BINARY OPTIONS REGULATION IN CYPRUS AND VANUATU

Binary Options trading is a straightforward way to trade price fluctuations in multiple underlying financial assets. The underlying asset can be a currency pair (i.e. EUR/USD, GBP/USD, etc.), commodities (i.e. gold, oil, etc.), equity indices (i.e. Dow Jones Industrial Index), stocks, a.o.

The binary options trading industry is quite attractive to traders since the trades are fast and straightforward. In addition to this, mobile apps enable traders to trade anytime and anywhere regardless of geographical location and time zone.

It should be underlined that Binary Options trading is a relatively new speculative instrument, so in many countries is not defined by law. However, there are some regulating bodies which may assist traders to choose the right broker and ensure their protection. Therefore, traders are more likely to choose a broker who has obtained a license from a reputable jurisdiction. Cyprus and Vanuatu are among the most popular jurisdictions worldwide.

CYPRUS:

Cyprus is an important international financial and investment centre. Furthermore, Cyprus is a Member State of the EU since May 2004. Hence, there is a requirement for an effective and efficient regulatory framework for the securities market.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is an independent public supervisory authority that regulates and supervises any investment activity carried out in Cyprus, as well as the operation of investment firms on the island in accordance with the law that regulates the provision of investment services, the exercise of investment activities, the operation of regulated markets and other related matters (144(I)/2007).

In addition, CySEC is responsible for granting licenses to investment firms. Among the primary objectives of CySEC is to protect investors and contribute to the development of a safe and reliable securities market.

The minimum capital requirements depend on the services provided by the investment firm. For more precise information, please contact one of our Cyprus lawyers.

Pursuant to Section 21 of Law 144(I)/2007, the minimum initial capital must be deposited in an account of the Applicant with a bank based in a Member State of the European Economic Area and be blocked until the licence is granted.

CySEC must within six months following the submission of a duly completed application package take a decision and inform the Applicant accordingly.

Find the general requirements here, or contact one of our lawyers.

Binary Options Regulation in Vanuatu:

Vanuatu (formerly known as the New Hebrides Islands) is located in the South Pacific Ocean. The official languages of Vanuatu are English, French and Bislama, and the official currency of the country is the Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)[1].  Recently, Vanuatu has developed into an attractive jurisdiction for financial and investment services. The regulating and supervising body for all financial licences, including Binary Options licences, is the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).

Among the main advantages of Vanuatu are the low capital requirements ($2000) and the fast registration. Given that all the requirements are met, a licence can be granted within 3 months.

General Requirements and Necessary Documentation:

• Registration of a Vanuatu company. Our legal team may help you to incorporate a company in Vanuatu. Note that directors and shareholders must be approved by the VFSC;
• The Company must be registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit, the authority that ensures compliance with Anti-Money Laundering regulations;
• Certificate of no criminal record for all Directors, Officers, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners;
• Declaration of no history of Bankruptcy for all Directors, Officers, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners;
• Duly certified copies of passports for all Directors, Officers, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners;
• Bank references for all Directors, Officers, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners;
• Duly certified copies of recent utility bills for all Directors, Officers, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners;
• A CV of each Director, Officer, Shareholder and Beneficial Owner outlining their experience in the securities market;
• Any other document that may be requested by the VFSC;

Our Services:

• Company formation in Cyprus;
• Company formation in Vanuatu;
• Prepare and submit the application to CySEC;
• Prepare and submit the application to VFSC;
• Open a bank account;
• Fiduciary Services;

Contact us and apply for Binary Options license in Cyprus or Vanuatu:

Applying for Binary Options license requires an adequate legal and administrative support. A professional lawyer may assist you to gather the necessary documents and prepare the application package efficiently and effectively. The legal team of Michael Chambers & Co. LLC is committed to providing clients with the necessary legal and administrative support in every step of the application procedure. As it has been mentioned before, we may prepare and submit the application to CySEC and VFSC on your behalf. Furthermore, our experienced team is able to recommend cost-effective solutions that will correspond to the particular needs of your business. If you wish to speak to one of our lawyers, in absolute confidence, then please contact us: info@chambers.law