Saxo Markets Review | Is Saxo Markets Reliable? A Complete Analysis of Danish FSA Regulation, Global Multi-Asset Coverage, and Professional Trading Experience

1. Brand Background and Development History

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saxo Bank A/S is one of Europe's earliest online trading banks. Its retail and institutional client brands, "Saxo Markets," have become a key gateway to multi-asset markets for international investors.

• Founders : Lars Seier Christensen, Kim Fournais

• Nature of parent company : Investment bank regulated by the European Union

• Market positioning : Targeting global retail, high net worth and institutional investors

• User scale : covering more than 180 countries, with client funds under management exceeding 85 billion euros

• Global layout : branches established in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Dubai, Paris, Tokyo, etc.

📌 Evidence:

• Saxo Bank official website

• Saxo Bank on Wikipedia

Saxo's unique feature is its dual identity of "banking background + brokerage business", which gives it significant advantages in compliance and fund security.

II. Supervision and Compliance

Saxo Markets' compliance structure is complex and covers multiple jurisdictions:

1. Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA Denmark)

• The parent company, Saxo Bank A/S, is regulated by the Danish FSA and holds full banking and investment business licenses.

• Client deposits are protected by the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme (up to €100,000) .

• Complies with EU MiFID II, EMIR, AML and other financial regulations.

2. UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

• Saxo Capital Markets UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (registration number 551422).

• UK clients are protected by the FSCS (£85,000 deposit guarantee).

• FCA registration information

3. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

• Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd holds a capital markets services license and can provide securities and derivatives trading.

• MAS Licence Enquiry

4. Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)

• It has been granted Type 1 (securities dealing) and Type 2 (futures contracts dealing) licenses in Hong Kong.

• SFC Registration List

5. Australian ASIC

• Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Pty Ltd is regulated by ASIC and holds an AFSL license.

This multi-national licensing + banking background model makes Saxo Markets one of the most compliant brokers in the world.

III. Account Types and Trading Conditions

Saxo Markets offers three account types based on the size of your account, with higher entry requirements:

📌 Evidence: Saxo Accounts

This tiered model reflects the positioning of "high threshold + high service" , which is completely different from low-threshold Internet brokerages (such as eToro and Capital.com).

IV. Trading Products and Market Coverage

One of Saxo Markets' biggest advantages is its extensive multi-asset coverage , with over 40,000 investment instruments:

• Stocks and ETFs : Covering 50+ stock exchanges worldwide, including US stocks, European stocks, and Asia-Pacific markets.

• Forex : 180+ currency pairs, with a minimum spread of 0.4 pip.

• Futures and options : CME, EUREX, SGX, Euronext and other exchanges.

• Bonds : Global government and corporate bonds.

• Funds : Thousands of mutual funds and index funds.

• CFD contracts : stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies CFDs.

• Crypto assets (CFD) : BTC, ETH, LTC and other mainstream currency pairs (non-spot).

📌 Evidence: Saxo Products

5. Trading Experience and Platform

1. Core trading platform

• SaxoTraderGO : web and mobile version, suitable for retail users.

• SaxoTraderPRO : Desktop version, used by professional traders, with multi-screen support and advanced features.

• API interface : Provides FIX API and OpenAPI, suitable for quantitative and institutional traders.

2. Technological advantages

• Advanced charting and automated trading tools.

• Integrated market news and research.

• Multi-language interface, supports Chinese.

📌 Evidence: Saxo Platforms

VI. Funds Deposit, Withdrawal and Payment

As a regulated bank, Saxo Markets' funds inflow and outflow channels are highly compliant:

Advantages: safe, compliant, and funds are held in trust by the bank.
Disadvantages: Does not support e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), and has limited flexibility.

VII. Customer Service and Support

• Channel : Phone, email, online customer service

• Hours : 5x24, VIP provides 7x24 support

• Language : English, Chinese, German, French, Japanese, Malay, etc.

• Research and Education : Daily Market Reports, Investment Academy, Video Courses

📌 Evidence: Saxo Support

8. Competitive Comparison

• Compared with IG Group : IG has a low deposit threshold and is suitable for retail; Saxo is positioned as a high-end bank and is more suitable for high-net-worth clients.

• Compared with Interactive Brokers (IBKR) : IBKR has a wider product coverage, but Saxo has more advantages in platform friendliness and research content.

• Compared with eToro : eToro is more social and has a lower barrier to entry; Saxo is more professional and compliant.

This comparison highlights Saxo Markets' positioning: high-end compliance, multi-asset coverage, and professional services .

IX. Risk Warning

• High threshold : minimum deposit of $2,000 USD, higher in some countries.

• Fee structure : Commissions and spreads are not the lowest, and long-term transaction costs are higher than those of online brokerages.

• Learning curve : The platform's functions are complex and newcomers need a long time to adapt.

10. Overall Rating (0–10 points)

• Regulatory Compliance: 9/10 — Multi-national regulation ensures fund security.

• Trading Experience: 9/10 — The platform is professional and powerful.

• Fund Management: 8/10 — Bank custody, safe and compliant.

• Cost level: 7/10 – Cost is on the high side.

• User reputation: 8/10 —— Highly recognized by professional users.

Overall Score: 8.2/10 – A global, multi-asset platform for high-net-worth and professional investors.

in conclusion

Saxo Markets is a compliant, secure, and highly comprehensive multi-asset trading platform. Leveraging Saxo Bank's global presence and Danish FSA regulation, it is highly sought after by professional and high-net-worth clients. While its entry thresholds and fees are high, Saxo is a stable and reliable option for investors seeking regulatory compliance and access to global markets.