Major European finance company lands in South Africa
Capital.com has received regulatory approval to start operating in South Africa, with plans to offer contracts for difference (CFDs) across more than 5,000 markets.
Capital.com received dual regulatory approval from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
The Cypriot company operates a technology-led trading platform and has been authorised as an Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider (ODP) and a Category 1 Financial Services Provider (FSP).
The 2016-founded company operates in several international markets, including the UK, Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Kenya.
The company plans to onboard clients and provide access to contracts for difference (CFDs) across more than 5,000 markets, including equities, commodities, indices, and foreign exchange.
Capital.com’s licence also permits the offering of crypto CFDs under FSCA supervision. Under the Category 1 FSP licence, the company can market and promote itself as an approved FSP.
The company will also be able to provide financial services and intermediary, non-advice services for approved financial products, such as shares, subject to FSCA requirements.
A CFD is a derivative that allows one to speculate on the price movements of global markets, such as shares, without owning the underlying asset.
The company’s disclaimer states that CFD trading is highly risky and can lead to rapid losses due to leverage. Between 61% and 89% of retail investors lose money when trading with the Capital.com Group.
The company said that one should consider whether they understand how CFDs work and whether they can afford the high risk of losing their money.
“Operating under local regulatory supervision is fundamental to how we approach market entry,” said Valentina Rzheutskaya, Executive Director at Capital.com.
“The FSCA approvals define the framework within which Capital.com is permitted to operate in South Africa, including the standards we must meet around governance, conduct and risk controls.”
The company appointed Travis Robson as its CEO for South Africa, stating that he is a senior financial services executive with extensive experience building and running businesses.
It added that his background includes establishing local governance structures, engaging with regulators, and overseeing regulated trading operations.
“Operating through a regulated local entity matters because it shapes the environment in which decisions are made,” said Robson.
“Our role is to ensure clients engage with markets within a framework that is governed, supervised and designed to prioritise clarity around risk.”
He added that the company is focused on providing market access to support informed decision-making.
Competitor leaves South Africa
Capital.com’s arrival in South Africa comes shortly after IG Group shut down its local operations.
The IG Group is a London-based online trading provider which focuses mainly on spread betting and CFD trading. Robson previously worked for IG.
The 52-year-old company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
It expanded into South Africa in 2010 following the establishment of IG Markets South Africa, aiming to give South African traders access to thousands of financial markets.
The company, however, stopped clients under its South African unit from opening new positions in late May.
The company had to close open positions on 28 July 2025. That said, South Africans with accounts held under the group’s offshore entities could retain them.
The group said it discontinued its domestic trading accounts denominated in rands and provided a termination statement.
“This decision wasn’t made lightly, and our priority is supporting you through a smooth transition,” an email from the company said.
South Africa has seen a rise in entries and exits by international financial companies.
For instance, while banking giants HSBC and BNP Paribas announced plans to exit the South African market, new challenger bank Revolut plans to launch a new bank in South Africa in 2028.
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