrying specific source references where available. The lack of an independent funded withdrawal test is explicitly disclosed.
Update standard
Each material claim should identify the source URL, exact operator or product, country where applicable, date checked, and whether the record is a company claim, regulator record or a documented first-hand test. If a source is unavailable, mark the claim as unresolved rather than fabricating confirmation.
This is a source-selection guide, not a claim that every broker name and licence has been independently confirmed from all relevant registers.
Evidence reviewed: October 2026 · Verify official source dates before acting.
India: use RBI and SEBI for their distinct mandates
RBI's forex/ETP FAQ explains authorised persons, platform authorisation and its Alert List; it warns the alert list is not exhaustive. SEBI's foreign trading portal advisory covers concerns about offshore entities offering complex securities or derivatives and limited domestic dispute mechanisms. For an individual broker, record which authority is relevant to the specific activity, rather than applying a general 'India regulated' label. The SEBI recognised intermediaries tool can confirm registration records but not every contractual product of an overseas brand.
United Kingdom, Australia and Canada: read the precise rule
The FCA's permanent retail binary-options ban applies to firms carrying out the relevant activity in or from the United Kingdom, effective April 2019. ASIC extended its ban on issuing or distributing binary options to retail clients until October 2031. Canadian administrators note that certain jurisdictions prohibit advertising, offering or otherwise trading binary options with terms of less than 30 days to individuals. These rules have different legislative scopes; research should preserve those distinctions rather than flatten them into one worldwide prohibition.
United States: register status and product type both matter
The CFTC and SEC investor alert explains that binary-options offerings can fall under securities or commodities regulation, registration and exchange requirements. It warns about unregistered online operators and alleges some platforms have denied reimbursements, misused identification details or manipulated quote software. That does not prove every platform is fraudulent. Check relevant official exchange or intermediary registrations, the exact instrument and any applicable customer jurisdiction before using the source as a conclusion.
Record source quality and dates explicitly
Each evidence record should include authority/company, title, URL, date originally issued, date last checked, the named legal entity, product and affected country. Distinguish a regulator rule from a company-issued pricing page. Keep copies or references to current agreements where legally and technically appropriate. If official pages change or a regulator revises its interpretation, the research conclusion must be re-evaluated. A dead link or undated screenshot should not silently remain classified as verified.
Using this source ledger across every research page
Link the material source near the claim it supports and connect to the corresponding deeper guide. If a claim is not confirmed, write 'not verified' or describe the specific evidence gap. Do not quote authorisation for a different corporate partner or imply that incorporation equals a licence. Independent tests must include method and limitations; profitable screenshots cannot establish expected returns. Readers can submit original regulator or company documents through the site's correction channel, without sharing account credentials.
Questions to record before reaching a conclusion
Does the source come directly from the responsible regulator or contracting company?
Which country, product and legal entity does the record actually cover?
Is the rule currently applicable or a historical proposal?
When was the official record last checked?
Does the citation support the precise claim made in the article?
Frequently asked research questions
Can a broker marketing claim serve as primary regulatory proof?
No. It is a primary source for what the company states, not proof that a regulator agrees.
Do national restrictions all have the same scope?
No. Customer type, product, location and activity differ across official measures.
What if an official source link later disappears?
Record the retrieval date, mark the statement for re-verification and avoid presenting it as newly checked.
Primary references and source limitations
Official rules have jurisdiction and product limits. A broker's own asset list documents a provider claim, not independent execution verification.
