Far East focused Retail FX and CFDs broker EBC Financial has announced that its new subsidiary EBC Financial Group SA (Pty) Ltd has received approval from South Africa financial regulator Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as an Authorised Financial Service Provider, marking a strategic milestone in the firm’s African expansion plans. This regulatory approval represents an essential first step as EBC works toward establishing a presence in South Africa’s rapidly growing fintech ecosystem.
David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd., said,
“The FSCA’s approval represents an important milestone in our global expansion. This complements our existing licences, such as those from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, and other entities within our group regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (FSC). This acquisition positions us to serve one of the continent’s most active trading markets while upholding the regulatory standards and transparency that define our operations worldwide.”
Strategic Entry into South Africa’s Financial Market
EBC said that South Africa represents a compelling growth opportunity, with a population of 63 million and 76% internet penetration, creating a substantial digitally connected market. The country’s fintech sector is projected to more than double from USD7.08 billion in 2023 to USD14.86 billion by 2033, reflecting the rapid digital transformation of financial services across the region. Within this expanding ecosystem, EBC observes that South Africa’s trading community demonstrates strong participation across commodities, indices, and emerging digital assets, creating demand for reliable, regulated market access.
“South Africa’s traders are sophisticated and globally minded, with three-quarters of the population connected online,” Barrett continued. “This digital maturity, combined with the region’s appetite for diversified trading opportunities, aligns closely with our offering. As we complete the integration process, we look forward to bringing our execution capabilities and comprehensive multi-asset market access to South African traders who seek reliable and transparent trading solutions.”
Education and Empowerment: Core to the EBC Philosophy
Beyond market access, EBC said it continues to champion trader education as a cornerstone of responsible market participation. Over the past quarter, EBC has hosted more than 1,000 multilingual webinars. Its educational initiatives also include the Pulse 360º podcast series on Spotify, market insights, and trader education on EBC Trading Academy. EBC also collaborates with the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford to organise the What Economists Really Do series. Its recent webinar, titled Think Like an Economist: Financial Literacy and Economic Understanding in an Age of Complexity was held on 11 November 2025. EBC’s digital-first educational initiatives are particularly well-suited to empower traders with the necessary facts, sound risk management practices, and financial literacy.
“Education and informed decision-making are fundamental to long-term trading success,” Barrett noted. “Through our educational programmes, we aim to equip traders at all levels with the knowledge to navigate markets effectively, manage risk prudently, and adapt to evolving market conditions.”
Guided by a Clear Mission
Beyond the regulatory milestone, this acquisition positions South African traders to access EBC’s award-winning ecosystem that combines technological excellence with educational depth. EBC’s infrastructure delivers execution speeds as low as 20ms alongside smart liquidity routing and expanded multilingual support. Proprietary tools, including the Trading Black Box and Private Room, enhance trader control over pricing and execution, supporting the platform’s commitment to transparency and performance.
“This acquisition reflects our commitment to providing both technological excellence and educational support,” Barrett added. “As we establish our presence in South Africa, we’re bringing not just award-winning infrastructure, but a comprehensive approach to trading that prioritises transparency, execution quality, and continuous innovation to help traders rule the markets. Our commitment is to serve South African traders with the same standards that have earned us recognition globally.”
About EBC Financial
EBC Financial, which sponsors FC Barcelona as its Official Partner in Foreign Exchange, is operated by EBC Group, and has offices globally but is run mainly from Hong Kong and China. EBC has licensed subsidiaries in the UK and Australia, and offshore in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Cayman Islands. The company focuses mainly on Chinese and other Far East based traders. EBC is controlled by Chinese national Qin Huazheng.
