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The framework

BlackCores RM10 Standards

Ten defined criteria covering governance, documentation and responsible-market conduct for institution-facing firms across the FX/CFD ecosystem.

RM1

Regulatory Perimeter & Licence Identity

Make the firm's regulatory perimeter, licence identity and permitted activities clearly documented and internally consistent.

Applies to
All firms operating in or adjacent to the FX/CFD ecosystem.
Evidence examples
  • Licence and registration references where applicable
  • Entity structure and permitted-activity mapping
  • Public disclosure consistency review
Public status language
Documentary Status: Defined Scope

Records documentation only. Not a regulatory approval or substitute for licensing.

RM2

Client Classification & Distribution Boundaries

Evidence how client categories, eligibility and distribution boundaries are defined and enforced.

Applies to
Firms that onboard, classify or distribute to clients or partners.
Evidence examples
  • Client classification policy
  • Distribution and territory boundary controls
  • Appropriateness and eligibility records
Public status language
Criteria Coverage: Documented

Reflects documented boundaries only, not client outcomes.

RM3

Responsible Marketing, Affiliate & IB Controls

Demonstrate controls over marketing, affiliate and introducing-broker activity and the records that support them.

Applies to
Firms using marketing, affiliates, IBs or third-party promotion.
Evidence examples
  • Marketing approval and review process
  • Affiliate / IB onboarding and monitoring records
  • Promotional content control samples
Public status language
Evidence Submitted

Assesses control documentation, not individual campaigns unless separately reviewed.

RM4

AML/CFT, Sanctions, KYB & Financial Crime Controls

Evidence financial-crime control frameworks across AML/CFT, sanctions screening and know-your-business.

Applies to
Firms with onboarding, funds-handling or counterparty exposure.
Evidence examples
  • AML/CFT policy and risk assessment
  • Sanctions and PEP screening approach
  • KYB and beneficial-ownership procedures
Public status language
Criteria Coverage: Documented

Records documented controls; does not test live transactions.

RM5

Counterparty, Supplier & Outsourcing Governance

Demonstrate governance over counterparties, suppliers and outsourced functions.

Applies to
Firms relying on counterparties, vendors or outsourced operations.
Evidence examples
  • Counterparty due-diligence framework
  • Outsourcing and supplier register
  • Service and dependency oversight records
Public status language
Documentary Status: Defined Scope

Covers governance documentation within the declared scope only.

RM6

Responsible Product, Service & Programme Design

Evidence responsible design of products, services and programmes, including target-market logic.

Applies to
Firms designing products, services, education or programmes.
Evidence examples
  • Product governance and design records
  • Target-market and suitability logic
  • Review and approval trail
Public status language
Criteria Coverage: Documented

Reviews design documentation, not commercial performance.

RM7

Complaints, Fair Handling & Remediation Records

Demonstrate complaints handling, fair-treatment practices and remediation record-keeping.

Applies to
Firms handling clients, partners or end-user complaints.
Evidence examples
  • Complaints policy and workflow
  • Remediation and root-cause records
  • Fair-handling governance reporting
Public status language
Evidence Submitted

Reflects documented handling processes within scope.

RM8

Technology, Data, Cyber & Operational Resilience

Evidence technology governance, data protection, cyber controls and operational resilience.

Applies to
Firms operating platforms, data systems or critical technology.
Evidence examples
  • Information-security and data-protection policies
  • Resilience, continuity and incident records
  • Cyber control and testing summaries
Public status language
Criteria Coverage: Documented

Records control documentation; not a penetration test or certification.

RM9

Money, Payment, Safeguarding & Settlement Boundaries

Demonstrate boundaries and controls around money handling, payments, safeguarding and settlement.

Applies to
Firms handling, routing or safeguarding money or settlement flows.
Evidence examples
  • Safeguarding and segregation approach
  • Payment and settlement control records
  • Reconciliation and oversight documentation
Public status language
Documentary Status: Defined Scope

Records documented boundaries; not an audit of financial soundness.

RM10

Governance, Anti-Corruption & Annual Improvement

Evidence governance maturity, anti-corruption controls and a documented annual improvement cycle.

Applies to
All participating firms across the ecosystem.
Evidence examples
  • Governance and board oversight records
  • Anti-corruption and ethics policies
  • Annual improvement and update filing
Public status language
Annual Update Filed

Records governance documentation and the annual update cycle.

See how RM10 maps to your firm type.

The FX/CFD framework sets out applicability across eighteen stakeholder categories.

View the FX/CFD framework

Scope Notes

Markers in the text above resolve to the full boundary wording below. These notes define what this page records — and what it does not claim.

  1. 7.

    RM10 Standards: BlackCores RM10 Standards are BlackCores-owned standards for documentary mapping and responsible-market conduct presentation. They are not regulatory rules, official regulator standards, UN standards, or a substitute for professional advice.

  2. 8.

    General information: Website content is provided for general business and institutional information only. It should not be relied on as legal, financial, tax, investment, insurance, regulatory or trading advice.