As digital assets continue to mature, the gap between traditional finance and crypto is shrinking. According to Nick Strain, Country Manager Singapore at LMAX Digital, crypto is increasingly behaving like another macro asset class, influenced by regulation, institutional participation, and broader economic shifts.Speaking with Jonathan Fine, Content Strategist at Finance Magnates, Strain shared his views on Bitcoin, Ethereum, perpetuals, tokenization, and the future of programmable money.Crypto Is Becoming a Macro AssetWhile crypto once moved independently from traditional markets, Strain believes that era is changing.“Crypto, while it is its own asset and its own asset space, is realistically now just another macro asset.”For traders trying to understand sentiment, Strain says focusing on major assets remains key.“Most interest and most clients’ interest is in Bitcoin and Ethereum. They are macro assets. So you need to really look at the macro backdrop.”This reflects a wider shift where crypto markets increasingly react to monetary policy, regulation, institutional flows and global economic developments.? Watch the interview below: What Should Traders Look At To Understand Crypto Market Sentiment?Question: When you're looking at crypto markets day-to-day, what is the one thing you pay attention to most to understand sentiment?Nick explains why Bitcoin and Ethereum remain leading indicators and how traditional finance perspectives now play a larger role in crypto analysis.Why Perpetual Contracts MatterThe discussion also explored perpetuals, products that have become central within crypto trading.Unlike traditional assets linked to interest rates, perpetuals are driven largely by supply and demand dynamics.According to Strain:“When a perpetual is trading above spot… it means there's more demand for the asset than there is supply.”Understanding funding rates and perpetual positioning can help traders gauge market appetite and bullish or bearish sentiment.What Do Funding Rates Actually Tell You?Question: People hear terms like funding rates and positioning often. In simple terms, what do they reveal about the market?Nick breaks down perpetuals, premiums and market demand.Institutional Adoption: More Than Buying CryptoInstitutional involvement is often discussed, but Strain argues the opportunity extends beyond simply investing in digital assets.He believes the real value lies in replacing traditional financial processes with technology-driven systems.“We replace a lot of the inherent risks in traditional finance with technology.”The result could be new risk models, more efficient transactions and different ways to manage financial infrastructure.The Bigger Opportunity: Programmable Money and TokenizationOne of the strongest themes from the interview was tokenization and the rise of programmable money.Strain sees tokenized assets reducing reliance on intermediaries and making financial transactions more efficient.“The real advantage is that we will be able to have money that's programmable.”He explains that tokenization may allow ownership verification, transfers and transaction conditions to happen automatically through technology.Stablecoins are already an early example, while broader tokenization of real-world assets could reshape how value moves across financial systems.Is Tokenization Finally Moving Beyond Theory? ? Watch the interviewQuestion: What practical benefits does tokenization bring beyond the idea of on-chain finance?Nick shares why programmable money could change financial transactions.Why Regulation Remains Crypto’s Biggest DriverAsked about the biggest macro factor influencing digital assets, Strain gave a direct answer: regulation.He highlighted regulatory clarity as essential for broader adoption and continued innovation.“Regulation gives that clarity and regulation will see people more comfortable to innovate.”As governments and regulators develop clearer frameworks, institutional participation may accelerate further.Final TakeawayThe conversation points to an industry moving into a new phase — one where crypto is no longer isolated from traditional finance, but increasingly connected to macro trends, institutional systems and regulatory frameworks.For firms like LMAX Digital, the future appears less focused on speculation and more on infrastructure, efficiency and programmable financial systems.Full Interview: Nick Strain, Country Manager Singapore at LMAX DigitalWatch the full discussion with Jonathan Fine, Content Strategist at Finance Magnates, covering:Crypto market sentimentBitcoin and Ethereum as macro assetsPerpetuals and funding ratesInstitutional adoptionTokenization and programmable moneyRegulation and market growth This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Gold price traded at $4,433.85 per ounce on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, falling 1.6% to a near two-month low as renewed Iran war fears, hawkish central bank rhetoric, and a firmer dollar pressured the metal for a second consecutive session. Spot prices touched an intraday low near $4,400 before stabilizing, putting the chart back on the same structural support zone tested at the March 30 trough. U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 1.6% to $4,431.60. The slide comes ahead of Friday's U.S. PCE inflation print and Q1 GDP revisions, the next macro catalysts that will set the Federal Reserve's reaction function.For real-time gold market analysis, follow me on X: @ChmielDk.Why gold is falling: Iran war and a hawkish Fed cap the bidThe decline marks the second straight session of weakness, with spot down more than 3% on the week. Federal Reserve officials have reinforced concerns that Middle East energy disruption is feeding through to sticky inflation, lifting U.S. Treasury yields and the dollar. The CME FedWatch tool now prices a no-cut path through September, with markets pricing some probability of a rate hike by October."The biggest influence continues to be the Middle East," said Peter Grant, Vice President and Senior Metals Strategist at Zaner Metals. Grant added that the persistence of the Iran conflict is heightening inflation concerns and capping the safe-haven bid for non-yielding bullion.ETF positioning has stayed more constructive than the price action suggests. Global gold-backed ETF holdings rose by around 20 tonnes in April after March posted the biggest monthly outflows in five years. That divergence matters: outright liquidation is not driving this leg lower; the macro repricing is.Key drivers behind the second-session decline:Iran war persistence: Lingering U.S.-Iran tensions push Brent oil higher, feeding inflation expectations and reducing rate-cut bets.Hawkish Fed: CME FedWatch shows traders pricing zero cuts before September, with rising hike probability for October.Stronger dollar: Dollar index above 98.5 raises the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.Treasury yields: 10-year yields between 4.3% and 4.4% maintain a real-yield headwind for gold.Central bank chorus: ECB and BoJ officials joined the Fed in flagging readiness to act if energy-driven inflation persists.Gold technical analysis: second 200 EMA test of 2026My chart shows gold at $4,433 testing the structural support zone at $4,370 for the second time in 2026, after the March 30 pin bar reversal that confirmed this level as the bull/bear dividing line. The $4,370 area aligns three signals: the 200-day exponential moving average, the March 2026 swing lows, and the September 2023 reaction zone that was last tested before the metal began its parabolic 2024-2025 advance.In 15+ years analyzing markets, I've watched the 200 EMA hold as the structural bull/bear dividing line four times during this multi-year gold uptrend. The pin bar reversal at the 200 EMA in late March was the most recent successful defense. Today's slide brings the chart back to the same playbook with the same dividing line in focus.If the $4,370 zone fails on a daily close, the next defined support is $4,100, the March extension low. Below that, $4,000 carries weight as both a psychological round number and the October-November 2025 highs that initially confirmed the breakout. As I wrote in my April analysis of the $3,400 downside scenario, a weekly close below $4,000 would be the strongest signal yet that this bull market has exhausted itself.On the upside, the immediate resistance is $4,500, the level that was support last week. Above that sits the 50 EMA at $4,660, followed by the April 2026 highs at $4,860 and the January 28 all-time high range of $5,400 to $5,600. My directional bias is neutral-to-bearish into Friday's PCE print, but I see the $4,370 zone as a high-probability reaction level given the convergence of indicators. A clean daily rejection at $4,370 with volume would set up a fast move back to $4,500 and then $4,660.Key levelsGold price predictions: from $4,000 risk to $5,400 Goldman targetExternal forecasts span an unusually wide range, reflecting genuine disagreement on whether the Iran-war drag has merely paused the bull run or marked a structural top. Goldman Sachs analysts Lina Thomas and Daan Struyven held their $5,400 year-end target on March 31, citing continued central bank buying averaging 60 tonnes per month and two expected Fed cuts in the second half of 2026. As the FinanceMagnates.com analysis from January detailed, the bank raised the call from $4,900 on private-sector and emerging-market diversification flows.JPMorgan continues to flag $6,300 as its high-conviction year-end target, premised on 800 tonnes of central bank buying in 2026. UBS strategist Joni Teves holds $5,600. As I wrote in my coverage of UBP's gold positioning, Asia Discretionary head Paras Gupta confirmed the bank is rebuilding bullion exposure from 3% back toward 6% of discretionary portfolios, with a $6,000 target. UBP manages $233 billion in client assets.The Reuters poll of 30 analysts puts the 2026 median at $4,746.50, the highest annual consensus in Reuters polling history. The consensus sits roughly 7% above current spot. On the bear side, my own chart's $3,400 extreme scenario is triggered only if the $4,000 support breaks decisively on weekly closing basis.Forecasts tableBull and bear scenariosThe structural picture splits cleanly between near-term pressure and longer-term support.Bull case:200 EMA at $4,370 held the March 30 stress test with a pin bar reversal.Central banks continue buying at 60 tonnes per month, per Goldman Sachs estimates.ETF inflows rebuilt by roughly 20 tonnes in April after March outflows.Fed cuts in H2 2026 remain the consensus path despite hawkish recent rhetoric.Goldman, JPMorgan, UBS, UBP, and Wells Fargo cluster above $5,400 for year-end.Bear case:Iran war drives sustained oil-led inflation, forcing the Fed to delay easing or hike.CME FedWatch shows zero cuts priced through September, with hike probability rising.10-year yields at 4.3% to 4.4% maintain real-yield headwind for non-yielding metals.Strong dollar above 98.5 dollar index pressures dollar-denominated bullion.A weekly close below $4,000 opens the $3,400 extreme bear scenario.FAQWhy is the gold price falling on May 27, 2026?Gold fell 1.6% to $4,433.85 per ounce on Wednesday as renewed Iran war fears, hawkish Federal Reserve rhetoric, and a firmer dollar weighed on the metal for a second straight session. Brent oil pressure has reinforced inflation expectations, lifting Treasury yields above 4.3% and pricing out near-term Fed rate cuts. PCE inflation data due Friday is the next major catalyst that will shape the Fed's reaction function.What is the most important gold support level right now?The 200-day exponential moving average at $4,370 is the structural bull/bear dividing line. The zone aligns three signals: the 200 EMA, March 2026 swing lows, and the September 2023 reaction zone. A pin bar reversal at this cluster on March 30 confirmed the level as defended support. A weekly close below $4,000 would be the next major signal that the multi-year uptrend is breaking down.What is the Goldman Sachs gold price prediction for 2026?Goldman Sachs holds a $5,400 year-end 2026 target as of March 31, raised earlier from $4,900. Analysts Lina Thomas and Daan Struyven base the call on central bank buying averaging 60 tonnes per month and two expected Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of 2026. Their bear-case floor is $3,800 if the Iran-war energy shock worsens and the Fed delays easing further.Will gold hit $5,000 per ounce in 2026?Gold already traded above $5,000 in January 2026, reaching an all-time high of $5,602 on January 28 before correcting. Whether the metal reclaims that level depends on Federal Reserve policy and the Iran war trajectory. JPMorgan targets $6,300, UBS sees $5,600, and the Reuters consensus stands at $4,746.50 for the 2026 average. My base case requires the 200 EMA at $4,370 to hold.What would invalidate the gold bull market?A weekly close below $4,000 would be the strongest signal yet that the multi-year gold uptrend has exhausted itself. The level aligns the psychological round number, October-November 2025 highs, and the lower edge of the 2024-2025 advance base. Below $4,000, my chart shows a $3,400 extreme bear scenario. Until that confirmation arrives, the structural trend deserves the benefit of the doubt. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Devexperts has connected DDXpro to its DXtrade platform, plugging another third-party vendor into a software ecosystem that has expanded sharply through partnership deals over the past 12 months. The two companies announced the integration today (Wednesday).DDXpro, which operates under DigitX Ltd, sells dealing-desk supervision and operational support to brokerages and proprietary trading firms.Under the DXtrade tie-up, its services become available to brokers and prop shops licensing the Devexperts platform, covering trade-flow monitoring, exposure tracking against internal risk limits, instrument and group configuration, and markup management. The company said it also maintains matching engines and watches for suspicious activity patterns.Borislav Alendarov, head of trading operations at Devexperts, said the addition "gives our clients access to a range of tools and functionalities that can help them" manage scaling operations.What DDXpro Brings to the DXtrade StackThe pitch focuses on operational layers that have historically sat inside broker dealing-desk teams. DDXpro said its remit also includes ongoing trade-flow supervision, monitoring across multiple environments, and platform support as trading volumes scale. The firm did not disclose service tiers, pricing, or any launch clients for the DXtrade integration.Outsourcing those functions to a specialist vendor offers one route to scaling without expanding internal dealing-desk headcount, though it also concentrates sensitive activities such as exposure management in the hands of a third party."As brokerages and proprietary trading firms scale their trading environments, maintaining stable execution conditions" matters more, Martin Petkov, head of sales operations at DDXpro, said in a statement.Vendor Buildout Accelerates Across the Platform SpaceDXtrade has spent the past year bolting external providers onto its platform at a steady clip. In January, Devexperts plugged in Arizet Labs' full PropTech suite, covering CRM, risk engine, and real-time challenge-rule enforcement for prop firms. In March, theScreener was wired in for equity research, with Gold-i's Visual Edge added the same month for automated scalper detection and A/B booking controls.May has already brought further additions. Devexperts integrated Advanced Markets liquidity into DXtrade earlier this month, taking the total number of liquidity routes available through the platform to more than 100 when counting a separate Tools for Brokers bridge connection. Compliance vendor TRAction and Huddlestock's investment-as-a-service product joined the lineup in the past two months.The pattern is not unique to Devexperts. Spotware launched cBridge in March, its first standalone product positioned beyond cTrader, which the firm said could cut broker bridge costs by up to 80%. Match-Trade Technologies bolted TeamForce client management onto Match-Trader earlier this year after wiring in Centroid Solutions' risk and bridge modules. Platform vendors are competing less on a single execution engine and more on the depth of plug-and-play services available out of the box.Prop Trading Demand Drives the Push for Operational DepthThe integration arrives as the proprietary trading sector continues to push platform vendors toward broader operational coverage. Devexperts onboarded more than 40 prop firms to DXtrade in a single year before expanding the platform to include futures trading, and has been positioning the product as a MetaTrader alternative for funded-trader programs that left the MetaQuotes ecosystem.Industry estimates put the prop trading market above $10 billion in 2025, with the five largest funded-trader programs paying out roughly $325 million to traders over the year, according to data from Prop Firm Match cited in earlier FinanceMagnates.com reporting. FundedNext alone accounted for around a third of that total.The dealing-operations layer DDXpro targets is less visible than risk engines or copy trading, but it tends to scale with volume, putting pressure on infrastructure teams whenever a prop firm or broker brings on new clients. Specialist vendors offering managed coverage of those functions have so far remained a fragmented market. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

XTB shares fell more than 8% today (Wednesday) to close below 100 zlotys, the Warsaw-listed broker's sharpest single-session decline in months and a striking reversal of the rally that carried the stock to a record 114 zlotys in April. Trading volume ran more than 50% above the three-month daily average, signaling institutional positioning rather than retail noise.A Sell-Off Without an Obvious CatalystXTB did not publish an ESPI disclosure on Wednesday. Poland's Financial Supervision Authority did not announce a new investigation, sanction, or rule. No analyst note circulated that would account for an 8% repricing of one of the Warsaw exchange's best-performing stocks of 2026.Polish financial press has connected the slide to renewed unease about the KNF's ongoing review of how Contracts for Difference are sold to retail clients. That review, and the regulator's thinking around it, has been public knowledge for weeks.[#highlighted-links#] “Many investors appear to have been spooked by media reports - which, in my view, were somewhat overinterpreted - suggesting that the KNF intends to take a tougher stance on CFDs,” Arkadiusz Jóżwiak, the Editor-in-Chief at Comparic.pl, commented for FinanceMagnates.com “The old market adage is to buy the rumor. This time, however, we witnessed investors selling it.”As FinanceMagnates.com reported earlier this month, KNF vice-chairman Dariusz Adamski said the "capital market cannot function like gambling" and confirmed the regulator was widening its CFD review.What is unclear is why the same regulatory thesis the market discounted two weeks ago would today drive XTB shares more than 8% lower on outsized volume.A Different Reaction From Six Weeks AgoThe contrast with April makes the move more conspicuous. On April 13, KNF imposed a 20 million zloty ($5.5 million) fine on XTB over MiFID II breaches in client onboarding between 2022 and 2023. The stock rose the following day and kept climbing, hitting an all-time high of around 114 zlotys just over a week later. A confirmed financial penalty did not dent the rally.Six weeks later, with no new fine, no new XTB filing, and no fresh regulator action, the same stock has given back roughly 11% of its value from the April peak in a single day. Broader Regulatory Pressure on CFDs Is Building Across EuropeThe Polish regulator is not acting in isolation. The European Securities and Markets Authority has spent more than two years tightening supervisory expectations around retail leveraged products, and earlier this year acknowledged that MiFID II rules had become too complex for many ordinary investors, while continuing to scrutinize CFD providers' marketing and product design.In February, ESMA also confirmed that perpetual futures meeting the CFD definition fall under the same retail restrictions as traditional CFDs, closing a workaround several crypto-linked brokers had been testing.Spain's CNMV imposed sweeping curbs on CFD advertising in 2023, and Cyprus's CySEC has tightened oversight of retail-facing client acquisition for the same products.Within that landscape, KNF has emerged as one of the more active CFD supervisors in the EU. Its widened review puts the Polish market on a similar trajectory to the gradual tightening seen in France, Spain, and the Netherlands over the past several years.CFDs Still Power a Business That Sells Stocks and ETFsThe reason regulatory chatter, even without a fresh development, can move XTB shares this much is the broker's revenue mix. Although XTB markets equities, exchange-traded funds, and investor education to Polish retail clients alongside its CFD offering, leveraged contracts remain by far the largest profit driver.Arnaout has acknowledged this directly, telling Polish media that "around 95%, or maybe even more, of revenue is generated from CFD instruments." He has framed diversification, including spot crypto and options, as a multi-year project rather than a near-term offset.That dependence is why strong fundamentals failed to cushion Wednesday's reaction. XTB's first-quarter 2026 results showed net profit of 535 million zlotys, up 176% year over year, on operating income of 1.09 billion zlotys and 370,000 new clients added in a single quarter. Noble Securities analysts have flagged a full-year 2026 net profit run-rate of around 1 billion zlotys, contingent on the broker maintaining current monetization rates. None of that protected the share price on Wednesday.What Investors Will Watch NextWithout an official trigger to anchor the move, the next reference points are external. KNF has not yet published concrete proposals on new leverage caps, marketing restrictions, or suitability-test changes, nor a timeline for public consultation. Whether any future measures will apply only to Poland or extend to XTB's FCA-regulated and CySEC-regulated units is also unclear. Sell-side analysts covering the broker may issue revision notes in the coming days as they recalibrate regulatory risk into existing models targeting a billion-zloty annual profit.For now the stock trades roughly 22% above its 52-week low of 61.86 zlotys but about 11% below the April record, leaving room for further repricing if the regulatory outlook hardens or if whatever drove Wednesday's volume returns. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Kraken has launched a proprietary trading program that allows crypto traders to access firm capital after completing an evaluation. It marks the exchange’s entry into the growing funded trading segment.The new service, dubbed Kraken Prop, enables traders to operate with up to $200,000 in company-backed funds while keeping up to 90% of generated profits.Introducing Kraken Prop ⚡Trade with Kraken’s capital and keep up to 90% of your profitsYour downside is capped at a one-time evaluation feeThe upside is based entirely on how you performhttps://t.co/Q7T52CH1Da pic.twitter.com/FIzaXZ6CwC— Kraken Pro (@krakenpro) May 27, 2026The move now extends Kraken’s product suite beyond exchange services and into trader funding, a model widely used in traditional finance and likely to be seen more in crypto.Evaluation-Based Access to CapitalAccording to Wednesday’s announcement, Kraken requires traders to complete an evaluation before receiving funding. Participants choose account sizes between $5,000 and $200,000 and trade in a simulated environment that mirrors live market conditions.Funded traders retain 80% of profits by default, with an option to increase the share to 90%. Kraken allows withdrawals at any time, with payouts processed within 24 hours.Related: Kraken Enters Prop Trading: Breakout Acquisition Gives Funded AccountsThe program reportedly provides access to more than 60 cryptocurrency pairs, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, with leverage of up to 5x. Traders use the same platform and tools available on Kraken Pro during both evaluation and funded stages.Last year Kraken entered prop after it bought Breakout, a crypto-native proprietary trading firm that offers funded accounts to traders who pass an evaluation. The deal made Kraken the first cryptocurrency exchange to step directly into the prop trading arena, combining its existing exchange infrastructure with Breakout’s evaluation-based model so traders can access capital and trade crypto without using their own funds.“Breakout gives us a way to allocate capital based on proof of skill rather than access to capital itself. In a world that is rapidly shifting from who you know to what you know, we want to build systems that reward demonstrated performance, not pedigree,” commented Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Kraken.Leading Crypto Exchanges Into Prop?Kraken is so far the only major crypto exchange that has directly entered prop trading. Other large exchanges have been active on the mergers and acquisition front but in adjacent areas like derivatives platforms and brokerages, not pure prop firms with evaluation-based retail funding. For example, Coinbase bought Deribit for derivatives capacity rather than to run a retail prop evaluation model, while Crypto.com and Coincheck have focused on licenses and brokerage acquisitions. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Event trading is following the same path as crypto derivatives, evolving from a retail niche into a serious business for hedge funds. Major market makers and prime brokers are already building the infrastructure for a larger institutional push into the sector.Prediction markets are developing the same institutional infrastructure that helped crypto derivatives expand beyond retail trading into a Wall Street trading business.Part of that shift is coming from growing institutional activity, particularly among macro hedge funds looking for more targeted ways to trade specific events and risks. Kalshi said its institutional trading volume grew 800% over the past six months, while annualized platform volume more than tripled to $178 billion."We're seeing much more institutional interest in hedging the next few months," said Andy Ross, Kalshi's head of institutional business, told Reuters. "We're in the foothills of this, but we're climbing pretty fast." The Infrastructure Race Prime brokers and trading venues are starting to integrate prediction markets into existing institutional trading workflows. Clear Street has partnered with Kalshi to give hedge funds direct access to event contracts. Marex Group is building the technical infrastructure to link professional investors to both Kalshi and Polymarket. Tradeweb Markets took a minority stake in Kalshi to embed prediction markets into its institutional client workflows. Marex Solutions has already gone a step further, structuring a capped $10 million note for a Swiss client tied to a prediction market outcome on Nvidia's market capitalisation. That's a useful proof of concept for how brokers can package binary risk into familiar instruments. Liquidity Constraints and Who's Moving In Top markets on platforms like Polymarket usually have around $30 million in liquidity, meaning a multi-million dollar trade can move prices sharply. Hedge funds generally want at least $10 million in daily notional volume before routing consistent flow through a venue. Large pricing gaps are attracting professional trading firms. Susquehanna International Group, Jump Trading, and AQR Capital Management are building dedicated prediction market desks for arbitrage and market-making strategies. Citadel Securities has indicated it is seriously considering entering as an institutional liquidity provider, describing the asset class as having "sound industrial logic." Retail volume establishes the market, infrastructure gaps attract quants, quants attract prime brokers, and the cycle compresses spreads. Prediction markets appear to be somewhere in the middle of that sequence. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind the prediction market industry, framing the CFTC's exclusive regulatory authority over the sector as a matter of national economic interest. Trump posted his comments on Truth Social, entering a live jurisdictional dispute between federal and state regulators at the most visible level possible. By describing prediction markets as a "major industry" the U.S. must lead to retain its position as the "Crypto Capital of the World," the president has handed the sector, and the financial firms watching it, a degree of political support it hasn't had before. "It is critically important that the CFTC's exclusive authority over Prediction Markets is maintained, and that they will thrive," Trump posted. "Under my leadership, we are setting 'rules of the road' that are the Gold Standard for the States." A Challenge to State Authority The statement is a direct response at a coalition of Democratic state officials pushing to shut down or tax the sector. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed legislation that would make operating a prediction market a criminal felony. New York AG Letitia James and counterparts in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Connecticut have filed lawsuits against Coinbase, Gemini, Kalshi, and Robinhood. Trump's framing treats those moves as interference with federal prerogative. He has signaled that the administration will continue to support the CFTC’s position in ongoing disputes with states. "We cannot have [state officials] setting the rules," he wrote, arguing that fragmented state regulation would hand a competitive edge to foreign markets. What it Means for Brokers and Exchanges The comments also matter for brokers and exchanges evaluating prediction markets under the current federal framework.Trump’s comments strengthen the argument that a CFTC license can protect prediction market platforms from state-level gambling claims, potentially reducing some of the legal uncertainty for traditional brokers.The relationship between prediction markets and Trump’s broader political and business orbit has also become closer. Donald Trump Jr. joined Kalshi as a strategic adviser in 2025, while Polymarket later secured investment from Trump Jr.-backed venture firm 1789 Capital. Trump Media has separately explored prediction market products tied to Truth Social through partnerships with Crypto.com.Trump’s earlier comments on prediction markets have been more mixed. In April, he compared insider trading on prediction platforms to the Pete Rose betting scandal and described the broader economy as “somewhat of a casino” — language that reinforced the gambling framing the industry has spent years trying to avoid. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Robinhood has introduced new tools that allow customers to deploy AI agents to trade stocks and make purchases using its platform, marking the latest step step toward automated retail trading. The firm said users can connect their own agents directly, enabling them to execute predefined strategies or complete transactions without manual input.Trading Accounts for AI AgentsAccording to Wednesday's announcement, the brokerage now offers dedicated accounts where AI agents can trade independently from a user’s main portfolio. Users must fund these accounts separately, limiting the capital accessible to the agent.The platform provides real-time activity feeds, profit and loss tracking, and notifications for each transaction. Robinhood said the feature currently supports equities trading. It plans to expand coverage to options, cryptocurrencies, and other instruments in future updates.Keep reading: AI Agents Could Be the Next Payments Revolution: Mastercard and Santander Just Proved ItUsers can assign agents to carry out specific strategies, such as portfolio rebalancing or automated trading based on historical patterns. They can also disable the agent at any time.Robinhood has also launched an agent-enabled credit card feature that allows AI systems to make purchases on behalf of users. Customers can link agents to a virtual card, set spending limits, and choose whether transactions require manual approval.AI Agents Extend to PaymentsThe agents can monitor prices and complete purchases when conditions are met, such as buying items below a set price or securing limited-availability bookings. The feature is available to Robinhood Gold Card users, with further expansion planned.The company said it has introduced safeguards, including transaction previews, fraud monitoring, and detailed activity logs. Users retain control through spending limits and the ability to revoke access instantly.The launch comes as financial firms increase investment in agentic AI. A Deloitte survey published in April showed that only 21% of organizations have mature governance frameworks in place, highlighting ongoing concerns about oversight as automation expands.Several trading platforms already let users run AI-driven or algorithmic strategies that can scan markets and auto-execute trades, including tools like Trade Ideas and other AI trading bot platforms. These typically sit on top of brokers via APIs, rather than the broker itself positioning around “agentic” access for both trading and payments.AI Trading Tools ProliferateIn payments, Visa rolled out a platform in 2025 that lets users delegate online shopping tasks to AI agents, which is conceptually similar on the commerce side but not tied to a retail brokerage account. Across the industry, there is a broader ecosystem of AI trading agents and assistant platforms, but direct, end-to-end integration of external agents into a single retail app for both trading and credit card usage is still emerging.More recently, Finance Magnates reported on the launch of Liquid’s “Co-Invest” app. It lets users analyze markets and execute trades directly inside models like ChatGPT and Claude, acting as an embedded AI trading front end connected to brokerage infrastructure. The site has also featured pieces on tools such as the FBS AI Assistant, which provides automated analysis and trade ideas, moving toward the “AI partner” model you see in Robinhood’s pitch. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The final afternoon of the summit turned its attention toward the global stage, examining how retail traders are accessing high-liquidity US markets and the data-driven fuel required to survive them.Inside the Trading Room: A Post-MortemIn a departure from typical market analysis, the afternoon began with a deep dive into the psychology of execution. While most post-mortems describe price movements, Jimmy Moyaha, Founder of Lebowa Capital, provided an unfiltered account of a position that defined his approach to the markets. Moyaha dissected the friction between a well-built thesis and the reality of a live position, walking attendees through the moments that tested his conviction and the exit decision that eventually closed the book.Moyaha argued that many participants fail because they focus on the chart while ignoring their own internal state. He urged traders to pay closer attention to their psychological ledger, asking: "How do I feel about my knowledge? How did I feel about all the decisions I was working on around the trade?" This focus on the "feeling" behind the knowledge served as a reminder that a well-built trade is as much about self-awareness as it is about technical entry points.Data as the Fuel for African FintechThe successful execution of index trades is increasingly dependent on the quality of the data feeding the algorithms. The final panel of the day explored the symbiotic relationship between data and AI, arguing that without quality fuel, even the best algorithmic engine will stall. The session featured Michael Summerton, Head of Propositions at INN8; Mihai Gheorghian, Business Development Manager at Centroid Solutions; and Jermaine Johnson, Head of Operations at Vault Markets. They discussed emerging trends in African fintech and how AI tools are being leveraged by brokers, concluding that the next wave of innovation will be defined by those who can transform raw data into actionable insights for growth. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

The nomination stage is now open for the UF AWARDS GLOBAL 2026. If your brand deserves to stand among the industry’s leading Fintech, financial services providers and brokers, this is your chance. The awards recognise the B2B and B2C brands, companies and firms which propel the industry forward through innovation, dedication and reliability. Past winners of the UF AWARDS have redefined their respective fields, offering their clients and partners outstanding support and services. The awards’ scope ensures an incomparable level of brand recognition and exposure due to a highly specific, engaged global audience. The winners enjoy the credibility of being voted the best in their field by clients, peers, and the public.How to nominate your favourite brandThe UF AWARDS GLOBAL 2026 are completed in three phases. The first and arguably the most important, the nomination round, closes on the 5th of June. The voting round this year happens from the 8th to the 15th of June. Finally, the Award Ceremony will take place on the 17th of June at the luxurious City of Dreams Mediterranean, during the iFX EXPO INTERNATIONAL 2026. The reason the nomination round is so important is that only nominated brands have the opportunity to win. Register on the UF AWARDS GLOBAL website, nominate your preferred brand, and select the award and award category (Broker or B2B awards) that best fits them. Here is a small selection of the types of award categories nominated brands can compete for:For a complete list, please visit uf-awards.comThe industry’s most credible awardsFor years, the UF AWARDS GLOBAL have stood as the industry’s benchmark of stability, respect and longevity. Past winners represent the paradigm that others follow and include well-recognised brands and the most ambitious innovators. Past winners:Libertex - Best Global Broker cTrader - Best Trading PlatformFinTech360 - Best All-In-One Brokerage SolutionEC Markets - Best CFD Broker BDSwiss - Best Research and Education ProvidersSolitics - Best Trader Retention Tool YourBourse - Best Technology ProviderA brand can also be nominated for multiple awards and categories, ensuring they are recognised for every one of their standout features and products. For brokers, financial service providers, and Fintech brands, the awards prove the quality of their products and services. It reinforces and highlights their standout features, showing their clients that their offerings are amongst the best the market has to offer. Nominees also receive extensive multichannel exposure physically during the awards period and digitally through the UF AWARDS GLOBAL official channels and website. The audience the UF AWARDS GLOBAL give brands access to is industry-specific and very likely to be interested in what the nominees offer, providing additional value to award winners. Time is running out, though: the nomination round closes on the 5th of June. Don’t miss the chance to nominate your brand. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The second day of FMAS:26 in Cape Town opened with a shift toward the specific mechanics of local trading and the often-opaque relationships that drive the retail brokerage industry. While the first day addressed the structural wild ride of the global market and featured high-level regulatory debates, the second morning turned the lens inward, focusing on how African participants can navigate the volatile assets and marketing networks that define their daily operations. Domestic Volatility: Trading the RandThe morning main panel sessions began with a deep dive into South Africa’s most sensitive asset: the ZAR. In a session focused on "gRAND plans," experts dissected how local triggers like budget speeches and MPC decisions interact with global dollar strength. The discussion featured Richard Anthony Gaskin, Market Analyst at FP Markets South Africa, and Nikhil Joshi, Sales Manager at MH Markets. They argued that while the Rand is home turf for local traders, it is rarely safe ground, requiring a sophisticated understanding of institutional positioning relative to retail sentiment.Transparency in the Referral EconomyIf the Rand provides the volatility, the Introducing Broker (IB) network provides the participants. This panel pulled back the curtain on the complex incentives that drive the relationship between brokers and their referral partners. The session featured Mj Givens Kgasi and Nqobile Tembane, hosts of the Industry Chats Podcast; Akinbiyi Saheed Olakunle, Country Manager at Exness; Irene Kanyamaure, Country Manager at CXM; and Blake Francis, Director of Business Acquisitions at Swyft Markets.One of the cornerstones governing that relationship is trust, something that has been eroded over the years. "The system is saturated with bad actors from the brokers and the IBs themselves," Kanyamaure explains. And that trust, eventually, trickles down to the client. The group explored how compensation models like CPA and revenue share shape the advice traders receive, urging for greater transparency across sub-IB networks.Bridging the Digital Divide with AIThe conversation regarding broker networks reached its logical conclusion by revisiting the technological "structural fixes" discussed yesterday afternoon. While Day One examined how blockchain could bypass slow payment systems, this session looked at how those tools allow the industry to reach deeper into the continent.Mj Givens Kgasi and Nqobile Tembane returned to lead the discussion alongside Anzill Adams, Founder of Dominion Investment Holdings and Board Member of the Africa Blockchain Institute. The panel focused on how AI and blockchain create opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy. By lowering barriers to entry in underserved communities, these technologies allow the industry to expand beyond traditional financial hubs into the massive, yet often ignored, informal sector.However, for these technologies to address the disparities that are present, they need to be designed to be fit for purpose "It's about the design phase in terms of how to sustainably get to making money, particularly from an informal economy perspective," Tembane said. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

Moneta Funded, the new comer to the prop scene already known for disrupting the incumbents, backed award-winning broker Moneta Markets, today announced the launch of its new Instant Funding Pro Challenge, a flexible funding solution designed for traders who want to start trading funded capital from day one, without completing a traditional evaluation phase.Built for experienced traders who want fewer restrictions and faster access to capital, Instant Funding Pro gives traders the freedom to trade their strategy their way. The programme allows news trading, removes the consistency rule, offers higher daily and maximum loss parameters, and provides instant access to a funded trading account from the moment they begin.Unlike traditional prop firm challenges that require traders to pass one or more evaluation stages before accessing funded capital, Instant Funding Pro places traders directly into the live performance environment. Traders can select from account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, trade with leverage of up to 1:30, and access industry-leading trading platforms including MT5 and MatchTrader, where available.The challenge is designed around simple, transparent trading conditions. Traders benefit from no time limit, overnight and weekend holding, a 3% daily loss limit, a 6% trailing maximum loss limit, and an 88% profit split. With no profit target required to unlock the account, traders can focus on executing their strategy, managing risk, and building performance from day one.A key feature of Instant Funding Pro is its two-stage payout model. Traders can request their first payout on demand whenever they are ready, giving them faster access to profits without waiting for a fixed cycle. After the first payout, traders move onto a simple and consistent 14-day payout schedule, allowing them to continue building momentum with regular profit withdrawals.“Instant Funding Pro was created for traders who already know how they want to trade and simply need the capital, conditions, and freedom to execute,” said David Bily, Founder and CEO of Moneta Funded and Moneta Markets. “Not every trader wants to spend weeks passing evaluations before they can prove themselves. With Instant Funding Pro, traders are funded from day one, can trade news, hold positions overnight or over the weekend, and request their first payout on demand. It is a more flexible model for serious traders who want direct access to opportunity.”The launch of Instant Funding Pro further expands Moneta Funded’s growing suite of funding programmes, which now includes Standard Challenges, Sprint Challenges, Phoenix, and Instant Funding solutions. Together, these programmes give traders multiple paths to funded capital, from fast-paced short-term challenges to longer-term funding models designed for sustainable performance.As a broker-backed prop firm, Moneta Funded is powered by the trading infrastructure, liquidity relationships, and technology of Moneta Markets. This gives traders access to competitive trading conditions, fast execution, and a professional-grade environment built by a team with deep experience in global financial markets.David Bily added: “Our goal has always been to build a prop firm that gives traders real choice. Some traders want speed. Some want structure. Others want freedom from day one. Instant Funding Pro fills that gap by giving skilled traders direct access to funded capital, with rules that are clear, practical, and built around performance.”The Instant Funding Pro Challenge is available to eligible traders at monetafunded.com.About Moneta FundedMoneta Funded is a next-generation proprietary trading firm headquartered in Dubai and powered by Moneta Markets. Built with a trader-first philosophy, Moneta Funded offers flexible funding programmes, fast payouts, advanced trading platforms, and competitive trading conditions designed to help serious traders access capital and scale their performance. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

As generative AI enters a phase of large-scale adoption, enterprises are undergoing a profound shift in how they use large models. From early single-model integration to multi-model parallel usage, the core demand for AI infrastructure is moving from "being able to use models" to "how to use models more efficiently".Against this backdrop, traditional API Gateways are increasingly showing their limitations, while AI Routers (such as MegaRouter) are emerging as a new foundational orchestration layer connecting model capabilities with business applications.In a multi-model environment becoming the norm, enterprises often need to call multiple large models simultaneously to cover different task scenarios. Differences among models such as GPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek in capability, cost, and response speed mean that model selection is no longer a one-time integration decision, but a continuously optimized dynamic problem. At the same time, different tasks have varying requirements for cost, latency, and reasoning ability, making model selection and coordination a key variable affecting system efficiency.However, the capabilities of traditional API Gateways are mainly focused on connectivity and request forwarding, making it difficult to perform intelligent decision-making based on task complexity, cost structure, or real-time performance changes.As a result, in multi-model environments, model selection often still relies on manual configuration at the application layer by developers, which increases system complexity and limits the scalability of overall automation.Building on this, AI routing systems represented by MegaRouter introduce a unified orchestration mechanism between models and applications, upgrading model invocation from static configuration to dynamic decision-making. The system can automatically match the most appropriate model based on dimensions such as task type, cost priority, latency requirements, and model availability, enabling true "on-demand allocation".This mechanism shifts AI system operations from "multi-model integration" to "multi-model collaboration". Under unified orchestration, different models are automatically assigned to tasks. For example, simple tasks are routed to low-cost models to reduce costs, while complex reasoning tasks are handled by high-performance models to ensure output quality. Through a policy-based routing mechanism, enterprises can flexibly switch between modes such as "cost-first" and "performance-first", achieving a balance between efficiency and quality.From an infrastructure evolution perspective, the layered structure of AI systems is becoming increasingly clear: models provide capabilities, API Gateways provide connectivity, and AI Routers handle orchestration and optimization. Within this structure, the center of system value is shifting from the connectivity layer to the orchestration layer. The upper limit of AI capability is no longer determined by the number of models, but increasingly by the design and optimization of routing mechanisms.In the future, as enterprises continue to increase the complexity and depth of AI applications, multi-model collaboration and intelligent orchestration will gradually become the default architecture. MegaRouter is expected to become a foundational capability layer in enterprise AI systems, continuously handling model selection, resource optimization, and request routing, while driving AI infrastructure toward higher efficiency and stronger controllability.Learn more: https://megarouter.com/ This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Should brokers build their own technology, or buy existing solutions? And with AI changing how firms manage clients, retention, and risk, are traditional CRM systems still enough?At the Finance Magnates Singapore Summit, Jonathan Fine, Content Strategist at Finance Magnates, spoke with Samuel Aeby, CEO & Founder of FYNXT, about the future of broker technology, AI, and why operational complexity may be holding firms back.? Watch the interview below: What does Samuel Aeby think most brokers are getting wrong when it comes to technology?Build vs Buy: Are Brokers Spending Time on the Wrong Things?According to Aeby, not every broker should build everything internally. While strong tech teams may develop custom capabilities, creating mature infrastructure such as trading platforms can take years.“Focus on your strengths and manage your weaknesses.” His view? Brokers should focus on what makes them different and avoid spending resources rebuilding foundations that already exist.So where should brokers invest their resources, and where should they stop building? ? Samuel shares his perspective in the full interview.Why Is FYNXT Moving Beyond CRM?Aeby argued that traditional CRMs are too limited for the operational demands of modern brokerages.Brokerages face multiple dependencies including payment systems, trading platforms, compliance requirements, onboarding flows, and third-party integrations. Much of a broker’s time is spent managing these complexities instead of focusing on growth.FYNXT’s answer is to build an operating system that gives brokers plug-and-play capabilities while allowing them to customize client experiences and differentiate their brands.“We really want to provide an operating system for the brokers to differentiate themselves.” The goal, according to Aeby, is simple: brokers should build what makes them unique while using existing infrastructure for operational foundations.What does an “operating system for brokers” actually look like in practice? ? Watch Samuel explain the shift.Can AI Predict When Clients or IBs Are About to Leave?Retention remains one of the industry's biggest challenges.FYNXT uses churn analytics to detect behavioural changes that may signal when traders or introducing brokers are disengaging, allowing firms to react earlier.The company is also using AI to identify anomalies in IB activity and commission payments.One example shared during the interview involved an Australian broker reportedly saving close to $200,000 in a month through AI-driven monitoring.How does AI spot these risks before they become losses? ? Samuel discusses the real use cases in the interview.Why Do Localization and IB Strategies Matter So Much in APAC?“You cannot run a business in Asia without having a good IB network.” For firms entering Asia, technology alone is not enough.Aeby highlighted how culture, language, and local preferences can directly affect acquisition and retention. He argues that without localization and strong IB strategies, scaling in APAC becomes difficult.What are global brokers still missing when expanding into Asia? ? Hear Samuel’s observations from working across the region.Final ThoughtsFrom AI and churn analytics to localization and infrastructure, the conversation points to a larger shift: brokers may need to rethink whether disconnected tools are enough for the next phase of growth.Is the future of brokerage technology built around platforms rather than standalone tools? This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

The Uncomfortable Side of Prediction MarketsThe growth of trading platforms where participants buy and sell contracts based on the outcome of future events has been extensively covered here, particularly in relation to concerns that individuals with inside knowledge of specific events have used that knowledge to place bets on when such events will take place.We have also reported on the regulatory wrangles taking place in the US, where there is significant support for regulating contracts that tread a fine line between a future and putting it all on red at a casino.However, a recent investigation into the profile of people using prediction markets uncovered some interesting details about its customer base. The investigation suggested that these markets predominantly appeal to one demographic – young men.Sports as a % of total trading volume on Kalshi has been consistently falling since the start of the 2025 NFL season. Sports is now roughly 58% of the total volume. A large part of this is the rise of crypto-related markets. Over time, as new categories emerge, I would argue… pic.twitter.com/chQgEYBpUK— Nick Grous (@GrousARK) May 26, 2026The BBC report noted that more than two-thirds of users are male, according to data from Morning Consult, and that more than a quarter of American men between 18 and 24 have used them in the last six months, almost twice the national average.The head of sports betting policy at the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) told the BBC that young men's attitudes towards prediction markets are down to ‘an underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex and a high appetite for risk’.While these markets could be described as removing the middleman between those with strong opinions on an event or outcome, critics argue that their design and promotion downplay the associated risks and normalise gambling, and that they are promoted as being similar to apps that enable users to buy and sell stocks.Lack of clarity around regulations has not prevented prediction markets from attracting users worldwide, with numerous forums offering guidance on how to circumvent access restrictions in specific jurisdictions.Bloomberg News analysis suggests larger bets (over $1,000) are almost twice as likely to have lost money over the last 16 months, while The Wall Street Journal reckons that around two-thirds of all profits on Polymarket went to 0.1% of accounts, with fewer than 2,000 accounts gaining almost $500 million in profits.There seems to be a direct link between successful trades and access to resources such as live data feeds and AI bots, which weakens the argument that this is really a peer-to-peer market.Irish Remain Green When It Comes to InvestingIreland’s GDP is among the highest in Europe – for context, the estimated figure for this year is more than twice that of the United Kingdom. But for such an apparently wealthy country, retail participation in investment markets is weak.There are many reasons for this. As I have previously explained, the brokerage market is much less diverse than that of other European countries, with two bank-owned firms having dominated the market since the 1800s.The Irish government has also not been especially proactive in encouraging retail investors, with the exception of initiatives such as the reduction in the tax levied on investment in ETFs.Related: IG Wants to Capture the Irish Market, but Are Reputation and Low Fees Enough?Then there is what some commentators have called the Irish IPO drought, whereby domestic companies have been reluctant to go public despite the presence of a domestic securities exchange.One of the country’s leading business publications reported last week that Irish wealth managers are preparing for a likely stock market correction as fears grow over energy prices, inflation, and overheated tech valuations. It suggested that managers view a sharp drop in equity markets as nearly inevitable and that rising bond yields are reshaping investment strategies.This does not explain the reluctance of retail investors to make a greater financial commitment to equities, though. For that, perhaps we need to refer to the damage caused by the collapse of the so-called ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy in 2007, which saw the property market collapse, a spike in unemployment, and a massive EU/IMF bailout.Almost 20 years later, it seems that the psychological scars have not healed for those who had invested (or knew people who had invested) large proportions of their savings in banks and other previously trusted institutions whose shares plummeted.Trump Causes Trade Concerns of a Different KindThis week, US Senator Chris Coons released a video in which he explained that, in the space of just three months, President Trump made thousands of stock trades worth hundreds of millions of dollars – often in companies he would praise on the very same day.The representative for Delaware referred to three examples where stocks were bought, and the president made specific, favourable public comments about the company in question. The financial disclosures showed significant activity surrounding Wall Street tech giants.Bloomberg referred to the ‘astonishing scale’ of the trades, which were almost entirely in shares of American companies, and described them as constituting a major burst of stock market activity by a sitting president.The video triggered the inevitable round of whataboutery, with one Trump supporter pointing out that the most active traders in Congress are Democrats. Another stated that ‘Trump didn't create the system, so it is not corruption, just a smart investor who speaks freely from the heart’.One of the more measured responses noted that the president’s personal stock portfolio is managed by independent third-party financial institutions through fully discretionary accounts, with administrative trading carried out through automated processes, and that, according to the Trump Organisation, neither the President, his family, nor the company directs, selects, or approves specific investments or receives advance notice of trades.In response to the report that more than 3,700 stock trades were made by the Trump Organisation in the first quarter of this year, a spokesperson said neither the president, his family, nor the company played any role in selecting or approving investments, that they received no advance notice of trading activity, and provide no input regarding investment decisions or portfolio management.Bloomberg also acknowledged that the trading patterns bore the hallmarks of overlapping portfolio management strategies, often index-based, and much of it likely automated, and all of it difficult to separate clearly. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

New Creator Reward Center, Post-to-Earn gateway, creator tools and verified creator features help enrich community content and move social trading beyond passive followingKuCoin, a leading global crypto platform built on trust, today announced KuCoin Feed 3.0, introducing the Creator Reward Center and a series of upgraded features designed to reward active participation, strengthen creator visibility and enrich community-driven crypto content. The upgrade includes a Post-to-Earn task station, optimized social sharing tools, verified creator badges, official account markers and an enhanced discovery mechanism that gives greater visibility to high-quality creators and content.The launch marks the next phase in the continued development of KuCoin Feed. First introduced as an AI-powered crypto intelligence center, KuCoin Feed helped users access market information, trending narratives and trading insights in one place. With KuCoin Feed 2.0 and KuCoin Live, the product evolved into a broader information-to-decision ecosystem. KuCoin Feed 3.0 further extends this journey by turning content creation, community engagement and social sharing into more accessible earning opportunities.Through the Creator Reward Center, eligible users can participate in Post-to-Earn activities, build their creator presence and access reward opportunities through consistent contribution. The upgraded sharing tools also help users present market views in a more professional format, supporting a smoother path from content discovery to community engagement and trading-related engagement.KuCoin Feed 3.0 is designed to support a more transparent, actionable and participatory insight-driven decision-making experience. By introducing the Creator Reward Center, verified creator tools and upgraded sharing features, KuCoin is making it easier for users to turn insight into contribution, contribution into recognition, and recognition into earning opportunities. The upgrade also reflects KuCoin’s focus on moving beyond passive strategy-following, encouraging users to actively publish, interact and share while helping trusted creators and high-quality content stand out.KuCoin Feed 3.0 reflects a broader shift — from passive following to active participation and contribution. By combining creator rewards, verified identities, transparent engagement and content-powered community ecosystem, KuCoin Feed aims to support a healthier and more interactive crypto community. KuCoin Feed 3.0 is now available through the KuCoin App.About KuCoinFounded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform built on trust and security, serving over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Known for its reliability and user-first approach, the platform combines advanced technology, deep liquidity, and strong security safeguards to deliver a seamless trading experience. KuCoin provides access to 1,500+ digital assets through a broad product suite and remains committed to building transparent, compliant, and user-centric digital asset infrastructure for the future of finance, backed by SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 Certifications. In recent years, we have built a strong global compliance foundation, marked by key milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia, a MiCA license in Europe, and regulatory progress in other markets.Learn more at www.kucoin.com.DisclaimerThe information is for corporate PR purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or investment advice. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The global retail brokerage industry is fiercely competitive. While established mega brokers dominate the tier one regulatory space, a new category of "Rising Star" brokers has captured massive market share heading into 2026. These emerging firms bypass the stringent restrictions of legacy regulators by operating from agile offshore hubs. They attract clients by offering extreme margin leverage, heavily funded promotional ecosystems, and complex reward networks that traditional mega brokers legally cannot provide.In this overview, we focus on three rapidly expanding retail brokers restructuring the offshore and international trading scenes: Hola Prime Markets, PU Prime, and VT Markets. We evaluate how they allocate their resources toward social trading infrastructures and unrestrictive account dynamics.Risk Warning: Trading Contracts for Difference carries a high risk to your capital. Utilizing maximum offshore leverage can rapidly result in the total loss of your deposit. Make sure you fully understand the mechanics of margin trading before participating in offshore brokerage accounts.Framework for EvaluationEvaluating rapidly expanding international brokers requires focusing on structural agility rather than legacy institutional frameworks. We reviewed Hola Prime Markets, PU Prime, and VT Markets across specific operational dynamics popular in emerging markets.First, we analyzed regulatory footing. Operating as a rising star usually means securing licenses from agile international zones like Mauritius or Seychelles. These jurisdictions permit brokers to offer traders virtually uncapped leverage metrics. We verified their internal banking segregation to ensure base capital protections exist.Second, we evaluated social trading networking. A defining trait of this broker tier is the heavy reliance on PAMM and MAM structures. These systems allow investors to allocate funds directly to master traders. We looked at how seamlessly these proprietary networking layers integrate into the MetaQuotes legacy software.Finally, we reviewed entry thresholds. These brokers compete violently for new retail clients. We verified their baseline minimum deposits and observed how they incentivize volume through tiered loyalty programs.Quick Technical OverviewHola Prime Markets FeaturesHola Prime Markets is rapidly generating traction in the retail space. It differentiates itself heavily through its unique corporate structure, actively blurring the lines between a traditional offshore funded brokerage and modern proprietary trading firm models via its associated branches.Regulation and SafetyHola Prime Markets secures its operations through the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius. Holding a license in Mauritius categorizes the firm as an offshore entity for Western clients. While this lacks the rigid legal protection of European frameworks, the broker enforces standard internal risk mandates. It segregates client deposits from proprietary operational funds to shield retail capital from corporate liabilities.Extreme Leverage and PlatformsThe primary operational strategy of Hola Prime Markets is granting raw purchasing power. For verified international accounts, the broker provides access to extreme leverage ratios, reaching up to 1:500 on specific currency pairs.To handle execution, the broker leans entirely on the industry legacy standards. Clients execute trades via MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. They also provide access to a proprietary Hola Prime Markets App for streamlined mobile portfolio management. By sticking to MetaTrader, algorithmic traders can utilize their existing Expert Advisors entirely without modification.PAMM Infrastructure and Prop EcosystemHola Prime Markets highly emphasizes technical management ecosystems. They provide dedicated PAMM and MAM networking solutions specifically built for money managers to pool capital and execute block trades seamlessly. Additionally, the broker benefits heavily in brand visibility from its associated "Hola Prime" proprietary trading firm wing, giving the corporate umbrella a highly modern retail edge.Pros & ConsPU Prime FeaturesPU Prime has aggressively expanded its international footprint. Previously operating primarily in localized Asian markets, the broker has restructured into a massive global entity. Its strategy relies heavily on an incredibly intricate client loyalty framework mixed with fast execution.Regulation and ComplianceOperating as a standard fast growth broker, PU Prime maintains a multi jurisdictional approach. It holds notable licenses with the FSCA in South Africa, while routing its massive international flow through the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles. This dual structure enables it to act compliantly in emerging regions while retaining the freedom to offer heavy promotions.Execution and The PU Prime AppPU Prime fully supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 architectures. However, its primary technological push centers on the proprietary PU Prime App. The app consolidates standard charting, depositing mechanisms, and market sentiment overlays into a highly polished mobile interface. While not matching the visual density of a desktop terminal, it ensures ultra fast mobile execution for manual traders.Rewards and Copy TradingThe defining feature of PU Prime is its promotional ecosystem. It hosts one of the most aggressive trader reward programs in the sector. Clients earn pure cashback and point rewards based exactly on standard trading volume, effectively creating negative commission scenarios for highly active day traders. Furthermore, their PU Social feature operates natively in the background, allowing frictionless copy trading straight from the mobile interface.Pros & ConsVT Markets FeaturesVT Markets is technically a subsidiary branch of a massive multi national brokerage group. However, it operates entirely independently and has dominated the mid tier "Rising Star" market by focusing strictly on technical quality and proprietary mobile development rather than pure marketing.Regulation and ComplianceVT Markets sits in a slightly different regulatory tier than pure offshore entities. It holds an active legacy license with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) alongside South African FSCA registration. International clients are generally routed through secondary entities based in St. Vincent or similar localized registries to enable higher leverage thresholds.Advanced Mobile ExecutionWhile VT Markets offers standard MT4 and MT5 bridging, it wins significant market share strictly due to the VT Markets proprietary mobile app. The application frequently wins industry awards for its complex integration of high level technical indicators directly into a smartphone interface without causing screen clutter. It is widely considered one of the best independently developed apps in the mid tier broker space.Algorithmic Bridging and VTradeVT Markets heavily targets algorithmic managers. The broker actively supports raw server connections across Equinix data centers providing ultra low latency execution. It implements VTrade, deeply integrating complex social copy trading algorithms straight into the central platform network.Pros & ConsSummary of Rising Star FeaturesEvaluating the new wave of emerging brokers requires looking at their incentive structures and offshore agility.Hola Prime Markets utilizes offshore flexibility to provide extreme 1:2000 leverage, blending heavy PAMM functionality with a highly recognizable prop firm brand association.PU Prime secures market share by incentivizing high volume day traders with an ecosystem of aggressive cashback parameters and intuitive social copy mobile features.VT Markets focuses purely on backend technological stability, offering ultra low latency trade bridging alongside an award winning proprietary mobile charting app.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre offshore brokers safe to use?Offshore jurisdictions like Mauritius or Seychelles do not enforce the same strict capital requirements or compensation schemes found in the UK or Australia. While major offshore brokers enforce internal fund segregation, clients must recognize that operating under an offshore license carries a mathematically higher baseline risk if corporate insolvency occurs.Why do these brokers offer such high leverage?Mega brokers regulated in European sectors are legally forced by ESMA rules to cap retail leverage at 1:30 to protect inexperienced clients. By registering in agile jurisdictions like Mauritius, brokers like Hola Prime Markets are legally permitted to offer leverage up to 1:2000, catering to professional scalpers who demand unrestricted capital exposure.What is a PAMM or MAM account?A Percentage Allocation Management Module (PAMM) allows a master trader to manage the capital of dozens of separate investors simultaneously from a single master account interface. Brokers in the emerging tier heavily support these modules as they automatically calculate proportional profit and loss distributions across the network.Is Hola Prime Markets the same as the Hola Prime prop firm?They share overlapping corporate association but represent fundamentally different retail products. Hola Prime Markets is a retail brokerage where you deposit your own money to trade CFDs. The Hola Prime prop firm evaluation requires traders to pass a synthetic test to unlock access to simulated corporate capital.Do they allow Expert Advisors?Yes. Since all three of these brokers rely heavily on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 as their primary desktop execution engines, clients have total native access to run third party Expert Advisors and custom algorithmic execution scripts seamlessly.Disclaimer: CFDs are highly complex instruments and come with a significant risk of losing money rapidly due to the mechanics of financial margin. Utilizing extreme offshore leverage maximizes the potential speed of total account liquidation. You should carefully consider whether you fully understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has given Euroclear Bank SA/NV one year to apply for a clearing and settlement facility license, exercising powers it received less than two years ago to pull offshore market infrastructure providers under Australian regulatory oversight. The declaration, published today (Wednesday), gives the Brussels-based international central securities depository until 26 May 2027 to lodge a formal application or risk losing access to a market where it settles transactions in Australian Government bonds.ASIC Closes the ICSD Loop After ClearstreamEuroclear becomes the second of the world's two main international central securities depositories to face Australian licensing requirements, following Clearstream Banking S.A., which secured a CS facility license in June 2025. The two firms dominate cross-border settlement for foreign-currency bonds globally, and both play similar roles in Australia's debt securities market, providing custody and settlement services for institutional holders of Australian Government paper.To avoid disrupting market participants while the license application moves through the process, ASIC has granted Euroclear a temporary exemption from the licensing requirement. The firm said it would engage constructively with the regulator during the transition, according to ASIC.The pattern, Clearstream first and Euroclear second, means ASIC will hold formal supervisory authority over both ICSDs operating in Australia's debt markets by mid-2027, replacing the patchwork of indirect oversight that previously applied to offshore infrastructure providers.New FMI Powers Get Their Second Major WorkoutThe Euroclear declaration is one of the earliest high-profile tests of expanded supervisory tools ASIC obtained through the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024, which received Royal Assent in September 2024. The legislation gave the regulator new powers to oversee clearing and settlement facilities, benchmark administrators, derivative trade repositories, and other infrastructure operators with Australian exposure.ASIC said the assessment of Euroclear's Australian activities was conducted in consultation with the Reserve Bank of Australia, which co-regulates licensed CS facilities. The two agencies have separate but complementary responsibilities under the regime, with the central bank focusing on systemic stability and ASIC handling licensing and conduct supervision.The material-connection test is the legal hook ASIC uses to bring offshore firms inside the licensing perimeter. Once the regulator declares the connection, the offshore provider must seek a domestic license rather than continuing to operate under foreign authorization alone.Brussels Holds the World's Largest Settlement PoolEuroclear sits at the center of cross-border bond settlement globally. The group reported roughly €37.5 trillion in assets under custody at the end of 2024, with more than 2,000 members and operations across Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. The Australian footprint is concentrated in the cross-border leg, where foreign holders of Australian Government bonds and other domestic debt instruments rely on Euroclear's pipes to clear and custody those positions.Clearstream, owned by Deutsche Börse Group, has been building its Australian presence for longer. Its acquisition of Ausmaq from National Australia Bank, which closed in 2019, gave the Luxembourg-based firm direct administration of managed funds and term deposits for Australian wrap platforms. The CS facility license ASIC awarded in mid-2025 placed Clearstream squarely inside the Australian licensing perimeter.Both ICSDs have also been pushing into tokenization. Clearstream launched a distributed-ledger securities platform with Google Cloud in November 2025, following live bond-issuance trials with the European Central Bank. Euroclear has run parallel DLT pilots and acquired private-markets platform Goji to extend its alternative-assets offering, signaling that both firms are competing on technology as well as scale.ASIC Tightens Grip Across Financial InfrastructureThe Euroclear move lands in the middle of ASIC's most active enforcement and supervisory cycle on record. The regulator secured AU$349.8 million in civil penalties between July and December 2025, its highest six-monthly total since the agency's founding, and granted 290 new Australian Financial Services licenses in the financial year to June 2025 while cancelling or suspending 215 others.The agency has been pushing further into crypto and digital-asset oversight, with the Corporations Amendment Bill 2025 requiring digital-asset exchanges and custodians to obtain AFS licenses. ASIC has paired that licensing push with a regulatory simplification program that has eliminated more than 9,000 pages of guidance to date. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

XRP traded at $1.33 on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, down 1.3% on the session as the post-CLARITY Act rally that lifted the token through early May has fully unwound. The price has returned to the lower bound of the consolidation range that has defined the chart since February, with the May 23 test of $1.26 to $1.30 still the most recent floor. Despite the Senate Banking Committee advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on May 14, XRP has closed weaker on most sessions that followed. A trader on X named Ninedex has just published a $20 stretch target on the weekly chart. My daily setup says something else.Follow me on X for real-time market analysis: @ChmielDk.XRP Price Analysis: CLARITY Passed, the Rally Didn'tThe CLARITY Act passed the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in a vote that should have repriced XRP higher. The bill would lock the SEC and CFTC's March 17 digital commodity classification into federal law, removing a layer of regulatory risk that has shadowed the token since the 2020 SEC lawsuit. XRP rallied roughly 6% on the Sunday before the vote, as my pre-vote analysis detailed. Twelve sessions later, the token has given back the entire move and more.The miss is a flow story, not a news story. Paul Howard, Senior Director at Wincent, framed the broader crypto regime in commentary focused on Bitcoin and large-cap altcoins. "Crypto sentiment has broadly weakened since October 10, 2025, and the market is currently operating in a low-liquidity environment with limited new catalysts," he said. The same low-liquidity dynamic explains why even a binding regulatory win cannot sustain a bid in XRP.The drivers behind the failure to hold:Senate Banking Committee passed CLARITY Act May 14, 2026; bill needs 60 floor votes nextSpot XRP ETF cumulative inflows above $1.3 billion since the November 2025 launchCrypto-wide sentiment weakened since October 10, 2025, per HowardOrder-book depth at major venues insufficient to absorb headline-driven flowXRP price below all major daily moving averages for the third consecutive monthAdam Haemms, Head of Asset Management at Tesseract Group, made a parallel point on Bitcoin's reaction to geopolitical headlines. "Geopolitical headlines move Bitcoin on the day, but they rarely set the regime," he said, adding that thin order books mean "every macro headline moves price further than the underlying flow would justify." The same dynamic applies to XRP's book this month. The CLARITY pop got faded into the same supply zone that has rejected price four times since February. The FinanceMagnates.com CLARITY Act explainer details what changes if the bill clears the full Senate.My XRP Chart Shows the Range Floor BendingMy chart shows XRP locked in a structural downtrend that has held since the $3.65 cycle high in October 2025. Tuesday's $1.33 print puts price below the 50 EMA at $1.40 and well under the 200 EMA at $1.67. The main range that has defined trading since early February runs from $1.26 to $1.30 on the floor and $1.51 to $1.57 on the ceiling. May 15 was the last upper test. May 23 was the last lower test. Tuesday's leg lower puts the floor back under pressure.Over my 15+ years covering retail-driven crypto flows at FinanceMagnates.com, I have seen viral weekly targets attached to XRP charts before. They rarely survive a bearish daily setup in this kind of consolidation structure.The trigger to watch is $1.26. A clean break opens $1.11, the year-to-date low set in earlier 2026 sessions. A flush from there activates my March $0.53 ultra-bearish thesis, based on the 100% Fibonacci extension of the July-October 2025 range.The opposite case requires reclaiming $1.57 first, then the 200 EMA at $1.67, then the December 2025 swing low at $1.80 which now reads as resistance on the way back up. Until then the bias on my chart stays bearish.A Trader on X Sees $20 on the XRP Weekly. How High Can XRP Go?A trader on X with the handle @ninedex23 published a weekly XRP analysis on May 25, 2026, calling for a $5 primary target and a $20 stretch case based on a Fibonacci and channel framework. The post reached roughly 8,200 views, putting it well below institutional reach but inside the same retail board universe that drove the 2017 and 2021 XRP rallies.26.05.25 리플 코인 분석.리플 주봉을 분석해보겠습니다.리플의 경우 철저히 자본팽창을 추종하며, 연성장 32%의 기울기를 가지고 있으며,14년~16년이후 소형알트에서 메이저 알트가 되며, 채널이 한 계단 상승하였습니다.(옥석이 가려진 몇몇 소형 알트들의 미래라고 생각함.)이후 메이저… pic.twitter.com/ODn6aHmI8d— 줄쟁이 (@ninedex23) May 24, 2026The setup on the weekly leans on four signals:Fibonacci 0.382 ("blue line") support that held the 2022 to 2024 baseLong-term Stochastic rebounding from 15 points to 20 points, which @ninedex23 described as historically rare oversold for XRPMACD weekly golden cross with the oscillator turning positiveYear-over-year channel growth slope of 32% since the 2014 to 2016 reclassification from small altcoin to major altcoinThe $5 primary target sits at the upper edge of @ninedex23's green channel. The $20 stretch target requires what the trader called an "overshooting pattern like in 18," a reference to XRP's 2018 cycle peak that ran from a sub-$0.10 base above $3. Resistance at $2 has to crack first, with the supply zone built during the 2024 to 2025 highs as the next ceiling above.My one-line view: this is a defensible weekly read, but the weekly does not pay rent on the daily. Until $1.57 reclaims, the structure remains bearish and any $5 path runs through at least eight months of basing, not weeks.XRP Price Predictions: From $0.53 to $20Forecasts on XRP for the rest of 2026 span a remarkable range, from sub-$1 ultra-bear scenarios to retail moonshots. The credible institutional bull anchor remains Standard Chartered's Geoffrey Kendrick at $8 by end-2026, conditional on the CLARITY Act passing the full Senate and ETF inflows reaching $10 billion. My view: $8 is mathematically tight even on the bullish path, given XRP would need to clear $2 first and the post-Senate Banking pop already failed.Bitrue Research Labs sits closer to the middle at $2.25 to $2.50 for year-end 2026. My view: this is more defensible than $8 but still requires reclaiming the entire range and clearing the 200 EMA at $1.67, a setup my chart does not currently support. The Ripple Prime $200 million credit line confirms business-side traction, but as the FinanceMagnates.com post-CLARITY framework comparison detailed, regulatory wins alone have not been enough to move price in the current low-liquidity tape.XRP Price Prediction FAQWhy is XRP price falling on May 26, 2026?XRP fell 1.3% to $1.33 on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, extending a multi-session decline that wiped out the rally tied to the CLARITY Act's Senate Banking Committee passage on May 14. Price is back at the lower band of the consolidation range tested on May 23. The move reflects faded post-regulatory momentum and weak crypto-wide liquidity, with the broader trend bearish since the $3.65 cycle high in October 2025.What is the next major XRP support level?The next confirmed support is $1.26 to $1.30, the range floor last tested on May 23, 2026. A break opens the path to $1.11, the year-to-date low established in earlier 2026 sessions. An ultra-bearish scenario based on the 100% Fibonacci extension of the July-October 2025 range targets $0.53, a level that would represent roughly a 60% decline from current price and would only activate on extreme broader-market weakness.Could XRP reach $20 in 2026?A trader on X targeted $20 in a May 25, 2026 post based on a weekly Fibonacci structure and a MACD golden cross. Standard Chartered's $8 institutional target is the highest credible 2026 forecast, conditional on CLARITY Act passage and $10 billion in ETF inflows. A $20 print in 2026 would require an overshoot pattern with no recent historical analog. The current daily chart structure does not support either target in the near term.How will the CLARITY Act affect XRP price?The CLARITY Act would lock XRP's digital commodity classification into federal law, removing residual regulatory risk. The Senate Banking Committee passed the bill on May 14, 2026, but the full Senate vote still requires 60 votes. Polymarket currently prices 2026 passage at roughly 62%. The 12 sessions since the committee vote show that absent fresh ETF demand, regulatory wins alone are not enough to sustain a bid in XRP. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Andrew Lane, chief executive of London-based Acuity Trading, has taken on the same title at MarketReader, the AI startup his firm invested in two weeks ago, the companies said in a joint statement today (Tuesday).Co-founder Jens Nordvig, a former Goldman Sachs and Nomura currency strategist who has run the company since 2021, is moving to a board seat. Lane will keep his CEO role at Acuity and run both businesses in parallel, with the firms continuing to operate under separate brands.Two Weeks From Investment to C-Suite ReshuffleAcuity, a unit of Acuity Analytics, disclosed its investment in MarketReader earlier this month without revealing financial terms or the size of its stake. Neither company has confirmed whether the deal gives Acuity a majority position.The investment landed one day before Acuity unveiled a separate co-integration agreement with US engagement firm WNSTN, wiring third-party chatbot technology into its broker-facing intelligence stack. With Lane now formally overseeing MarketReader as well, decision-making across the widening Acuity bundle has consolidated under a single executive.In the statement, Lane said his focus would be on helping the company "scale with discipline" and strengthen product delivery. "This is not about changing what makes MarketReader special," he said, adding that the goal was to provide structure, commercial support and technical depth.The AI Bundle for Brokers Gets CrowdedThe transaction lands in a market where third-party AI vendors are racing to embed market analysis, sentiment data and conversational tools inside broker and platform technology. Israeli rival BridgeWise, which has attracted backing from Swiss exchange operator SIX Group, has spent the past year stitching together distribution deals with forex CRM provider FXBO, eToro and social media platform X.TechSignals partnered with charting vendor Devexperts in 2025 to push AI-driven analysis directly into dxTrade charts, while oneZero acquired Autochartist the same year, combining execution infrastructure with automated technical analysis. The consolidation trend has been accelerating since 2024.Acuity's own client base spans MetaTrader integrations with brokers such as Zarvista Capital Markets and MYFX Markets, plus prop firms running its AnalysisIQ research terminal. The provider also added behavioral analytics through a partnership with Hoc-Trade, which monitors trading patterns from more than 400,000 retail users. MarketReader's positioning is narrower, focused on hedge funds, family offices and registered investment advisers rather than retail brokers.Founder Moves to the BoardroomNordvig founded MarketReader in 2021 alongside Web Begole and Evan Schnidman after years as a top-ranked currency strategist on Wall Street, including senior roles at Goldman Sachs and Nomura. The press release named only Nordvig and "Web" among the founders, and did not address whether Schnidman remains involved in the business.MarketReader raised $3.1 million from angel investors and family offices in a January 2023 seed round and had operated with Nordvig as chief executive until today. The company has marketed its retail product at around $100 a month, positioning it as a lower-cost alternative to Bloomberg-style terminals, though pricing for institutional clients has never been disclosed.In his own statement, Nordvig said "that mission remains unchanged" and that his new role would be to "support that growth from the board." He did not say whether the transition was driven by Acuity's investment terms or by his own choice to step away from day-to-day operations.Two Brands, One Chief ExecutiveFor end clients, the practical question is how the dual structure plays out. Both companies said they would keep distinct market positioning, with MarketReader continuing to focus on institutional market-move attribution and Acuity targeting brokers and trading platforms with trade and event intelligence.With the same chief executive, the same controlling investor and overlapping target customers, the line between strategic investment and operational acquisition has narrowed. Neither company has commented on whether the consolidation will trigger regulatory review in jurisdictions where Acuity's broker partners are licensed, or amid the FCA and MAS launching joint AI testing programs for financial services this year.Lane has been Acuity's chief executive since the firm rebuilt itself around AI-driven analytics for the retail trading sector. Acuity traces its origins to 2013, when it launched sentiment indicators on the MetaTrader 4 platform, and has since added research terminals, AI signals and economic calendars sold through brokers, prop firms and platform vendors. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.