CySEC Investment Firm Licence
Cost
Application around €10,000-€25,000. Setup costs (legal, capital) typically €100,000+ on top.
Timeline
6-9 months for full licence
Capital
€125,000 (STP/agency model) | €730,000 (Market Maker) | €730,000+ (Portfolio Management)
STP / Market Maker / Asset Management regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
Who it suits
Forex, CFD, and investment brokers serving EU and global retail clients. The most common regulatory profile for European retail forex.
Compliance load
MiFID II / MiFIR alignment, ESMA leverage caps (1:30 majors, 1:20 minors, 1:10 commodities, 1:5 stocks, 1:2 crypto-CFDs), client-fund segregation, Investor Compensation Fund participation, CONSOB-style transaction reporting.
The acquiring angle
Tier-one acquirers underwrite CySEC-licensed brokers routinely. Pricing 0.5-2% IC++ markup typical. Forex chargeback exposure is structural, reserves typically 7-15% even with clean operations. CySEC-plus-MGA dual regulatory profile (for hybrid forex+iGaming) is unusual but acquirer-friendly.
Notes and pitfalls
ESMA leverage caps gutted retail margins post-2018. Operators offshore-flag retail clients to non-EU jurisdictions to access higher leverage, acquirers detect this and price accordingly.
Reference information, not legal advice. Figures are typical ranges as of 2026.
CySEC questions.
How do acquirers view the CySEC licence?
Acquirer acceptance is Broad. Tier-one acquirers underwrite CySEC-licensed brokers routinely. Pricing 0.5-2% IC++ markup typical. Forex chargeback exposure is structural, reserves typically 7-15% even with clean operations. CySEC-plus-MGA dual regulatory profile (for hybrid forex+iGaming) is unusual but acquirer-friendly.
What does the CySEC cost and how long does it take?
Cost: Application around €10,000-€25,000. Setup costs (legal, capital) typically €100,000+ on top.. Timeline: 6-9 months for full licence. Capital: €125,000 (STP/agency model) | €730,000 (Market Maker) | €730,000+ (Portfolio Management). These are typical ranges as of 2026; verify with the regulator before budgeting.
Does BZNpay help with CySEC applications?
No. We are an introducer to acquirers, not a licensing agent. We can tell you how this licence plays with the acquirer pool and introduce you to the partners whose appetite covers it.