At the Finance Magnates London Summit 2025 (FMLS:25), ATFX Connect participated in several key institutional panels and was honoured with the Best B2B Liquidity Provider (Prime of Prime) award for its role in delivering liquidity solutions to institutional clients globally. This award stands as a testament to ATFX Connect’s authentic Prime of Prime services, offering efficient access to multiple liquidity sources with flexible solutions tailored for institutional clients.Among ATFX Connect’s representatives at the event, Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director of ATFX Connect Global, was featured on the “Leaders Panel: ‘Thank You, Donald!’”, sharing C-level insights on market volatility, AI integration, and how the industry’s US-dominated role has shifted amid tariffs and changing regulatory landscapes in 2025. Drew Niv, Chief Strategy Officer of ATFX, spoke on the “All-Star Panel: Next Industry Trends”, covering AI, market structure, and automation shaping 2026. He also participated in the discussion and debate on “Is Prop Trading Good for the Trading Industry?”, sharing ATFX’s views on the funded-account model’s value and regulatory challenges associated with evolving trading frameworks. On the regional front, Hormoz Faryar, Managing Director of ATFX Connect MEA, provided expert analysis on geopolitical tensions, trade dynamics, and their influence on FX and commodities markets during the “Macro Outlook: Economic Rifts Between Trade Wars & Actual Ones” panel. Joining him, Gonzalo Cañete, Global Chief Market Strategist of ATFX, shared views on global economic cycles, currency flows, and risk factors shaping the trading environment. ATFX Connect’s presence at FMLS:25, with its award-winning institutional liquidity solutions and strategic expertise, reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting clients worldwide with reliable liquidity services and institutional market insights. About ATFX ConnectATFX Connect is a trading name of AT Global Markets (UK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the FCA), AT Global Markets (Australia) Pty Limited (authorised and regulated by ASIC), and AT Global Financial Services (HK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the SFC). Connect is the Institutional arm of the wider ATFX Group. ATFX Connect offersInstitutional and Professional traders an extensive range of services for both Agency PB and Margin accounts, provides bespoke aggregated liquidity in Spot FX, NDFs, indices, Commodities and Precious metals to a wide range of institutional clients from hedge funds, Tier 1 and regional banks, high net worth investors, asset managers, family offices and other brokers. ATFX Connect's liquidity pool is constructed from Tier 1 banks and non-bank providers that it has partnered with, trading in both sweepable and full amount forms. Agency PB Clients can connect via direct FIX API, external technology solutions or via our own trading platform. For margin clients, ATFX Connect provides market access via the group's MT4/MT5 platform and provides a bridge solution for those who wish to connect via FIX API.For further information on ATFX Connect, please visit ATFX Connect website https://www.atfxconnect.com. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Bold Prime has installed liquidity management software from Cyprus-based Takeprofit Tech on its MetaTrader 5 platform, the latest technology addition for a broker that operates primarily in Asian and Middle Eastern markets using its off-shore Comoros license.Takeprofit Tech Deploys Bridge at Bold PrimeThe Takeprofit’s bridge technology connects trading platforms with liquidity providers, handling order routing and price aggregation. Bold Prime says the setup will give it more control over trade execution and help it manage order flow across different market conditions."Integrating the Takeprofit Bridge further enhances our ability to manage liquidity effectively and ensure smooth trade execution," said Zack Ivanenko, general manager for risk management at Bold Prime."This advancement helps us maintain consistent performance and a reliable trading experience for our clients, regardless of market conditions."Bold Prime previously installed two other Takeprofit Tech products: Dynamic Leverage and Real Margin Stopout. Those tools adjust leverage limits automatically when markets get choppy and can close positions before account balances hit zero. The broker says these features protect clients from outsized losses during volatile trading sessions.Other PartnershipsTakeprofit Tech has signed similar deals with other brokers in recent months. The company deployed its MT5 bridge for St Lucia-registered PFH Markets, completed an integration with Sharia-compliant broker Saracen Markets in September, and added its social trading module to Fiboniq's CRM platform in October."We are honored to partner with such a reputable global broker as Bold Prime," said Timur Latypoff, General Director of Takeprofit Tech. "We appreciate its dedication to putting clients first and its continued investment in technology to ensure strong risk management and transparent trading operations."Offshore License Raises QuestionsBold Prime operates under license number 31896 from the Union of Comoros' International Brokerage and Clearing House. However, the firm's regulatory history includes a February 2023 expulsion from the Financial Commission, an independent dispute resolution body for retail Forex brokers.The Financial Commission said it removed Bold Prime for repeated failures to follow the organization's rules and guidelines, though it didn't specify what violations triggered the action. Bold Prime had joined the commission just six months earlier in August 2022.The expulsion means Bold Prime clients can't file new complaints with the commission or access its compensation fund, which covers up to 20,000 euros in eligible claims. Malaysia's Securities Commission flagged the broker in 2023 for operating without proper authorization in that country.Bridge Technology Gains TractionMetaTrader bridges have become standard infrastructure for FX brokers that want to connect with multiple liquidity sources or run mixed execution models. The software sits between the trading platform and liquidity providers, letting brokers decide which orders to send to the market and which to handle internally.The technology provider Fortex has also introduced cross-platform bridging, allowing traders to copy positions between MT4/5 and Fortex 7 through Duplikium’s cloud infrastructure.Takeprofit Tech says its bridge handles up to 1,500 price quotes per second and processes trades in under 30 milliseconds during normal market activity. The system works with more than 30 liquidity providers and five cryptocurrency exchanges. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Standard Chartered has started using CLSNet, joining the top dozen global banks on the foreign exchange (FX) payment netting platform as Asian financial institutions increasingly look to cut settlement risk in emerging market currencies.StanChart Joins CLSNet as Asian Banks Expand Risk ManagementThe cross-border bank went live on the service alongside CTBC, the Hong Kong branch of a Taiwanese lender. Two other Asian banks - Malaysia's Maybank and Taiwan's Taishin - have signed up to join the network, according to CLS, the financial market infrastructure company that operates the platform.CLSNet automates the calculation of bilateral payment netting across more than 120 currencies, including emerging market currencies and same-day trades that don't go through CLS's main settlement system. The service averaged $169 billion in daily netted value during the first half of 2025, an 18% jump from the same period last year."We are seeing increased demand for proven solutions to address the challenges facing the FX market," said Lisa Danino-Lewis, chief growth officer at CLS. "As more participants join CLSNet, the resulting network effect will deliver even greater risk reduction and efficiency benefits for all users".The move comes at a time when the global FX trading volumes jumped almost 30% to $9.6 trillion daily, mainly due to the soar in derivatives’’ activity, finds the newest survey conducted by the Bank of International Settlements.Settlement Risk Drives Asian AdoptionThe uptick in Asian bank participation comes as settlement risk in foreign exchange transactions remains a concern, particularly for emerging market and developing economy currencies. Market participants are under pressure to follow best practices outlined in Principle 35 of the FX Global Code, which encourages automated netting systems where payment-versus-payment settlement isn't available .The new Asian members are focused on reducing exposure in currency pairs like USD/CNH, according to CLS. Tony Hall, global head of markets trading and XVA at Standard Chartered, said the move fits with the bank's push to strengthen its position in emerging markets FX."By leveraging CLSNet capabilities, we'll deliver safer, faster and more efficient post-trade processing, freeing up intraday liquidity and reducing settlement risk for our clients," Hall said.Broadening Membership BaseCLSNet's community has expanded beyond the largest global banks to include regional lenders, funds, corporates and non-bank financial institutions. Last year, BNY Mellon and ING joined the platform, which had seen its daily netted notional value consistently exceed $115 billion over a 12-month period .CLS has also been adding leadership with market infrastructure experience as it grows its services beyond core settlement. Former Euroclear CEO Brigitte Daurelle joined the company's board of directors earlier this year as an independent director.The platform centralizes and standardizes post-trade matching and netting, cutting down on the number of payments exposed to settlement risk. CLS was created by major banks in the late 1990s to reduce counterparty risk in the FX market. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Equiti Group has signed on TraderEvolution Global as its trading platform provider, bringing in new technology that lets the fintech company add asset classes and speed up trade execution across its international operations.Equiti Adds TraderEvolution EngineThe Dubai-based firm says the arrangement will open up more products for clients and smooth out back-end operations. TraderEvolution's system connects to multiple global exchanges and works with different front-end interfaces, letting Equiti customize what traders see without rebuilding core infrastructure."This partnership with TraderEvolution aligns with our ambition to widen the product range and market access available to our clients," said Husam Al Kurdi, who runs Equiti's Cyprus entity.TraderEvolution CEO Roman Nalivayko added brokers are increasingly looking for platforms that handle multiple asset types without forcing clients into a single interface. "TraderEvolution's multi-asset strengths and back-end-first architecture give brokers unparalleled control and flexibility," he said.Revenue Growth Hasn't Translated to ProfitsThe deal comes as Equiti's UK subsidiary faces pressure on margins. Equiti Capital UK Limited saw profit drop 52% to $530,000 in its most recent annual report, even as revenue ticked up 4% to $32.2 million. Operating expenses jumped 10% to $31.8 million, with legal fees more than quadrupling and compliance costs staying elevated under Financial Conduct Authority oversight.The UK unit blamed higher spending on quantitative analysis tools and regulatory requirements. Legal and professional expenses hit $4.1 million, up from $954,490 the year before.Equiti paid a $7 million dividend to shareholders after its most recent fiscal year, despite the profit decline at its UK arm. The company held $39.4 million in net assets, up slightly from $38.9 million the prior year.Management Shuffle Preceded Platform DealEquiti promoted three executives to its C-suite earlier this year as part of what CEO Iskandar Najjar described as an effort to stay competitive with larger rivals. Sartaj Singh moved up to chief technology officer after joining in December 2023 to overhaul trading platforms. Rick Fulton became chief risk and audit officer, while Sean Hong took over as CFO.The company operates under licenses in the UK, UAE and Cyprus, serving retail and institutional clients across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It competes with firms like IG Group and Plus500 in retail trading while also targeting professional investors.TraderEvolution has been adding integration partners to widen its broker network. The platform provider announced a tie-up with TradingView earlier last year, letting brokers offer that charting service's interface to clients. TradingView says it has more than 70 million users globally. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

My Funded Futures, a futures prop platform focused on the US market, appears to have plans to enter prediction markets. The CEO of the platform, Matthew Leech, recently hinted that he plans to build “the future of prediction markets.”Leech’s comment came as he began looking for “a passionate engineer” to help him build prediction markets for the prop platform.Are you a passionate engineer interested in helping MyFundedFutures build the future of prediction markets? If that’s you send your resume to careers@myfundedfutures.com— Matt (@MattLeech) December 2, 2025Brokers Are Bullish on Prediction MarketsDemand for prediction markets has been rising for some time. Brokers such as Robinhood, Interactive Brokers and eToro are among those that have seen the potential of event contracts and entered the space.Robinhood recently said that more than 9 billion event contracts have changed hands, with over 1 million users taking part on its prediction market platform. Kalshi, the US-based issuer of these event contracts, also said that volume reached $4.4 billion in October.One of the most notable entries into the sector was CME Group, which partnered with Flutter-owned sports betting platform FanDuel to launch an event-based contracts platform. London-listed Plus500 took a different route and became the clearing partner for CME and FanDuel’s new event-based contracts platform.[#highlighted-links#] Props Going Beyond Core OfferingsWhile brokers and exchanges are entering prediction markets, prop trading platforms were yet to launch event contracts — until now. My Funded Futures might be the first prop platform to reveal plans to add event contracts to its offerings.However, it remains unclear how event contracts would sit within a simulated prop trading model.FinanceMagnates.com earlier reported that My Funded Futures has been moving towards becoming a “fully licensed Introducing Broker (IB)” supervised by the National Futures Association (NFA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).Although Leech’s main focus is My Funded Futures, he entered the prop trading space with another platform, MyFundedFX, which has since been rebranded as SeacrestFunded. That platform also has a brokerage unit, Seacrest Markets, which operates under a South African licence.FinanceMagnates.com approached Leech for details on his plans around prediction markets, but did not receive a response as of press time. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Online trading firm XM has officially confirmed that it has obtained regulatory approval from the United Arab Emirates’ Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), allowing the broker to operate in the country under a Category 5 license.FinanceMagnates.com reported that the company obtained its accreditation in Dubai as early as September, when we suggested that the broker intended to start using it before the end of 2025, and that has now happened.Regulatory Approval Expands XM Regional ReachThe license grants XM permission to offer its full suite of trading services to clients in Dubai and across the Emirates. The move deepens the company’s presence in the Middle East and reflects growing demand in the region for regulated retail trading platforms.“The UAE has established itself as a world-class financial hub, and receiving authorization from the SCA underscores our commitment to long-term growth and trust in the region,” said Menelaos Menelaou, XM’s co-Chief Executive Officer.The company said the new authorization would allow traders in the UAE to access its full ecosystem of trading products, educational content, and support services through its new Arabic- and English-language website at www.xm.ae.The broker is celebrating its 15th year in business, and the move into new markets is a fitting way to cap that milestone.Growing Competition in Local Brokerage MarketXM’s entry comes as more global brokers seek to serve clients in the UAE amid expanding financial infrastructure and investor interest. The SCA license aligns XM with other multinational brokers regulated in the region, offering local investors access to global markets through a domestic entity.Exinity and VT Markets are among the firms that have gone down this route, alongside others such as Eightcap, EC Markets and Taurex.A smaller group has chosen to seek Dubai’s full brokerage permission instead. Plus500, XTB and RoboMarkets are among the companies that have obtained the more extensive licence, which allows them to offer a broader range of services directly to clients in the market.Brokers’ push into the Middle East is being fuelled by the chance to reach high-value clients across the region, particularly in the Gulf. Capital.com, for example, recently disclosed that 52 percent of its first-half trading volume came from the Middle East, compared with 15 percent from Europe, with 35,000 traders in MENA versus 61,400 in Europe.Within that Middle Eastern flow, UAE clients stand out. Capital.com said that 71.7 percent of the 804.1 billion dollars in trading volume it handled in MENA came from traders based in the Emirates. Another regional player, CFI Financial, reported a record 1.51 trillion dollars in trading volume in the second quarter of 2025 alone, closing in on the 2.79 trillion dollars it processed over the whole of 2024.XM serves over 15 million clients worldwide and offers more than 1,400 instruments across multiple trading platforms. The company operates under several international licenses and continues to emphasize compliance with local regulations in each of its markets. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

FTMO (https://ftmo.com/en/faq/), a global leader in modern prop trading, has completed the acquisition of OANDA Global Corporation (“OANDA”), one of the world's leading online trading groups. The transaction has been in process since the beginning of this year, when FTMO signed a purchase agreement with the previous owner, CVC Asia Fund IV (“CVC”), subject to customary regulatory approvals. In November, FTMO secured the last necessary regulatory approval, and on December 1, successfully finalized the deal. According to FTMO founders Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček, this marks a key milestone in their journey to build a global trading powerhouse covering modern prop trading, brokerage and other relevant services.OANDA is a leading global digital platform for active traders, offering multi-asset trading, currency data, and analytics to retail and corporate clients. Since its founding in 1996, OANDA has established regulated entities and leadership teams in many of the world's most active financial markets, including New York, Toronto, London, Warsaw, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney. The group had been owned by the investment fund CVC since 2018. For FTMO, a leading technology company focused on education and proprietary trading support, this represents another in a series of successful strategic acquisitions.The successful closing of the transaction was subject to securing approvals from a total of five regulators, a comprehensive process that took approximately eight months. FTMO obtained the final necessary approval in November, and on December 1, FTMO successfully closed the acquisition. The parties do not disclose the value of the transaction. FTMO plans to maintain the OANDA group as a fully standalone business.“We will continue to focus on our core business – a modern prop trading platform where we rank among the leaders. The long-term plan is to build a trading powerhouse, which will service traders on all levels – modern prop trading, brokerage with the relevant tools. OANDA, a broker with licenses in eight key markets across the world, is the perfect fit to this vision,” explains Otakar Šuffner, co-founder and CEO of FTMO, regarding the motivation behind the acquisition.“We are excited to work with OANDA’s team, given their impressive track record in complex regulated markets, strong approach to risk management and customer-centric philosophy. We believe that our connection will be beneficial for the whole market including our customers. Together, we form a unique group of companies with extensive expertise that has not existed on the market up until now,” adds Marek Vašíček, fellow co-founder and CTO of FTMO.Gavin Bambury, CEO of OANDA, commented: “Today, we mark a pivotal moment as OANDA officially joins the FTMO ecosystem. OANDA’s strength has always been rooted in our commitment to operating as a client-focused, trusted, regulated global group. This acquisition enables us to significantly accelerate our growth, and to deliver even more innovative, integrated and smarter trading experiences for our clients.”In connection with the transaction, Milbank LLP (Hong Kong) acted as its legal advisor to CVC, while Nomura and Santander served as its joint financial advisors. FTMO retained J.P. Morgan as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP as legal advisors.About FTMO | press kitFTMO is a leading global provider of educational and training services, offering its clients the opportunity to test and develop their trading skills and risk management. FTMO delivers its services in more than 140 countries worldwide. Since its founding in 2015, the company has won the Deloitte Fast 50 award for the fastest-growing tech companies in Central Europe five times. Its founders were named EY Technology Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022 in the Czech Republic and have received several other awards as well.About OANDA | factsheetFounded in 1996, OANDA is one of the world's leading online trading groups, offering multi-asset trading, currency data, and analytics to retail and corporate clients around the globe. From its roots providing free exchange rate data on the Internet to launching a FX trading platform that helped pioneer web-based currency trading, OANDA remains dedicated to building smarter trading experiences.With regulated entities in many of the world's most active financial markets, including New York, Toronto, London, Warsaw, Singapore, Tokyo, the British Virgin Islands and Sydney, OANDA enables retail clients to trade in a variety of asset classes on an award-winning trading platform. Depending on geographical location, these may include derivatives of FX, equity indices, shares, commodities, treasuries, precious metals, and digital currencies.About CVC CVC is a leading global private markets manager with a network of 30 office locations throughout EMEA, the Americas, and Asia, with approximately €200 billion of assets under management. CVC has seven complementary strategies across private equity, secondaries, credit and infrastructure, for which CVC funds have secured commitments of approximately €243 billion from some of the world’s leading pension funds and other institutional investors. Funds managed or advised by CVC’s private equity strategy are invested in approximately 150+ companies worldwide, which have combined annual sales of over €165 billion and employ over 600,000 people.CVC has one of the largest and longest-established pan-regional office networks of any private equity business in Asia and has been active in the region since 1999. CVC’s Asia private equity strategy is focused on control, co- control and structured minority investments in high quality businesses in core consumer and services sectors across Asia. Typical enterprise values are between $250 million and $1.5 billion. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Fortex Technologies has partnered with Swiss firm Duplikium to enable copy trading between MetaTrader 4/5 and its Fortex 7 platform, allowing users to replicate trades across systems without requiring a virtual private server or local installation.The cloud-based setup lets traders, brokers, and prop firms mirror positions in either direction - from MT4/5 to Fortex 7 or vice versa. Users register through Duplikium's website, input their account credentials for both platforms, and configure parameters like execution settings and risk preferences. Trades are then copied in real time.Fortex Adds Cross-Platform Copy Trading For brokerages and proprietary trading firms, the functionality addresses a common pain point: moving clients from MetaTrader to alternative platforms. The integration allows MT4/5 users to maintain their existing workflows while executing on Fortex 7, potentially reducing friction during platform migrations.Money managers can also use the two-way copying to distribute strategies across both ecosystems simultaneously, reaching traders who prefer either platform.Fortex claims this functionality will assist firms in "reducing friction" during platform transitions. The company is positioning the integration as a tool for scaling strategy distribution and retaining traders who might otherwise leave if forced to switch platforms.For Fortex, these are two product developments following the company's partnership with OKX exchange several months ago to offer crypto trading through MetaTrader 5. Earlier, the technology provider updated its high-frequency trading tools within its proprietary platform.Copy Trading Sees Renewed Industry FocusFortex's integration with Duplikium comes as copy trading experiences a broader resurgence across the brokerage industry. The global social trading market is projected to grow from $2.43 billion in 2024 to $3.51 billion dollars by 2029, according to industry estimates. Search interest for copy trading has risen between 22% and 38% year-over-year.Several competitors have rolled out new offerings in recent weeks. RoboForex last week launched an upgraded Copy Trading Service that replaces its earlier CopyFX platform, integrating the feature more tightly into its main ecosystem while simplifying how users discover and compare trading strategies.Multi-asset broker Versus Trade also debuted a copy trading service in partnership with Brokeree Solutions, joining the wave of firms adding social investing tools to capture retail demand.Perhaps most notably, Robinhood appears to have reversed its stance on copy trading. The company had previously warned about regulatory risks posed by platforms enabling users to monitor and replicate trades from successful investors - but now seems ready to enter the space itself.Fortex, founded in 1997, operates a multi-asset trading platform used by regional banks, hedge funds, and broker-dealers. Duplikium specializes in low-latency trade-copying infrastructure and markets itself to firms seeking to scale copy trading operations without heavy technical overhead.The companies did not disclose financial terms of the partnership or how many clients have adopted the feature since launch. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Capital.com, which is expanding across regions and product offerings, has applied for a South African licence, Finance Magnates has learned.Although the broker did not officially confirm its plans in South Africa, one of its representatives told FinanceMagnates.com that “as part of our global expansion strategy, Capital.com is exploring new licences in several markets.”An Expanding CFD BrokerThe broker is already seeking licences in Japan and Turkey. It is also hiring CEOs for its operations in Brazil and Chile, showing expansion into those countries as well.Capital.com, owned by billionaire Viktor Prokopenya, has grown fast since its launch in 2017. It offers contracts for differences (CFDs) under authorisation from regulators in the UK, Australia, Cyprus, the UAE and the Bahamas.Meanwhile, the broker is expanding not only across regions, but also across products. The group company confirmed that it is investing “in scalable infrastructure and emerging technologies, including blockchain,” which hints that it might add crypto products too.“While it is too early to confirm specific products,” the Capital.com representative said when asked about its South African plans, “our focus remains on ensuring that any services we launch meet the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and client support.”[#highlighted-links#] Capital.com also opened a new office in the capital city of Bulgaria, making it its customer service hub, and it plans to invest up to €5 million to improve its operational infrastructure.South Africa – Too Lucrative for Brokers?South Africa has seen the arrival of many CFD brokers, who need an OTC Derivatives Products (ODP) licence to operate locally in the country. EBC Financial, Mitrade and Monaxa are among the brokers to have secured the South African ODP licence in recent months. CFI and XS are other well-known names to obtain the South African licence.Exness, a big name in the retail brokerage industry, also opened a “regional hub” last month in South Africa’s Cape Town. However, IG Group viewed the market differently and closed its local South African presence earlier this year. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Czech prop trading giant FTMO closed the acquisition of OANDA yesterday (Monday), about ten months after it agreed to purchase the retail broker from private equity firm CVC. The closure of the deal came after the prop firm obtained approval from five regulators.An Ambitious Deal or a Bargain?Although the financial terms of the deal remain unknown, FTMO secured a USD 250 million credit line from a syndicate of Czech banks led by UniCredit to fund its planned acquisition of OANDA.FinanceMagnates.com earlier reported that CVC acquired OANDA in 2018 at a valuation of about $162.5 million.The completion of the deal also pushed FTMO into the brokerage business.The prop firm also set up a brokerage division last year by appointing Michael Kamerman as the CEO of the brokerage unit. However, it remains unknown whether it will seek further brokerage licences.“We will continue to focus on our core business – a modern prop trading platform,” said Otakar Šuffner, co-founder and CEO of FTMO. “The long-term plan is to build a trading powerhouse, which will serve traders on all levels – modern prop trading and brokerage with the relevant tools.”[#highlighted-links#] OANDA is a well-known name in the retail trading space, especially in margin forex and contracts for difference (CFD) trading. Founded in 1996, it is either regulated or has a presence in major financial hubs, including New York, Toronto, London, Warsaw, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney.FTMO highlighted that it will keep the OANDA group as a fully standalone business.“This acquisition enables us to speed up our growth, and to offer more innovative, integrated and smarter trading experiences for our clients,” said Gavin Bambury, CEO of OANDA.OANDA also launched its own prop trading brand months before FTMO agreed to the purchase deal. Until now, the brokerage has been operating the prop unit under the OANDA Prop Trader brand; however, the latest announcement did not mention anything about the future of this OANDA prop unit.The Integration of Props and BrokersFTMO is one of the early entrants in this fast-growing prop trading industry. Co-founded by Šuffner and Marek Vašíček, who is also the CTO of the prop firm, the business is equally held by them.The dominance of the Czech firm also surfaced recently, as its parent company’s filing showed that it netted a profit of over $62 million on $329 million in revenue in 2024. In the previous year, the prop unit alone generated over $213 million in turnover.The entry of FTMO into the brokerage space came when other CFD brokers were launching their own units. Hantec, Axi, IC Markets, ATFX and several others now have their own prop trading unit. ATFX’s Chief Strategy Officer, Drew Niv, recently said that the broker converted over 10 per cent of prop traders into brokerage customers.Several other prop firms have also obtained offshore brokerage licences; however, these appear to be mainly a strategy to gain MetaTrader licences. Although very few prop firms are offering brokerage services with offshore licences, none can be compared to the scale of FTMO’s entry into the space. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitnomial, a Chicago-based derivatives exchange, has received approval to offer spot cryptocurrency trading directly under the supervision of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The move marks the first time that U.S. retail traders can buy and sell digital assets on a federally regulated commodities exchange.Bitnomial’s self-certified rules, which took effect Friday, allow it to list both leveraged and non-leveraged spot crypto products. Customers will now be able to trade digital assets and access financing options on a platform fully recognized by federal authorities.Regulatory Clarity for Crypto ExchangesThe approval comes as the CFTC moves to clarify its role in supervising spot crypto commodities. Both the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently confirmed that existing laws allow exchanges registered with either agency to offer certain crypto products, including those with leverage, provided there is proper coordination with regulators.Bitnomial’s approval could set a precedent for other exchanges holding designated contract market (DCM) status. Platforms such as Coinbase, Kalshi, and Polymarket may follow suit, bringing additional spot crypto offerings under federal supervision. The development represents a significant step toward integrating digital assets into regulated U.S. financial markets.CFTC-Regulated XRP FuturesEarly this year, Bitnomial launched the first CFTC-regulated XRP futures in the United States. The move followed the company’s voluntary decision to dismiss a lawsuit against the SEC.? XRP futures are here! ?Bitnomial is launching the first-ever CFTC-regulated $XRP futures in the U.S. — physically settled for real market impact. Plus, we’ve voluntarily dismissed our case against the SEC as regulatory clarity improves. pic.twitter.com/ARkSanjFNU— Bitnomial (@Bitnomial) March 19, 2025The Chicago-based firm said that its physically settled XRP futures will be available to existing users starting March 20. This marks the first time such XRP derivatives will trade under federal oversight in the U.S., representing a milestone for the country’s cryptocurrency derivatives market.Continue reading: Bitcoin Mixer Tied to €1.3 Billion in Illicit Flows Taken Down by European AuthoritiesBitnomial explained that improved regulatory clarity was a key reason for dropping its legal action against the SEC. The lawsuit had previously challenged the SEC’s attempts to block the exchange from listing XRP futures. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Interactive Brokers Group released its electronic brokerage performance metrics for November. The firm recorded 4.27 million Daily Average Revenue Trades, representing a 29% increase compared with the same month last year, but 4% lower than in October.Alongside trading activity, Interactive Brokers expanded its market access in November by adding the Taipei Exchange to its platform, giving global investors direct access to Taiwan’s small and medium-sized enterprises. Eligible clients can now trade equities, ETFs, and Taiwan Depositary Receipts on TPEx, using automatic currency conversion for cross-border trades. The addition increases IBKR’s network to more than 160 global exchanges.Interactive Brokers Client Equity, Margin RiseClient equity ended the month at $769.7 billion, up 34% from November 2024. This reflects the total value of client holdings in brokerage accounts. Client margin loans, which are funds borrowed by clients to trade, rose 38% year-on-year to $83.3 billion. The broker reported 4.311 million client accounts, a 33% increase from the previous year, indicating growth in the number of active and funded accounts.The firm also provided figures on trading costs for its PRO clients. It said the total cost of executing and clearing U.S. Reg.-NMS stock trades in November was “about 3.0 basis points of trade money,” consistent with the rolling 12-month average of 2.8 basis points.IBKR Desktop Offers Integrated Trading PlatformSeparately, Interactive Brokers announced the launch of Version 1.0 of IBKR Desktop, a new trading platform. The release follows two years of beta testing and provides a desktop trading environment for investors worldwide. The platform integrates discovery, analysis, execution, and portfolio management for retail and professional clients. CEO Milan Galik said it was “built to meet the needs of all investors, from experienced traders to those just getting started.”Additionally, Interactive Brokers introduced the Karta Visa card, allowing clients to spend directly from their brokerage accounts. The card links trading and cash management, enabling users to trade, save, invest, and make purchases without moving funds between platforms. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Authorities across Europe have shut down a crypto-mixing service "Cryptomixer", allegedly used by cybercriminals to launder Bitcoin, seizing millions in crypto, critical servers, and terabytes of data. Between November 24 and 28, 2025, law enforcement agencies from Switzerland and Germany, coordinated by Europol, targeted Cryptomixer, alleged to have laundered over €1.3 billion ($1.51 billion) in Bitcoin since 2016. According to Europol, authorities confiscated three servers, the platform’s domain, more than €25 million ($29 million) in BTC, and over 12 terabytes of operational data.Europol supports Germany and Switzerland in taking down 'Cryptomixer', seizing EUR 25 million in Bitcoin. This illicit mixing service facilitated money laundering of proceeds from a variety of criminal activities.Details ➡️ https://t.co/d3oTlbrDzd pic.twitter.com/Qtml6nhGlX— Europol (@Europol) December 1, 2025Europol Leads Cross-Border RaidEuropol’s cybercrime experts coordinated the operation, provided forensic support, and facilitated real-time information exchange among participating agencies. Following the takedown, a seizure banner was placed on the Cryptomixer website.Cryptomixer was reportedly a hybrid mixing service accessible via both the clear web and the dark web. It allowed users to deposit Bitcoin, which was then pooled, randomized, and redistributed to destination addresses over extended periods.The service was widely used by ransomware groups, dark web marketplaces, and other criminal networks to obscure the origin of illicit funds, including proceeds from drug trafficking, weapons sales, ransomware attacks, and payment-card fraud.The raid involved Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office and the Prosecutor General’s Cyber Crime Centre, as well as Zurich City Police, Zurich Cantonal Police, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Switzerland. Eurojust provided legal coordination and operational support.Coordination Across BordersEuropol facilitated the exchange of intelligence through its Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT), helping member states share expertise and conduct a coordinated takedown.The Cryptomixer shutdown follows Europol’s 2023 dismantling of ChipMixer, then the largest crypto-mixing service. Authorities continue to prioritize tracing illicit cryptocurrency flows and targeting platforms that facilitate money laundering.In a similar crackdown, a Europe-wide enforcement effort recently traced more than €47 million in cryptocurrency moving through accounts linked to illegal streaming and digital piracy networks. Authorities said the findings mark one of the largest financial-tracking exercises ever conducted against online intellectual property crime. Around the same time, another large-scale operation took down more than 1,400 fraudulent online trading platforms targeting retail investors. According to Reuters, German investigators, together with BaFin, Europol and Bulgarian authorities, traced networks of fake brokers that persuaded users to invest significant amounts with promises of high returns. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Yiannis Kontoyiannis has started a new role as Head of Funding at IC Markets EU. He shared the update on LinkedIn today (Monday), writing: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Head of Funding at IC Markets EU.”Doo Prime Funding Head Joins IC MarketsBefore joining IC Markets EU, Kontoyiannis worked at Doo Prime in Limassol, Cyprus, for about two years and five months. He began as a Senior Fund Accountant for about one year, was promoted to Funding Team Leader for seven months, and later served as Head of Funding for about one year.In October, Finance Magnates reported that D Prime, the retail and institutional arm of Doo Group, was vacating its Limassol office. The broker said it is “realigning its operational structure to enhance efficiency and concentrate resources within key strategic regions.” Earlier, the Cyprus-based marketing team was dismissed. The move followed Doo Group’s receipt of a Cyprus Investment Firm license, allowing it to offer derivatives across Europe.Kontoyiannis Moves from FXPRIMUS to OneRoyalPrior to Doo Prime, Kontoyiannis worked at OneRoyal as an Accountant for about one year and two months, handling accounting functions related to CFDs and team operations.Earlier in his career, he worked at FXPRIMUS as an Accountant for about two years and seven months. The role was based in Cyprus.Last year, Ben Singleton joined IC Markets as General Manager. He previously worked at Crédit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong for over 17 years, most recently as Executive Director.IC Markets Integrates cTrader Copy WidgetMeanwhile, IC Markets has also integrated the cTrader Copy widget into its client area, allowing traders to use its copy trading service without leaving the website. The broker said the integration aims to make copy trading more accessible for new users and easier to manage for experienced traders. Copy trading remains a significant source of trading volume for brokers. Other firms, including Vantage and eToro, have also expanded or promoted copy trading services. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Toby Morris, the long-serving Head of Sales Trading & Execution at CMC Markets, has announced his departure after nearly 13 years with the company, becoming the latest senior figure to exit amid pronounced management turnover at the brokerage. In a reflective LinkedIn post, Morris stated that November marked the end of his time at the firm. He expressed pride in building out the company’s Sales Trading desk “from a standing start” into what he described as a “genuinely global, centralised, multi-asset operation.” A Series of High-Level Exits Morris’s departure adds to a string of notable senior exits across CMC Markets over the past 18 months. In February, long-serving CFO Albert Soleiman left abruptly, triggering a nine-month leadership gap. By June, Deputy CEO David Fineberg — a 30-year veteran widely regarded as the CEO’s closest strategic partner — and ANZ head Matthew Lewis both stepped down from the board to “focus on new leadership roles,” marking the most senior departures of the year. In October, the head of the institutional division, Richard Elston, also exited, a move that suggests the unit may be undergoing restructuring. Morris’s departure in November now removes the leader of the Sales Trading & Execution function — the second trading division to lose its head in recent months. CFO post was eventually filled in November, when CMC elevated Asia Pacific CFO John Cubbin to lead its two UK units, drawing a line under the prolonged period of uncertainty. CMC has not yet announced successors for either Elston or Morris. Leadership Changes Against a Shifting Financial Backdrop The leadership reshuffle is taking place amid mixed financial performance. While CMC delivered a 33 percent increase in pre-tax profit for the fiscal year, the result was driven largely by higher interest income and investing revenue, as trading net revenue declined by 4 percent, including a 12 percent drop in D2C trading.In this context, the departure of a trading and execution leader with more than a decade of tenure becomes even more significant, particularly as other experienced executives have also moved on. In his LinkedIn post, Morris thanked his team and noted that he plans to take a break before considering his next role. “Assuming I don’t do any permanent damage [on home renovations], it will be back to the drawing board in the new year to look at what comes next,” he wrote. The series of exits culminating in the departures of two heads of major trading units points to a period of internal recalibration for CMC Markets as it navigates a more competitive, evolving landscape. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Finalto is pleased to accept the award for Best Multi-Asset Broker at the Finance Magnates London Summit (FMLS) 2025.This award builds on Finalto’s strong track record at FMLS, following wins for Best White Label Solution in both 2023 and 2024.As a global liquidity provider, Finalto offers access to thousands of instruments across asset classes, including FX, Precious Metals, CFD Indices, Equities, Futures, Commodities and Cryptocurrencies.Finalto was nominated across five categories at this year’s summit, which took place at Magazine London on 26-27 November 2025.Industry RecognitionFinalto UK CEO Paul Groves said the award was recognition for the company’s dynamic liquidity offering: “We are proud to provide customised solutions and flexible market access. Our multi-asset offering is designed to help clients stand out in a competitive market and give their customers more variety and choice.”Groves added that FMLS awards are an important benchmark for the industry:“Our industry is built on relationships and on creating mutually productive partnerships that unlock sustainable, long-term growth. This award, which reflects recognition from peers and partners across the industry, is therefore especially gratifying and further motivates us to keep working hard to meet our clients’ and partners’ evolving needs.”Email sales@finalto.com to learn more about how Finalto’s award-winning service and multi-asset liquidity solutions can support your business. About FinaltoFinalto is an innovative prime brokerage that provides bespoke liquidity and fintech solutions. Our award-winning technology and expertise enable us to deliver effective, flexible service to a wide range of institutional clients globally, personalised to suit their needs. We deliver best-in-class pricing, execution and prime broker solutions across multiple assets, including CFDs on Equities, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos and rolling spot FX, Precious and Base Metals, and bespoke products such as NDFs.Service available only to Professional clients and varies per jurisdiction – Trading involves significant risk of loss. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

London, United Kingdom —Argentum AI, a marketplace for computing designed to democratize compute and enable access for enterprises globally, today announced the appointment of Nuno Pereira as Managing Partner. Pereira joins at a pivotal moment for the organization, as enterprises, sovereign programs, and global infrastructure providers rapidly expand their demand for decentralized and second-life GPU resources.Pereira brings a proven track record in scaling technology organizations, maturing commercial execution, and building large-scale revenue pipelines across AI, cloud, and distributed compute. His experience at Cudo Compute and Ori AI helped accelerate enterprise adoption, strengthen global partnerships, and establish commercialization frameworks aligned with investor expectations.“Nuno is one of the most experienced operators in decentralized compute globally. Few people understand enterprise adoption, sovereign compute, and commercial scaling in this category the way he does. His leadership is a massive accelerator for Argentum as we build the world’s most resilient, efficient, and democratized compute marketplace,” said Andrew Sobko, Founder and CEO of Argentum AI.Pereira will lead global scaling efforts with a focus on developing repeatable revenue engines, deepening enterprise penetration, and expanding Argentum AI’s partner ecosystem across telcos, data centers, GPU operators, sovereign compute programs, and AI companies. His appointment comes as decentralized infrastructure gains traction as a credible alternative to centralized cloud strain and hyperscaler bottlenecks.The hire marks a significant inflection point for Argentum AI. The company is preparing for accelerated demand from enterprises and institutions seeking reliable, verifiable, and globally distributed compute capacity. Pereira’s mandate includes strengthening commercialization, supporting investor-aligned value creation, and positioning Argentum AI as a category leader for enterprise-grade decentralized compute.Argentum AI’s platform connects enterprises, researchers, and individual providers through real-time bidding, verifiable execution, and transparent on-chain settlement. By unlocking idle global capacity and eliminating vendor lock-in, the company is enabling a more accessible, more secure, and more globally distributed compute layer for AI development and digital innovation.The appointment strengthens Argentum AI’s position in the rapidly growing decentralized compute sector, supporting its mission to make compute open, fair, secure, and globally available.About Argentum AIArgentum AI (AAI) is an independent decentralized compute marketplace that makes access to high-performance computing secure, flexible, cost-efficient, and globally accessible. AAI connects enterprises, researchers, and individual providers through real-time bidding, verifiable execution, and transparent on-chain settlement. By unlocking idle global capacity and removing vendor lock-in, the platform delivers faster, more affordable, and more reliable compute at scale. Guided by the mission to make computing open, fair, and user-centric, Argentum AI is building an infrastructure layer that empowers innovation while ensuring transparency, resilience, and shared benefit for all. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Versus Trade may be a new name in the trading space, but its pace is already outstripping many long-established brokers. In this exclusive interview, Co-Founder Vitalii Bulynin shares how the team secured a license in just six months, introduced asset-versus-asset Versus Pairs that reshape chart behavior, and built a partner model designed for fast expansion. This article breaks down the key points from the interview in straightforward terms. How Versus Trade Got a License in Only Six MonthsThe Role of a Strong Legal TeamVitali gives full credit to the legal and compliance team. They know what is needed, how the rules work, and how to finish the steps without delays. Their work made it possible to get approved on the first try.Why Social Capital HelpedVitali also says that when you spend years in the same field, people know you. This trust makes some things smoother because your name carries value. He calls this “social capital,” and it helped the company move forward faster.Doing Everything “By the Book”Even though the process was quick, they did not skip steps or take the easy way out. Every document, rule, and form was handled correctly. Vitali is clear: the team did a clean job from start to finish.?WATCH THE COMPLETE INTERVIEWWhat Makes Versus Trade Pairs SpecialThis is one of the most interesting parts of the interview. Vitali explains how Versus Trade offers pairs that are different from what people see in the usual market.Usual Asset Pricing ExplainedTypical trading pairs show the price of an asset in dollars or another currency.Examples:Apple in USDEUR/USDGold in USDBTC in USDThese move in a straight and simple way. One asset measured in one currency.How Versus Pairs WorkVersus Trade looked at this and asked a simple question: What if one asset could be priced relative to another?For example, how many Microsoft shares equal one Apple share?This changes how the chart moves. Two assets with separate price moves now form a single combined chart. This makes the movement feel fresh and less dull.Examples of Versus PairsSome of the pairs Vitali names include:Microsoft versus Apple Tesla versus FordBitcoin versus GoldAnd more pairs are being added.Why Traders Enjoy These PairsPeople already compare brands daily: Pepsi versus Colam Tesla versus Ford trucks. Gold vs Crypto. Versus Trade simply turned these common rival matchups into tradable tools. This opens new avenues for trading.Versus Trade IB and MIB PlansHigh-Level Start for IB Partners: One special point in the interview is that every IB partner who joins starts at a high level from the outset. Some even start at the platinum level.This gives strong rewards from day one.Six Levels in the IB System: There are six total levels. Each level gives better rewards. The system is easy to understand and simple to use daily.MIB Layers and Flex Pay Style: For MIB partners, Versus Trade offers up to 10 layers.Partners can choose the reward style for each layer:Fixed pay per lotOr per cent-based payThis gives partners full control over how they want to earn.Why Partners Like This SystemPartners highlight that Versus Trade built its program around clear logic, strong payouts, and real flexibility, including up to $15 per lot on Gold and no MTT or MTP requirements. It’s a straightforward system designed to let partners grow without unnecessary limits.What’s Coming Next for Versus TradeNew Markets: Versus Trade aims to expand into more global regions and serve new groups of traders.More Versus Products: More asset-versus-asset pairs are coming soon. Vitali believes this area still has a lot of room to grow.Hiring Plans: The company is growing its team. They are looking for business development talent in Southeast Asia, APAC, and more regions. Vitalii even asks viewers to reach out if they are interested.? WATCH THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW TO HEAR ALL THE DETAILS.The Versus Trade interview shows a company moving fast with new ideas, strong plans, and a team that knows what it wants to build. From fresh trading pairs to high-value partner plans, the company is aiming for bigger steps ahead. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Multi-asset broker FXTRADING.com has appointed Adam Phillips as its new Chief Executive Officer. By bringing in a market professional with more than 25 years of experience in institutional trading and prime brokerage, the company is signaling a shift in its growth plans. Phillips’ career has been built around managing sizable institutional mandates and maintaining relationships with major global banks, including UBS and Deutsche Bank. His background suggests that FXTRADING.com may be preparing to pivot towards operational practices typically associated with institutional firms, even though the broker has historically focused on the retail segment.Several traditionally retail-focused brokers have already started building institutional arms. Phillip Securities, for example, recently adopted Integral’s infrastructure to support institutional FX and CFD trading. Before joining FXTRADING.com, Phillips worked as Managing Director at Yellowfin Asset Management and Blue Fin Capital, where he oversaw more than $74 million in institutional mandates and carried out complex multi-exchange trading strategies. He also secured mandates from large financial institutions such as Toronto Dominion Bank and FourWinds Capital Management.A Retail Broker Preparing for an Institutional Leap These credentials stand out against the company’s current public profile. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Sydney, FXTRADING.com describes itself as a technology-driven multi-asset broker. It operates under ASIC license, and holds an additional Vanuatu license for its international business. The firm promotes marketing figures such as “over 60,000 clients in 100+ countries” and “over 100,000 clients,” but does not provide breakdowns of active accounts or publish trading volumes, AUM, or other financial metrics.Against this backdrop, the decision to hire a CEO with a strictly institutional background appears to be an attempt to bring more structure and transparency to the company’s next phase. Phillips offered a similar message in his first public statement. “Our mission is clear: expand FXTRADING.com’s global footprint while elevating standards in client service, operational transparency, and institutional-grade risk management,” he said. “We will leverage the same rigorous frameworks that earned the confidence of major banks and asset managers to deliver exceptional value to our clients worldwide.” The leadership change comes after several years of gradual rebranding and expansion. In 2021, the company abandoned its former Rubix FX identity and secured the FXTRADING.com domain as part of its push into global markets. With this foundation in place the choice of an institutional CEO suggests that FXTRADING.com is preparing to tighten its operational processes and risk controls as it aims to compete more assertively on the international stage. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

eToro has launched a feature that allows users to open and manage trades directly from the chart view on desktop. The update lets traders analyze assets, monitor profits and losses, and execute trades without leaving the chart interface.Several brokers have recently enhanced charting and trading tools to improve user experience. CMC Markets added TradingView to allow direct trading from charts, FXOpen extended TradingView integration to mobile for in‑chart execution on smartphones, and Leverate integrated TradingView into its institutional platform. This indicates that both retail and professional brokers are focusing on advanced charting and streamlined trade execution.Chart-Based Trading Now Live DesktopTo use eToro’s feature, users must open the chart in full-screen mode and click the trading icon at the top-right. The functionality is designed for traders who base decisions on technical analysis and chart patterns.eToro said the update aims to "reduce interruptions in trading" and allow users to "act faster." The company added that additional charting upgrades are planned. The feature is currently available on desktop only. Analysts note that chart-integrated trading tools have become more common among brokers targeting active and technical traders.eToro Expands AI Tools, UK ISAThe charting update is part of broader platform enhancements at eToro, which also include artificial intelligence tools for retail investors. CEO Yoni Assia said AI could give users access to information previously available only to large hedge funds. He noted the technology has processed materials from leading investors and can provide insights to guide portfolio decisions. In August, eToro launched AI tools and APIs, including Tori, a chatbot that can analyze portfolios, answer questions, and track market developments. Users have also developed applications reflecting strategies of well-known investors like Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham.In addition to AI tools, eToro has expanded its partnership with Moneyfarm to offer a Cash ISA for UK customers. The product provides a return on cash held within the ISA and adds a flexible savings option alongside eToro’s existing investment accounts. The launch comes amid debate over Cash ISAs in the UK, with some industry voices arguing that growth in tax-advantaged ISAs may reduce investment in domestic equities. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.