Is Dukascopy a Scam or Legit?
Dukascopy holds a valid FINMA licence. The number is public and verifiable.
Dukascopy is regulated under FINMA licence N/A, issued to Dukascopy Bank SA. This licence appears in the FINMA public register. Dukascopy has been operating since 2004 — 22 years. Scam operations do not maintain long-term regulated status.
The FINMA registration
| Regulator | FINMA |
| Licence number | N/A ✓ |
| Registered entity | Dukascopy Bank SA |
| Status | Authorised |
| Register | brokerforexreviews.com |
| Years regulated | 22+ |
What FINMA regulation means for you
FINMA-regulated brokers must meet conduct and capital requirements set by the regulator. Client funds must be held separately from company funds.
All regulatory licences
Dukascopy holds 3 regulatory licences across different jurisdictions. The entity that applies to your account depends on your country of residence.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| FINMA | N/A | Dukascopy Bank SA | 1:200 max |
| FSA | SD030 | Dukascopy Europe IBS AS | 1:200 max |
| JFSA | 関東財務局長(金商)第2438号 | Dukascopy Japan KK | 1:25 max |
How to verify Dukascopy yourself
Go to brokerforexreviews.com. Enter the licence number N/A or search by entity name Dukascopy Bank SA. The result should show the entity name, authorisation status, and the specific regulated activities it is permitted to conduct.
This takes under a minute. If a broker cannot be found on the relevant regulator's register, that is a serious warning sign. All legitimate regulated brokers appear there.
Common complaints and what they mean
Most complaints about Dukascopy fall into standard categories: withdrawal processing times, spread widening during news events, and account verification requests. These are normal business practices, not indicators of fraud.
None of these patterns indicate fraud. They are the normal complaints of a commercial brokerage enforcing its terms. Real forex scams operate without any regulatory licence, refuse all withdrawals, and disappear with client funds. That is not the profile of Dukascopy.
Red flags that would indicate a real scam
When researching any broker, watch for these genuine warning signs:
- No licence number listed, or a licence that cannot be found on the official register
- Pressure to deposit more money to unlock withdrawals
- Promises of guaranteed returns or "risk-free" trading
- Platform that only shows profits, never losses
- No physical address or contact information
- Licence from a regulator you have never heard of that has no official website
None of these apply to Dukascopy. Its FINMA licence N/A is publicly verifiable, it has disclosed offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and it has operated continuously since 2004.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dukascopy safe to deposit money with?
Dukascopy is FINMA-regulated and client funds are held in segregated accounts. Client funds are held separately from company funds as required by the regulator. This does not eliminate trading risk, but it protects funds from broker insolvency.
Why do people ask if Dukascopy is a scam?
Most forex scam searches come from traders who lost money trading. CFD trading is high-risk — 65% of Dukascopy retail clients lose money. Losing money on a legitimate platform does not make it a scam. Scams refuse all withdrawals and disappear. Dukascopy has processed billions in withdrawals over 22 years of operation.
Is Dukascopy regulated in my country?
Dukascopy holds licences covering 36 countries across 3 regulatory jurisdictions. The entity serving your account depends on your country. Check the full licence table above to find which entity applies to your region.
What happens to my money if Dukascopy goes bankrupt?
FINMA-regulated brokers must hold client funds in segregated bank accounts entirely separate from company operating funds. This means your deposits cannot be used to pay the broker's business creditors if it becomes insolvent.