Your money isn’t held by CUSP directly. Instead, it’s safeguarded by regulated partners in both the UAE and the US. This structure adds an extra layer of protection while giving you access to global markets.
1. Local regulation in the UAE
CUSP is licensed in the DIFC and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
Deposits are processed securely through Lean Technologies, a UAE company regulated by the FSRA in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
Important to know: Lean never holds your funds — it only connects your UAE bank safely to your brokerage account.
2. Custody in the US (Alpaca Securities)
Your cash and investments are safely held with Alpaca Securities LLC, our US-based brokerage and custody partner.
Who they are: A regulated US brokerage firm that powers trading and custody for investment platforms worldwide.
How they’re regulated: Overseen by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
Investor protection: Alpaca is a member of SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation), which covers up to $500,000 (including $250,000 in cash) if a broker ever fails.
This means your assets remain yours, even in the unlikely event of a problem.
3. Why your assets are held in the US
Your assets are custodied in the US for a clear reason: to give you both stronger protection and direct access to global markets.
Extra safeguards: By holding your assets with Alpaca in the US, they fall under the protection of SIPC insurance (up to $500,000) and are overseen by the SEC and FINRA — some of the strictest financial regulators in the world.
Local oversight remains: At the same time, your overall CUSP account is still regulated by the DFSA in Dubai. This means you benefit from two layers of supervision — one local, one international.
We chose this structure to put your money under the highest standards of investor protection available.