Forex.com Review 2026
The full Forex.com write-up for New Zealand traders: the kitchen inspection, the ingredient costs, the bill, and our straight verdict.
Regulation in New Zealand
| Regulator | ASIC ASIC, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) |
| Licence Number | 345646 |
| Regulated Entity | GAIN Capital Australia Pty Ltd |
| Max Leverage (Forex) | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| EUR/USD Spread | From 1.2 pips |
| Instruments | 500+ |
| Platforms | FOREX.com Platform, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Copy Trading | ✗ |
| Real Stocks | ✗ |
| Inactivity fee | Inactivity fee: USD15/month after 12 months |
| Verify on ASIC register → | 345646 |
Verdict
Cooks under ASIC (licence 345646). Cover charge $100. In New Zealand, forex leverage is capped at 1:30.
About Forex.com
Forex.com opened its doors in 2001 out of a kitchen in Bedminster, NJ, USA. Its menu runs to 500 tradeable instruments, forex pairs alongside CFDs on stocks, indices and commodities. It holds licences across several jurisdictions, with the head licence carried by GAIN Capital Australia Pty Ltd under ASIC.
In New Zealand, Forex.com serves as GAIN Capital Australia Pty Ltd, cleared by ASIC under licence number 345646. Under ASIC house rules, New Zealand traders are poured no more than 1:30 leverage on forex pairs.
Trading Platforms
Pros
- ASIC regulated, licence 345646
- 500+ instruments to trade
- Negative balance protection in New Zealand
- Platforms: FOREX.com Platform, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Founded in 2001 (25 years operating)
- Licences in 4 jurisdictions
Cons
- Inactivity fee: USD15/month after 12 months
- 76% of retail clients burn their fingers
- CFDs only, you trade the price, you never own the dish
- No real stock ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forex.com regulated?
Yes. Forex.com is authorised by ASIC, issued to the entity GAIN Capital Australia Pty Ltd, an authorisation you can look up for yourself on the official ASIC public register.
What is the minimum deposit for Forex.com in New Zealand?
The cover charge is $100, the smallest amount New Zealand traders need to open a live account with Forex.com under ASIC rules.
What leverage does Forex.com offer in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, ASIC rules cap Forex.com at 1:30 on forex pairs. A larger pour is sometimes available through offshore-regulated entities, with thinner protection to match.
Is Forex.com safe to trade with?
The kitchen passes inspection: Forex.com cooks under ASIC. A tier-1 regulator insists on segregated client money, negative balance protection and independent audits, while lighter offshore regimes offer weaker cover and often no compensation scheme. That does not make trading risk-free, so check which entity holds your account and what protections actually apply before you deposit.
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