
Is Ultima Markets legit or a scam? With so many unregulated platforms masquerading as legitimate businesses, asking ” isn’t just smart—it’s absolutely essential before you risk a single dollar of your hard-earned money. Before we dive into the legitimacy question, let me give you a quick snapshot of the broker we’re dealing with here.
What is Ultima Markets?
Ultima Markets is a multi-asset CFD broker that has been operating since 2016, offering traders access to over 250 financial instruments across multiple markets. Here’s what defines this broker:
Core Business Model:
- CFD (Contract for Difference) trading across forex, commodities, indices, and stocks
- Multi-jurisdiction operation through regulated entities
- Focus on retail traders with low minimum deposits ($50)
- Technology-driven approach with multiple trading platforms
Global Reach:
- Serves traders in 172+ countries and regions
- Headquarters operations managed from Hong Kong
- Growing presence in Asia-Pacific markets
- Recent expansion into UK and European markets
Platform Options:
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4) – Industry standard platform
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5) – Advanced trading features
- WebTrader – Browser-based trading
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android devices
Ultima Markets is not just another broker trying to grab your money and run. They’ve been around long enough to build a reputation, and more importantly, they’ve got the regulatory backing to prove their legitimacy. Let’s now find the answer to the question that brought you here.
Read the full Ultima Markets review!
Is Ultima Markets Legit or Scam?
Ultima Markets is a legitimate and trustworthy platform, not a scam. This broker is properly regulated, licensed, and has been operating transparently for 9 years. Now, let me prove this to you with hard facts that you can verify yourself.
1. UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) License

License Details:
- Entity Name: Ultima Markets UK Limited
- License Number: 470325 (you can verify this yourself on the FCA website)
- Regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Status: Authorized and regulated
- Registered Address: 1 Blossom Yard, Fourth Floor, London, E1 6RS, UNITED KINGDOM
What FCA Authorization Means:
- Strict capital adequacy requirements (minimum £730,000)
- Mandatory client fund segregation in tier-1 banks
- Regular financial audits and reporting
- Access to Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- Professional indemnity insurance requirements
- Stringent anti-money laundering compliance
Client Protections Under FCA:
- Up to £85,000 compensation per client through FSCS
- Negative balance protection mandatory
- Product intervention powers protect retail traders
- Transparent pricing and execution requirements
The FCA is one of the world’s strictest financial regulators. Getting this license isn’t easy—they conduct thorough background checks, require substantial capital reserves, and continuously monitor operations.
2. Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC) License
License Details:
- Entity Name: Ultima Markets Ltd
- License Number: GB 23201593
- Regulator: Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius
- Status: Full-Service Investment Dealer (excluding Underwriting)
- Registered Address: 2nd Floor, The Catalyst, 40 Silicon Avenue, Ebene Cybercity, 72201, Mauritius
Mauritius Regulatory Framework:
- Established financial services jurisdiction
- International compliance standards
- Regular supervision and monitoring
- Client fund protection requirements
- Dispute resolution mechanisms
Don’t just take my word for it. Visit the FSC Mauritius website and search their licensed entities database
This transparency alone should give you confidence. Scam brokers avoid regulatory oversight like the plague.
Ultima Markets Awards
Awards can be meaningless if they’re self-proclaimed, but Ultima Markets has earned recognition from respected industry bodies. This is another proof that Ultima Markets is legit. Here’s what they’ve achieved recently:

🏆 2024 Major Awards
Global Recognition:
- Best Fund Safety – Global (Global Forex Awards—Retail 2024)
- Best Affiliates Brokerage – Global (Global Forex Awards—Retail 2024)
- Most Popular Broker 2024 (BrokersView Award)
Regional Excellence:
- Best APAC CFD Broker (Traders Fair Hong Kong 2024)
- Best Forex Trading Platform Asia Pacific 2024 (World Business Outlook Awards)
- Best CFD Broker Asia 2024 (World Business Outlook Awards)
- Fastest Growing CFD Broker Asia 2024 (World Business Outlook Awards)
- Best Broker in Asia 2024 (International Business Magazine Awards)
- Best Multi-Assets Trading Platform Asia 2024 (International Business Magazine Awards)
These aren’t participation trophies. Industry awards, especially for “Fund Safety,” indicate that independent evaluators have examined their security practices and found them trustworthy. The consistency across multiple award bodies suggests genuine recognition, not marketing fluff.
Ultima Markets Trustpilot Reviews
Let me give you the real picture of what actual traders are saying about Ultima Markets on Trustpilot, where they maintain a solid 4.0-star rating. Most legitimate brokers struggle to maintain ratings above 3.5 due to the inherent risks of trading that some users blame on their brokers. This rating suggests Ultima Markets is doing something right in terms of service delivery and client satisfaction.
I’ve analyzed recent reviews to show you both the praise and the concerns, because as a beginner, you deserve the complete truth.
One long-term user, Yaser from Turkey, emphasized “instant withdrawals” after 3 years of trading with them. This is crucial because withdrawal delays are often the first sign of a broker in trouble.
Darkside from Malaysia praised their “excellent customer service with swift responses,” which is essential when you need help with time-sensitive trading issues.
Experienced traders appreciate the “tight spreads” and “low commissions on ECN” accounts. Yaser, who’s been with them for 3 years, specifically highlighted these competitive conditions as reasons for his continued satisfaction.

What really stands out is traders sticking around for years. Yaser’s 3-year relationship with zero problems speaks volumes about their consistency and reliability.
One trader, Adriatik from Kosovo, experienced delays when withdrawing larger amounts ($900) compared to his previous smaller withdrawals ($200-300). However, Ultima Markets responded professionally, explaining that his withdrawal was processed within their standard 0-2 business day timeframe for crypto transactions. The delay was likely due to enhanced security checks for larger amounts—a standard practice among regulated brokers.
Golden Colibri from Indonesia made serious accusations about account bans and stolen funds. However, Ultima Markets immediately responded with a professional offer to resolve the issue directly through their support email. What’s telling is that legitimate brokers engage with complaints publicly and provide clear channels for resolution, while scam brokers typically ignore or delete negative reviews.

The Trustpilot feedback reinforces what the regulatory licenses already told us—Ultima Markets operates as a legitimate broker that prioritizes client satisfaction and maintains professional standards in handling both praise and criticism.
Funds Security
Knowing that Ultima Markets is safe is where your peace of mind really comes from. Let me break down the multiple layers of protection Ultima Markets has in place:
🛡️ Layer 1: Negative Balance Protection
What It Means: You literally cannot lose more money than you deposit. If market conditions cause your account to go negative, they reset it to zero automatically.
Why This Matters for Beginners:
- Protects you from owing money to the broker
- Eliminates the risk of debt beyond your initial deposit
- Gives you confidence to learn without fear of catastrophic losses
🏦 Layer 2: Client Fund Segregation
How It Works: Your trading funds are kept completely separate from Ultima Markets’ operational money in segregated bank accounts.
Your Protection:
- Even if the company faces financial difficulties, your money remains untouchable
- Regulatory requirement that’s strictly monitored
- Standard practice among legitimate, regulated brokers
💰 Layer 3: Insurance Coverage
Partnership with Willis Towers Watson (WTW):
- Coverage Amount: Up to $1,000,000 per account
- Who WTW Is: World’s third-largest insurance brokerage, Nasdaq-listed
- What’s Covered: Protection if Ultima Markets fails to meet financial obligations
- Cost to You: Absolutely free, no opt-in required
Think of It This Way: It’s like having FDIC insurance for your bank account, but for your trading funds. This level of coverage is extremely rare in the forex industry.
⚖️ Layer 4: Financial Commission Membership
What Is The Financial Commission:
- Independent international body for forex and CFD dispute resolution
- Not affiliated with any broker
- Provides unbiased mediation services
Your Additional Protection:
- Compensation fund covering up to €20,000 per client
- Professional dispute resolution if issues arise
- Another layer of accountability for the broker
🌍 Layer 5: UN Global Compact Membership
Unique Distinction: Ultima Markets is the first CFD broker to join the UN Global Compact.
What This Signifies:
- Commitment to ethical business practices
- Corporate responsibility standards
- Environmental and social governance accountability
What Should I Do If I Have Issues with Ultima Markets?
Step-by-Step Resolution Process:
- Contact Customer Support First:
- Live chat on their website
- Email: support@ultimamarkets.com
- Phone support during business hours
- Escalate to Management:
- Request to speak with a supervisor
- Document all communications
- Financial Commission Mediation:
- File a complaint with The Financial Commission
- Independent, unbiased dispute resolution
- Potential compensation up to €20,000
- Regulatory Complaint:
- UK Issues: File complaint with FCA
- Mauritius Issues: Contact FSC Mauritius
- Regulators take client complaints seriously
How to Get Started with Ultima Markets
Now that you know that Ultima Markets is safe, are you ready to trade with them? Here’s what you need to do step-by-step to get started safely:
Step 1: Account Registration Process
What You’ll Need:
- Valid email address
- Mobile phone number
- Government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license)
- Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement, less than 3 months old)
The Process:
- Visit the Official Website: Make sure you’re on ultimamarkets.com (watch out for fake copycat sites)
- Click “Open Live Account”: You’ll see this prominently displayed
- Choose Your Account Type:
- Standard Account: Best for beginners (1.0 pip spreads, no commission)
- ECN Account: For experienced traders (0.0 pip spreads, $5 commission)
- Cent Account: Practice with smaller amounts (60+ instruments)
- Demo Account: Risk-free practice with $100,000 virtual funds
If you are a beginner, I would recommend you start with a Demo Account to get familiar with the platform, then move to a Standard Account with a minimum $50 deposit.
Step 2: Verification Requirements
Documents You’ll Upload:
- Identity Verification: Clear photo of your passport or driver’s license
- Address Verification: Recent utility bill, bank statement, or government correspondence
Pro Tips for Smooth Verification:
- Ensure documents are in color and clearly readable
- Make sure your address matches across all documents
- Processing typically takes 1-2 business days
- Customer support can help if you have document questions
Verification is actually protection for you. Legitimate brokers are required by law to know their clients and prevent money laundering.
Step 3: Initial Deposit Methods
Your Funding Options:
Credit/Debit Cards (Recommended for Beginners):
- Accepted: Visa, Mastercard
- Minimum: $50
- Processing Time: 1 hour
- Fees: Free
- Daily Limit: Up to $1,900
Cryptocurrency:
- Options: Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT)
- Minimum: $50
- Processing Time: 1 hour
- Fees: Free
- Daily Limit: Up to $5,000,000 USDT
E-Wallets (Regional Options):
- Alipay: For Chinese traders (RMB/USD)
- Processing Time: 1 hour
- Minimum: $200 USD equivalent
Bank Transfer (For Large Deposits):
- Option: International EFT
- Processing Time: 2-5 working days
- Fees: Intermediary bank fees may apply
- Limit: Up to $99,999,999.99
As a beginner, start with a credit card deposit of $50-$100. It’s instant, secure, and you can easily track it on your bank statement.
Step 4: Platform Setup Instructions
MetaTrader 4 Setup (Recommended for Beginners):
- Download: Get MT4 from Ultima Markets’ client portal (never download from third-party sites)
- Login Credentials: You’ll receive these via email after account approval
- Server Selection: Choose the server closest to your location for faster execution
- Initial Configuration: Set up charts, indicators, and trading preferences
WebTrader Alternative:
- No download required
- Access directly through your browser
- Same functionality as desktop MT4
- Perfect for occasional trading or using public computers
Mobile App Setup:
- Download “Ultima Markets” app from App Store or Google Play
- Use the same login credentials as desktop
- Enable push notifications for trade alerts
- Set up fingerprint/face ID for secure access
My Final Recommendation
After thoroughly investigating Ultima Markets from every angle that matters to your safety and success, I can confidently say this: Ultima Markets is legitimate, properly regulated, and safe for your trading funds.
Remember, even with a legitimate broker like Ultima Markets, trading always involves risk. The key is partnering with a broker you can trust to handle your funds professionally while you focus on developing your trading skills.
With Ultima Markets’ regulatory backing, insurance coverage, and transparent operations, you can trade with confidence knowing your funds are protected by some of the strongest safeguards in the industry.
FAQs
Is Ultima Markets Legit?
Yes, Ultima Markets is absolutely legitimate. The broker holds two major regulatory licenses: FCA authorization in the UK (reference number 470325) and FSC licensing in Mauritius (license GB 23201593). Both licenses are verifiable on the respective regulatory websites.
Is My Money Safe in Ultima Markets?
Your money is exceptionally safe with Ultima Markets. The broker implements mandatory fund segregation that keeps your money separate from company operations. They also offer comprehensive insurance coverage up to $1,000,000 per account through Willis Towers Watson, and negative balance protection that prevents you from losing more than your deposit. Additionally, their membership in The Financial Commission provides an extra compensation fund of up to €20,000 per client. These safety measures exceed what most retail forex brokers offer.
What Should I Do If I Have Issues with Ultima Markets?
Start by contacting Ultima Markets customer support directly through their live chat, email, or phone services. Most issues are resolved at this level. If unsatisfied, escalate to management and document all communications. As a last resort, you can file regulatory complaints with the FCA for UK-related issues or FSC Mauritius for offshore account matters. Both regulatory bodies take client complaints seriously and have enforcement powers.
