The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a serious advisory regarding Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR), indicating that the international brokerage firm is not authorized to solicit investments within the Philippines. This announcement, dated January 19, 2026, underscores that IBKR lacks the necessary licensing required to operate as a broker, dealer, or exchange under Philippine law.
According to the SEC, Interactive Brokers presents itself as an online trading platform that offers access to a variety of global financial products, including stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds, and cryptocurrencies. The agency has observed that IBKR has been actively advertising its services to Filipino residents through social media channels and its mobile application, enabling local users to create accounts, deposit funds, and engage in trading activities.
The SEC emphasizes that these actions equate to the offering and selling of securities to the public, which mandates specific registration under the Securities Regulation Code (SRC). The advisory explicitly states, “Based on the Commission”s records, INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. is NOT REGISTERED as a corporation… and DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY LICENSE AND/OR AUTHORITY to offer, sell, or distribute securities.”
While acknowledging that IBKR may be regulated in other jurisdictions, the SEC clarified that foreign entities must comply with local regulations before providing investment products to the Philippine public. Under the SRC, companies must fulfill specific regulatory requirements to operate legally.
The SEC has also directed a stern warning to influencers and individuals promoting the platform. Anyone acting as a salesman, agent, promoter, influencer, or endorser of Interactive Brokers within the Philippines could be subject to criminal liability. Violators may face penalties under Section 28 of the SRC, which includes fines of up to Five Million Pesos (₱5,000,000.00) and imprisonment for up to twenty-one years, or both.
This advisory comes in light of recent reports regarding difficulties some Filipino users faced in accessing the Interactive Brokers website and application. Earlier this month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) confirmed it had requested the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block access to around 50 unlicensed trading platforms.
The SEC strongly encourages the public to “exercise caution” when dealing with IBKR or any similar unregistered online trading platforms.
