FINRA has censured and fined RBC Capital Markets, LLC $275,000 after finding that the firm failed to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering compliance program for more than seven years. According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent published by FINRA, RBC’s Wealth Management division did not properly implement policies and procedures capable of detecting and reporting suspicious transactions between February 2016 and September 2023, in breach of FINRA Rules 3310(a), 3310(f)(ii) and 2010. The regulator found that RBC introduced three new transaction monitoring rules in February 2016 designed to flag suspicious money movements but configured them so poorly that they largely failed to work as intended. One rule meant to catch accounts moving funds without securities trading activity was based on margin balances rather than account balances, meaning it rarely triggered. Another rule set credit thresholds too high to catch matching debit and credit patterns, while a third generated excessive false positives from routine internal transfers. FINRA said RBC split oversight of these monitoring rules between two internal groups without establishing a process for coordination or escalation, allowing the flawed rules to remain in place for years without correction. RBC neither admitted nor denied the findings but agreed to the sanctions. The firm updated its procedures in September 2023 to require periodic reviews of automated monitoring rules. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in New York, RBC Capital Markets currently employs roughly 6,500 registered representatives across 400 branch offices. The case stemmed from a routine FINRA cycle examination rather than a specific enforcement referral.The post FINRA fines RBC Capital Markets $275,000 over AML compliance failures first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Standard Chartered PLC announced on Wednesday that it will commence a new share buyback programme worth up to $1 billion, alongside the submission of its 2026 Half Year Report to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. The London-listed bank confirmed it has entered into a non-discretionary agreement with Goldman Sachs International to execute the buyback on its behalf. Under the arrangement, Goldman Sachs will purchase ordinary shares as principal, acting independently of Standard Chartered in its trading decisions, starting 30 July 2026 and running until no later than 29 January 2027, subject to there being no regulatory objections. The programme caps purchases at $1 billion in aggregate value or a maximum of 201,451,712 ordinary shares, whichever limit is reached first, and remains bound by the bank’s existing shareholder-approved buyback authority. Standard Chartered stated the purpose of the exercise is to reduce its share capital, a move that will see all repurchased shares cancelled once acquired. Purchases will take place on the London Stock Exchange and Cboe Europe’s BXE and CXE order books, or other approved UK exchanges, in line with FCA Listing Rules, UK market abuse regulations, and Hong Kong’s listing and takeover codes. The bank specified that no shares will be bought on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong itself. Separately, Standard Chartered confirmed its 2026 Half Year Report has been lodged with the FCA and will soon be viewable via the National Storage Mechanism as well as the bank’s investor relations website. Shareholders can expect hard copies to be posted by 19 August 2026. The buyback signals continued capital return efforts by the emerging markets-focused lender as it manages excess capital positions heading into the second half of 2026.The post Standard Chartered Launches $1 Billion Share Buyback, Files Half Year Report first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

How Oscar Cabrera built trust in trading by showing the entire story. Many trading personalities build audiences by showing success. Oscar Cabrera built his audience by showing the parts of trading that are usually left out: the risk, the losses, the hesitation, and the discipline required when a trade does not go as planned. Based in LATAM, Oscar is a self-taught trader, educator, and content creator whose story began with bitcoin in 2018. At the time, he was studying accounting and working in university administration. Over time, trading became his full-time focus and the basis of the community he has built around transparent trading education. For Oscar, trust is earned by showing the whole process. Sustainable trading, in his view is built on discipline, risk management, and the ability to stay rational when the market becomes difficult. Learning the hard way Oscar’s first steps into trading came through bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Early results encouraged him to keep learning, but they also showed him how much he still had to understand. Without a clear mentor, he had to build his approach through market experience, observation, and mistakes. “I had to learn a lot by myself,” Oscar says. Over time, he became more careful about the voices he trusted online, especially after realizing that some people were building a business around the image of being a trader rather than showing the work behind it. That realization changed the way he approached education. He became more selective about who he followed and more focused on developing a process that fit his personality. The lesson extended beyond the chart. Oscar also learned that making money and managing money are different skills. Earlier in his journey, he took profits from the market and tried to put them into more tangible assets, including businesses and property. Some of those decisions did not work out, and the experience changed how he thought about discipline outside trading. “Making money in the markets became one part of the process,The harder part was learning how to use that money correctly.”  he says. Transparency as a competitive advantage Oscar began creating content because he saw too much trading content built around image. Many online personalities showed the lifestyle around trading, but not the pressure, decision-making, risk, and losses behind each position. “I see many people selling an image,” he says. “They show cars and a perfect life, but they were not showing real trading.” His response was to make the process visible. Oscar started sharing live trades, market commentary, gain, and losses. The goal was not to impress his audience. It was to help them understand what trading involves in practice. “With me, you follow the process of a real trader,” he says. “You see my trades and my entire thought and risk management process. Everything is transparent.” That transparency became central to his relationship with his community. A losing trade is not something he tries to hide. It is part of trading, and it can teach traders how to respond when the market does not move in their favor. “Losses are part of trading,” he says. “The important thing is how you manage the risk and what you do after the loss.” Discipline is the real edge Oscar’s trading today is mainly focused on swing trading, especially bitcoin. While he can analyze other markets such as gold, the NASDAQ, or other major instruments, bitcoin remains the market he knows best. “My strategy is based on technical analysis, price action, and timing,” he says. With bitcoin, that understanding has been built over years of watching how it moves,  reacts, and behaves across different cycles. Swing trading became the right fit because it gives him time to think. Day trading required faster decisions and created more pressure, while longer-term setups allow him to plan, wait, and manage positions with more control.  “I tried day trading, but it was not for me,” he says. “Swing trading gives me more time to process the trade and manage the risk.” That discipline matters most when the market becomes unclear. Oscar knows that volatility can create opportunity, but it can also lead to emotional decisions. When market conditions become unclear, his response is not to force more trades. “When that happens, I try to step away from the charts,” he says. “If you made money in good months, you cannot lose it all in one bad month.” For Oscar, risk management is also psychological. Cutting losses, stepping away, and staying emotionally detached help him protect both capital and confidence. “I always try to cut my losses fast,” he says. Why trust matters beyond the trade The same focus on trust shaped Oscar’s decision to join Exness Team Pro. In an industry where brands often approach traders, he believes a partnership has to be based on direct experience. “If I speak to my community about a broker, I need to know that it is something I believe in myself,” he says. Before aligning with Exness, Oscar wanted to understand the trading environment for himself. Trust in a broker depends on the full trading experience: how the platform behaves, how execution feels in practice, how trading conditions hold up, and whether withdrawals work as traders expect. “When traders put their money with a broker, they need to feel secure,” he says. “That is why the platform behind the trader matters.” For Oscar, becoming part of Exness Team Pro is both an opportunity and a responsibility. It gives him a larger platform, but it also connects his name to the broker he represents. “Being part of Exness Team Pro means responsibility,” he says. “The values have to be aligned: transparency, reliability, and education.” Conclusion  Oscar Cabrera’s mission is not to make trading look easier than it is. It is to help traders see the profession more clearly: the discipline before the trade, the patience during the trade, and the accountability after the result.  His partnership with Exness reflects the same principle that has guided his career from the beginning. Trust cannot be claimed. It has to be earned through consistency, transparency, and the willingness to show the whole story.The post The transparency edge:Oscar Cabrera first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Options Technology revealed Tuesday that it has expanded its New York office, citing rising client growth and increased demand across North America for its trading infrastructure and market data services. The provider of IT infrastructure to financial institutions said the 34,000-square-foot office, in the city’s Financial District, deepens its footprint and brings it closer to clients and partners, including several Tier 1 banks and exchanges. The move follows a series of regional developments for the firm, including offering immediate access to the Texas Stock Exchange and delivering what it described as the first commercially accessible quantum computing capability for New York’s capital markets. “From when we opened the doors of our first New York office in 2006, we have gone from strength to strength,” said Tim Yockel, senior vice president of global sales.  “This new office is not only key in further establishing our presence in New York, but it also marks how much we have grown as a company over the past 20 years.” Danny Moore, president and chief executive, said the opening at 28 Liberty Street was “a direct result of our success in this region,” adding that growing demand established the firm “as the leading partner for top financial firms in New York but globally.” The expansion follows other growth initiatives, including office openings in Cambridge, London and Hong Kong early last year and the recent acquisition of Crossvale. Options serves clients globally from offices spanning New York, London, Paris, Belfast, Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai and Sydney, among others.The post Options Technology Expands New York Office in the Financial District first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Corpay said Tuesday that it has introduced Agent Card, a capability that allows AI agents to generate controlled virtual cards for approved business transactions. The move marks the latest step in the corporate payments group’s artificial intelligence roadmap. The company explained in a press release that the tool enables secure virtual card creation for AI-driven commerce workflows, extending an approach it began in April when it added an AI Virtual Assistant to its Corpay Complete platform.  Agent Card allows AI agents to act on a business’s behalf within the same controls that govern its existing payments. As AI agents increasingly assist with purchasing, procurement, travel and advertising, Corpay said companies need payment infrastructure that is secure, flexible and built for automation. “Agentic commerce is creating a new frontier for business payments,” commented Danny Martucci, president and general manager of commercial card at Corpay.  “With Agent Card, Corpay is enabling trusted AI agents to initiate secure, controlled payment workflows using the same principles that make virtual cards such a powerful tool for businesses today: authorization, control, visibility, and security.” The capability is said to support both user-directed and machine-to-machine payment workflows, incorporating authentication, spend intent authorisation and open standards for AI connectivity.  Corpay added that it is designed to support applications including supplier payments, digital advertising purchases, travel bookings and procurement. “Virtual cards are uniquely suited for agentic commerce because they can be issued with precise controls for a specific purpose,” said Tom Pierce, chief AI officer at Corpay. He said that made them an ideal payment method for workflows where businesses need automation without giving up governance.The post Corpay Launches Agent Card to Power AI-Driven Payments first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Liquidnet announced Tuesday an expansion of its Latin America equities business, aimed at improving liquidity access and execution capabilities for institutional investors trading Brazilian and Mexican equities. The enhanced offering allows Members to source institutional-sized block liquidity while simultaneously running algorithmic strategies across the wider market. Liquidnet says this combined approach gives investors a way to pursue liquidity discreetly and efficiently without giving up reach or control. A key differentiator, according to the firm, is its network model, which connects Members to more than 1,200 institutional counterparties worldwide. Rather than depending on external dark pools, Liquidnet operates a single liquidity network intended to build transparency and encourage genuine block interaction among buy side participants. Eric Blake, Head of LatAm at Liquidnet, said the expanded capabilities give Members access to block liquidity, region-specific algorithms for Brazil and Mexico, and support from the firm’s Americas high-touch trading desk, all delivered through a non-conflictive agency model. Liquidnet’s local market expertise is designed to help clients navigate regulatory considerations and liquidity dynamics in both markets, functioning as a single point of contact for execution needs. Alan Polo, Co-Head of Equities Sales and Trading, Americas, said the move reflects growing investor interest in Latin America for diversification and growth, adding that the expansion reinforces Liquidnet’s commitment to institutional-grade execution across the region. Liquidnet is owned by TP ICAP Group.The post Liquidnet Deepens Latin America Push With Upgraded Brazil and Mexico Equities Trading first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) has announced two senior leadership appointments as the digital infrastructure company looks to sharpen product innovation and strengthen growth across its international markets. Chris Audie is joining the company as Chief Product Officer, taking charge of the global products and services organization, which spans interconnection, infrastructure, network operations and ecosystem partnerships. Meanwhile, Bruce Owen, a 16 year veteran of Equinix, has been named Executive Vice President, Global Markets. In this role, Owen will oversee the company’s regional businesses across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. Both executives will report directly to CEO and President Adaire Fox Martin. Audie arrives with a background in enterprise software, infrastructure automation and AI. He most recently served as Chief Product and Technology Officer for Infrastructure and AI at HashiCorp, which IBM acquired in 2025. Earlier in his career, he led product management for Generative AI and cloud platform capabilities at Google Cloud, and held senior product roles at SAP. Fox Martin praised Audie’s technical depth and customer focus, saying he would help build the next generation of Equinix products for an increasingly complex technology landscape. Owen, who previously served as President of Equinix’s EMEA region and Managing Director for the UK, has held a wide range of positions within the company, including Chief of Staff to the CEO and President of the Equinix Foundation. Fox Martin called him one of the company’s most accomplished leaders, citing his operational credibility and strategic experience.The post Equinix Names New Chief Product Officer and Global Markets Chief first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

NinjaTrader Group has launched CME Group Single Stock futures on its platform, allowing eligible users to trade futures contracts tied to individual U.S. companies including Nvidia, Tesla, Apple and Amazon. The rollout marks one of the first major integrations of these new contracts in the retail trading space. CME Group is phasing in the launch across more than 50 companies drawn from the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and Russell 1000 indices, expanding NinjaTrader’s existing equity index offering. Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader Group, said the launch reflects a shift in how retail traders operate. “Retail traders today are more active, informed, and focused on high-conviction opportunities than ever before,” he said, adding that Single Stock futures offer speed and capital efficiency “without the complexity of options.” Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products, said the partnership extends access to “centrally cleared, financially settled contracts” that bring near round-the-clock trading to major U.S. stocks. Unlike options, Single Stock futures do not require traders to manage time decay, Greeks or multi-leg strategies, and they carry no stock borrowing requirements for bearish positions. They also trade nearly 24 hours during the trading week, giving traders a way to react to earnings, geopolitical news and other market events outside standard hours. Franchi said the product could draw new participants into futures trading. “Single Stock futures have the potential to dramatically expand and reshape investor participation in futures trading,” he said. NinjaTrader serves close to 3.9 million users through its cloud-based platform, alongside its clearing and technology divisions supporting institutional and proprietary trading firms.The post NinjaTrader Adds CME Group Single Stock Futures, Giving Traders Direct Access to Nvidia, Tesla and Apple first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has reprimanded and fined Luk Fook Securities (HK) Limited (LFSHK) $2.1 million after finding the firm failed to implement adequate cybersecurity controls, a lapse that may have contributed to its inability to withstand a ransomware attack in 2022. The attack, which struck on 19 September 2022, hit LFSHK’s critical IT infrastructure across the board, disrupting file servers, domain controllers, email servers, trading application servers and accounting servers. The firm did not fully restore its systems until 7 October, nearly three weeks later. During that period, clients were locked out of the firm’s mobile trading app and internet platform, forced instead to place orders through account executives. Following LFSHK’s self-report, the SFC launched an investigation and uncovered a string of deficiencies. These included a lack of firewall protection, outdated operating systems and antivirus software, weak controls over user access, poor password management practices such as storing credentials in unencrypted files, insufficient oversight of remote access and external devices, no regular cybersecurity training for staff, and inadequate data backup arrangements. The regulator concluded that LFSHK had breached cybersecurity requirements tied to its regulated activities, calling the failures systemic and damaging to both client interests and the integrity of its operations. In setting the penalty, the SFC noted mitigating factors, including LFSHK’s cooperation, its clean disciplinary record, remedial steps taken since the incident, an independent review of the breach, and the absence of evidence that clients suffered financial losses as a result.The post SFC Fines Luk Fook Securities Over Cybersecurity Failures Tied to Ransomware Attack first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

CME Group revealed on Monday that nearly 15,000 of its 1-Ounce Gold futures contracts traded during the opening weekend of its new round-the-clock schedule, representing about $60 million in notional value. The derivatives exchange operator launched the 24/7 trading format for the contract, allowing customers to trade regulated gold futures at any time of day, on any day of the week. “Gold is a global safe-haven asset, and global events don’t stop on weekends,” said Jin Hennig, managing director and global head of metals at CME Group.  He added that CME’s “launch demonstrates that retail traders were ready and waiting for always-on, regulated and right-sized products to manage their exposure to gold.” “24/7 Gold futures from CME Group offer our customers the ability to trade regulated futures contracts at any time of the day, any day of the week, from any timezone,” said Adam Hickerson, senior director and chief operating officer of Robinhood Derivatives. “This brings instant real-time digital access to the world’s oldest store of value.” CME Group said a record $125 billion in average notional has traded each day across its gold futures this year. The 1-Ounce Gold futures contract launched in January 2025 and recorded average daily volume of 87,000 contracts in the first half of 2026. The company’s metals business set a record in the first half of the year, with 1.3 million contracts traded daily on the back of precious metals activity, up 55% year on year.The post CME Group Sees Strong Demand in First Weekend of 24/7 Gold Futures first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Ant International’s Alipay+ said last week that it has added Hang Seng Bank as its first banking partner in Hong Kong, extending a network that already spans more than 50 digital wallets and financial institutions. The unified wallet gateway is said to be accepted in over 220 markets globally and lets banks offer cross-border payment services through a single integration.  Hang Seng Mobile App users can now make QR code payments in mainland China and overseas at more than 100 million merchants across over 55 countries and regions. Alipay+ said outbound cross-border payment demand from Asia Pacific is projected to grow faster than the global average. It cited estimates that consumer-to-consumer and consumer-to-business outbound volume from the region could reach 3.7 trillion by 2032, almost doubling from 2024. The platform also partners with more than 10 national QR systems, including Malaysia’s DuitNow, Thailand’s PromptPay and Uzbekistan’s HUMO, allowing banks to scale mobile payment use without striking individual merchant agreements in target markets. Banks already connected to the network include Public Bank Berhad in Malaysia, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Asia United Bank in the Philippines, OCBC in Singapore, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank in Thailand, and Vietcombank in Vietnam. Beyond Alipay+, Ant International works with banks through other services, including its Falcon TST AI FX model, which it said makes long-term foreign exchange forecasts with up to 93% accuracy and is used by Citi and Barclays.  Its blockchain platform Whale, which enables round-the-clock cross-border liquidity transfer, is being integrated by Standard Chartered and HSBC.The post Alipay+ Adds Hang Seng Bank as Cross-Border Payments Demand Grows in Asia first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL) announced on July 27, 2026, that it has acquired fundamental assets from IBM’s blockchain patent portfolio, a move that positions the company as the leading holder of blockchain patents in the United States. The acquired portfolio is substantial, comprising more than 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents across the globe. Its scope extends well beyond core blockchain technology, covering banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations. For Circle, the deal represents more than a defensive IP play. The company said the expanded patent position will directly support its broader mission of building what it calls the “internet financial system.” That includes existing products such as USDC and Circle Payments Network, as well as newer initiatives like Arc and an expanding lineup of onchain tools and agentic financial products. Notably, the transaction does not appear to be a one-time deal. Circle and IBM said they intend to explore further commercial opportunities together going forward, suggesting the relationship could extend beyond this patent transfer. Sarah Wilson, Circle’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, framed the acquisition as central to the company’s strategy. “Intellectual property is critical to advancing our mission and expanding adoption of onchain infrastructure,” Wilson said, adding that IBM’s history of technological innovation strengthens Circle’s capacity to build infrastructure for global, internet-native finance.The post Circle Acquires IBM Blockchain Patent Portfolio, Becomes Leading U.S. Patent Holder first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Capitolis, the financial technology firm, has appointed Ashwath Bhat as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective August 3. Bhat will report directly to Gil Mandelzis, the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Founder, and will take charge of Capitolis’ global finance organization as the firm looks to sustain its growth trajectory. Bhat succeeds Lindsey Baptiste Fiedler, who is stepping back from the CFO role but will stay on with Capitolis in an advisory capacity to support a smooth handover. Bhat arrives with more than 20 years of financial leadership experience spanning both public and private sector organizations. He most recently served as CFO of Fractal, an AI and analytics company listed on the National Stock Exchange of India, where he oversaw the company’s IPO in February 2026 while helping boost revenue and profitability. Before that, he spent over a decade at Nielsen in various senior finance positions, including CFO roles at Global Media, Product and Technology, and at Gracenote. He also served as regional CFO for Africa and the Middle East at Nielsen, and earlier held finance leadership posts at IBM South Asia and GE Healthcare South Asia. “Capitolis has been growing rapidly, and we have been looking for a financial leader to help us scale the business,” Mandelzis said, adding that Bhat brings the operational rigor needed for continued expansion. Bhat said he was eager to help strengthen the company’s financial foundation as it enters what he called a “pivotal moment.” The appointment follows a stretch of momentum for Capitolis, marked by new product launches and an expanding client base.The post Capitolis Names Ashwath Bhat as New Chief Financial Officer first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

tastytrade, the online brokerage, has launched Prediction Markets, a new offering that brings CFTC-regulated event contracts directly into its trading platform. The service is said to be powered by Apex Fintech Solutions and marks tastytrade as the first brokerage to go live on Apex’s turnkey FCM infrastructure. Prediction Markets allows traders to take positions on real-world catalysts they already follow, including Federal Reserve decisions, inflation and jobs data, the VIX, crude oil, and major cryptocurrencies. Rather than trading price reactions to news, users can trade the event itself through defined-risk, yes-or-no contracts that settle based on real-time probabilities. The offering is fully integrated into tastytrade’s existing platform, letting customers access event contracts in a segregated account alongside stocks, options, and futures, all within a single unified view. Contracts are available 24/7, including nights and weekends, and span timeframes from hourly to yearly. The company said the launch catalog covers major equity indices, Treasury yields, the U.S. dollar, and rate decisions from the Fed, ECB, BoE, and BoJ. It also includes inflation and growth indicators such as CPI, PCE, nonfarm payrolls, and GDP, along with leading digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP, plus commodities including gold, silver, copper, and natural gas. Pete Mulmat, Head of Brokerage at tastytrade/IGNA, said the product responds to growing customer demand for simple, directional trades tied to catalysts rather than complex strategies. Travis McGhee of Apex Fintech Solutions added that the partnership enables firms to launch prediction markets without building exchange connectivity from scratch.The post tastytrade Rolls Out Prediction Markets for Active Traders first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

LMAX Group, the London-based institutional trading venue spanning FX and digital assets, is exploring a sale or public listing that could value the company at up to $5 billion, according to a CoinDesk report citing people familiar with the matter. The firm has reportedly enlisted Morgan Stanley and KBW, the investment banking arm of Stifel, to weigh its options. These range from a traditional IPO on Nasdaq — said to be management’s preferred route — to a European listing, a SPAC merger, or an outright sale. LMAX declined to comment on the speculation, and its advisors have similarly stayed quiet. A Nasdaq debut would mark a dramatic re-rating for LMAX since private equity firm J.C. Flowers bought a 30% stake in mid-2021 at a roughly $1 billion valuation. Since then, gross profit has grown from $106 million to $190 million and EBITDA from $62 million to $101 million in 2024 — solid growth, but nowhere near enough to justify a fivefold jump in valuation on its own, with a $5 billion price tag implying nearly 50 times last reported EBITDA. Though widely framed in headlines as a “crypto exchange” story, LMAX’s core business remains institutional FX, with crypto — bolstered by a $150 million Ripple financing deal, plus the Omnia Exchange and Kiosk additions — an increasingly important but still secondary growth engine.The post LMAX Group Explores Sale or IPO at Valuation of Up to $5 Billion first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing said last week that it added Bursa Malaysia to its list of Recognised Stock Exchanges, allowing companies primarily listed on the Malaysian bourse to apply for a secondary listing in Hong Kong. The move takes the number of Recognised Stock Exchanges in South-East Asia to four, alongside the Indonesia Stock Exchange, the Singapore Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.  Bursa Malaysia becomes the 21st exchange across 19 countries to be recognised by the Hong Kong operator. The recognition, announced by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, builds on a memorandum of understanding signed between HKEX and Bursa Malaysia Berhad earlier this year. It coincided with a separate memorandum between Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission and the Securities Commission Malaysia to expand mutual market access. “We warmly welcome Bursa Malaysia to HKEX’s list of Recognised Stock Exchanges,” commented HKEX Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Y Chan. “This recognition reinforces the shared commitment between HKEX and Bursa Malaysia to enhancing regional connectivity and expanding access to capital across Asia.” Bursa Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed said the status “creates new opportunities for Malaysian listed companies to broaden their international investor reach and access new sources of capital through a secondary listing in Hong Kong.” He added that the recognition reflected confidence in Malaysia’s regulatory standards, market infrastructure and governance framework. The post HKEX Recognises Bursa Malaysia, Opens Path to Secondary Listings first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Western Alliance Bank revealed on Friday that it has formally launched WA VenueX, an institutional platform offering real-time US dollar liquidity and support for digital asset activity within a regulated banking environment. The Phoenix-based commercial bank, which holds more than $90 billion in assets, said that its WA VenueX Network provides 24/7 dollar instant settlement for approved institutional digital asset businesses.  Since an initial rollout earlier this year, the network has processed billions of dollars in transaction volume across stablecoin minting and redemption, institutional settlement and real-time liquidity rebalancing. The launch places Western Alliance among a small group of regulated US financial institutions offering always-on infrastructure for institutional digital asset markets.  Further capabilities, including digital asset custody, financing, tokenisation and programmable financial services, are said to be in development and will be introduced in phases. “Western Alliance Bank is always looking for innovative ways to better serve our clients while advancing the S-curve funding growth strategy we outlined at our Investor Day in May,” stated Dale Gibbons, vice chairman and chief banking officer, deposit initiatives and innovation.  He added that the platform also supported the bank’s deposit remixing efforts and a more diversified source of funding. David Fragale, senior managing director of the bank’s digital assets group, said WA VenueX “brings together real-time USD settlement and a roadmap toward integrated digital asset capabilities within a single platform.” The bank noted that it launched the platform with nearly five years of digital asset banking experience and about 150 institutional clients, including stablecoin issuers, exchanges and trading firms. The network is currently available to select clients, with integration supported via API.The post Western Alliance Launches WA VenueX for Round-the-Clock Dollar Settlement first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has announced that Chief Financial Officer Andrew Tobin intends to retire, closing out a tenure that began in 2022 and spanned a period of considerable change for the exchange operator. During his time at ASX, Tobin oversaw the finance, treasury, strategy and corporate affairs functions. The exchange credited him with strengthening financial discipline across the organisation, supporting key strategic and transformation initiatives, and providing consistent leadership through a challenging operating environment. ASX Interim CEO Darren Yip praised Tobin’s contribution, stating that he had played a significant role over the past four years as the exchange worked through demanding market conditions. Yip also thanked Tobin for agreeing to remain in the CFO role temporarily to ensure a smooth handover while the search for his replacement continues. Importantly, Tobin’s departure will not be immediate. He has agreed to stay on as CFO until a successor is appointed, allowing ASX to avoid any disruption to its financial operations during the transition. The timing of the announcement is notable given ASX’s broader leadership changes. Anthony Attia is set to take over as Chief Executive Officer on 1 September 2026, as previously disclosed. According to the exchange, Attia will lead the process of selecting the next CFO, with support from the Board, so that the choice reflects both the incoming CEO’s vision and ASX’s long term strategic direction.The post ASX CFO Andrew Tobin to Retire After Four Years first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Friday, Deriv announced that it has launched its exclusive Derived Indices directly on TradingView, allowing traders to connect their Deriv account and analyse, place, and manage trades without leaving the charting platform. The integration covers Deriv’s full range of Volatility, Crash/Boom, Jump, and Step Indices, with TradingView handling the charting and trading interface while Deriv manages pricing, execution, and account administration. The move brings one of Deriv’s signature product lines into a charting environment already familiar to many traders, removing the need to switch platforms between analysis and execution. With accounts linked, traders gain access to TradingView’s charting tools, including more than 400 indicators, various chart types, drawing tools, and customisable alerts, before placing trades from the same screen. A paid TradingView subscription is not required, though upgraded plans offer expanded feature limits. Deriv’s Synthetic Indices, part of its wider Derived Indices offering, are generated independently of traditional financial markets and are unaffected by earnings reports, economic data, or geopolitical events. This allows them to trade continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. Prakash Bhudia, Chief Growth Officer at Deriv, said the integration reflects the company’s focus on accessibility: “Derived Indices are central to what makes Deriv different. This integration puts those markets inside a charting environment many traders already use, so they can move from analysis to execution without breaking their workflow.” The firm noted that new users can connect by creating free accounts on both platforms, linking them through the Deriv dashboard, and selecting an instrument to trade. Deposits and withdrawals remain managed via the Deriv Wallet.The post Deriv’s 24/7 Derived Indices Now Live on TradingView first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

FINRA said this week that it has censured and fined tastytrade, Inc. $850,000 after finding the online brokerage failed to properly review whether its customers received the best possible execution on equities orders over a three-year period. According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent released by FINRA, tastytrade routed all customer equity orders exclusively to five market makers between January 2020 and January 2023. All five paid the firm for that order flow. During this window, the Chicago-based broker is said to have directed more than 8.8 million equity orders, totaling over 1.7 billion executed shares, without comparing execution quality against competing market centers it did not use. FINRA found that tastytrade’s best execution committee met quarterly but only assessed data from its existing five market maker partners, never benchmarking that performance against alternative venues. The firm’s reviews also relied on aggregated data rather than breaking down results by order type, and did not account for price disimprovement, a key metric under FINRA Rule 5310.09. As a result, regulators concluded tastytrade violated FINRA Rules 5310(a), 5310.09, and 2010, which govern best execution and standards of commercial conduct. FINRA also found the firm’s supervisory procedures, including its written supervisory procedures, were not reasonably designed to ensure compliance with best execution requirements, breaching Rules 3110 and 2010. tastytrade, formerly known as tastyworks before its 2023 rebrand, neither admitted nor denied the findings but consented to the sanctions. The firm has since overhauled its supervisory systems and procedures, addressing the deficiencies identified by regulators, according to the settlement documentation.The post FINRA Fines tastytrade $850,000 Over Best Execution Failures first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.