Cyprus Regulator's New Survey Wants to Show How Finance Fuels the Island’s Economy

Wednesday, 28/01/2026 | 15:42 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • The study seeks data on firms’ turnover and also on their local spending on staff, services, and technology.
  • Firms must report only their Cyprus-based operations, submitting all data in euros and excluding value-added tax.
Dr. George Theocharides lecturing on financial literacy at University of Limassol
Dr. George Theocharides lecturing on financial literacy at University of Limassol (Photo: CySEC)

For years, Cyprus’ regulated firms have helped turn the island into a hub for FX, CFDs, funds and crypto, and other financial services. Now the regulator wants to put numbers on that role.

CySEC has launched an economic impact survey of all entities under its supervision to show how they support jobs, spending and investment in Cyprus and how far their services reach into the EEA.

In a new circular released on Wednesday, CySEC asked all supervised and registered entities to complete a detailed online questionnaire for the 2025 financial year.

What CySEC Is Doing

The survey covers Cyprus Investment Firms, branches of foreign investment firms, fund managers, crypto asset service providers, administration firms and listed companies.

The regulator says it wants to measure three types of impact. It will look at direct impact from firms’ own revenues and costs, indirect impact through their suppliers and induced impact from the spending of their staff and the staff of their suppliers.

In practice, that means the survey aims to capture not just the turnover of an FX or CFD broker, but also what that broker spends on local technology, services and staff, and how those wages flow back into the wider economy.

Related: Cyprus Regulator Proposes Higher CIF Licensing Costs, Plans to Drop Crypto Fee Under MiCA

Cyprus hosts many FX and CFD brokers that passport services across the EEA. The survey gives them a chance to show that their presence goes beyond booking trades and that they support local employment, office space, technology spend and professional services.

Why It Matters for FX and CFD Firms

For a sector that often faces scrutiny over its business models and client outcomes, an official study that highlights economic contribution may influence how policymakers and the public view the industry.

Early this month, CySEC Chair Dr. George Theocharides kicked off 2026 with a cautionary note, highlighting that Cyprus’s capital market is entering a more stringent supervisory period.

As of the second quarter of 2025, the commission oversaw 319 Collective Investment Management Companies and Collective Investment Undertakings, managing a combined total of €10.6 billion in assets.

The regulator has also signaled the intention to increase the cost of conducting regulated investment business on the island, proposing higher application and annual fees for Cyprus Investment Firms, foreign branches, and market operators, alongside new charges covering material change notifications and algorithmic trading activities.

For years, Cyprus’ regulated firms have helped turn the island into a hub for FX, CFDs, funds and crypto, and other financial services. Now the regulator wants to put numbers on that role.

CySEC has launched an economic impact survey of all entities under its supervision to show how they support jobs, spending and investment in Cyprus and how far their services reach into the EEA.

In a new circular released on Wednesday, CySEC asked all supervised and registered entities to complete a detailed online questionnaire for the 2025 financial year.

What CySEC Is Doing

The survey covers Cyprus Investment Firms, branches of foreign investment firms, fund managers, crypto asset service providers, administration firms and listed companies.

The regulator says it wants to measure three types of impact. It will look at direct impact from firms’ own revenues and costs, indirect impact through their suppliers and induced impact from the spending of their staff and the staff of their suppliers.

In practice, that means the survey aims to capture not just the turnover of an FX or CFD broker, but also what that broker spends on local technology, services and staff, and how those wages flow back into the wider economy.

Related: Cyprus Regulator Proposes Higher CIF Licensing Costs, Plans to Drop Crypto Fee Under MiCA

Cyprus hosts many FX and CFD brokers that passport services across the EEA. The survey gives them a chance to show that their presence goes beyond booking trades and that they support local employment, office space, technology spend and professional services.

Why It Matters for FX and CFD Firms

For a sector that often faces scrutiny over its business models and client outcomes, an official study that highlights economic contribution may influence how policymakers and the public view the industry.

Early this month, CySEC Chair Dr. George Theocharides kicked off 2026 with a cautionary note, highlighting that Cyprus’s capital market is entering a more stringent supervisory period.

As of the second quarter of 2025, the commission oversaw 319 Collective Investment Management Companies and Collective Investment Undertakings, managing a combined total of €10.6 billion in assets.

The regulator has also signaled the intention to increase the cost of conducting regulated investment business on the island, proposing higher application and annual fees for Cyprus Investment Firms, foreign branches, and market operators, alongside new charges covering material change notifications and algorithmic trading activities.

About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
  • 2572 Articles
  • 53 Followers
About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.
  • 2572 Articles
  • 53 Followers

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