Financial and Business News

CFD Broker HTFX Relinquishes CySEC License, Regulator Confirms

Thursday, 22/01/2026 | 14:24 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • Last week, the regulator proposed to raise the cost of doing investment business on the island.
  • HTFX can no longer provide investment services or conduct investment activities in or from Cyprus.
Dr. George Theocharides lecturing on financial literacy at University of Limassol
Dr. George Theocharides lecturing on financial literacy at University of Limassol (Photo: CySEC)

Cyprus’ securities regulator has withdrawn the Cyprus Investment Firm license of HTFX (EU) Ltd after the company chose to walk away from the regime.

CySEC Confirms Withdrawal Decision

According to the watchdog, the move formalizes the broker’s decision to renounce its authorization and ends its status as a CySEC -supervised CIF under the licensing.

With the CIF authorization withdrawn, HTFX can no longer offer investment services or perform investment activities in or from Cyprus under that license.

You may also find interesting: Cyprus Regulator Proposes Higher CIF Licensing Costs, Plans to Drop Crypto Fee Under MiCA

The firm must now follow any remaining obligations under the law and relevant directives, including client notifications and any wind-down steps linked to its former regulated activities.

Barely two weeks ago, CySEC proposed to increase the cost of doing investment business on the island. The regulator proposed higher application and annual fees for Cyprus Investment Firms, foreign branches and market operators, and wants to introduce new charges covering material change notifications and algorithmic trading activity.

Proposed Higher CIF Licensing Costs

The consultation outlined a new fee grid that more closely links charges to firms’ size, business model and turnover. The draft also scraps some outdated items, including a separate crypto‑services approval fee that is now effectively superseded by the EU’s MiCA regime. Under the proposal, the cost of securing a CIF license would rise significantly.

The current flat €7,000 fee for investment services would be replaced with a structure that charges €8,000 per investment service in most cases and €15,000 where the firm deals on own account, while the fee for services related to operating an MTF or OTF would go up to €30,000 from €25,000.

HTFX joins a growing list of brokers that relinquished their CySEC licenses over the past year, underscoring a continuing reshuffle in Cyprus’ investment firm landscape.

Several FX and CFD providers, including Alvexo operator VPR Safe Financial Group, BDSwiss’ B2B unit Viverno Markets, Royal Forex and investment firm Globia Wealth, have opted to step away from the regime by voluntarily renouncing or having their CIF authorizations withdrawn.

Cyprus’ securities regulator has withdrawn the Cyprus Investment Firm license of HTFX (EU) Ltd after the company chose to walk away from the regime.

CySEC Confirms Withdrawal Decision

According to the watchdog, the move formalizes the broker’s decision to renounce its authorization and ends its status as a CySEC -supervised CIF under the licensing.

With the CIF authorization withdrawn, HTFX can no longer offer investment services or perform investment activities in or from Cyprus under that license.

You may also find interesting: Cyprus Regulator Proposes Higher CIF Licensing Costs, Plans to Drop Crypto Fee Under MiCA

The firm must now follow any remaining obligations under the law and relevant directives, including client notifications and any wind-down steps linked to its former regulated activities.

Barely two weeks ago, CySEC proposed to increase the cost of doing investment business on the island. The regulator proposed higher application and annual fees for Cyprus Investment Firms, foreign branches and market operators, and wants to introduce new charges covering material change notifications and algorithmic trading activity.

Proposed Higher CIF Licensing Costs

The consultation outlined a new fee grid that more closely links charges to firms’ size, business model and turnover. The draft also scraps some outdated items, including a separate crypto‑services approval fee that is now effectively superseded by the EU’s MiCA regime. Under the proposal, the cost of securing a CIF license would rise significantly.

The current flat €7,000 fee for investment services would be replaced with a structure that charges €8,000 per investment service in most cases and €15,000 where the firm deals on own account, while the fee for services related to operating an MTF or OTF would go up to €30,000 from €25,000.

HTFX joins a growing list of brokers that relinquished their CySEC licenses over the past year, underscoring a continuing reshuffle in Cyprus’ investment firm landscape.

Several FX and CFD providers, including Alvexo operator VPR Safe Financial Group, BDSwiss’ B2B unit Viverno Markets, Royal Forex and investment firm Globia Wealth, have opted to step away from the regime by voluntarily renouncing or having their CIF authorizations withdrawn.

Topics
cysec
About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
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Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.

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