Who Owns Deriv Broker? Company Background, History & Headquarters Explained (2026)
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Start Earning →If you’ve ever wondered who owns Deriv broker — you’re not alone. Before depositing a single shilling, it’s smart to know exactly who is behind the platform you’re trusting with your money.
The answer might surprise you: Deriv is privately owned and has a rich 26+ year history that most traders know nothing about.
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Start Earning →In this article, we break down Deriv’s ownership, its fascinating journey from a small startup in 1999 to one of the world’s largest online brokers, where it’s headquartered, and whether it’s truly a Malaysian company.
Whether you’re a curious beginner or a Kenyan trader researching before you commit, this guide gives you the full picture.
Who Owns Deriv?
Deriv is privately owned by its founder, Jean-Yves Sireau, who remains the majority shareholder. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.
Day-to-day operations are led by CEO Rakshit Choudhary, who took the sole CEO role in May 2025. Deriv was formerly known as Binary.com and before that, BetOnMarkets.com.
The Founder: Who Is Jean-Yves Sireau?
Deriv’s story starts with one man — Jean-Yves Sireau, a French entrepreneur and financial mathematician who founded the company in 1999.
Sireau had a bold vision: to make online trading accessible to everyday people, not just wealthy institutions.
He gathered a team of financial mathematicians and developed algorithms for what became the world’s first fixed-odds financial trading system for retail investors.
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Start Earning →Sireau led the company for nearly 25 years before stepping back from daily operations in May 2025.
He remains the majority shareholder and continues to provide strategic guidance, even as he shifts focus to a new venture — an AI-powered healthcare company called n1.healthcare.
Sireau’s legacy is significant. Under his leadership, Deriv grew from a tiny startup into a platform serving over 3 million clients globally — processing hundreds of billions of dollars in monthly trading volume.
The Current CEO: Rakshit Choudhary
As of 2026, Deriv is led by Rakshit Choudhary as sole Chief Executive Officer — a role he assumed in May 2025.
Choudhary joined Deriv in mid-2009 as a Quantitative Analyst and worked his way up through roles including Head of Product Development and Chief Operating Officer before being named co-CEO alongside Sireau, and ultimately sole CEO.
The leadership transition followed a carefully planned co-CEO model introduced in April 2024, designed as a deliberate handover strategy rather than a sudden change, ensuring no momentum was lost during the shift.
Choudhary is known for his technical and operational expertise. His background in quantitative analysis and product development positions him well to lead Deriv’s stated “AI-first” strategy going forward.
So to be precise about ownership and leadership in 2026:
- Owner / Majority Shareholder: Jean-Yves Sireau (Founder)
- Chief Executive Officer: Rakshit Choudhary (since May 2025)
- Company Type: Private (not listed on any stock exchange)
Deriv’s Old Name: The Full History
Understanding who owns Deriv also means understanding where it came from. The company has gone through several name changes over its 26+ year lifespan — and each name reflects a different chapter of its growth.
1999 — Regent Markets Group
The founding company was called Regent Markets Group, established with the mission of making online trading accessible to the masses. The group was initially sponsored by Regent Pacific Group Ltd., a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Regent Markets opened its first office in Malta and executed the first binary trade.
2000 — BetOnMarkets.com
In April 2000, BetOnMarkets.com went live, establishing a round-the-clock financial trading service on a variety of financial indices. Business grew quickly, and the company soon became the market leader in fixed-odds financial trading.
The name “BetOnMarkets” reflected the product: binary-style fixed-odds bets on market outcomes. It was quirky, but it worked. The platform attracted traders across Europe and Asia who were drawn to its simplicity and transparent pricing.
2013 — Binary.com
The broker changed its name from BetOnMarkets.com to Binary.com in 2013, a name that more directly reflected the company’s focus on binary options trading.
This is the name most Kenyan traders of a certain vintage remember. Binary.com became extremely popular in East Africa, partly because of its low minimum trade sizes and straightforward interface. It was one of the first brokers to gain serious traction in the Kenyan trading community.
During the Binary.com era, the platform also made history by launching Bitcoin-denominated trading accounts in 2017, making it an early mover in cryptocurrency payments.
2020 — Deriv.com
The broker underwent a full rebrand in 2020 to reflect its expanded product offerings beyond binary options.
The name “Deriv” is short for derivatives — a broader category that includes CFDs, forex, options, and more. The rebrand was accompanied by a complete product overhaul: new platforms, more trading instruments, and a refreshed brand identity aimed at appealing to a wider audience of traders.
In summary, the naming timeline looks like this:
- 1999: Regent Markets Group
- 2000: BetOnMarkets.com
- 2013: Binary.com
- 2020: Deriv.com (current)
Where Is Deriv Headquartered?
This is one of the most common questions about the company — and the answer is a bit more nuanced than a single city.
Deriv’s main operational headquarters is in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Cyberjaya is often described as Malaysia’s Silicon Valley — a technology-focused city near Kuala Lumpur that hosts many major global tech and fintech companies. Deriv set up its technology centre there in the early 2000s, and it has since grown into the company’s primary hub.
Deriv.com has offices in Melaka, Ipoh, and Labuan within Malaysia, as well as locations in Dubai, Malta, Cyprus, Rwanda, Jordan, Singapore, and other countries across 16+ nations.
The legal/holding company — Deriv.com Limited — is registered in Malta, which is also where the company’s EU-regulated entity operates. Malta was Deriv’s original home when it launched in the late 1990s, making it both historically and legally significant for the group.
So the answer to “where is Deriv headquartered?” depends on what you mean:
- Operational HQ: Cyberjaya, Malaysia
- Legal/Holding Company: Malta
- Global Offices: 20+ locations across 16+ countries including UAE, Cyprus, Rwanda, Jordan, Vanuatu, and more
Is Deriv a Malaysian Company?
This is a fair question — especially given that Deriv’s main offices and CEO are based in Malaysia.
The short answer is: partly, but not exclusively.
Deriv has deep roots in Malaysia. Its main technology and operations hub is in Cyberjaya, and CEO Rakshit Choudhary is based there. The Malaysian entity, Deriv (FX) Ltd, is licensed by the Labuan Financial Services Authority and is important for serving clients across Asia and Africa.
However, Deriv is a multi-national company:
- Founded by: A French entrepreneur (Jean-Yves Sireau)
- Holding company registered in: Malta
- Operational HQ: Malaysia
- Regulated in: Malta, BVI, Malaysia, Vanuatu, Mauritius, UAE
- Offices in: 16+ countries
So calling it a “Malaysian company” would be like calling a multinational corporation by just one of its offices. Deriv is truly a global broker with a strong Malaysian presence — but it belongs to no single country.
Deriv Company Background: Key Facts at a Glance
Here’s a quick reference summary of who Deriv is in 2026:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Jean-Yves Sireau |
| Current CEO | Rakshit Choudhary (since May 2025) |
| Ownership | Private (majority owned by founder) |
| Former Names | Regent Markets → BetOnMarkets.com → Binary.com → Deriv |
| Main HQ | Cyberjaya, Malaysia |
| Legal HQ | Malta |
| Clients | 3 million+ globally |
| Offices | 20+ locations in 16+ countries |
| Employees | 1,300+ worldwide |
| Monthly Volume | $650 billion+ |
| Regulators | MFSA, LFSA, BVI FSC, VFSC, FSC Mauritius, UAE SCA |
Why Deriv’s Ownership Structure Matters to Kenyan Traders
You might be wondering why any of this ownership background actually matters to you as a trader in Kenya. Here’s why it’s relevant:
Stability and longevity. Private ownership by a founding majority shareholder means there are no quarterly earnings pressures from public markets. Deriv doesn’t need to chase short-term profits to satisfy institutional investors — a structure that allows for more long-term, customer-focused decision-making.
No public stock listing means limited financial transparency. Unlike publicly-listed brokers that must disclose audited financials, Deriv as a private company does not publish comprehensive financial statements. This is not unusual for private brokers, but it’s worth noting.
The founder’s continued involvement provides continuity. Even though Sireau has stepped back from daily operations, his role as majority shareholder means Deriv’s founding values and direction remain anchored to the person who built it.
Kenyan traders trade under international entities. Because Deriv doesn’t have a local Kenyan entity, most Kenyan accounts fall under Deriv (BVI) Ltd or Deriv (V) Ltd — the offshore arms. Understanding the overall group gives you confidence that these entities are backed by a substantial, long-running global business, not a fly-by-night operation.
How to Start Trading on Deriv as a Kenyan
Now that you know exactly who is behind Deriv and where it comes from, here’s how to get started safely:
- Visit Deriv’s official site and create a free account
- Verify your identity with your Kenyan National ID or passport
- Try the demo account first — it’s free, unlimited, and uses real market conditions
- Deposit via M-Pesa when you’re ready — minimum deposit is just $5 (roughly KES 650)
- Start with small trades while you learn your preferred instrument
- Use Deriv’s free Traders’ Academy to build your knowledge before scaling up
Tip: There is absolutely no rush to deposit real money. Deriv’s demo account does not expire. Spend as much time as you need learning the platform for free before risking a single shilling.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Trading forex, CFDs, and derivatives involves a high risk of loss. The majority of retail traders lose money when trading leveraged products. This article is purely informational and does not constitute financial advice. Only trade with funds you can afford to lose entirely.
FAQs: Who Owns Deriv Broker?
1. Who is the owner of Deriv broker?
Deriv is privately owned by its founder, Jean-Yves Sireau, who remains the majority shareholder. He founded the company in 1999 and stepped back from day-to-day leadership in May 2025, handing over the CEO role to Rakshit Choudhary.
2. Who is the current CEO of Deriv in 2026?
Rakshit Choudhary is the sole CEO of Deriv, having assumed the role in May 2025. He joined the company in 2009 as a Quantitative Analyst and worked his way up over 16 years through roles including COO and co-CEO before becoming sole CEO.
3. What was Deriv’s old name?
Deriv has gone through several names. It was originally called Regent Markets Group (1999), then BetOnMarkets.com (2000), then Binary.com (2013), and finally rebranded to Deriv.com in 2020.
4. Is Deriv a Malaysian company?
Not exclusively. Deriv’s main technology and operations hub is in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, but the holding company is registered in Malta, and it operates entities across the BVI, Vanuatu, Mauritius, the UAE, and more. It is best described as a global, privately-owned broker.
5. Where is Deriv headquartered?
Deriv’s primary operational headquarters is in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. Its legal holding company is registered in Malta. It has 20+ offices in 16+ countries worldwide.
6. Is Deriv publicly listed on any stock exchange?
No. Deriv is a privately-owned company and is not listed on any stock exchange. It does not publish public financial statements, which is standard for private brokers of this type.
7. How long has Deriv been in operation?
Deriv (and its predecessor companies) has been in continuous operation since 1999 — over 26 years. This makes it one of the longest-running online brokers in the world.
8. Is Deriv safe for Kenyan traders to use in 2026?
Deriv is considered a legitimate and internationally regulated broker. It does not hold a Kenya CMA licence, but it is regulated by multiple international bodies including the MFSA (Malta), BVI FSC, Labuan FSA, and others. Most independent broker review platforms rate it as trustworthy. However, all trading carries risk and traders should exercise caution.
9. Did Deriv used to be Binary.com?
Yes. Deriv.com is the rebranded version of Binary.com, which itself was the rebranded version of BetOnMarkets.com. The rebrand from Binary.com to Deriv happened in 2020 to reflect the broker’s expanded product range beyond binary options.
10. Can I open a Deriv account as a Kenyan trader?
Yes. Kenyan traders can open a Deriv account, deposit via M-Pesa, and trade forex, synthetic indices, commodities, and more. The minimum deposit is $5. A free demo account is available with no deposit required. Get started here.
Conclusion
Deriv is not some mysterious offshore entity — it’s a well-documented, 26-year-old company with a clear founder (Jean-Yves Sireau), a named CEO (Rakshit Choudhary), a known headquarters (Cyberjaya, Malaysia), and a traceable history going back to 1999. Few brokers in the world have this length of track record.
For Kenyan traders, that history matters. When you trade on Deriv, you’re not handing your money to a nameless startup — you’re using a platform with deep roots, global regulatory coverage, and millions of users worldwide.
As always, do your due diligence, start with the demo account, and only deposit what you can genuinely afford to lose.
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