ESMA ceases renewal of product intervention measure relating to binary options

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU securities markets’ regulator, will not renew the temporary prohibition of the marketing, distribution or sale of binary options to retail clients in the European Union (EU). 

ESMA has taken product intervention measures regarding binary options, imposing a temporary prohibition on their marketing, distribution or sale, in Decisions (EU) 2018/795, (EU) 2018/1466, (EU) 2018/2064 and (EU) 2019/509. If the temporary prohibition is not renewed again, the currently applicable measure in ESMA Decision (EU) 2019/509 will automatically expire at the end of the day on 1 July 2019.

As most national competent authorities (NCAs) have taken permanent national product intervention measures relating to binary options that are at least as stringent as ESMA’s measure, ESMA will not renew its temporary prohibition.

ESMA will continue to monitor activities in relation to these and other related speculative products to determine whether any other EU-wide measures may be needed.