Closed Binary Options Brokers

Since 2012, we’ve reviewed more than 70 binary options brokers, however many are no longer in operation. Below is our directory of closed firms, which details when each broker shut down and why.

See our top-rated active binary options brokers to avoid defunct brands.

List of Closed Binary Options Platforms

• 24Option — Closed: May 2021. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; license withdrawal after prior renunciation. Evidence: CySEC — license withdrawal (2021); CySEC — renunciation timeline (2020).
• 24Winner — Closed: Jan 2016. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; operator fined and brand discontinued. Evidence: CySEC — fine (2015); CSA — warning list (2015).
• 777Binary — Closed: 2016. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; unauthorized operations flagged. Evidence: AMF (Québec) — unauthorized sites list.
• 365Trading — Closed: 2017. Cause: Regulatory failures; unlicensed status; later license renounced. Evidence: CySEC — fine (2015); CySEC — license renunciation (2019).
• Anyoption — Closed: Sep 2018. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; CIF license withdrawn after exit from binaries. Evidence: CySEC — license withdrawal (2018); CySEC — fine on operator (2016).
• Banc De Binary — Closed: Jan 2017. Cause: Multi-jurisdiction enforcement; US settlement and exit. Evidence: SEC — settlement order (2016).
• Bank Of Trade — Closed: 2016. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; unauthorized activity and loss of client trust.
• BeeOptions — Closed: 2020. Cause: Regulatory actions and client complaints; brand went inactive. Evidence: CFTC — RED List entry (2016).
• BinaryInternational.com — Closed: 2016. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; unregistered solicitation. Evidence: CFTC — RED List entry (2016).
• BinaryTilt — Closed: Mar 2018. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; multiple warnings against unregistered operator. Evidence: BCSC — caution (2017); FMA (NZ) — warning.
• Boss Capital — Closed: 2016. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; blacklisted as unlicensed. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist (2016).
• BrokerageCapital.com — Closed: 2015. Cause: CySEC warning and subsequent license withdrawal.
• Cedar Finance — Closed: Jun 2014. Cause: License suspended then terminated during crackdown. Evidence: CySEC — CIF termination; Report — prior suspension (2013).
• Daweda — Closed: Jun 2020. Cause: License withdrawn amid sector-wide restrictions. Evidence: CySEC — license withdrawal (2020); MFSA — notice.
• EasyXP — Closed: 2015. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; unauthorized services blacklisted. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist (2013).
• EmpireOption — Closed: 2019. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; blacklisted and ceased operations. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist.
• EZTrader — Closed: 2017. Cause: US enforcement; penalties led to shutdown. Evidence: SEC — enforcement action (2016).
• Finopex — Closed: 2016. Cause: Unauthorized site flagged early; ESMA measures squeezed the sector. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist (2012); ESMA — product intervention (2018).
• Global Trader 365 — Closed: Jul 2016. Cause: US enforcement over off-exchange binaries. Evidence: CFTC — enforcement order (2016).
• GOptions — Closed: 2017. Cause: Regulatory crackdown; unauthorized activity and multiple warnings. Evidence: CFTC — RED List entry.
• IkkoTrader — Closed: 2015. Cause: Flagged as unauthorized for years before disappearing. Evidence: CNMV (Spain) — warning (2011).
• iOption — Closed: Nov 2013. Cause: Short-lived; license renounced as crackdown intensified. Evidence: Report — license renunciation; CNMV (Spain) — annual report reference (2014).
• LBinary — Closed: 2014. Cause: Regulatory warnings for unauthorized brokerage; brand disappeared. Evidence: CySEC — warning (2014); CNMV — report (2014).
• Lionive — Closed: 2018. Cause: Regulatory investigations and broad warnings; brand discontinued. Evidence: SEC — investor alert on binary options.
• Magnum Options — Closed: Oct 2017. Cause: UK winding-up orders following investigation. Evidence: Reuters — UK High Court winding-up (2017).
• MarketsKing — Closed: 2017. Cause: EU/UK crackdown and major-market warnings; brand ceased. Evidence: SEC — investor alert.
• MarketsWorld (Markets The World Ltd) — Closed: 2018. Cause: Multiple regulator warnings; brand shut down. Evidence: OSC — warning; CFTC — RED List entry; Missouri SOS — order.
• NYStockOptions — Closed: 2016. Cause: Investigations found misleading claims; site went offline.
• OneTwoTrade — Closed: 2017. Cause: Unlicensed entity; multiple international warnings; ceased. Evidence: SFC (Hong Kong) — alert (2016).
• Opteck — Closed: 2018. Cause: Sanctions/suspensions; brand discontinued post-crackdown. Evidence: CySEC — suspension (2019); CySEC — recall of suspension.
• OptionBit — Closed: 2017. Cause: Operator fined for compliance breaches; brand wound down. Evidence: CySEC — fine (2015); AMF (France) — €175k sanction (2016).
• Option Ground — Closed: 2015. Cause: Migration to RegalOptions; related license later revoked. Evidence: Report — license revoked (2015).
• OptioNow — Closed: 2016. Cause: Unlicensed operations; widespread warnings/complaints; brand vanished. Evidence: Investor.gov — binary options fraud.
• OptionRally — Closed: May 2020. Cause: License withdrawn after renunciation amid crackdown. Evidence: CySEC — license withdrawal (2020).
• OptionTime — Closed: 2015. Cause: Operated by Safecap; tightening enforcement made model unviable. Evidence: Overview — Cyprus prohibition (2019).
• Options Area — Closed: 2015. Cause: Regulator action; brand ceased. Evidence: OSC — warning.
• OptionsClick — Closed: 2017. Cause: Operator (Leadtrade) renounced license after suspensions; brand ended. Evidence: CySEC — former CIFs (Leadtrade).
• OptionsXO — Closed: 2017. Cause: Discontinued after operator (Leadtrade) renounced license; prior warnings. Evidence: CySEC — former CIFs (Leadtrade).
• OptionTrade — Closed: 2016. Cause: Brand wound down by HF Markets (HotForex) to focus on FX. Evidence: Report — brand closure.
• OptionFair — Closed: Mar 2018. Cause: Operator shut brand and returned funds; license later withdrawn. Evidence: CySEC — license withdrawal.
• Power Option — Closed: 2014. Cause: Brand shut by operator (AvaTrade) amid crackdown. Evidence: Report — closure notice (2014).
• Redwood Options — Closed: 2017. Cause: Regulator actions; unregistered in Canada; brand ceased. Evidence: BCSC — caution (2017).
• Royal De Bank — Closed: 2016. Cause: Unauthorized brokerage services; blacklisted; shut down. Evidence: FINMA — warning list; CSSF (Lux) — warning (2014).
• Safe24option — Closed: 2016. Cause: Widespread withdrawal-failure complaints; no authorization.
• StartOptions — Closed: 2018. Cause: SEC charges against promoters for deception; platform shuttered. Evidence: SEC — complaint (2021).
• Stockpair — Closed: Nov 2017. Cause: Downsizing under regulatory pressure; then full cessation. Evidence: Report — downsizing (2017).
• TopOption — Closed: 2017. Cause: Leadtrade fines/suspensions; voluntary license renunciation; brand ended. Evidence: CySEC — former CIFs (Leadtrade).
• Tradorax — Closed: 2017. Cause: Media investigations; blacklisted as unauthorized; shut down. Evidence: AMF (Québec) — warning list.
• TradeRush — Closed: 2016. Cause: Repeated regulator actions and blacklists; site discontinued. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist; BCSC — caution (TR Binary Options).
• TraderXP — Closed: 2014. Cause: Early blacklisting for unauthorized binaries; later disappeared. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist (2011).
• uBinary — Closed: 2017. Cause: EU crackdown; blacklisted; brand ceased. Evidence: AMF (France) — blacklist.
• Vault Options — Closed: 2016. Cause: Unauthorized activity; blacklisted; shut down. Evidence: AMF (Québec) — warning list.
• ZoomTrader — Closed: 2018. Cause: FCA warning; withdrew from regulated markets; later ceased. Evidence: FCA — warning (Capital Force Ltd / Zoomtrader).

Note: Many closures came during the regulatory crackdown on retail binary options in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Regulators issued warnings/blacklists, suspended or withdrew licenses, and many brands were discontinued soon after as a result.

Exceptions – Not Quite “Closed”

• Binary.com — Rebranded to Deriv in 2020 and continues to provide binary options products.
• Alpari — UK entity closed in 2015, however Alpari as a brand still exists offshore offering trading products like forex and CFDs.
• Core Liquidity Markets — Stopped providing binaries after regulators, notably ASIC, prohibited binary options for retail investors and suspended the license of its operator, FX Trading Pty Ltd.

Why So Many Binary Options Brands Have Shut Down

Between 2016 and 2021, many regulators worldwide tightened rules or outright banned brokers from offering binary options.

In the EU, ESMA introduced a prohibition effective 2 July 2018 (renewed thereafter), which most national regulators then made permanent (ESMA product intervention, EU-wide ban overview).

Canada followed with a national prohibition in September 2017 (CSA announcement), while Australia banned sales to retail clients in 2021 (ASIC media release).

Consumer warnings were also issued by the FBI, SEC, and CFTC regarding fraud patterns and unregistered platforms (FBI: Binary Options Fraud, CFTC/SEC investor alert, Investor.gov guidance).

Many Cyprus-regulated brands (a core hub for EU binaries) renounced or lost their CIF licences with the CySEC, and numerous offshore sites were blacklisted by regulators, prompting mass closures or pivots to CFDs/Forex.

Since the wave of closures we saw in the 2010s and early 2020s, the number of new binary brands emerging and firms closing has slowed down.

Check the current rules and regulations on binary options trading.