National Supervisory Authority & Licensing Qualification Dossier • Offshore Financial Centre
FSA
SeychellesFinancial Services Authority Seychelles
Source / Native Reference: 塞舌尔金融服务管理局
- Supervisory tier
- Offshore
- License classes
- 2
- Licensed records
- 213
- Active / regulated
- 137
Statutory Supervisory Mandate & Scope
Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA) is the statutory financial regulatory and licensing authority in Seychelles. It oversees international investment dealers, securities brokers, collective investment schemes, and cross-border financial service providers under Seychelles's offshore financial centre framework, enforcing corporate governance, minimum paid-up capital, and Anti-Money Laundering / Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance.
Supervises Securities Investment Business licensees, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), mutual and private investment funds, captive insurers, and international brokerage entities.
Prudential Tier Assessment
OffshoreRecognised international offshore financial centre supervisor regulating global hedge funds, institutional prime vehicles, digital asset exchanges, and cross-border securities dealers.
National licensing qualifications & statutory authorisation classes (FSA)
Authorisation categories, permitted institutional and retail activities, minimum initial capital adequacy, and ongoing prudential solvency rules enforced by FSA in Seychelles.
| License class / code | Official designation | Permitted institutional & retail activities | Minimum initial / base capital | Ongoing prudential & solvency rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Service / Market Maker Securities Dealer | Securities Investment Business / Investment Dealer (Full Service Dealer Including Underwriting) | Acting as principal or market maker in securities, FX, CFDs, and commodities; executing client orders and managing portfolios. | USD $50,000 (Seychelles FSA SD / Vanuatu VFSC Class A–D statutory bond) to MUR 10,000,000 (~USD $220,000 Mauritius Full Service Dealer) or USD $300,000+ (Bahamas SCB / Cayman CIMA / Bermuda BMA). | Maintenance of unimpaired minimum net capital, local physical office and resident directors/MLRO, and Professional Indemnity Insurance. |
| VASP / Digital Asset Business (Class F / DARE) | Virtual Asset Service Provider & Digital Asset Exchange / Custodian Licence | Operating a virtual asset trading platform, digital asset derivatives exchange, custodial wallet service, or token issuance. | USD $100,000 to USD $1,000,000+ risk-based capital depending on custody volume and exchange turnover. | Cybersecurity penetration testing, cold/hot wallet segregation, independent custody audit, and quarterly regulatory filings. |
Investor compensation, client money segregation & digital-asset regime
Statutory counterparty protections, custody reconciliation mandates, and virtual-asset licensing status under FSA.
Contractual Custody & Segregated Trust Accounts (No Statutory Retail Compensation Fund)
- Maximum coverage per client
- EUR €0 / USD $0 statutory government compensation scheme (protection relies on segregated client trust accounts, minimum paid-up capital/bonds, and Professional Indemnity Insurance)
- Eligible counterparties & scope
- Global cross-border retail and institutional clients onboarded outside restricted onshore jurisdictions (US, UK, Japan, Canada typically excluded by terms of business).
CIMA Statement of Guidance on Client Assets / Mauritius Securities Rules / Seychelles Securities (Conduct of Business) Regulations
- Reconciliation & audit cadence
- Mandatory separation of client funds from proprietary operating accounts; periodic reconciliation audited annually.
- Approved custodian requirements
- Client moneys must be held in designated client trust accounts at approved domestic or international commercial banks.
Cayman VASP Act, Bermuda DABA Class F/M & Bahamas DARE Act 2024
- Travel Rule, custody & stablecoin rules
- Full FATF Recommendation 15 & 16 AML/CFT and Travel Rule compliance supervised via annual AML audits.
Primary Governing Statutes & Rulebooks
- Cayman Islands Securities Investment Business Act (SIBA) & Virtual Asset (Service Providers) Act (VASP Act)
- Bermuda Digital Asset Business Act 2018 (DABA) & Investment Business Act 2003
- BVI Securities and Investment Business Act (SIBA) & Bahamas DARE Act 2024
- Mauritius Financial Services Act 2007, Seychelles Securities Act 2007 & Vanuatu Financial Dealers Licensing Act [Cap 70]
Regulatory Reporting & Audit Obligations
Annual audited financial statements prepared under IFRS/US GAAP and submitted within 3 to 6 months of financial year-endMandatory appointment of an approved Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer (AMLCO) and Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)Annual AML/CFT Independent Audit and Economic Substance (ES) annual filing
Cross-Border Equivalence & Passporting
Offshore licences permit international cross-border onboarding where lawful under reverse solicitation, but do not grant automatic onshore passporting into the US, UK, EU, or Japan.
Supervised institutions & FSA licence records in our database
213 licence records referencing FSA (137 regulated/registered, 6 flagged with warnings/revocations).
| Institution | Licence number | Status | Licensed legal entity | Effective date | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doo Prime | SD090 | Regulated | Doo Prime (Seychelles) Limited | 2021-11-03 | |
| EC Markets | SD009 | Offshore | EC Markets Limited | — | |
| IB | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 187 | Regulated | Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited | 2007-09-30 | |
| Hantec Markets Australia | SD164 | Regulated | Hantec (Seychelles) Services Limited | — | |
| MUFG Bank | Number pending check | Regulated | MUFG Bank | — | |
| doto | SD0063 | Offshore | Doto International Ltd | — | |
| ETO Markets | S062 | Offshore | ETO Markets Limited | — | |
| XS | SD089 | Regulated | XS LTD | — | |
| Nordea | FT00106317 | Regulated | NORDEA BANK DANMARK A/S | 2016-01-01 | |
| 18shinwabank | 1310001005552 | Regulated | THE JUHACHI-SHINWA BANK, LTD. | — | |
| Bank of Nagoya | 8180001036398 | Regulated | The Bank of Nagoya , Ltd. | — | |
| Bank of The Ryukyus | 6360001000404 | Regulated | Bank of The Ryukyus , Limited. | — | |
| Hiroshima Bank | 5240001012809 | Regulated | The Hiroshima Bank , Ltd. | — | |
| Ikeda Senshu Bank | 8120001144082 | Regulated | The Senshu Ikeda Bank, Ltd. | — | |
| MUTB BANK | 6010001008770 | Regulated | Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation | -- | |
| Nishitetsu City Bank | 4290001107472 | Regulated | Nishitetsu Asset Management Co.,Ltd | — | |
| oitabank | 7320001000084 | Regulated | THE OITA BANK , LTD. | — | |
| Rakuten Bank | 5010701022527 | Regulated | Rakuten Bank,Ltd. | — | |
| Saitama Resona Bank | 8030001009848 | Regulated | Saitama Resona Bank,Limited | — | |
| San-in Godo Bank | 6280001000230 | Regulated | The San-in Godo Bank , Ltd. | — | |
| SECURCAP | SD012 | Regulated | Securcap Securities Limited | — | |
| Shizuoka Bank | 5080001002669 | Regulated | THE SHIZUOKA BANK , LTD. | — | |
| SMBC | 5010001008813 | Regulated | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation | — | |
| Sony Bank | 4010401053410 | Regulated | Sony Financial Holdings Inc | — | |
| The Bank of Kochi | 4490001000608 | Regulated | THE BANK OF KOCHI , LTD. | — | |
| The Bank of Okinawa | 4360001000406 | Regulated | The Bank of Okinawa , Ltd. | — | |
| Tomato Bank | 7260001006096 | Regulated | TOMATO BANK , LTD. | — | |
| Tottori Bank | 2270001000870 | Regulated | THE TOTTORI BANK , LTD. | — | |
| Binance(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau 00031 | Regulated | Binance Japan Inc. | 2023 | |
| OKX(Global network record) | Number pending check | Regulated | Aux Cayes Fintech Co Ltd | — | |
| AvaTrade(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 1662 | Regulated | AVA Trade EU Ltd. | 2007-09-30 | |
| eToro(Global network record) | SD076 | Regulated | eToro (Seychelles) Ltd | — | |
| FXGlobe(Global network record) | FT00080018 | Regulated | FXGLOBE LTD | 2013-12-16 | |
| Saxo(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 239 | Regulated | Saxo Bank Securities Ltd. | 2007-09-30 | |
| Mizuho Securities(Global network record) | 7010001008687 | Revoked | — | 2007-09-30 | |
| Admiral Markets(Global network record) | SD073 | Offshore | Admirals SC Ltd | — | |
| GLOBAL(Global network record) | SD 192 | Regulated | B2B Prime Services SC Ltd | 2024 | |
| Hash(Global network record) | 3010401136678 | Regulated | Tokyo Hash Co., Ltd. | — | |
| OANDA(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 2137 | Regulated | OANDA Japan Inc | 2009-03-02 | |
| Okcoin(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau No. 20 | Regulated | Okcoin | 2020-03-30 | |
| Plus500(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 156 | Regulated | Plus500 | 2007-09-30 | |
| ThinkMarkets(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 250 | Regulated | TF GLOBAL MARKETS (AUST) PTY LTD | 2007-09-30 | |
| ThinkMarkets(Global network record) | SD060 | Offshore | TF Global Markets Int Ltd | — | |
| AETOS(Global network record) | SD206 | Regulated | AETOS Markets (Seychelles) Ltd | — | |
| AVA(Global network record) | 2010401081157 | Regulated | Ava Trade Japan K.K. | — | |
| capital.com(Global network record) | SD101 | Offshore | Capital Com Stock and CFD Investing Ltd | — | |
| easyMarkets(Global network record) | SD056 | Offshore | EF Worldwide Ltd | — | |
| Equiti(Global network record) | SD064 | Offshore | Equiti Brokerage (Seychelles) Limited | -- | |
| Exness(Global network record) | SD025 | Offshore | Exness (SC) Ltd | — | |
| Forex(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 291 | Regulated | GAIN Global Markets, Inc. | 2007-09-30 | |
| Trade Nation(Global network record) | SD150 | Regulated | TRADE NATION FINANCIAL MARKETS LIMITED | — | |
| Viverno(Global network record) | SD047 | Regulated | BDS Ltd | — | |
| bitFlyer(Global network record) | 00003 | Regulated | bitFlyer, Inc. | 2017 | |
| GVD Markets(Global network record) | SD210 | Regulated | GVD Prime Capital Limited | — | |
| HFM(Global network record) | SD015 | Offshore | HF Markets (Seychelles) Ltd | -- | |
| Squared Financial(Global network record) | SD024 | Offshore | Squared Financial (Seychelles) Ltd | — | |
| Tickmill(Global network record) | SD008 | Regulated | Tickmill Ltd | — | |
| Windsor Brokers(Global network record) | SD072 | Offshore | Windsor Brokers International Ltd | — | |
| WisunoFX(Global network record) | SD178 | Offshore | WISUNO LIMITED | — | |
| Alvexo(Global network record) | SD030 | Offshore | HSN Capital Group Ltd | — | |
| Axion(Global network record) | SD175 | Offshore | Axion Trade Limited | — | |
| CFI International Ltd(Global network record) | SD107 | Regulated | Credit Financier Invest International Limited | — | |
| Dukascopy Bank(Global network record) | Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No. 2408 | Regulated | Dukascopy Japan K.K. | 2010-06-08 | |
| FMGP(Global network record) | SD096 | Offshore | Fusion Markets International Ltd | — | |
| FXGT.com(Global network record) | SD019 | Regulated | GT Global Ltd | — | |
| FXORO(Global network record) | SD046 | Regulated | ORO FINTECH LIMITED | — | |
| Global Prime(Global network record) | SD057 | Offshore | Global Prime FX Ltd | 2017-01-27 | |
| GO MARKETS(Global network record) | SD043 | Offshore | Go Markets International Ltd | — | |
| Interstellar Group(Global network record) | SD127 | Regulated | First Interstellar Global Ltd | 2022-08-08 | |
| M4Markets(Global network record) | SD035 | Regulated | Trinota Markets (Global) Limited | — | |
| OnEquity(Global network record) | SD154 | Regulated | OnEquity Ltd | — | |
| Scope Markets(Global network record) | SD079 | Offshore | Scope Markets Global Ltd | — | |
| STARTRADER(Global network record) | SD049 | Offshore | STARTRADER LIMITED | — | |
| The(Global network record) | SD127 | Offshore | First Interstellar Global Ltd | — | |
| Tradu(Global network record) | SD147 | Offshore | Stratos Systems Limited | — | |
| Zenfinex(Global network record) | Number pending check | Regulated | ZENFINEX GLOBAL LIMITED | — | |
| 4T(Global network record) | SD058 | Offshore | 4T Limited | — | |
| Axia Investments(Global network record) | SD034 | Offshore | Smarttool Trading SC Limited | -- | |
| BAXIA MARKETS(Global network record) | SD104 | Offshore | Baxia Global Ltd | — | |
| Best Leader(Global network record) | SD084 | Suspected clone | Best Leader International (SYC) Limited | — |
FSA (Seychelles): institutional licensing & due diligence FAQ
Key statutory capital, compensation, custody segregation, and verification answers for compliance teams.
What are the primary licensing classes and minimum capital requirements under FSA (Seychelles)?
FSA (Financial Services Authority Seychelles) supervises financial institutions in Seychelles under Cayman Islands Securities Investment Business Act (SIBA) & Virtual Asset (Service Providers) Act (VASP Act) and Bermuda Digital Asset Business Act 2018 (DABA) & Investment Business Act 2003. Key statutory authorisation classes include: Full Service / Market Maker Securities Dealer (Securities Investment Business / Investment Dealer (Full Service Dealer Including Underwriting) — min. capital: USD $50,000 (Seychelles FSA SD / Vanuatu VFSC Class A–D statutory bond) to MUR 10,000,000 (~USD $220,000 Mauritius Full Service Dealer) or USD $300,000+ (Bahamas SCB / Cayman CIMA / Bermuda BMA).); VASP / Digital Asset Business (Class F / DARE) (Virtual Asset Service Provider & Digital Asset Exchange / Custodian Licence — min. capital: USD $100,000 to USD $1,000,000+ risk-based capital depending on custody volume and exchange turnover.). Ongoing prudential supervision requires strict adherence to capital adequacy and liquidity buffers.
Does FSA provide statutory investor compensation and mandatory client asset segregation?
Under FSA's framework, investor protection is governed by Contractual Custody & Segregated Trust Accounts (No Statutory Retail Compensation Fund) with maximum coverage of EUR €0 / USD $0 statutory government compensation scheme (protection relies on segregated client trust accounts, minimum paid-up capital/bonds, and Professional Indemnity Insurance) (Global cross-border retail and institutional clients onboarded outside restricted onshore jurisdictions (US, UK, Japan, Canada typically excluded by terms of business).). For client money and custody assets, supervised firms must comply with CIMA Statement of Guidance on Client Assets / Mauritius Securities Rules / Seychelles Securities (Conduct of Business) Regulations, performing mandatory separation of client funds from proprietary operating accounts; periodic reconciliation audited annually. with client moneys must be held in designated client trust accounts at approved domestic or international commercial banks..
How does FSA regulate digital assets, crypto exchanges (VASPs/CASPs), and stablecoins?
FSA's digital-asset regime is structured around Cayman VASP Act, Bermuda DABA Class F/M & Bahamas DARE Act 2024 (Dedicated statutory digital asset licensing regimes used by top global institutional crypto derivatives exchanges, custodians, and tokenized funds.). Custody and AML/CFT compliance obligations require: Full FATF Recommendation 15 & 16 AML/CFT and Travel Rule compliance supervised via annual AML audits.
How can I verify an institution's FSA licence number and check our 213 recorded licence entries?
Our database currently tracks 213 licence records referencing FSA (137 marked regulated or registered). To verify a counterparty at the primary source, open FSA's official public register (https://fsaseychelles.sc/regulated-entities), search by the exact reference number and legal entity name, and confirm that the firm's domain and permitted activities match its statutory authorisation.
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Statutory licensing classes, base capital rules, and investor protection summaries for FSA (Seychelles) are maintained for institutional benchmarking and do not constitute legal advice. Always verify current rulebooks and active firm authorisations directly on FSA’s official public register.