The short answer
No. FSPR registration indicates that a business is listed on a register of financial service providers, but it does not mean they are licensed, regulated, or endorsed by the FMA. Many entities can be registered without undergoing substantive safety checks. You should always verify if a firm holds a specific licence for the service they provide, as registration alone does not protect your capital.
For many investors in New Zealand, the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) serves as a point of reference for evaluating the credibility of a company. However, it is a common misunderstanding that being 'registered' is synonymous with being 'regulated' or 'safe'.
This article clarifies the distinction between registration on the FSPR and the licensing requirements necessary for certain financial services. Understanding these differences is a crucial step in assessing whether an investment provider is legitimate and protected under New Zealand law.
01Registration vs. Licensing: The Key Difference
The FSPR lists people and businesses offering financial services. The FMA explains that registration is required where the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act applies. Some services also require a licence. An entry and the limited checks associated with it are not an endorsement of the firm's business practices or solvency.
A licence, by contrast, implies that the firm has undergone a rigorous assessment by the FMA or the Reserve Bank to demonstrate they meet specific operational and conduct standards. Not every registered provider requires a licence, and registration is never a substitute for professional due diligence.
Sources for this section[1] FMA: report a scam[2] Companies Office: Financial Service Providers Register
02The Reality of FSPR Entries
Simply finding a company name on the FSPR does not mean the company is based in New Zealand or that its directors are trustworthy. Scammers have been known to falsely claim registration or use the identities of legitimate businesses to appear credible to offshore investors.
Always verify that the contact details on the register match those you are dealing with directly. If a company claims to be registered, check the status on the official Companies Office website and ensure their reported services include the ones they are offering you.
Sources for this section[1] FMA: report a scam[3] FMA: registration versus licensing FAQ
03Conducting Due Diligence on Providers
Before depositing funds, investors should perform thorough checks. This includes checking the FMA’s list of warnings and alerts to see if the provider is already under suspicion.
Consider independent financial advice before a significant investment. Establish which registration or licensing requirements apply to the actual service, then check the provider's status against those requirements. Do not infer that every crypto-related service requires the same licence. A register entry does not guarantee a route to recovery.
Source for this section[1] FMA: report a scam
04Dispute Resolution Schemes
The FMA says providers offering financial services to retail clients in New Zealand must belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme where the registration rules apply. Check whether that requirement covers the provider and service you are using, rather than assuming every register entry has identical consumer protections.
If you have a dispute with a provider, check which DRS they are affiliated with. This information should be provided in their disclosure documents. If a company claims to be registered but cannot provide details of their dispute resolution scheme, this is a major red flag that warrants extreme caution.
Source for this section[1] FMA: report a scam
05Hypothetical Verification Checklist
When evaluating a new platform, use this step-by-step checklist to guide your research:
1. Search the exact legal company name on the official FSPR. 2. Compare independently sourced contact details and the domain you were given. 3. Check the services recorded, then any separate licence required for the offer: a listed service is not itself authorisation. 4. Check the applicable dispute resolution scheme. 5. Search the FMA's warnings and alerts; no warning is not approval.
Sources for this section[1] FMA: report a scam[2] Companies Office: Financial Service Providers Register
Checklist
- Verify the company on the official FSPR website.
- Check the FMA warnings and alerts for the company name.
- Confirm the address on the registry matches their provided contact details.
- Ask for their disclosure documents regarding their dispute resolution scheme.
- Ensure the firm holds a licence if they offer specific, regulated financial services.
- Seek independent financial advice before committing significant funds.
Questions people ask
If a platform is on the FSPR, does that mean my money is safe?
No. FSPR registration is not a stamp of approval from the FMA. It means they are listed, but they may not be licensed or properly regulated. Your capital is not guaranteed simply by the fact that they are on the register.
How can I tell if a company's registration is legitimate?
Search the company name directly on the official New Zealand Companies Office website. Cross-reference the directors and addresses listed there with the claims made by the company. If they differ significantly, be extremely cautious.
What should I do if a company claims they are registered but I cannot find them?
Do not proceed with the investment. This is a common tactic used by scammers to gain trust. If they are not found on the official register, you should treat the offer as high-risk and report the incident to the FMA.
Safety boundaries
- No legitimate helper needs your seed phrase, private key, password, one-time code, remote access to your device or a wallet connection.
- Nobody can promise that funds will be recovered. Treat any guarantee, or any fee demanded to release funds, with suspicion.
- Find official contact details yourself, through the regulator, bank or platform website, not through a message or advert you received.
- This guide is general education. It is not legal, financial or tax advice and does not assess your situation.
If you want to organise your facts, the initial claim outline on our homepage collects only a short summary and contact details. It creates no client relationship and promises no outcome. Do not send documents or credentials.
Official sources
- [1]FMA: report a scam
Checked 4 October 2026 - [2]Companies Office: Financial Service Providers Register
Checked 4 October 2026 - [3]FMA: registration versus licensing FAQ
Checked 4 October 2026
AI-assisted educational content published by Central Crypto Claim using the official sources listed below. No independent expert review is claimed. This is not legal, financial or tax advice.