Check a firm in the official register for the country and activity it claims to cover, then match the record to the exact company, website and contact details you are dealing with. Read the permissions and status—not just the name. A listing can show that a firm is subject to defined oversight, but it does not guarantee that an investment is safe, that the firm is solvent, or that every service it offers is regulated.
What to gather before you search
Record the full legal name of the business, any trading name, its website domain, claimed registration or reference number, address, and the specific service being offered. Note the country where you are being offered that service and the jurisdiction in which the firm says it is regulated.
A brand, parent company and operating firm may be different legal entities. A group may also use separate firms for exchange trading, custody, brokerage, advice, payments or derivatives. Verify the entity responsible for the particular service you plan to use.
How to check a firm step by step
- Go to the regulator independently. Find the regulator through a government directory or enter its official web address yourself. Do not rely on a badge, link or phone number supplied by a salesperson. In the UK, use the FCA Firm Checker and Financial Services Register; the FCA describes the Register as the official public record for firms and individuals. In the US, use Investor.gov’s investment professional search and the SEC’s IAPD or FINRA BrokerCheck where relevant to the professional’s role. CFTC guidance also directs consumers to check relevant NFA and state regulator records.
- Search by the legal name and any reference number. A matching name is only a starting point. Open the detailed entry and compare the legal name, trading names, domain, address, telephone number and registration number with the firm contacting you.
- Check the actual permissions. Read the listed activities, products, services, limitations and current status. Ask whether those permissions cover the exact service and product being offered—not merely whether the firm appears somewhere in the register.
- Check status and warnings. Look for warnings, disciplinary or regulatory action, revoked status and historical records. Treat “no longer authorised” or “revoked” as different from current authorisation. An absence from a warning list is not proof that the firm is legitimate.
- Verify the contact route independently. If you need to confirm a record, use contact details from the regulator’s entry or another independently verified official source. Do not use a phone number, email, link or wallet address provided by an unverified caller or message.
Match the firm, not just its name
Fraudsters may impersonate a genuine regulated firm or claim to work for it. A genuine register entry does not authenticate the person who contacted you, the website you opened, or the wallet address you were asked to use. Investor.gov advises consumers to contact a seller through independently verified details, such as those in the firm’s genuine Form CRS; the FCA also warns consumers to compare contact details with its Register.
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If even one key detail—especially the domain, phone number or legal entity—does not match, stop and verify the discrepancy with the regulator or the genuine firm using independently obtained contact information. Do not send money or identity documents while the mismatch remains unexplained.
Read the permission in context
Regulation is tied to jurisdiction, legal role, activity and sometimes the product involved. An authorised firm may offer some unregulated products or services, so a general register result does not establish that every offering is covered. In the US, requirements can differ for broker-dealers, investment advisers, alternative trading systems, exchanges and other intermediaries. A crypto platform may combine functions that are subject to different rules, particularly where securities are involved.
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Use the record to answer a specific question: is this exact legal entity permitted or registered for this exact service in the jurisdiction relevant to me? Do not infer that one registration covers a global platform’s entire business or every asset it lists.
Why UK crypto registration needs careful interpretation
In the UK, certain crypto businesses, including some exchange and custody providers, are registered with the FCA for anti-money-laundering supervision. That is not the same as FCA authorisation for all regulated investment services. The FCA says most crypto-related activities are not regulated in the UK, and registration does not automatically mean access to Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) or Financial Ombudsman Service protection. Check the specific activity and any applicable protection rather than treating “registered” as a government endorsement.
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The FCA’s consumer guidance, last updated 22 September 2026, puts the risk boundary plainly: “Using an authorised firm, with the correct permissions, will greatly reduce the risk of harm. It won’t remove all risk.” Read its guidance on checking whether a firm or individual is authorised and its crypto investment scam guidance alongside the live register.
Where to check in the United States
For a broker or investment adviser, choose the official database that fits the person’s role. Investor.gov says most brokers must register with the SEC and join FINRA, while retail investment advisers generally register with the SEC or their state securities regulator. Start with Investor.gov’s advice on fraudsters posing as brokers or investment advisers, then use the linked SEC IAPD or FINRA BrokerCheck tools as appropriate. CFTC guidance recommends checking relevant NFA, SEC, FINRA and state regulator records before paying or sending digital assets; see CFTC’s crypto red-flags guide.
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There is no single US registration check that establishes the status of every crypto exchange or every service it offers. Identify whether the firm is acting as a broker, adviser, derivatives intermediary or another type of provider, and check the regulator relevant to that role and product. Investor.gov’s alerts on crypto asset securities and bitcoin and other virtual currency-related investments explain why crypto offerings require particular care.
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If you are considering more than one provider, use these verification dimensions rather than treating a register listing as a ranking or recommendation.
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| Check | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Entity and jurisdiction | The legal entity providing the service and the regulator or jurisdiction relevant to that service. |
| Permissions | Whether the record covers the specific activity, product and asset you intend to use. |
| Status and history | Current status, warnings, disciplinary action and any revoked or historical status. |
| Identity match | Whether the register’s names and contact details match the website, phone and channel you are using. |
| Customer protections | Which complaint, compensation or custody protections actually apply to the service and customer. |
When to stop
- The firm’s name, website, phone, address or registration number does not match the official entry.
- The register shows no relevant permission, a warning, or a status that is no longer current.
- The firm promises guaranteed or implausibly high returns, pressures you to act quickly, or directs you to an unofficial channel.
- You cannot establish which legal entity is providing the service or which regulator covers it.
Pause any deposit, crypto transfer or identity-document submission until you have independently resolved the issue. A clean search result cannot prove an investment’s quality, establish that a business is solvent, or rule out fraud and loss.
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