Juris-my-diction Issues in Forex Regulation

Kudos to anyone who correctly identifies that reference. But seriously, in light of the proposed changes in forex regulation that have generated a heated response on this blog and elsewhere, I want to offer some insight into a tangential issue: jurisdiction.

Part of the problem with existing forex regulation is not that it’s insufficiently strict, but rather that it’s essentially optional. That’s because retail forex brokerages do not technically need to be registered in order to operate. Moreover, if they do register, they can choose between several organizations, depending on whose regulations most jive with their business models.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is probably the most prominent regulatory organization in retail forex, and of which most retail brokers are registered. [It is also the organization that has proposed the rule changes that everyone in forex is currently talking about]. It was only in 2008 that the CFTC was vested with the power to regulate retail forex, but contrary to popular, only its members (rather than all forex brokers) are subject to the sword of its regulation.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the self-regulatory body for securities brokers,meanwhile, is trying to reach its regulatory powers into the arena of retail forex. In coordination with the SEC, it has proposed enhanced regulation for its own member brokers. Under this proposal, the handful of retail forex brokers that are registered with the SEC would be subject to stricter regulation than their counterparts under the control of the CFTC. Brokers registered only with the CFTC, then, would probably enjoy a competitive advantage (specifically the right to offer 10:1 leverage, instead of 4:1, as proposed by the SEC).

Then, there is the National Futures Association (NFA), which operates in association with the CFTC. Not to mention the exchanges, themselves, which impose their own set of rules on brokers. Make no mistake; all of these organizations are fairly vigilant in pursuing violations and in revoking membership for those brokers that really run afoul. The problem is that such does not nothing to stop a broker from simply registering with another regulatory agency instead, and/or not taking advantage of client apathy/laziness by either not registering at all, or even worse, lying about the registration.

In the end, most forex traders probably don’t care which regulatory organization ultimately wins the turf battle over the right to regulate retail forex. Ideally, though only one such organization would have such power, and all brokers would be subject. Given that this issue isn’t likely to be resolved anytime soon, for now, you would be wise to choose a broker that is registered with the CFTC. You can confirm a broker’s membership here.