Is Valor Markets Regulated? A Full Breakdown of Its License Structure
Valor Markets operates under a dual-entity structure. Understanding which entity governs your trading account determines the level of regulatory protection you receive.
Entity 1: Valor Markets (Pty) Ltd — FSCA, South Africa (FSP 54447)
Valor Markets (Pty) Ltd holds an active Financial Services Provider license from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), FSP number 54447. The FSCA is a Tier-2 market conduct regulator established in 2018 under the Financial Sector Regulation Act 2017. It replaced the former Financial Services Board (FSB) and oversees broker conduct, licensing, client fund handling, and fair treatment standards.
Traders should note that the FSCA does not operate a statutory investor compensation scheme equivalent to the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS, up to GBP 85,000) or Cyprus’s Investor Compensation Fund (ICF, up to EUR 20,000). FSCA protection is conduct-based, not capital-guarantee-based.
A note of caution: third-party broker intelligence platform WikiFX flags that Valor Markets (FSP 54447) “exceeds the business scope regulated by South Africa FSCA” and classifies the broker as carrying “medium potential risk” due to suspected business scope overrun. Traders considering the South Africa entity should verify current FSP status directly on the FSCA public register.
Source: FSCA public register — verify FSP status
Source: WikiFX broker intelligence — Valor Markets profile
Entity 2: Valor Markets Ltd — MISA, Union of Comoros (BFX2024002)
The main operating entity behind valormarkets.com is Valor Markets Ltd, incorporated in the Union of Comoros (company number HY01223079) and licensed by the Mwali International Services Authority (MISA) under licence number BFX2024002. The registered address is Bonovo Road, Island of Moheli, Comoros Union.
This is the entity that governs all client agreements and trading transactions on the broker’s website. Comoros is an offshore jurisdiction with minimal regulatory infrastructure by international standards. MISA-licensed brokers do not offer statutory investor compensation, do not publish audited financial statements, and do not face the same capital adequacy requirements as brokers regulated by FCA, ASIC, or CySEC.
Source: Valor Markets — Legal disclosures page
Regulatory Risk Assessment
Traders evaluating Valor Markets should factor in the following regulatory context. The broker’s FSCA entity (South Africa) provides Tier-2 conduct oversight. The main trading entity (Comoros) provides significantly less recourse and protection. This places Valor Markets in the offshore-regulated category for practical purposes, consistent with many smaller brokers that use Comoros or other offshore licenses as their primary operating entity.
| Regulator |
Tier |
License Number |
Investor Compensation |
Governing Entity |
| FSCA (South Africa) |
Tier 2 |
FSP 54447 |
None (conduct-based) |
Valor Markets (Pty) Ltd |
| MISA (Comoros) |
Offshore |
BFX2024002 |
None |
Valor Markets Ltd (main) |
| FCA (UK) — for reference |
Tier 1 |
N/A |
Up to GBP 85,000 |
Not held by Valor Markets |
| ASIC (Australia) — reference |
Tier 1 |
N/A |
None (but strict) |
Not held by Valor Markets |
Source: FSCA — About the regulator
Source: ForexBrokers.com — International forex regulation guide
Does Valor Markets Accept US Clients?
No. Valor Markets Ltd explicitly lists the United States in its restricted territories on the official valormarkets.com website. US residents cannot open accounts with the main operating entity. The existing review on this page previously stated that “US traders can access certain services from Valor Markets through MT5.” That claim is contradicted by the broker’s own legal disclosures.
The full list of restricted countries on the Valor Markets website includes Australia, the United States, Japan, Russia, Canada-related jurisdictions, and several others. Traders from these regions should not attempt to circumvent restrictions, as doing so may violate the broker’s terms and local financial laws.
Source: Valor Markets — Restricted territories disclosure
Tradable Instruments: What You Can Trade at Valor Markets
Valor Markets lists 200+ tradable instruments across the following asset classes. This is a competitive range for a broker founded in 2023.
| Asset Class |
Examples |
Instrument Type |
| Forex |
Major, minor, and exotic pairs |
CFDs on currency pairs |
| Metals |
Gold (XAU/USD), Silver (XAG/USD) |
CFDs |
| Indices |
US30, NAS100, UK100, GER40 |
CFDs on equity indices |
| Commodities |
Crude oil, natural gas, agricultural products |
CFDs |
| Stocks |
Global equity CFDs |
CFDs on equities |
| Cryptocurrencies |
Bitcoin, Ethereum, major altcoins |
Spot and CFD crypto |
| Crypto Futures |
Perpetual crypto futures contracts |
Derivative contracts |
Note: All instruments at Valor Markets are offered as CFDs (Contracts for Difference). CFD trading does not confer ownership of the underlying asset. A high percentage of retail CFD accounts lose money. Risk disclosures on the Valor Markets website confirm this.
Valor Markets Account Types: Structure and Requirements
Valor Markets offers five account types, each designed for different trading styles, capital levels, and experience profiles. All accounts run on MetaTrader 5.
| Account |
Spreads From |
Commission |
Leverage |
Min. Deposit |
Best For |
| Cent |
0.4 pips |
$0.70/lot |
1:500 |
$10 |
Strategy testing, beginners |
| No Commission |
1.2 pips |
$0 |
1:500 |
$10 |
Beginners, casual traders |
| ECN |
0.0 pips |
$7/lot |
1:500 |
$10 |
Scalpers, active traders, algos |
| Islamic |
0.0 pips |
$7/lot |
1:500 |
$10 |
Sharia-compliant trading |
| VIP |
0.0 pips |
$3/lot |
1:500 |
$100,000 |
High-volume institutional traders |
Cent Account
The Cent account converts deposits into cent-denominated lots, reducing real-money exposure. With spreads from 0.4 pips and commission at $0.70 per standard lot, this account allows traders to run expert advisors (EAs), test manual strategies, or familiarise themselves with MT5 execution without deploying full capital. The $10 minimum deposit makes it accessible.
No Commission Account
This account uses a spread-only pricing model with spreads from 1.2 pips and no per-trade commission. The absence of commission makes cost calculation straightforward: the spread is the entire cost of each trade. This structure suits lower-frequency traders and those who prefer simple, predictable cost models. EUR/USD spread of 1.2 pips is above the ECN-account level but within range for a spread-only structure.
ECN Account
The ECN account provides raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a $7 commission per standard lot ($7 round turn). For active scalpers and algorithmic traders, raw-spread accounts reduce spread-based slippage and provide more transparent pricing. The $7 commission per lot round turn is above the industry median; for reference, FP Markets charges $6 per lot on its Raw account, and Tickmill charges $3.50 per side ($7 round turn) on its Raw account.
Source: FP Markets — Raw account fees
Islamic Account
The Islamic account removes overnight swap charges to comply with Sharia law prohibiting riba (interest). The spread and commission structure mirrors the ECN account. No additional administrative fee is specified on the broker website for this account type, though traders should confirm the specific terms directly with Valor Markets support as swap-free conditions vary.
VIP Account
The VIP account targets high-volume traders and institutional clients. It offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a reduced commission of $3 per lot, representing the lowest per-lot cost available on the platform. The $100,000 minimum deposit is a significant barrier for retail traders and aligns this account with professional or institutional use cases.
Spreads, Commissions, and Fee Structure
Valor Markets uses a tiered pricing model. The ECN and VIP accounts offer raw spreads from 0.0 pips and charge a per-lot commission. The No Commission account eliminates the per-trade charge by building cost into a wider spread. The 1.5 percent withdrawal fee is the most significant cost structure to note beyond the spread and commission comparison.
| Fee Type |
Amount |
Notes |
| ECN spread |
From 0.0 pips |
On major pairs; variable market conditions apply |
| ECN commission |
$7 per standard lot |
Round trip; applies to ECN and Islamic accounts |
| VIP commission |
$3 per standard lot |
Requires $100,000 minimum deposit |
| No Commission spread |
From 1.2 pips |
No separate commission charge |
| Cent spread |
From 0.4 pips |
Cent-denominated lots |
| Withdrawal fee |
1.5% of withdrawal amount |
Applied to all cryptocurrency withdrawals |
| Deposit fee |
None specified |
Broker does not charge deposit fees |
| Inactivity fee |
Not specified |
Verify directly with broker |
| Overnight swap |
Applies to standard accounts |
Swap-free Islamic accounts available |
Fee Comparison Note: The 1.5% withdrawal fee at Valor Markets is higher than the industry norm. Most established brokers (FP Markets, Exness, Tickmill) charge no withdrawal fee for standard methods. Traders withdrawing $1,000 via crypto pay a $15 fee. Frequent withdrawers will notice this cost compound over time.
Leverage and Margin Requirements
Valor Markets offers maximum leverage of 1:500 across all account types. This leverage level is available because the primary operating entity is licensed in an offshore jurisdiction (Comoros) that does not impose the leverage caps mandated by regulators like ESMA (maximum 1:30 for retail clients on major forex pairs in the EU), the FCA (UK), or ASIC (Australia).
For reference, the FSCA in South Africa does not cap leverage at the same level as ESMA. Some FSCA-regulated brokers offer leverage up to 1:400 or higher for retail clients, though broker-specific risk policies vary.
Source: FXEmpire — FSCA regulated brokers leverage comparison
High leverage amplifies both potential gains and potential losses. At 1:500, a 0.2% adverse move against a fully leveraged position can result in a total loss of the margin deployed for that trade. Valor Markets lists negative balance protection as a feature, which prevents accounts from falling below zero in most standard market conditions, though this protection may not apply during extreme volatility or gap events.
Trading Platform: MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
Valor Markets runs its primary trading environment on MetaTrader 5, the multi-asset trading platform developed by MetaQuotes Software Corp. MT5 was released in 2010 and has seen significant adoption among retail and professional brokers globally. It is a well-established, independently developed platform that Valor Markets licenses, meaning its stability and core functionality are independent of the broker.
MT5 Core Features Relevant to Traders
- Technical analysis: 21 timeframes, 38 built-in technical indicators, 44 graphical objects.
- Order types: Market orders, limit orders, stop orders, stop-limit orders, and trailing stops.
- Algorithmic trading: Full support for Expert Advisors (EAs) written in MQL5. Strategy Tester with multi-currency and multi-threaded optimization.
- Depth of Market (DOM): Level II pricing display available for supported instruments.
- Economic Calendar: Built-in economic events calendar integrated directly into the platform.
- Copy trading: Native MT5 Signals service for following signal providers.
- Multi-device access: Available on Windows desktop, macOS, iOS (App Store), and Android (Google Play).
Source: MetaTrader 5 — Platform features and broker directory
Execution Speed
The existing review notes execution averaging approximately 157 milliseconds. For context, top-tier execution at brokers like IG or FxPro averages 13 to 14 milliseconds. 157ms is workable for manual trading and position trading strategies but is not suited to high-frequency trading or latency-sensitive algorithmic strategies.
Source: FXEmpire — Broker execution speed comparison
MT4 Availability and WebTrader
Valor Markets lists MT4 as available in its platform offering. However, the broker’s official website content focuses on MT5. A WebTrader (browser-based) option is listed as “coming soon” and is not currently available. Traders who rely on browser-based access should factor this limitation into their assessment.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Deposit Methods
Valor Markets accepts the following deposit methods, reflecting a crypto-first funding model. Deposits carry no broker-side fee per the broker’s stated policy. Processing times for crypto deposits range from 1 to 5 hours depending on network congestion.
| Method |
Minimum Deposit |
Processing Time |
Fee |
| USDT (TRC20/ERC20) |
$10 |
1 to 5 hours |
Network gas fee only |
| USDC |
$10 |
1 to 5 hours |
Network gas fee only |
| ETH (Ethereum) |
$10 |
1 to 5 hours |
Network gas fee only |
| SOL (Solana) |
$10 |
1 to 5 hours |
Network gas fee only |
| BTC (Bitcoin) |
$50 |
1 to 5 hours |
Network gas fee only |
| Card payments |
$10 |
Near-instant |
Provider fees may apply |
| African / LATAM local methods |
Varies by region |
Varies |
Varies |
Source: Valor Markets — Deposit and withdrawal terms
Withdrawal Methods and Fees
Withdrawals at Valor Markets are processed exclusively via cryptocurrency. The broker does not currently offer bank wire, SEPA transfer, or e-wallet withdrawal options such as Skrill, Neteller, or PayPal. A 1.5 percent fee applies to all cryptocurrency withdrawals. There is no stated minimum or maximum withdrawal amount specified on the broker website.
Key Limitation: Crypto-only withdrawals represent a structural limitation for traders who prefer fiat-denominated settlement. Traders must hold or convert funds into a supported cryptocurrency to access their capital. The 1.5% withdrawal fee on a $5,000 withdrawal equates to $75, which is materially above industry norms.
Copy Trading, PAMM Accounts, and Algorithmic Trading
Copy Trading
Valor Markets supports unrestricted copy trading. Traders can subscribe to signal providers and replicate trades without broker-imposed caps on the number of providers followed or the size of copied positions. Copy trading is available through the MT5 platform’s native Signals feature.
PAMM Accounts
Valor Markets offers PAMM-style (Percentage Allocation Money Management) account functionality. Investors allocate capital to a designated strategy manager, who executes trades on their behalf. Profits and losses are distributed proportionally. PAMM is a recognized structure in institutional and retail forex management. Traders acting as PAMM managers can demonstrate tracked performance records to attract investor capital.
Expert Advisors and Algorithmic Trading
MT5 at Valor Markets supports full EA deployment with no stated restrictions on algorithmic strategies, including scalping, hedging, and grid trading. The MT5 Strategy Tester supports backtesting with tick-by-tick data accuracy and multi-currency optimization. VPS hosting is listed as available, though detailed specifications for the broker’s VPS offering are not published on the website. Traders requiring dedicated low-latency VPS should verify terms with broker support before committing.
Customer Support
Valor Markets offers the following support channels based on publicly available information.
| Channel |
Availability |
Contact |
| Live Chat |
24/7 |
Via website chat widget |
| Email |
Business hours implied |
support@valormarkets.com |
| Phone |
Listed |
+44 208 040 1797 (UK number) |
The broker uses a UK-registered phone number (+44) despite not holding FCA authorization. The absence of a detailed FAQ or knowledge base means routine queries require direct contact with support. Traders should document all significant communications with the broker, particularly around withdrawals and account terms.
Valor Markets: Verified Pros and Cons
| Pros |
Cons |
| FSCA-regulated South Africa entity (FSP 54447) |
Main trading entity operates under weak Comoros license |
| Five account types covering different trader profiles |
US clients are not accepted (explicitly restricted) |
| Raw spreads from 0.0 pips on ECN and VIP accounts |
Crypto-only withdrawals limit accessibility for fiat users |
| High leverage up to 1:500 |
1.5% withdrawal fee is above industry average |
| Low $10 minimum deposit (most methods) |
WikiFX flags FSCA entity for possible scope overrun |
| Full MT5 license with EA and copy trading support |
No WebTrader currently available |
| 200+ instruments including crypto perpetual futures |
Educational resources absent |
| PAMM investment accounts available |
Execution speed (~157ms) unsuitable for high-frequency strategies |
| Negative balance protection stated |
Limited corporate transparency and no audited financials disclosed |
| Islamic (swap-free) account available |
$100,000 VIP minimum excludes most retail traders |
Valor Markets vs. Comparable Brokers
The table below compares Valor Markets to two comparable brokers on key trading conditions to give traders a calibration point.
| Feature |
Valor Markets |
Exness |
FP Markets |
| Regulation |
FSCA (T2) + Comoros |
FCA, CySEC, FSCA, ASIC, CMA |
ASIC, CySEC, FSCA |
| Min. Deposit |
$10 |
$1 |
$100 |
| ECN Commission |
$7/lot |
$3.50/side |
$3/side ($6 rt) |
| Max Leverage |
1:500 |
1:Unlimited (some) |
1:500 |
| Platforms |
MT5, MT4 |
MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal |
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Withdrawal Options |
Crypto only |
Multiple (bank, crypto, e-wallets) |
Multiple (bank, cards, e-wallets) |
| Withdrawal Fee |
1.5% |
None (most methods) |
None (standard methods) |
| US Clients |
Not accepted |
Not accepted |
Not accepted |
| WebTrader |
Coming soon |
Available |
Available |
Source: Exness — Regulatory and account information
Source: FP Markets — Account types and fees
Final Verdict
Valor Markets is a young broker that offers competitive trading conditions on its MT5 platform: raw spreads from 0.0 pips, five account types, 200+ instruments, high leverage, and support for EAs and copy trading. For traders who accept the regulatory profile described in this review, the platform delivers functional trading infrastructure.
The following facts define the broker’s risk profile and require explicit acknowledgment before opening an account:
- The main operating entity (valormarkets.com) is licensed in the Union of Comoros, an offshore jurisdiction with minimal investor protection infrastructure.
- The FSCA-licensed South Africa entity (FSP 54447) is flagged by WikiFX for potentially exceeding its licensed business scope. Traders should verify this directly with the FSCA.
- US residents are explicitly excluded from opening accounts.
- Withdrawals are crypto-only, with a 1.5% fee applied to each withdrawal.
- No audited financial statements are published, and corporate ownership transparency is limited.
Valor Markets may suit experienced CFD and forex traders who are comfortable with offshore-regulated brokers, actively trade on MT5, and prefer crypto-based funding. Traders who require Tier-1 regulation, fiat withdrawal options, or strong investor compensation coverage should evaluate regulated alternatives such as Exness (FCA, CySEC, ASIC), FP Markets (ASIC, CySEC), or IG (FCA, ASIC).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The following FAQs target high-impression, zero-click PAA queries identified in Google Search Console for the Valor Markets review page. Each answer is written to qualify for Google’s People Also Ask and AI Overview extraction.
1. Is Valor Markets legit?
Valor Markets operates under two legal entities. The South Africa entity, Valor Markets (Pty) Ltd, holds an active FSCA license (FSP 54447), which is a legitimate conduct regulator. The primary operating entity on valormarkets.com is Valor Markets Ltd, registered in the Union of Comoros under MISA licence BFX2024002. The broker is not a scam in the sense of an unlicensed operation, but the Comoros entity provides substantially lower trader protections than Tier-1 regulated brokers. Third-party platform WikiFX also flags a potential business scope overrun on the FSCA entity. Traders should weigh this regulatory profile before depositing.
Source: FSCA — Verify FSP 54447
Source: WikiFX — Valor Markets broker profile
2. Is Valor Markets regulated?
Yes, Valor Markets holds two regulatory licenses. Valor Markets (Pty) Ltd holds FSCA FSP 54447 in South Africa. Valor Markets Ltd holds Mwali International Services Authority (MISA) licence BFX2024002 in the Union of Comoros. The entity governing trading accounts on valormarkets.com is the Comoros-registered Valor Markets Ltd. The FSCA is classified as a Tier-2 regulator by independent broker-analysis firms. The Comoros license is considered an offshore, low-oversight license.
3. Does Valor Markets accept US clients?
No. Valor Markets Ltd lists the United States as a restricted territory in its official legal disclosures on valormarkets.com. US residents cannot open accounts with Valor Markets under the current operating structure of the main entity.
Source: Valor Markets — Legal and restricted territories
4. What is Valor Markets’ minimum deposit?
The minimum deposit at Valor Markets is $10 for most payment methods including USDT, ETH, USDC, SOL, and card payments. The minimum deposit for Bitcoin (BTC) deposits is $50. There is no stated minimum deposit for the VIP account beyond the $100,000 threshold that defines that account tier.
5. What trading platform does Valor Markets use?
Valor Markets uses MetaTrader 5 (MT5) as its primary trading platform, developed by MetaQuotes Software Corp. MT4 is also listed on the broker website. A browser-based WebTrader is listed as “coming soon” and is not yet available. MT5 is accessible on Windows desktop, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Source: MetaTrader 5 — Official platform information
6. What is Valor Markets’ maximum leverage?
Valor Markets offers maximum leverage of 1:500 across all account types. This applies to the Cent, No Commission, ECN, Islamic, and VIP accounts. This leverage level is available under the Comoros operating entity. Traders in jurisdictions regulated by ESMA, FCA, or ASIC are subject to their own local leverage restrictions regardless of broker offerings.
7. Can I withdraw via bank transfer at Valor Markets?
No. Valor Markets currently processes withdrawals exclusively via cryptocurrency. Bank wire transfers, SEPA transfers, and e-wallet options such as Skrill or Neteller are not listed as available withdrawal methods. All crypto withdrawals are subject to a 1.5 percent fee applied by the broker in addition to any network transaction fees.
8. What instruments can I trade at Valor Markets?
Valor Markets offers 200+ tradable instruments as CFDs. These include forex pairs (major, minor, and exotic), CFDs on metals (gold, silver), equity indices (US30, NAS100, DAX, FTSE), commodities, global stock CFDs, cryptocurrencies, and crypto perpetual futures. All instruments are offered as Contracts for Difference and do not confer ownership of the underlying asset.
9. Does Valor Markets offer copy trading?
Yes. Valor Markets supports copy trading through the MT5 Signals feature with no stated broker-imposed restrictions on the number of providers followed or position sizes copied. The broker also offers PAMM (Percentage Allocation Money Management) accounts for investors who want to allocate capital to a managed strategy without active trading.
10. Is Valor Markets’ FSCA license still active?
Valor Markets (Pty) Ltd holds FSCA FSP number 54447. Traders should verify the current license status directly on the FSCA public register at www.fsca.co.za, as license status can change. Third-party monitoring platform WikiFX has noted that the FSCA entity may be operating outside its permitted business scope, classifying the broker as carrying medium potential risk on this basis. Independent verification is recommended.
Source: FSCA — Public FSP register
Source: WikiFX — Valor Markets regulatory risk assessment
Risk Disclaimer
CFD trading involves significant risk of loss. Between 51% and 89% of retail CFD investor accounts lose money according to regulatory disclosures from regulated brokers. This review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to trade any financial instrument. Forex Advocate may receive compensation from broker affiliate programs. This does not influence ratings or editorial content. See our conflicts of interest disclosure at forexadvocate.com/about/.