Financial and Business News

Second Broker Renounces Cyprus Investment Firm License in Under a Month

Thursday, 19/02/2026 | 16:58 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • OBR Investments has renounced the authorization, ending its regulated status in the region.
  • It follows a similar move by HTFX (EU), which walked away from its CySEC CIF licence last month.
Who gave up their CySEC license in 2025

Cyprus’ financial regulator has withdrawn the Cyprus Investment Firm licence of OBR Investments Ltd, the operator of CFD platform OBRinvest, after it decided to give up its authorization. The decision ends the firm’s status as a regulated CIF in Cyprus.

Another Broker Exits CySEC Oversight

Last month, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) similarly withdrew the CIF license of HTFX (EU) after the broker opted to exit the local regime. The watchdog announced that the step formalizes HTFX’s renunciation of its license and ends its status as a CySEC‑supervised CIF.

According to Thursday announcement, CySEC decided on February 9 to withdraw the CIF authorization of OBR Investments. The notice lists not applicable for judicial review and ruling, which indicates that no court procedure or additional ruling applies to this decision.

CySEC Decision and Dates

OBR Investments operated as a Cyprus Investment Firm authorized by CySEC under license number 217/13 and used the trading name OBRinvest. It offered online trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) across several asset classes, including currencies, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies, to clients in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Read more: CySEC Confirms License Withdrawal of VPR Safe Financial, Operator of CFD Broker Alvexo

Elsewhere, towards the end of last year, Squared Financial begun winding down its retail operations in Europe after “formally initiating a strategic and voluntary renunciation” of its CIF license. The broker described the step as part of a “strategic transition,” signaling a broader shift in its business focus.

As part of the process, the CFD broker stopped accepting new clients or accounts under its Cypriot license and launched what it called a “structured and orderly wind-down” of existing client relationships.

The recent wave of CIFs exiting the market cannot be directly attributed to regulatory fee changes. However, CySEC has proposed raising the costs of operating regulated investment businesses by introducing higher application and annual fees for CIFs, foreign branches, and market operators. The draft plan also includes new charges for notifying material business changes and for algorithmic trading activities.

Cyprus’ financial regulator has withdrawn the Cyprus Investment Firm licence of OBR Investments Ltd, the operator of CFD platform OBRinvest, after it decided to give up its authorization. The decision ends the firm’s status as a regulated CIF in Cyprus.

Another Broker Exits CySEC Oversight

Last month, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) similarly withdrew the CIF license of HTFX (EU) after the broker opted to exit the local regime. The watchdog announced that the step formalizes HTFX’s renunciation of its license and ends its status as a CySEC‑supervised CIF.

According to Thursday announcement, CySEC decided on February 9 to withdraw the CIF authorization of OBR Investments. The notice lists not applicable for judicial review and ruling, which indicates that no court procedure or additional ruling applies to this decision.

CySEC Decision and Dates

OBR Investments operated as a Cyprus Investment Firm authorized by CySEC under license number 217/13 and used the trading name OBRinvest. It offered online trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) across several asset classes, including currencies, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies, to clients in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Read more: CySEC Confirms License Withdrawal of VPR Safe Financial, Operator of CFD Broker Alvexo

Elsewhere, towards the end of last year, Squared Financial begun winding down its retail operations in Europe after “formally initiating a strategic and voluntary renunciation” of its CIF license. The broker described the step as part of a “strategic transition,” signaling a broader shift in its business focus.

As part of the process, the CFD broker stopped accepting new clients or accounts under its Cypriot license and launched what it called a “structured and orderly wind-down” of existing client relationships.

The recent wave of CIFs exiting the market cannot be directly attributed to regulatory fee changes. However, CySEC has proposed raising the costs of operating regulated investment businesses by introducing higher application and annual fees for CIFs, foreign branches, and market operators. The draft plan also includes new charges for notifying material business changes and for algorithmic trading activities.

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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