The main intrigue within the week, however, was not the interest rate. It was a geopolitical factor: the unrest in Iran and the related threat from the US president Donald Trump to Iran’s authorities, has created a speculation for Crude oil.  Despite the softening rethorics, there’s still a possibility of a strike from the US towards Iran. Markets, however, seem to not bet on any escalation, as volatility dropped across the board, with Gold keeping in the tight trading range, indices shaking within the range, and Crude oil erasing most of the week’s rally. Tech stocks back in play Nasdaq was lagging behind Russell2000 and S&P500 during the first two weeks of January, as basic material, industrial, and oil stocks were moving in a bullish rally. The spread between tech and industrial stocks has reached the lower band of the Bollinger Bands (which stands for 2 standard deviations from the 20-day moving average). Usually, that is a moment for rotation, and Nasdaq might fuel up the rally at the 2nd part of January. XLK/XLI spread: it indicates the ratio between two ETFs representing tech and industrial sectors respectively. If the spread reaches the supposed bottom of the trading range, it’s expected to bounce, which usually means acceleration of the sector in the numerator. Source: Tradingview.com The CNN’s fear-and-greed index also flashes a “greed” mode, having good strength and momentum, whereas breadth (i.e. the stability of the flow) is neutral, but not negative. Next week, traders will await the publication of the PCE index on Thursday (also known as “FED’s inflation”). The World economic forum in Davos will take place between 19 and 23th of January, and traders will also focus on statements and speeches of politicians and central bankers, Now, let’s dive into the performance of Nasdaq and Gold, and try to figure out the possible track for the upcoming period. Gold (XAUUSD) Gold has reached the new all-time-high, not being able to keep the momentum and having locked in a consolidation for several days, as demand for safe haven assets. Volume and open was rising for Gold futures according to the data from Chicago Mercantile Exchange, but the price action didn’t confirm the follow-through. That skews probability for some correction, as the market would need to deleverage before resuming the uptrend. From a technical standpoint, the price is locked in a very narrow trading range (coil), and if the new peak won’t be achieved early in the week, the possibility of a correction would increase: that might push the price towards the $4500 area as shown at the chart. Gold (XAUUSD), D1. Source: Exness.com Nasdaq Nasdaq might be completing the consolidation phase before making another leg up. Technical and financial sectors were lagging behind other sectors (basic materials, industrial, energy sectors), but should the bull market continue, the rotation of sectors might start and drive Nasdaq from the trading range as shown at the chart. The market is entering the earnings season, and many big tech companies were in a drawdown (AAPL, NVDA, PLTR) dragging the Nasdaq down. If the buying activity will get back to techs, we might observe another round of buying for the US tech sector. Nasdaq (USTEC), D1. Source: Exness.com The post Markets are locked in a “wait-and-see” mode appeared first on LeapRate.

FINRA has censured Cetera Advisors, Cetera Wealth Services, and Cetera Investment Services and imposed a combined $1.1 million fine after finding widespread deficiencies in their supervisory and anti-money-laundering (AML) programmes. The regulator said the Cetera Firms’ systems, including written supervisory procedures (WSPs), were not reasonably designed to ensure compliance with Section 5 of the Securities Act between March 2019 and August 2021.  FINRA found that the firms allowed customers to deposit and liquidate millions of low-priced securities without adequate review, despite multiple red flags, including unusual trading patterns and the absence of restrictive legends on shares. FINRA also determined that the firms’ AML programmes failed to detect and report suspicious activity.  The regulator noted that between 2019 and 2021, customers collectively sold roughly 800 million shares of low-priced securities, yet the firms did not implement procedures to monitor for patterns indicative of potential money laundering. Separately, Cetera Advisors was found to have inadequately supervised and retained consolidated reports, which combine a customer’s holdings including assets held away from the firm.  Representatives were able to manually enter information and distribute reports to customers without sufficient oversight, exposing the firm to risks of inaccurate or misleading information. The settlement requires the Cetera Firms to censure, pay the fine, and certify within 180 days that they have remediated deficiencies in Section 5 compliance and AML procedures. The post Cetera Advisors Fined $1.1 Million by FINRA appeared first on LeapRate.

Paysafe has formed a strategic partnership with payment orchestration platform Pay.com, enabling the integration of its card processing and alternative payment solutions across the platform’s merchant network. Under the agreement, Paysafe will become one of the recommended acquirers for credit and debit card transactions for online merchants using Pay.com.  The platform has also integrated Paysafe’s digital wallets, Skrill and Neteller, as well as its PaysafeCard eCash solution, expanding the range of alternative payment methods (APMs) available to merchants and consumers. Pay.com, known for its intelligent payment orchestration, uses a centralised risk engine to improve acceptance and authorisation rates at checkout.  By combining Paysafe’s three decades of experience in payment processing with Pay.com’s technology, merchants across e-commerce, travel, regulated iGaming and financial services sectors can optimise transaction efficiency and offer customers more flexible payment options. Paysafe’s digital wallets, live in over 130 countries and well recognised in e-commerce and iGaming, are expected to strengthen Pay.com’s APM offering globally and within niche markets. The partnership also incorporates PaysafeCard, a voucher-based solution catering to cash-focused consumers. Paysafe is already processing payments for several Pay.com merchants, with more than 20 additional merchants expected to be onboarded by the end of 2026. Rob Gatto, Chief Revenue Officer at Paysafe, said the collaboration “will likely be a game-changer for online merchants, optimising payment routing, enhancing approval rates, and, above all, strengthening their checkouts and ultimately customer relationships.”  Nicholas Banerjee, Chief Revenue Officer at Pay.com, added that the integration “ensures our customers benefit from greater flexibility across card payments and a wide range of alternative payment methods.” The post Paysafe and Pay.com Forge Strategic Partnership appeared first on LeapRate.

Artificial intelligence infrastructure, European defence and quantum computing were the most prominent investment themes among retail investors in 2025, according to new data from trading platform eToro. The biggest increase in holders was recorded by Nebius Group, an AI data centre operator, which saw a 328% rise compared with 2024.  Oracle ranked third with a 228% increase, reinforcing strong demand for companies supporting AI infrastructure. Nvidia remained the most held stock on the platform, ending the year with 21% more holders, while Meta added 19%. Retail ownership of European defence companies also grew sharply. Leonardo saw a 209% rise in holders, with Thales up 167%, Rheinmetall up 165% and BAE Systems rising 141%.  eToro attributed the trend to the European Union’s proposed €800 billion rearmament plan and the sector’s increasing treatment as a long-term strategic allocation. Lale Akoner, Global Market Strategist at eToro, said investors’ interest in AI was shifting from chipmakers to companies benefiting from the accelerating demand for data centres. She added that defence stocks had gained from “clearer policy direction” and multi-year spending programmes that improved earnings visibility. Quantum computing also captured growing interest. Both IonQ and D-Wave Quantum made the list of top risers, reflecting early retail exposure to a technology still in its commercial infancy. eToro said the findings show retail investors becoming more selective within major themes, favouring companies with clearer revenue paths and structural demand drivers. The post AI, Defence and Quantum Computing Led Retail Investing Trends in 2025, eToro Says appeared first on LeapRate.

Fujitsu and SC Ventures by Standard Chartered have unveiled the roadmap for Qubitra Technologies, their new joint venture aimed at accelerating quantum innovation across financial services and advanced computing.  The company, initially incubated in 2025 as Project Quanta, will operate from the UK and integrate quantum computing, AI and frontier technologies into real-world applications. Qubitra plans to focus on two pillars: high-performance, quantum-enabled applications and a digital marketplace platform connecting the global quantum ecosystem.  The applications will target areas such as fraud detection, derivatives pricing and financial markets trading, combining quantum and quantum-inspired techniques with advanced machine learning. Early implementations are under way with financial institutions, hedge funds and family offices, with a first rollout planned for early 2026. The marketplace will host software, hardware and open-source tools from third-party quantum providers, alongside Fujitsu’s own hardware and Digital Annealer technology. The platform will allow users to test and deploy solutions across the quantum stack, with a pilot MVP launch due in 2026. Qubitra’s leadership team includes CEO Vishal Shete, formerly of Terra Quantum; COO Daniel Wynne, previously founding COO at Carbonplace; and CSO Kugendran Naidoo, a former J.P. Morgan and IBM executive specialising in quantum algorithms and machine learning. Alex Manson, CEO of SC Ventures, said the venture aims to “re-invent financial services” with frontier technologies, while Fujitsu’s CTO Vivek Mahajan said Qubitra’s applications are designed to deliver measurable improvements over current market methods. The post Fujitsu and SC Ventures Outline Roadmap for Quantum Joint Venture appeared first on LeapRate.

FINRA has censured ABN AMRO Capital Markets (USA) LLC and imposed a $50,000 fine after finding the firm operated for months without maintaining required net capital, filed inaccurate financial reports and failed to notify regulators of deficiencies. The firm, a FINRA member since November 2023, conducted securities business on 84 days between November 2023 and September 2024, while it did not meet minimum capital requirements. According to FINRA, the deficiencies ranged from about $1,900 to $8.3 million.  The issues stemmed from the misclassification of a reverse repurchase agreement with its parent bank, which the firm treated as an allowable asset despite lacking possession or control of the collateral. FINRA said this caused ABN AMRO Capital to overstate its net capital and file ten inaccurate FOCUS reports that overstated financial resources by $23 million to $25 million. These inaccuracies impeded regulators’ ability to monitor the firm’s condition. The firm also violated notification obligations. Although its net capital fell below required levels on 84 days, ABN AMRO Capital did not file deficiency notices with the SEC or FINRA until September 2024. FINRA said this deprived regulators of timely warning of potential operational or financial problems. ABN AMRO Capital agreed to the sanctions without admitting or denying the findings. The fine becomes payable upon acceptance of the settlement. The firm also waived any claim of inability to pay. The post ABN AMRO Capital Markets Fined $50,000 By FINRA appeared first on LeapRate.

Euroclear has appointed Maurice van Tilburg as Country Head of Euroclear Nederland, succeeding Hugo Spanjer, who retires after 21 years with the company.  The move is effective immediately, following what Euroclear described as close collaboration between the two executives to ensure continuity. Spanjer’s long tenure is credited with strengthening Euroclear’s position in the Netherlands. The company expressed “heartfelt thanks” for his leadership while signalling confidence in the incoming head. Van Tilburg brings significant experience across financial markets and the technology sector. As former CEO of Euronext Amsterdam, he supported growth-stage tech firms seeking capital through initial public offerings.  Earlier roles involved steering major business projects and developing issuer-focused services. His time as Managing Director of Techleap further exposed him to the challenges facing fast-growing technology businesses. He has also advised several start-ups as a board member. Geert Desmedt, CEO of Euroclear Belgium, France and the Netherlands, said van Tilburg’s “strategic vision and deep understanding of financial markets and technology” made him the ideal successor.  He added that the appointment completes a wider regional leadership refresh, following recent hires in operations and business development. Van Tilburg said it was “a privilege to join Euroclear at this exciting moment,” highlighting the company’s scale across 50 markets and its role as Europe’s largest central securities depository group.  He said his focus would include supporting issuers and advisers in accessing capital while pushing innovation and market efficiency. He also characterised Euroclear as “a natural consolidator” in the European post-trade landscape. The post Euroclear Nederland Appoints Maurice van Tilburg as New Country Head appeared first on LeapRate.

Swissquote has reported preliminary full-year 2025 results indicating a strong financial performance, with pre-tax profit expected to come in close to CHF 420 million.  The digital company said net revenues should reach at least CHF 720 million, supported by resilient client activity and customer growth across its global platform. Client assets approached CHF 89 billion at the end of December, reflecting continued engagement across trading, investing and savings products.  Net new monies totalled CHF 8.5 billion during the year, underscoring the expansion of both private and institutional accounts.  Swissquote noted that its results also benefitted from one-time items with a net positive impact of roughly CHF 50 million, largely driven by the revaluation of its original 50% stake in mobile-first platform Yuh after acquiring the remaining half. Headquartered in Gland, the group operates under two brands: Swissquote, which targets mass-affluent and active investors with access to more than three million financial products; and Yuh, a simplified mobile app aimed at younger, digitally savvy customers.  Combined, the ecosystem spans equities, cryptoassets, forex, derivatives and savings products across multiple international offices. Swissquote, which holds banking licences in Switzerland and Luxembourg, said its full report will be published on 19 March.  The post Swissquote Expects 2025 Pre-Tax Profit Near CHF 420 Million appeared first on LeapRate.

Leverate has unveiled what it describes as an industry-first initiative, offering brokers a fully managed MT4/MT5 ecosystem with three months of free access.  The Dubai-based technology provider says the model removes the traditional barriers that typically slow or complicate the launch of a new brokerage, replacing fragmented vendor relationships with a single, integrated operational platform. Brokers usually need to coordinate hosting, liquidity, CRM systems, payment processing and back-office tools before going live.  Leverate claims its consolidated model cuts this timeline from months to days, allowing firms to onboard real clients and execute real trades throughout the promotional period without setup fees or hidden charges. The package includes pre-configured MT4/MT5 services, 99.99% uptime hosting, 24/7 monitoring, liquidity connectivity via Leverate Prime, configurable A/B-Book risk routing and a CRM with a branded client portal. The company also offers migration support for brokers with existing MT4/MT5 licences. Leverate emphasises that the three-month period is not a limited demonstration but provides full operational capability under real market conditions. The intention is to let brokers validate performance and commercial viability before financial commitments begin. COO Shmulik Kordova said the firm is “willing to let brokers experience it fully before asking for any commitment,” while CEO Ran Strauss highlighted the company’s 19-year history refining brokerage infrastructure.  The post Leverate Launches Fully Managed MT4/MT5 Ecosystem appeared first on LeapRate.

CME Group will expand its cryptocurrency derivatives line-up next month with the launch of futures tied to Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar, reflecting rising demand for regulated digital-asset products. The contracts, expected to go live on 9 February pending regulatory approval, will be available in both standard and micro sizes.  The expansion includes ADA futures covering 100,000 tokens and micro contracts for 10,000; LINK futures for 5,000 tokens and micro versions for 250; and Lumens futures for 250,000 tokens and micro contracts for 12,500. Giovanni Vicioso, global head of cryptocurrency products, said clients want “trusted, regulated products to manage price risk” amid strong crypto-market growth. He said the addition of new futures increases choice and capital efficiency for a broad range of market participants. The firm’s industry partners welcomed the move, with Wedbush’s Bob Fitzsimmons saying the listings signal the continued maturation of regulated crypto markets.  Furthermore, NinjaTrader CEO Martin Franchi described the launch as a “watershed moment” that broadens access for retail traders. Volatility Shares co-founder Justin Young said CME’s expansion “sets the standard in innovation.” The new contracts join CME’s growing digital-asset suite, which already includes Bitcoin, Ether, XRP and Solana derivatives. The exchange recorded record activity in 2025, including average daily volumes of 278,300 futures and options contracts. The post CME Group Expands Crypto Futures With Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar Contracts appeared first on LeapRate.

FINRA has fined BNP Paribas Securities Corp. $125,000 after finding the firm failed to properly report hundreds of over-the-counter options positions over a period spanning more than four years. According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, the regulator said the firm failed to report 842 OTC options positions to the Large Options Positions Reporting (LOPR) system in 167,520 instances between October 2019 and April 2024.  The lapses stemmed from a series of coding errors, data-handling mistakes and supervision failures affecting transactions where BNP Paribas acted as an intermediary between foreign affiliates and U.S. clients. In one case, outdated salesperson-location data meant the system did not recognise certain transactions as reportable. Other issues included missing trader information, faulty data fields and human error, such as a salesperson selecting the wrong trader identifier. FINRA said the reporting failures breached Rule 2360(b)(5), which requires members to report large options positions to help regulators monitor potential market manipulation. The watchdog also found that BNP Paribas lacked adequate written supervisory procedures to ensure accurate LOPR reporting, violating Rule 3110. The firm, which has been a FINRA member since 1984, consented to the findings without admitting or denying them. It has since implemented new supervisory procedures and remedied the technical issues. The fine follows a separate 2022 censure related to inaccurate reporting. The post BNP Paribas Securities Fined $125,000 By FINRA appeared first on LeapRate.

Interactive Brokers has enabled 24/7 brokerage account funding using stablecoins, offering near-instant settlement and lower costs for international clients.  The new option is available to eligible clients of Interactive Brokers LLC and allows users to transfer USD Coin (USDC) into a secure wallet, with funds converted automatically into U.S. dollars. The firm said stablecoin funding addresses long-standing challenges in cross-border payments, particularly in regions where U.S. dollar wire transfers are expensive or slow. Transfers settle within minutes and can be initiated at any time, including weekends and public holidays. Chief executive Milan Galik stated that the capability provides “the speed and flexibility required in today’s markets,” allowing clients to begin trading across 170 global markets shortly after submitting a transfer. Interactive Brokers does not charge a fee for stablecoin deposits, though users must cover blockchain network charges. Its partner Zerohash applies a 0.30% conversion fee, with a $1 minimum. Support for Ripple Coin (RLUSD) and PayPal’s PYUSD is expected next week. The move adds another digital-asset feature to the broker’s offering, expanding access for clients who rely on crypto-based transfers for funding efficiency or for navigating restrictive banking systems. The post Interactive Brokers Introduces 24/7 Account Funding via Stablecoin appeared first on LeapRate.

State Street has launched a new Digital Asset Platform designed to support tokenised products across global markets, marking what the bank describes as a major step in its digital finance strategy. The platform, announced on Wednesday, provides wallet management, custodial services and cash capabilities, allowing institutional clients to access tokenised money-market funds, ETFs, deposits and stablecoins.  State Street said the infrastructure is built to operate across both private and public permissioned blockchains, with security and on-chain compliance controls integrated directly into its existing systems. Joerg Ambrosius, president of investment services, said the firm is “moving beyond experimentation and into practical, scalable solutions that meet the highest standards of security and compliance.”  He added that the platform is intended to give institutions confidence to incorporate tokenisation into their core strategies. Chief product officer Donna Milrod noted that clients are demanding “trusted infrastructure that makes digital assets practical, not experimental,” arguing that interoperability and strong controls will allow institutions to scale with confidence. The post State Street Unveils Digital Asset Platform to Drive Tokenised Finance appeared first on LeapRate.

Capital.com has received regulatory approval from Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority to operate as a licensed online foreign exchange broker, marking the fintech group’s latest expansion into a regulated market.  The company was granted the licence under number 244, allowing it to offer onboarding, trade execution and client support services for Kenyan users. The firm said the move aligns with its strategy of accessing markets through established regulatory frameworks and underlines its commitment to clear compliance and risk-management standards.  To lead the new operation, Capital.com has appointed Samwel Kiraka as CEO for Kenya, bringing extensive experience in regulated financial services. Valentina Rzheutskaya, executive director at Capital.com, said operating under local supervision is “a fundamental requirement for offering financial services responsibly”.  She said the CMA licence provides a defined framework governing risk communication, controls and client support, enabling the company to offer market access “within a regulated environment that prioritises transparency and informed decision-making”. The Kenyan business will operate under CMA oversight with local governance, compliance and client-service structures in place. Capital.com said it will adhere to all regulatory obligations, including ongoing reporting and supervisory requirements. Kiraka said the firm’s priority is to build operations that meet “regulatory and operational expectations from day one”. Capital.com already operates through entities authorised by regulators, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The post Capital.com Secures Kenyan CMA Licence appeared first on LeapRate.

CAB Payments expects to report full-year revenue and profitability ahead of market expectations, following strong trading through the second half of 2025.  In a pre-close update, the B2B foreign exchange and payments group said total income for the year to 31 December is forecast to reach about £119 million, while adjusted EBITDA will come in slightly above the consensus range. The company attributed the performance to deeper engagement in key emerging markets and strengthened relationships with central banks and regulators.  CAB said higher transaction volumes, a broader client base and expanded product capabilities supported the gains. The group also accelerated its international expansion, opening an office in New York in December and securing a licence in principle to operate in Abu Dhabi earlier in the year. Consensus estimates compiled by the company point to FY25 total income expectations ranging between £108.4 million and £112.6 million, with adjusted EBITDA forecasts between £28.3 million and £33.8 million. CAB continues to generate operating leverage as it focuses its investment on revenue-generating areas of the business. Group CEO Neeraj Kapur said the company was “returning the business to a sustainable and profitable growth trajectory” and highlighted “financial performance ahead of market expectations”.  He added that CAB enters 2026 with strong momentum and plans further targeted investment to sustain long-term growth. Full-year results are scheduled for release on 5 March. The post CAB Payments Expects FY25 Results to Exceed Market Forecasts appeared first on LeapRate.

The London Stock Exchange Group has launched Digital Settlement House, a new platform designed to deliver instantaneous, around-the-clock settlement across both traditional and blockchain-based payment networks.  Known as LSEG DiSH, the service enables real-time programme-based settlement using commercial bank deposits recorded on its ledger, referred to as DiSH Cash. The system allows market participants to move money in multiple currencies and jurisdictions on a 24/7 basis and supports both payment-versus-payment and delivery-versus-payment functionality. LSEG said the platform provides a genuine cash leg for foreign exchange and digital asset transactions, reducing settlement risk through synchronised settlement and shorter timelines. Users will be able to settle on the DiSH ledger or use the service as a notary for settlement across external networks.  The group said the technology can help unlock trapped assets, allowing cash, securities and digital assets to be deployed instantly while also improving liquidity management through intraday borrowing and lending tools. The launch follows a proof-of-concept trial completed with Digital Asset and a consortium of major financial institutions. The pilot executed transactions on the Canton Network, using tokenised commercial bank deposits to enable instant transfers. Daniel Maguire, group head of LSEG Markets and CEO of LCH Group, said LSEG DiSH “expands the tokenised cash and cash-like solutions available to the market” and will allow users to integrate traditional and digital assets “across new and existing market infrastructure”. The service will operate through LSEG’s Post Trade Solutions division and will support a wide network of commercial banks and currencies. The post LSEG Unveils Digital Settlement House to Enable Instant 24/7 Cross-Network Transfers appeared first on LeapRate.

U.S. Bancorp has agreed to acquire financial services firm BTIG in a deal worth up to $1 billion, expanding its capital markets capabilities and deepening its support for institutional clients.  The transaction, signed on 12 January and expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition will add institutional equity sales and trading, equity capital markets, electronic trading and M&A advisory to U.S. Bancorp’s product suite.  The bank said the move would accelerate growth in a capital markets business that generated about $1.4 billion in revenue in the 12 months to September 2025. Gunjan Kedia, U.S. Bancorp’s chief executive, said BTIG’s “top talent, capabilities and technology” would strengthen its ability to deliver value and innovation to institutional clients. BTIG chief executive Anton LeRoy said the firm’s long-standing partnership with U.S. Bancorp made the deal a “natural next step,” adding that clients would continue receiving high-touch service. Following completion, LeRoy will remain CEO of BTIG and report to Stephen Philipson, vice chair and head of Wealth, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking. Co-founder Steven Starker will continue engaging with major clients. The purchase price includes £362.5 million in cash and more than 6.6 million U.S. Bancorp shares, with an additional performance-based earnout of up to $275 million over three years. The bank said the deal would have a negligible earnings impact in 2026 and a roughly 12 basis-point reduction in its CET1 capital ratio at closing. The post U.S. Bancorp to Buy BTIG in $1 Billion Deal appeared first on LeapRate.

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has launched a new Trade Surveillance service designed to help financial institutions identify market abuse and financial crime more efficiently as regulatory expectations continue to rise. The new offering, now live across MiFID and foreign exchange markets, combines clients’ private trade data with contextual public market data, reference data and news.  LSEG said its proprietary surveillance technology processes billions of messages daily across its trading venues, enabling more accurate alerts and reducing false positives. Trade Surveillance for MiFID is a multi-market, multi-asset solution using the same datasets applied by UK and EU regulators.  It offers cross-venue and cross-product alerting through LSEG’s consolidated European orderbook, built from data spanning more than 40 venues and APAs. Clients using LSEG’s Regulatory Reporting Solutions ARM can access the system on a plug-and-play basis, with no additional technical build required. The FX version provides surveillance for participants on LSEG’s FX Dealing, Advanced Dealing and Matching platforms, as well as third-party venues connected via its Trade Notification network.  Delivered through a secure online interface, it allows clients to view their private data alongside the public Spot Matching orderbook. Liam Smith, COO of LSE plc, said the launch would help firms “strengthen compliance [and] reduce operational risk”.  Bruce Kellaway, CEO of Regulatory Reporting Solutions, feels the MiFID tool offers a “cost-effective solution” aligned with regulator methodologies, while Bart Joris of LSEG highlighted the importance of data context in fragmented FX markets. The post LSEG Launches New Trade Surveillance Tools appeared first on LeapRate.

Clearstream has agreed a new partnership with Blackstone to widen access to private market investment strategies for individual investors. The Deutsche Börse-owned post-trade provider will distribute Blackstone’s private market funds through its secure platform, giving wealth managers and their clients streamlined access to a broader range of alternative investments.  Clearstream’s network includes more than 300 distribution partners globally, with strong reach across Europe and Asia. Blackstone, the alternative asset manager with more than $1.2 trillion under management, has spent over 20 years developing products for individual investors. Its strategies span private equity, real estate, private credit and infrastructure. The partnership forms part of Clearstream’s strategy to become the key gateway for private market investments, reducing the operational complexity typically associated with alternative fund distribution.  The firm offers integrated services across order routing, settlement, custody and asset servicing, supporting more than EUR 4 trillion in traditional funds and around EUR 340 billion in private and alternative funds. Rashmi Madan, Head of EMEA for Blackstone Private Wealth, said the collaboration will help “broaden access to institutional-quality investment opportunities”.  Philippe Seyll, CEO of Clearstream Fund Services, feels the partnership reflects a “shared vision of revolutionising access to alternative investments”. Clearstream’s Vestima platform and its regulatory-compliant framework for KYC and oversight will underpin the expanded distribution effort. The post Clearstream Partners with Blackstone to Expand Access to Private Market Investments appeared first on LeapRate.

Checkout.com has secured approval for its Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank charter from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, the company announced on Monday. The move is seen as a major regulatory milestone as the company prepares to establish U.S. banking operations in 2026. The charter will allow the payments group to operate as its own acquirer in the American market, enabling direct integration with U.S. card networks.  Checkout.com believes the move will provide greater control over processing, improve acceptance rates and accelerate innovation for enterprise clients. The company is among the first global payment providers to obtain the charter. It comes as Checkout.com expands its North American footprint, including a new strategic hub in Atlanta alongside existing offices in New York and San Francisco. Checkout.com processed more than $300 billion in e-commerce volume in 2025, with U.S. volumes rising nearly 70 percent last year. The group is used by large merchants including Uber, eBay and Klarna. Jordan Reynolds, MALPB CEO and head of North American banking, said the approval activates the “definitive catalyst” for its U.S. banking ambitions.  He added that the company is now focused on scaling infrastructure and building talent in the region ahead of operational launch. Checkout.com stated that the charter positions it to offer a payment platform optimised for the complexities of the American market, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening U.S. enterprise performance. The post Checkout.com Secures Georgia Banking Charter appeared first on LeapRate.