Exclusive Markets operates under Seychelles FSA (SD-031) with client-fund segregation, MT4/MT5, copy trading, and swift payouts. Yet Tier-3 oversight, firm-policy—not statutory—NBP, and occasional withdrawal disputes cap it at Bronze.
Exclusive Markets is a global forex/CFD broker operating under the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA). The firm markets tight spreads, MetaTrader 4 and 5, copy trading, and high leverage—up to 1:2000 on several account types. It also advertises negative balance protection and fast withdrawals. For beginners and casual investors, those claims sound attractive. But in retail trading, regulatory footing and how a broker handles client money matter as much as features.
Using TraderVerified’s ratings framework—which weights regulation most heavily and then considers execution, client feedback, and staff insight—we place Exclusive Markets in the Bronze band. That puts it among brokers with lighter (Tier-3) oversight but broadly serviceable platforms and a mix of positive and mixed client feedback. The goal of this review is to explain why, in plain language, so you can judge whether Exclusive Markets fits your risk tolerance and experience level.
Regulation & Safety (why this matters)
Who regulates the broker and what is the licensed entity?
Exclusive Markets operates via Exclusive Markets Ltd, a Seychelles-incorporated company (Reg. No. 8423950-1) authorized by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles as a Securities Dealer under license SD-031. The license and entity details are stated on the broker’s site, and Exclusive Markets Ltd appears on the FSA’s public register of capital markets licensees. The FSA register also records the firm’s address in Mahé and lists official domains.
What “tier” is that regulator—and why does it matter?
Under TraderVerified’s methodology, Seychelles is classed as Tier-3 (offshore) oversight. Tier-3 regulators generally apply lighter rules than on-shore authorities such as the U.K.’s FCA or Australia’s ASIC. For retail traders, that usually means fewer hard protections set in law. Our Bronze band reflects this lower baseline, even if other factors—platforms and client feedback—are positive.
Client-fund protection (segregation).
Seychelles law requires licensed Securities Dealers to keep client money in segregated bank accounts and to hold it on trust for clients. The Securities (Conduct of Business) Regulations specify that client accounts must be separate from the broker’s own funds, with strict record-keeping and limits on how money can be moved. In short: the regulator mandates segregation. That is an important safeguard should a firm run into trouble.
Leverage rules and negative balance protection (NBP).
Unlike the U.K. or E.U., Seychelles does not impose a statutory leverage cap for retail CFD/FX trading. Many FSA-licensed brokers (including Exclusive Markets) offer high leverage to clients. Third-party explainers note that FSA rules do not explicitly mandate NBP; when offered, NBP is a firm policy, not a statutory right. Exclusive Markets advertises NBP and describes fast-processing withdrawals; those are positives, but they remain contractual features rather than regulator-guaranteed protections. If you depend on leverage limits or mandatory NBP, a Tier-1 regulator may suit you better.
Local authorisation warnings.
Offshore brokers frequently appear on “unauthorised firm” lists in countries where they market but lack local licences. In October 2024, Malaysia’s Securities Commission flagged “Exclusive Markets” as unauthorised in that jurisdiction; the alert is indexed in IOSCO’s international warning database. Such notices do not mean a company is unlicensed globally, but they do mean it cannot legally solicit in that market. Prospective Malaysian clients should take note.
Related/adjacent entities.
Exclusive Markets also references a Cyprus company, Exclusive Markets (Cyprus) Ltd, as an appointed representative/distributor. That Cyprus entity is not the FSA license holder and should not be confused with Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) licensees you may know from EU brokers. Always check the legal entity on your account agreement; for Exclusive Markets’ trading accounts, that is the Seychelles company.
Bottom line on safety: you get statutory segregation of client money and a recognized license, but Tier-3 oversight means high leverage, firm-policy NBP (not regulator-mandated), and potentially limited recourse compared with Tier-1 jurisdictions. For cautious beginners, that trade-off is the central consideration.
Trader Reputation & Market Presence
Client reviews (the signal vs. the noise).
On Trustpilot, Exclusive Markets shows a 4.2/5 TrustScore from a few hundred reviews at the time of writing, with many users praising customer support, execution, and spreads. As always, treat public reviews with care; rating sites can include both genuine and promotional posts. Still, the pattern here is that service and platform usability are recurring positives.
Other aggregators (Myfxbook and others) tilt positive on spreads and execution, reflecting similar themes. Meanwhile, discussion forums and watchdog sites present a mixed picture: some clients compliment fast withdrawals; others report delays or disputes—particularly around promotions or a “funded account” product the broker also markets. Mixed sentiment is typical for offshore brokers and should be weighed alongside your personal risk tolerance.
Products and platforms.
Exclusive Markets offers MT4 and MT5, plus copy trading/PAMM and a broad instrument list (FX, indices, metals, commodities, CFDs on stocks/ETFs/cryptos). The website markets up to 1:2000 leverage on several account types—Standard, Standard Plus, Exclusive—and 1:500 on Cent accounts, with a separate “Shares” account at 1:1. Those features target experienced users who know how to manage margin and slippage.
Payments and withdrawals.
The broker lists multiple deposit/withdrawal channels and states that withdrawals are processed within 24 hours, with bank wires taking 3–5 business days to reach your account. Independent roundups echo the broad method support and generally fast processing, though—as noted—some clients report sporadic delays.
Geographic profile and marketing.
The FSA register lists several official domains for Exclusive Markets, reflecting multi-market outreach (including regional sites). The company also promotes a Dubai representative office (not a DFSA-regulated licence). As with any offshore broker, confirm local legality before onboarding.
Takeaway on reputation: User feedback skews positive on service and usability, with occasional complaints around withdrawals and program terms. Third-party watchdogs vary: some praise pricing; others assign low composite “trust scores” based on jurisdiction. Consider the consistency of the positives (platform/support) versus the non-trivial negatives (withdrawal disputes, offshore risk).
Strengths & Weaknesses
Where Exclusive Markets is strong
- Recognised licence + clear entity: Seychelles FSA licence SD-031, entity Exclusive Markets Ltd (Reg. No. 8423950-1). Presence on the official FSA register.
- Client money segregation required by law: Seychelles regulations mandate segregated client accounts and define strict handling of client funds.
- Platforms & tools: Native support for MT4/MT5, copy trading and PAMM, plus VPS options and trading research.
- Broad market access: FX, indices, metals, commodities, CFDs on equities, ETFs, cryptos, and more.
- Pricing headline features: Zero-spread options on certain accounts; micro-lot trading; dynamic leverage up to 1:2000 (for experienced users).
- NBP (firm policy): The broker advertises negative balance protection and 24-hour withdrawal processing.
- Customer support sentiment: Consistent praise for responsiveness across multiple review platforms.
Where Exclusive Markets should improve
- Regulatory heft: Seychelles is Tier-3. There is no statutory leverage cap and NBP is not regulator-mandated; protections rest largely on firm policy. Traders seeking the strongest guardrails may prefer Tier-1.
- Local marketing risks: The brand has appeared on an “unauthorised firm” warning in Malaysia; prospective clients must check local rules before opening accounts.
- Withdrawal friction (minority cases): While many report fast payouts, some users cite delays or disputes, especially around promotions or funded-program terms. Offshore recourse can be limited.
- Clarity on group structure: References to a Cyprus distributor can confuse newcomers who may assume EU-style protections apply. The trading entity for retail accounts is the Seychelles company.
Overall Verdict
Band: Bronze
Exclusive Markets combines a modern platform stack (MT4/MT5, copy trading) with aggressive trading conditions (tight spreads, high leverage) and firm-level NBP. The corporate entity and licence are verifiable, and Seychelles law requires segregation of client funds. On service, public feedback is more positive than not, especially on support and ease of use.
Why not a higher band? Regulation. In our framework, Tier-3 oversight sets a lower ceiling. Offshore regimes allow brokers to offer flexibility—especially leverage—but also rely more on your risk controls and the broker’s own policies. Add the occasional withdrawal disputes and a jurisdiction-specific warning (Malaysia), and Bronze is the right balance of access and caution.
Who is it for?
- Better suited to: Intermediate to experienced traders who understand margin, can manage 1:2000 leverage responsibly, and prioritise MT4/MT5 plus copy-trading features.
- Less suited to: Newer investors who want Tier-1 safeguards (e.g., leverage caps, regulator-mandated NBP, compensation schemes). If you want statutory retail protections, consider brokers licensed by the FCA, ASIC, or other Tier-1 regulators.
Among Bronze-band peers, Exclusive Markets is competitive on spreads, platform breadth, and support. If you go forward, keep position sizes modest, double-check local legality, and test withdrawals early with small sums.
Expert Review Notes (Staff Insight)
Reputation signals: Trustpilot sentiment is broadly positive on service and execution; forum and watchdog reports are mixed—typical for offshore brokers. Our practice: start with a small deposit, test platform stability around major news, and run a small withdrawal early.
Entity & licence check: We verified that Exclusive Markets Ltd is listed on the Seychelles FSA register and the firm publicly discloses SD-031 on its site. This aligns with client-agreement documents stating the Seychelles entity and registration number. Always ensure your account is opened with the same entity.
What Seychelles law does—and doesn’t—do: The Conduct of Business Regulations require segregated client bank accounts and set strict rules for handling client money. However, leverage limits and NBP are not embedded in statute; they are firm policies. Treat them as contractual, not regulatory, protections.
High leverage is a feature and a risk: The website highlights leverage up to 1:2000 and dynamic margining. That can lower collateral needs but magnifies losses. For first-time traders, limit leverage and use stop-loss orders; for copy trading, monitor strategy drawdowns, not just returns.
Programs and promos: The broker runs an “Exclusive Funded” program with separate terms. If you participate, read those terms line-by-line, as evaluation rules and payout conditions differ from standard brokerage accounts and are a common source of disputes industry-wide.
