Revolut Bank S.A. (RBSA) has been awarded a full banking licence in France, the company announced on Monday. The move marks a major step for the fintech giant’s growth in Europe. The licence was approved after a joint review by the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) and the European Central Bank (ECB), with final approval given by the ECB Governing Council on August 10, 2026. Revolut already has around 30 million customers across Western Europe, with almost 8 million of them joining in 2025 alone. This new licence helps cement its position as one of the region’s biggest retail banks. The company plans to invest more than €1 billion in Western Europe and create over 600 new jobs. It will also open a new regional headquarters in Paris in 2027. RBSA will begin serving customers first in France, before expanding to other countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Meanwhile, Revolut’s existing Lithuanian entity, Revolut Bank UAB, will continue to support operations across the rest of the European Economic Area. Both entities will be supervised by the ECB, forming what Revolut calls a “dual hub” model designed for large scale growth. Nik Storonsky, Revolut’s founder and CEO, said the licence gives the company “the foundation to build the next generation of banking” for its millions of customers in Western Europe. He added that France’s strong financial industry and regulatory system make it an ideal base for future growth. With banking licences now held in both Europe and the United States, Revolut continues to expand its global reach, currently operating in 40 markets worldwide.The post Revolut Bank Receives Full Banking Licence in France first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Broadridge Financial Solutions said Monday that its Distributed Ledger Repo (DLR) platform processed $8.0 trillion in repo transactions during July 2026. The company’s average daily volume reached $365 billion for the month, marking a 28% jump compared to the same time last year. Broadridge, listed on the NYSE under BR, is a major player in fintech. The company says the growth shows how more banks and financial firms are turning to blockchain technology to manage their funding and collateral needs. Horacio Barakat, who leads Global Digital Innovation at Broadridge, said tokenization is now a bigger part of how banks manage cash and collateral. He added that DLR proves distributed ledger technology can handle large scale, stay reliable, and work well with other systems needed for major financing work. He also noted that firms are becoming more comfortable using tokenized systems in their everyday operations. DLR allows firms to settle repo trades using distributed ledger technology, while still using their normal trading and back office systems. This setup helps banks move tokenized collateral between parties quickly. As a result, firms can manage their cash better, use their capital more wisely, and run smoother operations, all without changing their existing setups. Broadridge noted that DLR remains a key part of its wider tokenization plans. The company aims to help bring traditional finance and digital markets closer together. Broadridge describes DLR as the world’s largest platform used by institutions for settling tokenized real assets.The post Broadridge’s Blockchain Repo Platform Hits $8 Trillion in July first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Allianz Global Investors has become the newest ETF issuer on SIX Swiss Exchange, with the firm having recently announced it is adding four new exchange-traded funds to the market. The move gives investors more ways to access actively managed ETFs through the Swiss exchange. The new products, called the Allianz Smart Active ETF range, cover three equity strategies focused on global, European, and US markets. One of these strategies is offered in two different trading currencies, bringing the total number of listed funds to four. These ETFs combine Allianz Global Investors’ rules-based investment approach with the flexibility of the ETF structure. This means investors can trade throughout the day while still benefiting from an active management style. With this launch, SIX Swiss Exchange now counts 37 ETF issuers on its platform, showing steady growth in its listed investment products. Alexandra Auer, Head of Distribution EMEA at Allianz Global Investors, stated that entering the active ETF market marks an important step for the firm. She added that SIX Swiss Exchange offers the right mix of regulated access, a smooth listing process, and strong investor reach in Switzerland. Danielle Reischuk, Senior ETFs and ETPs Sales Manager at SIX Swiss Exchange, welcomed Allianz Global Investors to the platform. She noted that the new ETFs help expand Switzerland’s ETF market and reflect the ongoing growth of listed investment products in the country. Allianz Global Investors manages investments across equities, fixed income, multi asset, and private markets. The firm works with institutional and retail clients to build long-term investment solutions suited to different market conditions.The post Allianz Global Investors Launches Active ETFs on SIX Swiss Exchange first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) has officially rolled out cryptocurrency trading to UK customers this week, marking an expansion of its all-in-one investment platform beyond the US market. The launch follows Robinhood U.K. Ltd’s addition to the Financial Conduct Authority’s register of cryptoasset firms. Under the new arrangement, UK customers can trade digital assets directly within the Robinhood app through Bitstamp UK Ltd, which is separately registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset service provider. Crypto holdings will sit alongside customers’ existing stocks and shares ISAs, equities, options and futures in a single interface. Robinhood said the product carries zero trading fees, with no account maintenance or custody charges — positioning it as a lower-cost alternative to incumbent UK crypto platforms, which the company argues often rely on wide spreads and opaque pricing. Eligible customers will gain access to more than 50 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Hyperliquid, with the rollout continuing throughout the week. “A new wave of UK investors sees digital assets as an important part of a diversified portfolio,” said Jordan Sinclair, President of Robinhood U.K. Ltd and GM of Bitstamp UK Ltd. “With today’s launch, we’re taking another major step toward becoming the all-in-one investment platform for the UK.” Alongside the trading launch, Robinhood is introducing “Cortex Digests for Crypto,” an AI-powered tool that analyses news, market data and technical indicators to explain price movements in plain English, aimed at helping less experienced investors interpret market context.The post Robinhood Launches Crypto Trading for UK Customers first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Australia’s corporate regulator said Monday that it has suspended the Australian financial services licence of Central Accord Pty Ltd for six months, after finding the company was no longer carrying on a financial services business. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission revealed that the suspension took effect on 30 July 2026 and runs until 4 February 2027.  If Central Accord is able to recommence its financial services business before the suspension expires, it can make submissions to ASIC requesting that the order be revoked, the regulator noted Under the Corporations Act, ASIC may suspend or cancel a licence if the company ceases to carry on a financial services business. The regulator added that Central Accord first came to its attention after the Australian Financial Complaints Authority notified it that the company had been expelled as an AFCA member for failing to pay invoices that were more than 12 months overdue.  Financial services licensees are required to hold membership of the AFCA scheme under the Corporations Act. Central Accord held its AFS licence since 28 March 2003. The company is able to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision.The post ASIC Suspends AFS Licence of Central Accord for 6 Months first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Plus500 Ltd. has reported record results for the first half of 2026, with revenue and customer income both hitting multi-year highs. The trading platform provider posted revenue of $462.9 million for the six months ending 30 June 2026, up 12% from the same period last year. This marks the company’s best six-month revenue figure in three years. Customer income, a key measure of trading activity, rose 24% year-on-year to $460.8 million, the highest level in five years. EBITDA came in at $187.5 million, a modest 1% rise, as the company invested more heavily in acquiring new customers. Alongside the results, Plus500 announced shareholder returns of $182.5 million, made up of $100 million in share buybacks and $82.5 million in dividends. This brings total shareholder returns announced so far in 2026 to $370 million, and lifts the total returned since the company’s 2013 listing to roughly $3.1 billion. CEO David Zruia said the first half marked a turning point for the company’s US business. Plus500 launched a CFTC-regulated prediction markets platform in February, added sports contracts in June, and introduced single stock futures shortly after the half ended. It also struck new partnerships with Wealthsimple and Nelogica. The company’s core OTC trading business grew too, expanding into Canada and Latin America and launching 24-hour trading, five days a week, on stocks and ETFs. Active customers grew 10% to 197,294, while new customers jumped 17% to 65,723. The board said it expects full-year revenue and EBITDA to meet current market expectations.The post Plus500 Posts Record H1 Results, Announces $182.5m in Shareholder Returns first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Crypto.com and Nasdaq/NYSE Texas-listed Trump Media & Technology Group said Friday that they have agreed to change their previously announced prediction market integration.  The companies are pivoting from a direct product integration to a marketing agreement. In a joint announcement, the companies stated that rather than develop a direct prediction market integration on Trump Media’s Truth Social platform, they will market Crypto.com’s prediction market experiences to the Truth Social user base. “Our strategic focus is to drive revenue across Truth Social, continue to build our global media business, and close the merger with TAE,” commented Kevin McGurn, interim chief executive of Trump Media.  “This marketing agreement better aligns with our priorities and will put Crypto.com’s prediction market experiences in front of a highly engaged digital audience.” Meanwhile, Crypto.com, Trump Media & Technology Group and Yorkville Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: MCGA) announced Friday that they have cancelled their plans to establish Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, Inc. In a statement, the companies pointed to “prevailing market conditions and shifting business and stakeholder priorities.” “All initial discussions and development efforts regarding the proposed business combination and digital asset treasury structure will be formally concluded,” they stated.The post Crypto.com and Trump Media Shift Prediction Market Plan to Marketing Deal first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

August 6, 2026 Taurus, a company that builds digital asset technology for banks and other financial firms, has announced a new partnership with MPCH, which runs secure data centers, aimed at making digital asset storage safer for U.S. financial companies. MPCH will set up a special, secure area in its U.S. facilities. This space will host Taurus’ storage system, which uses devices called Hardware Security Modules, or HSMs, to protect digital assets. Taurus will still control its own technology. MPCH will take care of the building and infrastructure around it. This setup will help banks, exchanges, and other companies keep their data safe inside the United States. It will also include backup sites in other locations. This means if one site has a problem, another can keep things running. The partnership also looks ahead to new types of computer security. In the future, powerful quantum computers could break older security codes. Some HSMs can already use newer, stronger codes. This means companies can upgrade their security without replacing their whole system. Milena Kohlhofer from Taurus said this partnership gives U.S. companies more secure choices. Miles Parry, the CEO of MPCH, said good technology needs good infrastructure to succeed.  The post Taurus and MPCH Partner to Improve Digital Asset Storage in the U.S. first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Clearstream has taken a major step forward in modernizing global debt markets by completing the first pilot issuance of a dematerialized Eurobond on August 7, 2026. This means the bond was created and recorded entirely in digital form, with no physical paperwork involved. The test transaction was a Euro-Commercial Paper worth 50 million euros. Clearstream Banking S.A. acted as the issuer, Deutsche Bank AG’s London branch served as issuing and paying agent, UBS Investment Bank was the dealer, and Citigroup Global Markets Limited acted as arranger. This deal was made possible thanks to a new issuance model introduced by Clearstream and Euroclear, the two major international central securities depositories, back in March 2026. The pilot comes ahead of a bigger rollout planned for November 2026, when companies based outside the UK will be able to issue paperless debt securities under English law. Traditionally, bond issuances require printed documents, signatures, and physical storage in vaults. This new digital approach removes all of that, replacing it with a secure electronic record that serves as the official legal document. This cuts down on time and reduces risks tied to paper handling. Clearstream says this shift could benefit the wider 15 trillion euro Eurobond market. Advantages include faster issuance, lower operational risk, better data quality, and easier compliance with tax and regulatory rules. Clearstream is also expanding its digital D7 platform to support this new model. With English law now established as a base for these issuances, Clearstream and Euroclear say they plan to explore additional legal frameworks in the coming months to grow the offering further.The post Clearstream Completes First-Ever Paperless Eurobond Issuance first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced on Wednesday that it has appointed Michael Ho as Managing Director and Head of Group Strategy. In this role, Ho will lead the company’s strategy team and work with senior leaders across the business to guide HKEX’s long term goals. His duties will include studying major economic trends, supporting new business ideas, and helping the company grow over time. Before joining HKEX, Ho spent more than 14 years at Oliver Wyman, where he advised major exchanges, regulators, and banks across Asia Pacific. He studied at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, earning a degree in Global Business and Economics. HKEX also announced a new position for Kevin Rumjahn, who currently serves as Head of Group Strategy and Head of CEO Office. Rumjahn will now take on the title of Managing Director, Head of CEO Office and Head of Strategic Relations. He will report directly to CEO Bonnie Y Chan. This expanded role reflects HKEX’s growing focus on building strong international partnerships. CEO Bonnie Y Chan praised both appointments, saying Ho brings years of experience in corporate strategy and a strong understanding of Hong Kong and global markets. She also said she looks forward to working with Rumjahn as he takes on more responsibility in managing the company’s global relationships.The post HKEX Names New Strategy Chief and Expands CEO Office Role first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

  FC Porto has announced a new partnership with XTB, a global investment platform, that will run through the end of the 2028/29 season. XTB will become the club’s Official Investment Partner and its logo will appear on the sleeve of the men’s first-team shirt during all domestic matches. The new branding will debut this Sunday when FC Porto plays FC Alverca at Estádio do Dragão in the first match of the league season. XTB was founded in Poland in 2004 and is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The company has 17 offices around the world and an investment app used by nearly three million people. Through its platform, users can access stocks, ETFs, investment plans, market analysis, and educational tools. André Villas-Boas, President of FC Porto, said the club is happy to welcome XTB as a partner that matches its values of ambition and performance. He added that the deal will help create new experiences for fans and members while boosting FC Porto’s global reach. Beyond appearing on the shirt, XTB will work closely with FC Porto on fan experiences, digital content, and matchday activities at Estádio do Dragão. The two organizations also plan to focus on financial education, helping fans learn more about investing and money management. Omar Arnaout, CEO of XTB, said the partnership will help the company grow its presence in key European markets while connecting with football fans on a deeper level. He noted that the goal is to inspire fans to become more confident and informed about their personal finances through this collaboration.The post FC Porto and XTB Team Up in New Three-Year Deal first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Apparent deescalation in the Gulf and lower expectations for the Fed to hike twice have been negative for the US dollar. The dollar declined in recent days against most major currencies apart from the yen as traders reduced expectations of two hikes by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) before the end of the year. Now attention turns to the upcoming job report on 7 August. This article summarises recent news, looks ahead to the NFP and briefly analyses the charts of euro-dollar and dollar-yen. News on 6 August that Iran and Oman had agreed to establish a corridor for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz hit oil and boosted appetite for risk in markets. Traders also anticipate some degree of lull in hostilities in August and the possible resumption of active negotiations between the USA and Iran within the next few weeks. Overall, inflation in the USA as other major economies has risen less than some had feared around the end of the first quarter, with June’s annual headline inflation in particular having been significantly below expectations. A plurality of traders, around 45% at the time of writing, expects a single hike between now and the end of 2026 according to CME FedWatch. The probability of this occurring next month declined in the last week to around 55%. July’s NFP with data for June was significantly weaker than expected but still not a negative number: 57,000 was only around half the consensus, which was somewhat negative for the dollar although it’s usually rare to see a single NFP have a lasting effect beyond a few days. The figure was still considerably better than the 12-month average. Unemployment unexpectedly declined in June: It’s too early to say for sure whether this is the start of a downward trend in unemployment, but for now this seems to be unlikely since the rate is relatively low and less positive economic conditions overall don’t suggest a significantly better job market. However, between recent NFPs and relatively low unemployment, the general impression of a robust job market seems to be holding for the time being. Decent but not spectacular performance from American GDP and the labour market while inflation hasn’t surged enormously mean that the Fed doesn’t seem to be under a lot of pressure to hike rates immediately. Political pressure on the Fed to cut rates hasn’t been in clear view recently but remains a factor to consider. A significantly better result from the NFP for July would normally suggest that inflation might be higher than current expectations of 3.4% for the annual headline figure. However, energy is likely to be a key factor in 12 August’s inflation, possibly influencing a higher reading given that oil made an overall gain last month. Stronger results from the NFP and inflation might increase the probability of the Fed hiking twice before the end of the year and boost the dollar. Euro-dollar hovers around $1.155 awaiting the NFP   Euro-dollar has bounced since late last month as the most hawkish possibilities for the Fed by the end of the year seem to have been rejected for now and the intensity of the conflict in the Gulf declined. The ECB is also likely to call for a single hike by the end of the year with about 40% probability of two hikes. Recent data from the eurozone in general have been somewhat mixed but sentiment received a boost from 6 August’s German factory orders which were much better than expected. The 100 SMA slightly below $1.157 seems to be the main dynamic resistance in view ahead of a possible test of the 23.6% weekly Fibonacci retracement near $1.16. However, the slow stochastic clearly signals buying saturation, so an immediate reaction upward if the NFP is negative might be short-lived. A better NFP broadly in line with expectations might drive the price down to retest $1.15 at least in the short term. Further ahead, stronger results from both the NFP and American inflation on 12 August might drive the price down to the confluence of the 20 and 50 SMAs around $1.145. The golden cross of these can probably be discounted in the context of major American data coming up. Dollar-yen holding above ¥157 After the largest intervention in decades from both the American and Japanese governments, dollar-yen now seems to have stabilised around ¥157.50. According to official data, Japan spent more than ¥5 trillion on 31 July shoring up the yen in addition to American operations earlier last week. Below target inflation and lacklustre GDP growth in Japan in recent months make more hikes by the BoJ in the next few months questionable. However, lower expectations for the Fed to hike twice before the end of the year might delay the next push up to ¥160. The lack of major change in basic fundamentals and spike in buying around the interventions last week might suggest that the general uptrend could continue although perhaps with less momentum than earlier this summer. ¥160 remains an obvious potential target but both the 200 and 100 SMAs are potential dynamic resistances before there. Strong oversold signals from both the slow stochastic and Bollinger Bands suggest an ongoing bounce. 3 August’s large tail showed a clear rejection of a move below ¥157. Another serious attempt to push below there would probably need a weaker NFP and possible lower inflation next week too. However, immediate further intervention, however unlikely that might seem, could invalidate this analysis, so traders should continue to watch for further such operations as before. Follow Michael on X: @MStarkExness. The opinions in this article are personal to the writer; they do not represent those of Exness. This is not a recommendation to trade. The post Some losses for the dollar ahead of the NFP first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Thursday, trading and investment platform XM revealed that it has introduced GOLD24-7, a new gold trading instrument that gives clients access to gold markets seven days a week. The broker said that unlike standard gold contracts for difference, which follow conventional market hours, GOLD24-7 allows traders to continue trading gold over the weekend. The launch forms part of XM’s broader strategy to expand its product range while adapting its trading experience to changing market conditions and client needs. “Markets don’t stop generating news simply because it’s the weekend,” said Stavri Morti, co-chief executive at XM. “Economic data, geopolitical developments and breaking news can all influence market sentiment over the weekend. We introduced GOLD24-7 to give our clients greater flexibility to respond to those developments as they happen, instead of waiting until Monday.” The Cyprus-based firm stated that it has been a market leader in gold trading for more than 15 years, a position it said was reinforced earlier this year amid historic volatility in the gold market, when it provided uninterrupted trading and execution conditions including zero requotes and no rejections. XM added that GOLD24-7 builds on that approach by extending gold trading across the full week. The instrument is now available to all clients.The post XM Launches GOLD24-7 Product For Weekend Trading first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Broadridge Financial Solutions said Thursday that it has agreed to support shareholder communications and proxy voting for eligible holders of xStocks, the tokenised equities framework developed by Payward Services. The company said the move is aimed at closing one of the clearest gaps between tokenised equities and traditional share ownership. The company’s unified governance platform will let eligible xStocks holders submit voting preferences for the shares underpinning their tokenised equities. Payward Services is the B2B infrastructure platform from Payward (the parent company of digital asset platform Kraken). It offers more than 500 tokenised assets across equities, ETFs and pre-IPO offerings, with tokenised equities from several international markets expected to follow. “The endgame for tokenization was never just building faster programmable capital markets. It’s about giving people across the world everything that comes with owning a piece of a company, including a voice in how it’s run,” commented Mark Greenberg, Payward’s chief commercial officer and global head of Payward Services. Doug DeSchutter, president of Broadridge’s Investor Communication Solutions business, stated that investors “should not have to choose between blockchain innovation and shareholder rights.” Under the arrangement, eligible holders will authenticate to ProxyVote.com using Web3 authentication, review proxy materials for the underlying securities and submit their voting preferences digitally. Broadridge noted that the experience brings trusted governance capabilities from traditional markets into blockchain-native ecosystems while preserving the efficiency of tokenised assets.The post Broadridge and Payward Services to Give xStocks Holders a Governance Voice first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

American retail investors are staying invested but want to see real improvement in the economy before they put more money into the market, according to new research from trading platform eToro. The company’s latest Retail Investor Beat survey asked 1,000 U.S. retail investors what would push them to increase their investments. The top answer, chosen by 40% of people, was stronger economic growth paired with lower inflation. Lower interest rates came next at 29%, followed by less political and global uncertainty at 27%, and better stock prices after a market drop at 26%. Only 8% of investors said they feel fully confident putting money into stocks right now. Bret Kenwell, eToro’s US Investment Analyst, said investors are not panicking, but they are being more careful about where they put their cash. He said people are looking for a mix of good economic signs and less uncertainty before adding more money to the market. Inflation is still the top worry for investors, with 26% naming it as the biggest threat to their portfolios, up from 22% last quarter. Fear of a recession followed closely behind at 22%, while concerns about the broader global economy came in at 12%. Even so, most investors, 68%, believe they are still on track to meet their financial goals, and many plan to keep investing steadily rather than trying to guess market highs and lows. About 29% said they invest automatically on a regular schedule. Looking ahead, investors said they want to increase their holdings in cash, growth stocks, high-yield bonds, and commodities over the next year. Meanwhile, the broker said that among UK investors, 81% of UK retail investors are confident in their investments, while just 35% feel confident about the UK economy. Furthermore, millennials are said to be entering the market after smaller falls, with 32% prepared to buy after a 5-10% decline, up from 26% a year ago.The post Retail Investors Wait for Better Economy Before Adding More Stocks first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Australia’s corporate watchdog, ASIC, has suspended the financial services licence of CFD issuer GFA Capital Markets Ltd (GFA) for five months, after finding a string of compliance failures. The suspension runs from 23 July 2026 to 18 December 2026. It follows an industry-wide review of 52 licensed CFD issuers, which first flagged problems at the firm. After holding an administrative hearing, ASIC found that GFA had failed to properly separate client money from company funds, and had even mixed the two together. The regulator also said GFA broke reporting rules under the ASIC Derivative Transaction Rules, and did not have strong enough systems, staff, or technology to meet its legal duties. ASIC said GFA was likely to breach its general obligations as a licence holder. GFA can still keep some parts of its business running during the suspension. It must stay a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, keep its professional indemnity insurance, and follow any written orders from ASIC. Before the suspension ends, GFA will need to show ASIC that it has fixed its compliance and client money problems. If ASIC isn’t convinced, it could extend the suspension or cancel the licence entirely. GFA can also ask the Administrative Review Tribunal to review the decision. CFDs let traders bet on price moves in shares, currencies, or commodities without actually owning them. ASIC has made protecting consumers from risky products like CFDs a top priority, and has already helped return nearly $40 million to more than 38,000 retail investors through its broader sector review.The post ASIC Suspends Licence of CFD Provider GFA Capital Markets first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Global financial technology and trading company XS.com has named Andreas Achniotis as its new Head of Affiliates. The move is part of the company’s plan to grow its network of partners and improve one of the main ways it brings in new clients. Affiliate marketing, where partners help promote a company in exchange for commission, has become more important in the online trading world. XS.com says it wants to build stronger, longer-lasting partnerships and reach more markets around the globe. The company sees this new hire as a key step toward that goal. In his new role, Achniotis will be in charge of shaping and running XS.com’s affiliate strategy. This includes managing relationships with partners, improving marketing campaigns, and finding new ways to keep partners engaged. He will work closely with the company’s sales, marketing, and product teams to grow the affiliate program further. Achniotis has more than ten years of experience in the FX and online trading industry. He has worked in several areas, including business development, trading operations, risk management, and affiliate management. In past roles, he helped build affiliate and Introducing Broker networks and created reward programs to help partners perform better. Speaking about his new role, Achniotis said he is excited to join XS.com during an important time of growth for the company. Wael Hammad, XS.com’s Group Chief Commercial Officer, said Achniotis’s experience and knowledge of partnerships will help the company continue expanding. The appointment shows XS.com’s ongoing effort to grow through strong partnerships and support its global expansion plans.The post XS.com Hires Andreas Achniotis to Lead Growth of Its Partner Program first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

OptionMetrics, a leading provider of options data and analytics, announced a new partnership with Equality Asset Management (EAM), a growth equity firm based in Boston, in a move aimed at helping the company build new products, reach new customers, and expand into new markets. Founded in 1999, OptionMetrics has become a trusted name among portfolio managers, traders, hedge funds, and academic researchers who rely on its IvyDB databases for detailed historical options data. Clients use this information to build trading strategies, study markets, and measure risk, and in recent years the company has broadened its offerings by adding Woodseer Global Dividend Forecast Data along with OptionStrat, a tool designed for retail investors. David J. Hait, founder and CEO of OptionMetrics, said EAM understands the business and shares his vision for where it can go next. He also thanked Leeds Equity Partners, the company’s previous partner, for supporting its growth over the past five years, and confirmed that he will remain CEO as the new partnership moves forward. EAM focuses on investing in founder-led software and technology companies that hold strong, category-leading positions in their industries. Leaders from the firm, including Managing Partner Jeff Del Papa and Principal John Batter, praised OptionMetrics for building a strong reputation in options data and said they are excited to help the company continue innovating and expanding its capabilities. The partnership arrives at a time when demand for options data is climbing, driven by rising trading volumes and increasingly sophisticated approaches to risk management. Looking ahead, OptionMetrics said it plans to keep investing across its core products, including its international IvyDB data, its dividend intelligence suite, and OptionStrat.The post OptionMetrics Teams Up With Equality Asset Management to Grow Data and Analytics Business first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Elev8 has secured the Securities Dealer license (SDL), a brokerage license issued by Seychelles’ Financial Services Authority (FSA). Securing the license required Elev8 to complete the FSA’s checks on risk management, oversight, and corporate governance. This milestone also reinforces the firm’s broader global strategy. Regulation plays a pivotal role in the sector because it’s how partners and clients judge whether a broker is transparent and credible. Meeting a regulator’s requirements demonstrates that a broker satisfies the baseline conditions set by its licensing authority. ‘At Elev8, regulatory compliance, effective governance, and client protection are fundamental to how we operate. Securing this license from the FSA marks an important milestone in our commitment to maintaining robust regulatory standards and delivering trusted services to our clients’ an Elev8 broker’s representative commented. Elev8 has mentioned before that it wanted to broaden its license portfolio. Adding Seychelles delivers on that and indicates how the firm prefers to grow. It gives the broker a more diversified licensing base while supporting its longer-term business development strategy, backed by prioritising governance and compliance. Elev8 is a global broker offering access to a comprehensive trading ecosystem that combines a wide range of financial instruments with analytical and educational resources, AI-powered trading tools, and dedicated customer support. As the company continues to expand internationally, it is also broadening its regulatory footprint to support its long-term focus on transparency, governance, and client confidence. Elev8 was named ‘Best Trading Experience Broker 2026’ and ‘Best Trading Platform Provider 2026’ by FxDailyInfo.  The post Elev8 broker goes regulatory first with Seychelles license first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

IG Group has appointed Andrew Biggs as chief executive of IG Securities, promoting the trading executive months after he joined the London-listed broker. The move broadens his remit from his previous position as trading director, which he took up in April with oversight of IG Prime and trading across the group. Biggs joined IG earlier this year from liquidity provider Finalto, where he had worked since 2018 and was made chief executive of Finalto Trading in 2024. His arrival followed the departure of IG’s long-serving trading director, Adam Blemings, who left at the start of the year after more than two decades with the firm. Announcing the appointment on LinkedIn, Biggs said he was “particularly excited by the opportunity to bring technology and trading closer together.” He added that combining the group’s trading expertise with its technology and data capabilities would allow it to move faster and create better products for both IG Prime and IG Consumer clients. “IG has a long history of innovation in online trading, and I look forward to working with the talented teams across the Group as we build the foundations for its next phase of growth,” he said.The post IG Group Names Andrew Biggs Chief Executive of IG Securities first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.