MetaQuotes has stopped issuing MetaTrader licenses to brokers registered in the Union of the Comoros, disrupting dozens of offshore firms that relied on the region’s light regulatory environment, Finance Magnates RU reported today, alongside several other news outlets.

The decision, which took effect in February, follows growing concerns about compliance standards in the small Indian Ocean nation.

MetaQuotes Reassesses Regulatory Risks

The sources mentioned that MetaQuotes reassessed regulatory risks linked to Comorian jurisdictions, mainly Mohéli (Mwali) and Anjouan, where brokers can register without authorized capital. The company privately informed local brokers that they would need a license from a different jurisdiction to access MetaTrader platforms.

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Located between Madagascar and Mozambique, Comoros consists of three main islands, Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli. Each of them has claimed powers to issue financial services licenses through bodies such as the Mwali International Services Authority and the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority.

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These island-level regulators offer offshore brokerage licenses with minimal capital, physical presence or reporting requirements. The legitimacy of their mandates has faced questions, including from the Central Bank of the Comoros.

Nonetheless, the licenses have attracted well‑known CFD brands such as RoboForex, Alpari, HF Markets, Octa Markets, AMarkets, BDSwiss and TIO Markets, many of which turned to Mwali after other offshore centers tightened their rules.

Spike in sales of Comoros MT5 brokers

According to the latest report, the new change does not affect existing MetaTrader license holders, but MetaQuotes has paused all new issuances to Comoros-registered entities.

Since the restriction began, industry sources report a spike in attempts to sell Comoros-based brokerages with MT5 licenses. Many firms sought to recover value before their operations became unviable without MetaTrader support.

By the end of 2024, regulators in Mwali recorded 258 registered brokers, including 119 on Mwali alone. The freeze by MetaQuotes now casts doubt on the future of these entities, marking a clear shift away from offshore hubs with weak oversight.

MetaQuotes’ clampdown on Comoros brokers fits a pattern that started with its actions against prop trading firms serving US clients. In early 2024, MetaQuotes pressured brokers like BlackBull Markets to cut off prop firms such as Funding Pips because they were running active US accounts via MT5, even though prop firms themselves sit in a regulatory grey zone in the United States.