ESMA Leverage Caps

Also called: ESMA caps

EU rules capping retail FX leverage at 30:1 majors, 20:1 minors, 10:1 commodities — in force since 2018.

ESMA’s intervention measures, made permanent by national regulators, also mandated negative balance protection and standardised risk warnings.

UK kept the same caps post-Brexit. Many EU clients seek offshore broker entities to access higher leverage (with reduced protections).