Global fintech firm Airwallex has received approval from Bank Negara Malaysia to operate as a fully licensed financial services provider in the country after obtaining both e-money and Class A licenses.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The move enables the firm to offer its complete suite of financial products to Malaysian businesses, ranging from local payments to global money movement.Growing Footprint and Market InvestmentThe new licenses build on Airwallex’s earlier approvals, including its Class B Money Services Business license and status as a registered merchant acquirer. With expanded regulatory coverage, the company can now issue e-money, manage multi-currency accounts, support foreign exchange transactions, and facilitate international payouts on a single platform.Arnold Chan, Airwallex’s General Manager for Asia-Pacific, said Malaysia is a key market where the company aims to help businesses expand internationally. In 2025, Airwallex expanded its local team by 66% and handled over RM2 billion in remittance transactions. It also opened a larger office in Kuala Lumpur and plans to double its workforce.Airwallex has strengthened its global brand presence by signing a multi-year sponsorship deal with Arsenal Football Club, shortly after securing $300 million in Series F funding that valued the company at $6.2 billion. The partnership makes Airwallex Arsenal’s Official Finance Software Partner and extends across both the men’s and women’s teams, offering the company prominent branding and content opportunities during matches at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal Partnership After $300M Funding BoostAs the presenting partner for Arsenal’s upcoming pre-season tour in Asia, the Melbourne-based fintech aims to leverage the collaboration to engage new audiences and showcase its payments technology on an international stage.This latest move continues Airwallex’s broader expansion strategy, which has increasingly blended sports marketing with its financial technology growth. Following its earlier deal with McLaren Racing, the Arsenal partnership underscores Airwallex’s ambition to position itself as a leading global payments provider while aligning with iconic sports brands to boost visibility. The fresh capital injection provides the financial backing to scale its offerings and amplify brand recognition, signaling that Airwallex’s post-funding momentum is firmly focused on deepening its global footprint through high-profile partnerships.Elsewhere, Airwallex recently appointed former New Zealand Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sir Bill English as Chair of its New Zealand board, reinforcing its growing presence in the country. Since launching locally in 2023, the fintech has expanded rapidly, now serving over 1,000 New Zealand businesses and processing around NZ$2.4 billion in annual payment flows, a 240% increase from the previous year. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has made its position clear: prediction market contracts are financial derivatives, not gambling, and insider trading laws apply accordingly.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)In his first public remarks as Enforcement Director, David Miller addressed what he described as a persistent misconception that insider trading rules do not apply to prediction markets. "Unfortunately, there’s a myth in mainstream media and social media that insider trading doesn’t apply in the prediction markets," Miller said at a panel at New York University. "That is wrong."A key CFTC official said the agency will use its powers to root out insider trading in prediction markets https://t.co/UillsoQ2f2— Bloomberg (@business) April 1, 2026The remarks come after a series of trades ahead of major geopolitical events, including the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the recent conflict in Iran. "Misappropriated Information" Miller was careful to draw a distinction between legitimate informational advantages and illegal activity. He noted that market participants are allowed to use their own knowledge. For example, a farmer may use what he observes about his own harvest to trade. However, he made it clear that the CFTC will prosecute cases involving "misappropriated information." "We will only be prosecuting cases against those who tip or trade with misappropriated information," Miller stated. He defined the clear legal standard that the agency will apply, and added that the CFTC will use its discretion and not pursue "trivial" cases.Not Gambling, but DerivativesMiller also addressed the agency’s position in its ongoing disagreement with state regulators. Several states have argued that prediction markets constitute gambling and fall under their oversight. Miller framed the issue in direct terms: "Our position is that event contracts are not gaming. The event contracts at issue are swaps. Insider trading law applies."This distinction is central to the CFTC’s position. If event contracts are treated as derivatives, they fall under federal market rules, including insider trading restrictions.This statement provides a degree of federal cover for the industry and for brokers and institutional players looking to enter the space, as it reinforces the classification of these products as financial derivatives rather than gambling. A New Enforcement Philosophy Miller also pointed to a shift in the CFTC’s approach under the new administration, moving away from reliance on enforcement actions alone. He said the agency plans to offer stronger incentives for companies and individuals to cooperate with investigations, including the possibility of reduced penalties.For brokers and fintech firms, the implication is practical. If prediction markets are treated as derivatives, existing compliance expectations - including insider trading controls - apply in full. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Foreign exchange startup OpenFX has raised $94 million in fresh funding to expand its stablecoin-powered cross-border payments platform, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The round values the company at around $500 million.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)Backing from Major Venture FirmsThe funding was led by Accel, Atomico, Lightspeed Faction, M13, Northzone, and Pantera. OpenFX, founded in 2024 by Prabhakar Reddy, a former founder of crypto brokerage FalconX, is building infrastructure that uses stablecoins to speed up and reduce the cost of foreign-exchange transactions.Reddy reportedly conceived the idea for OpenFX after observing long queues at Western Union branches in Dubai. The company now connects traditional banking networks with digital systems, allowing near-instant FX conversion using stablecoins as the settlement layer.You may also like: A $150B Crypto Time Bomb? Google Says Quantum Computing Could Rewrite Bitcoin SecurityOpenFX said more than 98% of transactions on its platform now settle within an hour, compared with two to five business days under traditional methods. The startup reportedly processes over $45 billion in annualized payment volume, up sharply from $4 billion a year ago, driven by demand from neobanks, fintechs, and remittance providers.The fintech plans to use the new capital to expand operations in Southeast Asia and Latin America, where stablecoin usage is growing. It currently operates in the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, and India.OpenFX has developed a real-time foreign-exchange settlement network designed to replace traditional correspondent banking flows, focusing on wholesale clients such as remittance firms, neobanks, brokerages and global payroll providers rather than on direct-to-consumer transfers.OpenFX Sharpens Institutional FocusIn the crypto payments and stablecoin gateway niche, OpenFX’s backend FX and liquidity layer overlaps with firms like BVNK and Bridge, which help companies adopt stablecoins as a payment rail and integrate crypto into existing payment stacks. These players similarly focus on converting between fiat and digital assets while offering compliance and treasury tooling for international businesses.Late last year, OpenFX moved to deepen its institutional operations by appointing Alex Rowles as its new Head of Trading and Risk, adding a seasoned markets specialist just as cross-border payments and stablecoin flows draw more regulatory and operational scrutiny.Rowles joins OpenFX after a seven-year spell at LMAX, where he held senior roles at the trading venue and liquidity provider. He initially served as Head of Trading before moving into a Commercial Director position for the final two years of his tenure. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

A group of over 40 U.S. lawmakers, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, is demanding that federal regulators take immediate action to address the problem of insider trading on prediction markets.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!) In a formal letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), lawmakers urged the agencies to issue clear guidance. They want federal employees to be reminded that using non-public government information to trade on these markets is illegal.Rep. Moulton joined 40 House and Senate colleagues, led by @SenWarren and @RepAngieCraig, in calling on the CFTC and OGE to curb insider trading in prediction markets, underscoring the urgent need for clear guidance. pic.twitter.com/N7N19sEqAp— Rep. Seth Moulton Press Office (@RepMoulton) March 30, 2026 The letter is a direct response to a series of high-profile, suspiciously well-timed bets that have raised concerns about the use of classified or privileged information. These bets include a $400,000 profit made by a user on the offshore platform Polymarket who correctly bet on the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro just hours before the event.
 "Given the exponential growth in prediction market trading, [and] rising evidence suggesting possible governmental insider trading... we ask that the CFTC and OGE issue guidance reminding federal employees of their existing legal obligation," the lawmakers wrote. A Call for Formal Investigations and Proactive Measures The letter goes beyond a request for guidance. Lawmakers are calling for a formal staff-level briefing and are asking whether the CFTC is already investigating cases involving federal employees, as well as what steps regulators are taking to detect and prevent such activity. This push from Capitol Hill places additional pressure on the broader prediction market ecosystem, including regulated platforms such as Kalshi and the brokers and infrastructure providers building access to these markets. From Grey Area to Enforcement Focus The lawmakers' letter explicitly states that under existing law (the STOCK Act), insider trading by federal employees on derivatives markets—which the CFTC says includes prediction markets—is already illegal. However, they argue that in this "nascent" industry, the rules need to be explicitly clarified and enforced. The CFTC itself has been moving in this direction, recently issuing its first advisory on prediction markets and noting that the prohibition on insider trading includes the "misappropriation of confidential information." For the B2B brokerage and fintech audience, this legislative push is a meaningful development. It signals that prediction markets are moving toward a more structured compliance environment, where the detection and prevention of insider trading is becoming a central requirement. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Jack Dorsey’s long-standing vision of embedding Bitcoin into daily commerce just took a major step forward. His company, Square, has automatically enabled Bitcoin payments for millions of U.S. merchants, offering instant BTC-to-dollar conversion at checkout without any processing fees until 2026.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)No Setup, No Volatility, No FeesThe rollout allows Square sellers to accept Bitcoin as payment without extra configuration or crypto knowledge. Every transaction automatically converts to U.S. dollars the moment it’s processed, shielding merchants from price volatility and the need to manage custody or accounting changes.Automatically enabled bitcoin payments are rolling out to eligible U.S. Square sellers.Start accepting bitcoin that instantly converts to cash at checkout, with no additional setup.→ 0% processing fees through 2026→ Near-instant settlement→ No need to hold bitcoinLearn… pic.twitter.com/rnrPI0KbHE— Square (@Square) March 30, 2026According to the firm, instant settlements and zero fees until 2026 make the feature particularly appealing to smaller businesses that prioritize simplicity and cost efficiency.In an announcement on X, Square stated: “Automatically enabled Bitcoin payments are rolling out to eligible U.S. Square sellers. Start accepting Bitcoin that instantly converts to cash at checkout, with no additional setup.”You may also like: Mastercard Adds Blockchain Muscle With $1.8B BVNK AcquisitionThe feature is part of the company’s broader “Square Bitcoin” initiative but marks a shift in approach, Bitcoin acceptance is now integrated directly into existing payment infrastructure rather than offered as an optional add-on. This model positions crypto payments alongside traditional card and digital transactions, potentially lowering barriers to mainstream adoption.Competition in Digital PaymentsSquare’s announcement arrives as PayPal expands its own digital payments ecosystem through PYUSD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin launched across 70 markets. While PayPal bets on stablecoins for predictable value, Square is doubling down on Bitcoin’s infrastructure potential, reflecting Jack Dorsey’s conviction that Bitcoin, not stablecoins, represents the internet’s native money.Bitcoin is becoming easier for people to spend because several big payment players now let customers pay in crypto while merchants still receive regular money in their accounts, with all the conversion handled in the background. Still, Dorsey acknowledged that Square would support stablecoins as user demand grows, signaling a pragmatic blend of ideology and practicality in the company’s crypto strategy. Square’s automatic Bitcoin payments rollout could quietly normalize crypto usage at checkout. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Prediction markets kept moving this week. Trading continues, positions are opened and closed, and the machinery keeps running. On the surface, it still looks like business as usual, but it doesn't.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!) More attention is shifting to how these markets handle information. Questions around insider trading, new legislation, and changes in platform rules are starting to converge around the same point: who gets to act on information, and when. Here’s what mattered this week. What Moved the Prediction Markets This Week Behind the $967K Trade An investigation published by CNN this week pointed to a pattern that has been discussed for months, but rarely documented this clearly. Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps identified a cluster of linked accounts it believes are controlled by a single trader, who made nearly $967,000 on Polymarket by repeatedly betting on U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran ahead of time. The trader’s win rate on larger bets approached 90% — far above what would normally be expected in a market driven by uncertainty. The accounts remain anonymous, and some still held open positions as of Monday. The analysis does not prove insider trading, but the pattern is hard to ignore. More importantly, it connects directly to the broader debate now playing out in Congress and among regulators: whether prediction markets reward access to information that is not yet public.Three Bills in Five Days Between March 23 and March 26, several legislative proposals targeting prediction markets were introduced in Congress. On March 23, Senators Adam Schiff and John Curtis introduced the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, which would ban CFTC-registered platforms from offering sports and casino-style contracts. The bill has also been backed by the Indian Gaming Association.“Public service should not be a pathway to private gain,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bipartisan legislation ensures that insider trading rules apply to prediction markets and removes any ambiguity in how those rules are enforced—underscoring a basic expectation that those entrusted with sensitive information cannot use it for personal profit.” On March 25, a bipartisan House bill proposed banning members of Congress, the president, and executive branch officials from trading on political event contracts.On March 26, a group led by Senators Jeff Merkley and Elizabeth Warren introduced the STOP Corrupt Bets Act. Representative Jamie Raskin joined the effort. The bill covers elections, government actions, military conflicts, and sports.If you’re writing the laws, you shouldn’t be playing the market. This is basic stuff. I have a bill that finally bans members of Congress from trading stocks. No loopholes. No exceptions.— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) March 23, 2026 At the same time, more than 20 state-level lawsuits are running alongside the federal activity. Kalshi responded to the Schiff–Curtis bill by calling it an attempt to protect traditional gambling interests from competition. A VC Fund, Two Rivals, One Cap Table A new venture fund, 5(c) Capital, has raised $35 million to invest in prediction markets infrastructure. What stands out is who is backing it. Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan — competitors — are both involved. So are investors tied to firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Ribbit Capital, two names closely associated with major fintech and crypto bets. The fund is focused on building the underlying plumbing of the market — market-making, data, and index products — rather than consumer platforms. The signal is simple: even as platforms compete, capital is being deployed around the infrastructure that supports them. Quote of the Week Tarek Mansour, Kalshi CEO and co-founder, reacted on X to the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act introduced by Senators Schiff and Curtis on March 23.Casino lobby hard at work.There is a reason tens of millions of people use regulated prediction markets: it’s a better product.Banning just pushes this offshore, where no regulation exists.This bill isn’t about protecting consumers; it’s about protecting monopolies. https://t.co/otzm0U4Te8— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) March 23, 2026Number of the Week $500,000 That’s the threshold above which prediction market traders start making money. According to a recent analysis, only the highest-volume participants — those with more than $500,000 in activity — recorded positive returns. Smaller accounts consistently lost money.The Friction of the Week On Monday March 23, Kalshi announced it would preemptively block athletes, coaches, political candidates, and sports officials from trading contracts related to their own events.Two new guardrails: 1. Screen and block politicians from trading on their own campaigns.2. Screen and block athletes from trading on their own leagues. We already banned, monitored, and enforced against it. Now our systems also look to block it pre-trade. https://t.co/HThqrvmZ2B— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) March 23, 2026Polymarket published updated market integrity rules the same day, clarifying that users cannot trade on stolen confidential information, illegal tips, or contracts where they can influence the outcome. Neal Kumar, Polymarket's chief legal officer, described the changes as making "expectations abundantly clear." Two days later, Senators Schiff and Curtis appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box and rejected these measures as insufficient. Schiff said the companies "cannot be relied upon to self-regulate" and pointed to the suspected insider trading around Iran war bets.A bipartisan group of Senators creating the "Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act" aiming at limiting the platforms' reach. Authors @SenAdamSchiff & @SenJohnCurtis outline the details:https://t.co/lGYZQ6opbd— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) March 25, 2026The disagreement is structural. Kalshi and Polymarket argue that existing CFTC oversight and their own rules already prohibit the conduct legislators are targeting. Legislators argue that enforcement is toothless, blockchain anonymity prevents tracing, and the platforms have a business incentive to look the other way. Arizona filed 20 criminal counts against Kalshi on March 16. A Nevada court issued a 14-day temporary restraining order on Kalshi's sports contracts on March 20. The platforms are calling these state actions pre-empted by federal law. Bottom Line This week brought together several threads that have been building for some time. A trader with an unusually high win rate drew attention to how information moves through these markets. Congress responded with multiple bills. Platforms updated their rules. Courts in two states moved against Kalshi. What becomes clear is that each part of the system is moving at its own pace. Platforms react in hours, rewriting rules as events unfold. Legislators move in weeks, introducing overlapping proposals. Regulators move in months, opening comment periods and building formal frameworks. Courts move case by case. The market, meanwhile, doesn’t wait. Prediction markets were built to price uncertainty. Now they are being shaped by the rules that try to contain them. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

ARK Invest and prediction market platform Kalshi have announced a collaboration to test how prediction markets can be used within institutional research workflows.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!) Under the partnership, ARK will work with Kalshi to create event contracts tied to its investment themes, including macroeconomic indicators, company performance metrics and scientific or technological milestones. “Bringing prediction markets into institutional workflows is a natural extension of how we think about research,” said Cathie Wood, Founder, CEO and CIO of ARK Invest. “We believe these signals can provide additional context around key drivers across disruptive sectors.”At @ARKInvest, we’re always looking for new tools that can sharpen our research and improve how we make investment decisions. Prediction markets are not just a new derivatives market — they represent a powerful new way to quantify risk and surface forward-looking insights.We’ve… https://t.co/BLFzORsaVK— Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) March 26, 2026From Data Source to Research Input The collaboration moves prediction markets from being an external data point to something that can be incorporated directly into the research process. Instead of only observing existing markets, ARK plans to help define the questions those markets track. For example, this could include contracts tied to specific business outcomes, such as production targets or regulatory approvals, allowing the firm to monitor market expectations in real time. Prediction markets have shown relatively strong forecasting accuracy in certain domains. Analysis of Polymarket data suggests accuracy of around 73% across resolved markets, rising to over 90% in the final hours before events. This compares favorably with traditional polling models in some political forecasts.However, these signals are not purely neutral. Market outcomes can be influenced by large traders and uneven participation, which may affect how prices are formed. “We believe prediction markets offer a way to observe how participants price specific risks,” said Nick Grous, Director of Research at ARK Invest. A Targeted Use Case For Kalshi, the partnership expands its work with institutional participants by focusing on how its markets are used rather than just how they are traded. “This was part of the original vision for Kalshi — to provide pricing on real-world events that institutions can use in decision-making,” said CEO Tarek Mansour.As institutional adoption of prediction markets grows, Kalshi is seeing increased demand for a formal market request pipeline to help investors leverage the wisdom of the crowd.@ARKInvest is now working with Kalshi through this pipeline to list markets used in investment…— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) March 26, 2026 The collaboration builds on a series of recent partnerships focused on institutional access. Kalshi has worked with firms such as Tradeweb on data distribution and FIS on clearing infrastructure, while other partnerships have focused on custody and market integrity. For brokers, asset managers and data providers, the development points to a potential use case beyond trading. Prediction markets may be used as a supplementary signal within research and risk frameworks, rather than as a standalone trading product.Still an Early Experiment The approach remains experimental. The usefulness of prediction market data depends on factors such as market depth, participant mix and how contracts are structured. Activity is often concentrated in a limited number of contracts, with many markets remaining thinly traded. For now, the collaboration suggests one way these tools might be used within institutional workflows, rather than establishing a standard model. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

eToro has begun rolling out a feature that allows users to connect their own AI agents to live trading accounts. The company said the new function lets developers automate trades directly through eToro with allocated capital and defined risk limits.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)Dubbed Agent Portfolios, the new offering acts as a separate sub-account within a user’s main profile. According o the firm, investors can name the portfolio, set a budget starting from $200, and link an AI agent using a scoped API key. The agent can then open and close trades, check balances, and manage positions within that portfolio’s boundaries.Adoption of Agentic AI ToolsAgentic AI is a type of AI that can analyze information and take actions for a user, such as moving money or placing trades, within set limits. In finance, it usually means autonomous software agents that follow a goal (for example, managing a portfolio) and interact with external systems like broker APIs without needing constant human prompts.The timing also reflects rising demand from retail clients for AI-assisted investing, with eToro recently reporting a 46% jump in AI tool usage in 2025 and strong interest in AI-related themes across its user base.The rollout marks another step in its push to embed AI deeper into its trading ecosystem and shift more activity toward rules-based, automated strategies. It comes after the platform introduced AI tools such as the “Tori” AI companion and Alpha Portfolios, as well as public APIs aimed at letting users build and automate strategies on top of eToro’s infrastructure.Read more: AI Agents Could Be the Next Payments Revolution: Mastercard and Santander Just Proved ItThe latest platform offers two setup paths via the desktop application or through a direct conversational prompt for integrated AI tools. No coding is required to activate a portfolio.Industry Keep Agentic AI Mostly in PilotsFor eToro, Agent Portfolios extend the long-running social and copy-trading model into user-built automation, effectively turning the platform into a sandbox where developers can deploy and test AI agents with real capital inside controlled sub-accounts. Examples include Interactive Brokers, which has discussed agentic AI and autonomous strategy execution in its thought leadership and marketing, though mainly around tools and research rather than retail-facing AI sub-portfolios. Commentary on Charles Schwab and Fidelity also describes how they explore agentic AI concepts for workflow automation and advisory support, but these efforts remain largely conceptual or internal, not packaged as ring‑fenced AI trading portfolios for end clients. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Russia has delayed enforcement of a new advertising ban on Telegram and YouTube following backlash from lawmakers and the online business community. The regulators said it would implement a grace period through the end of 2026, giving advertisers time to adapt to changing regulations.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)FAS Delays Enforcement of Telegram and YouTube Ad BanThe clarification by the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) came after reports that the FAS had pursued criminal cases against bloggers who placed ads on the two platforms.For brokers, the grace period mainly preserves a critical client‑acquisition funnel while they still have to prepare for a post‑Telegram or YouTube future.Read more: Telegram’s Global Ambitions Hit a Wall as $500 Million in Bonds Freeze in RussiaMany Russian forex and CFD brokers rely on Telegram channels and YouTube influencers for lead generation, education funnels and brand visibility. Suspending enforcement lets them keep running campaigns and partnerships without immediate fine risk, instead of being forced into an abrupt and likely less effective pivot to domestic platforms and offline channels.The agency said on Wednesday that the complaints were linked to restrictions imposed by the state communications regulator Roskomnadzor, which has progressively limited Telegram’s functions since last year. Previously, there had been no clear indication that advertising on the apps was illegal.In a statement published on its website, the FAS said businesses “need time to adapt to the new rules and shift to alternative advertising channels.” The grace period means enforcement actions will be suspended until December 2026, though the agency confirmed that ads on Instagram and Facebook, banned in Russia as “extremist” platforms, remain prohibited. Advertising VPN services also remains illegal.Early this year, Russia launched a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for allegedly abetting terrorist activities, intensifying its standoff with the messaging app and its billionaire creator. State-aligned media have also reported fresh curbs on Telegram’s services inside Russia alongside an official drive to steer users toward a state-backed alternative platform.Duma Backs Gradual TransitionThe advertising dispute comes amid wider moves to tighten state control over digital communications. Telegram, which counts nearly 90 million users in Russia, faces mounting scrutiny.Authorities accuse the app of being used by criminal networks and foreign intelligence agencies. The FSB is currently investigating Telegram founder Pavel Durov on terrorism-related allegations, and reports earlier this year suggested a potential nationwide ban could follow.Early this year, Telegram passed 1 billion monthly users, of whom around 450 million use the app every day. According to Magnetto’s Telegram Marketing Report 2025, India accounted for about 100 million downloads in 2024, while both the U.S. and Russia recorded more than 38 million installs each. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Robinhood has announced a new $1.5 billion stock repurchase plan, coming as crypto and tech markets face pressure from wider geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Shares in Robinhood Markets dropped to their lowest level this year.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)$1.5 Billion Program Extends Earlier BuybacksRobinhood’s board approved the buyback on Tuesday, adding $1.1 billion in new capacity to its remaining authorization. The plan will run for about three years, with flexibility to speed up depending on market conditions.The latest plan extends an earlier $1.5 billion program started in 2024 and expanded in 2025. By March 2025, Robinhood had repurchased 25 million shares for more than $1.1 billion. The firm went public on July 29, 2021, listing its shares on the Nasdaq under the ticker.Keep reading: Finance on Tap: Robinhood Brings Money Trivia to Pubs Across EnglandRobinhood shares closed 4.7% lower Tuesday at $69.08 before recovering slightly after hours. The stock has dropped almost 40% this year and is down more than half from its October peak of more than $150. However, at the time of writing, the price was 7% up, trading at $73.Separately, Robinhood Securities entered a $3.25 billion revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase, replacing a smaller one and allowing expansion up to $4.87 billion.Social Trading, Prediction Markets, and Tokenization Robinhood’s latest buyback comes as the broker leans harder into social trading, testing a U.S. product that lets users share and discuss portfolios in‑app while trying not to provoke another regulatory backlash. At the same time, the company is pouring resources into prediction markets, which have quickly become one of its fastest‑growing businesses and a key pillar of its post‑meme‑stock story. Robinhood is building its own futures and derivatives exchange and gradually loosening its reliance on Kalshi, even if volumes and fee sharing still tie the two together for now. Further out on the risk curve sits Robinhood’s tokenization push, where it is working with blockchain partners on a three‑phase plan that would see users hold tokenized equities, withdraw them off‑platform and eventually pledge them as collateral for crypto loans. If it works, Robinhood could position itself at the center of a retail capital‑markets stack that spans stocks, prediction markets and on‑chain finance. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The most active segment of prediction markets — sports-related contracts — is coming under coordinated pressure from lawmakers, state regulators and gaming groups, putting a key source of trading volume at risk.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The latest step is the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) backing a bipartisan Senate bill that would prohibit federally regulated platforms from offering contracts tied to sporting events and casino-style outcomes. IGA statement: The Indian Gaming Association welcomes the introduction of the “Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act” @RWW pic.twitter.com/IBKM0rHYiI— Suswati Basu (@suswatibasu) March 23, 2026Pressure on Sports Contracts Expands Across States and Federal Level The bill, introduced by Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and John Curtis (R-Utah), has gained new momentum with the support of the IGA, which represents tribal gaming operators across the U.S. For tribal and state regulators, the issue goes beyond classification. Sports-related prediction contracts overlap directly with sportsbook products, raising concerns about competition outside existing licensing frameworks. Several states, including Nevada and Arizona, have already challenged these markets. Nevada has secured a temporary restraining order blocking Kalshi from offering sports contracts, while Arizona has filed criminal charges alleging the platform operates as an unlicensed gambling business. The IGA’s involvement brings these state-level concerns into a more coordinated national push. Federal and State Positions Continue to Diverge The bill would remove sports-related contracts from the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which currently treats these products as financial derivatives. The CFTC has argued in court filings that event-based contracts fall under its authority as commodity derivatives. State regulators and gaming groups, however, view them as gambling products that should remain under local control. IGA Chairman David Bean framed the bill as restoring state and tribal authority over sports betting, arguing that prediction markets operate outside established regulatory frameworks. Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour criticised the proposal, saying it reflects pressure from incumbent gaming interests rather than concerns about market structure. Casino lobby hard at work.There is a reason tens of millions of people use regulated prediction markets: it’s a better product.Banning just pushes this offshore, where no regulation exists.This bill isn’t about protecting consumers; it’s about protecting monopolies. https://t.co/otzm0U4Te8— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) March 23, 2026What This Means for Brokers For brokers and fintech firms, the issue is practical. Sports-related contracts account for a significant share of activity on prediction market platforms. Restrictions at the federal level could force platforms to remove these products or restructure them under state frameworks. This creates uncertainty around product availability, jurisdiction and infrastructure decisions. Firms exploring integrations may need to reassess whether these products can be offered, where they can be offered, and how they should be structured. More broadly, the situation shows that regulatory boundaries for event-based contracts are still being defined, with outcomes depending on how authority is ultimately divided between federal and state regulators. With the IGA now actively backing federal legislation, the issue is shifting from regulatory interpretation to a broader policy debate over who controls sports-related betting markets in the U.S. For now, the direction of the market will depend less on demand and more on how these competing frameworks are resolved. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Revolut reported pretax profit of £1.7 billion for the full year 2025, up 57% from £1.09 billion the prior year, as the London-based fintech expanded its customer base and diversified revenue streams across an increasingly broad product lineup, the company said today (Tuesday).Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)Revenue reached £4.5 billion ($6 billion), a 46% increase from £3.1 billion in 2024 and ahead of the £4.2 billion average estimate compiled by Bloomberg analysts. The results mark the firm's fifth consecutive profitable year, with net profit rising to £1.3 billion from £0.8 billion in 2024."We have built a diversified, resilient business that is profitable at scale, providing the foundation for our next phase of growth," Chief Executive Nik Storonsky said in a statement accompanying the results. "A decade into this journey, we have only just begun to show what is possible."Revolut’s Customers Drive Fee EngineThe expansion of Revolut's retail base remained the primary engine of top-line growth. The company added 15.8 million customers during the year, bringing its total retail customer count to 68.3 million, a 30% year-on-year increase. Business customers grew 33% to 767,000.Fee-based revenue continued to dominate the income mix, accounting for 76% of total turnover, the annual report shows. Card payments represented the largest single revenue line at 22.2% of total, followed by interest income at 21.6%, subscriptions at 15.7%, wealth products at 14.7%, and foreign exchange at 13.4%. Subscriptions rose 67% over the year, the company said, while paid plan adoption increased 42%.Business banking contributed 16% of total group revenue, with Revolut Business generating £708 million, up from £463 million a year earlier. Transaction volumes across the business segment reached £277 billion, a 56% increase, driven by what the company described as particularly strong demand in Singapore, Australia, and the United States, where business banking grew by more than 140% year on year.Lending Portfolio More Than DoublesRevolut's loan book grew 120% to £2.2 billion from approximately £1 billion at the end of 2024, consisting primarily of unsecured personal loans and credit cards, with mortgages described in the report as "nascent." The loan-to-customer-deposit ratio stood at 6.2%, up from 4.6% the prior year, indicating that the firm remains heavily weighted toward deposit gathering relative to lending, a profile more typical of a payments business than a traditional retail bank.Total customer balances, including funds held with partner institutions, climbed 66% to £50.2 billion. Savings balances more than doubled to £20.4 billion. The company said its balance sheet grew to £43 billion in 2025, with 90% of assets held in cash equivalents and high-quality treasury investments. Revolut's plans for building out its lending and mortgage offering were foreshadowed in late 2024, as the firm signaled intentions to move further into territory traditionally held by retail banks.UK License Opens Deposit CompetitionThe results come days after Revolut's UK banking subsidiary, Revolut Bank UK Ltd, formally exited its mobilization phase, unlocking the ability to offer Financial Services Compensation Scheme-protected deposit accounts to its 13 million UK customers. The Prudential Regulation Authority granted initial authorization with restrictions in July 2024, following a three-year regulatory process, but the full operational launch had remained pending since then.The cleared license puts Revolut in more direct competition with incumbent retail banks for deposit balances. According to a Bloomberg Intelligence report cited in the company's annual filing, Revolut's ability to compete for deposits could put pressure on accounts representing 25% to 30% of deposits at Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group. That competitive pressure on UK high street banks had been building well before the licence was granted, as Revolut accelerated its effort to position itself as customers' primary account.US Charter Application FiledBeyond the UK, Revolut said it filed an application for a US national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in March 2026. The application is for an entity to be called Revolut Bank US, N.A. The company launched full banking operations in Mexico in January 2026, which it described as its first bank outside of Europe.Revolut's ambitions in the US date back several years, with the company previously exploring the acquisition of a US banking institution as a potential route to accelerate its market entry. The OCC filing marks a shift toward building a chartered entity from the ground up, a process that typically takes several years to complete.Margin Improves Despite Heavy InvestmentThe company's profit before tax margin widened to 38% from 35% in 2024, even as Revolut increased its sales and marketing budget by 47% year on year. Total staff costs reached £922 million, while advertising and marketing spend stood at £529 million. Headcount grew 10% on average during the year, with the company saying it prioritized investment in product development and global expansion teams, which grew 26% and 35% respectively.Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes share-based payments alongside standard adjustments, reached £1.9 billion, compared with £1.3 billion a year earlier. Total capital resources stood at £4.9 billion at year-end, all classified as Common Equity Tier 1, up from £2.6 billion at the end of 2024.Revolut completed a secondary share sale in 2025 at an implied valuation of $75 billion, which the company said cemented its position as Europe's most valuable private technology company. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

GTN, a global fintech infrastructure company, has received a Type 1 securities dealing license from Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), giving the firm its sixth regulated entity worldwide and completing what it describes as an Asia-Pacific dual-hub structure.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The license brings GTN's regulated presence to the UK, the United States, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and now Hong Kong. The company said the SFC approval, paired with its existing Monetary Authority of Singapore authorization, forms the backbone of its regional strategy, linking two of Asia's most active financial centers within a single operating framework."GTN has provided access to Hong Kong and China markets across its network for several years and has witnessed increasing demand from clients globally to trade in this high-growth region," said Manjula Jayasinghe, co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer.[#highlighted-links#] "This milestone enables GTN to facilitate customer order flow from Greater China into global markets, while further enhancing its ability to provide access to Greater China markets for clients across the GTN network."Greater China Capital Flows Drive Licence PushThe Hong Kong approval is tied to what GTN describes as growing demand for access to capital moving between mainland China and international markets. The company says the new entity positions it to connect partner firms to US$3 trillion in China-related cross-border flows, though it did not disclose a source or methodology for that figure.Central to the offering, the company says, is access to the Stock Connect programme, the cross-border link allowing investors to trade eligible shares in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.GTN said it intends to support two-way order flow through the mechanism, meaning both inbound investment into China and outbound allocation from Greater China into global markets. Webull tapped GTN in April 2025 to deliver fixed income products to APAC customers, a deal that reflected rising broker appetite for GTN's fractional infrastructure in the region.The firm also extended its fractional trading capabilities to HKEX-listed equities, building on what it described as a 2025 expansion of that product line. GTN says fractional access allows retail-facing apps to offer high-value Hong Kong stocks at smaller unit sizes, reducing the capital barrier for retail participation.Regulatory Footprint Widens After FCA, MAS ApprovalsThe Hong Kong licence follows a period of regulatory and commercial expansion for the company. In November 2024, GTN received FCA authorisation in the UK, which the firm said would underpin B2B and B2B2C services under the Tripartite Model B structure. That move was followed in December 2024 by the appointment of a dedicated European CEO with two decades of fintech experience.GTN partnered with Georgia's Galt & Taggart brokerage in May 2025 for cross-border trading across US, European and Asian markets, while Revolut had previously tapped GTN in June 2024 to bring bond trading to EEA customers, illustrating the range of client types the firm targets across both retail and institutional segments.API Model Faces Growing Field in AsiaGTN's infrastructure-as-a-service model, which allows banks, brokers and fintechs to offer investment products without building proprietary technology, competes in a segment that has attracted increasing attention from both global and regional players. Firms including DriveWealth, Alpaca and Interactive Brokers' GlobalTrader unit operate in overlapping areas, and several Asian technology providers have moved to build comparable multi-market connectivity in recent years.The company says its single API covers 90-plus markets and eight asset classes, with the stated aim of reducing time-to-market for new investment products. Audi Capital selected GTN's platform in October 2025 to connect Saudi high-net-worth clients to 80 global markets, a deal that pointed to traction in the Gulf region alongside GTN's Asia and European push.GTN employs more than 600 professionals across 14 countries and says it serves over 450 clients globally. Its investors include IFC, the World Bank Group's private sector arm, and SBI Ventures Singapore. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

A group of U.S. senators has proposed a law to ban federally regulated prediction markets from offering contracts on sports events, raising questions about how these markets will be regulated, according to a Wall Street Journal report.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and John Curtis (R-Utah). It would remove sports-related contracts from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) authority and place them under state oversight. “The CFTC is greenlighting these markets and even promoting their growth,” said Sen. Schiff. “It’s time for Congress to step in and eliminate this backdoor, which violates state consumer protections.”A Market Between Federal and State OversightThe proposal targets one of the fastest-growing segments of prediction markets: sports-related contracts. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket operate under a federal framework, treating these products as financial derivatives. At the same time, they compete with state-licensed sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings, which are regulated under gambling laws. This overlap has led to conflicting approaches across jurisdictions. State regulators in Nevada and Arizona have challenged the legality of these contracts, with Arizona filing criminal charges against Kalshi. The CFTC, meanwhile, has argued in court that event-based contracts fall under its authority as commodity derivatives. The timing is notable. The bill comes as parts of the industry are moving toward more structured models. Recent agreements involving Major League Baseball, Polymarket and the CFTC have introduced licensed data, contract limits and closer coordination with regulators — steps that bring these markets closer to traditional financial products. What the Bill Would Change The bill would draw a clear line between financial and gambling oversight by removing sports contracts from the CFTC's jurisdiction. If adopted, platforms operating under the federal model would need to either stop offering these contracts or shift to a state-level regulatory framework. For market participants, this would directly affect product availability and the structure and distribution of these contracts. For brokers, the bill introduces a practical question: whether sports-related prediction contracts will remain part of the product mix. It also creates uncertainty around how these products can be offered, in which jurisdictions, and whether existing integration efforts will remain viable. Firms exploring these markets may need to reassess product strategy. This is especially true if regulatory treatment differs across asset types. More broadly, the proposal highlights that regulatory boundaries for event-based contracts are still evolving. Decisions around infrastructure, partnerships, and distribution will depend on how jurisdiction is defined. While the bill focuses on sports, its implications may extend to other categories of prediction markets. If Congress draws a clearer line between financial and non-financial events, similar questions could arise for contracts tied to politics, economics, or corporate outcomes. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

A set of agreements between Major League Baseball (MLB), Polymarket and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) highlights a shift already underway: prediction markets are starting to operate more like regulated financial products. MLB has licensed its official data to Polymarket, giving the platform access to structured, verified inputs for event-based contracts. In parallel, the league signed a memorandum of understanding with the CFTC, creating a direct channel for sharing information related to market integrity. Polymarket has also agreed to limit certain types of contracts that could be seen as easier to manipulate. These changes bring prediction markets closer to how traditional exchanges operate — with licensed data, defined product scope and regulatory oversight. We’re honored to announce MLB has named Polymarket as their Exclusive Prediction Market Exchange Partner.Polymarket ? MLB pic.twitter.com/o192gdhpZm— Polymarket (@Polymarket) March 19, 2026 What It Means for Brokers With official data feeds and clearer rules around contract design, event-based products can be packaged in a way that resembles other derivatives. Instead of relying on loosely defined external sources, contracts can be built on licensed data — similar to how sports betting and financial derivatives use approved benchmarks. New CFTC-compatible setups allow third parties to launch event-based products using existing exchange infrastructure rather than building their own. That includes execution, liquidity and compliance layers already handled by the underlying venue. Technology providers are also moving in. Platforms from firms like NinjaTrader and Devexperts now allow brokers and fintechs to add event contracts to their existing systems or launch standalone products without rebuilding the stack. In practice, prediction markets are becoming something brokers can connect to, rather than something they have to build.Adoption Still Limited, but the Direction Is Clear Large brokers have not yet widely integrated prediction markets into their core platforms. But the key elements are now in place: licensed data, clearer product structures and infrastructure that third parties can access. For brokers, the question is becoming more practical — whether to connect to this layer and how to manage the associated risks — rather than whether the product category itself will persist. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Institutional investors are paying closer attention to prediction markets as a potential source of alternative data, according to a report from alternative data firm Neudata.Join the inaugural Finance Magnates Singapore Summit 2026, which will bring together brokers, fintechs, banks, EMIs, wealth managers, and hedge funds across APAC. The study finds clear interest among hedge funds and macro investors, but no evidence of widespread adoption in investment workflows. For brokers, this creates an unusual dynamic. Prediction markets are not yet a meaningful source of liquidity, but they are emerging as a potential input into pricing models, sentiment analysis and client-facing analytics products. The nascent industry is led by Polymarket and Kalshi, which together accounted for over $38 billion in notional volumes in 2025. That growth has drawn attention from funds looking for new data sources, but interest has not translated into broad adoption. A Data Market That Is Still Hard to Use One of the main obstacles is the way the data is accessed. Funds can pull data directly from exchanges, but that requires building and maintaining internal pipelines. Alternatively, they can rely on institutional data providers, which offer cleaner feeds but at a cost and with limited depth. Some firms also use aggregators, though questions remain around data quality and consistency. In practice, the problem lies in infrastructure maturity. The data exists, but it is not yet easy to standardise and integrate into existing trading systems. Use Cases Remain Narrow Prediction market data is used mainly in targeted strategies rather than across full portfolios. Quant firms test it in arbitrage and market-making strategies or use it as an additional signal in specific trades, while others apply it as a sentiment indicator for macro events. The signal, however, still requires calibration and is not widely relied upon. In practice, the segment is emerging as a data layer rather than a fully institutional trading venue. The gap between interest and adoption reflects the current state of the market. The data is gaining visibility, but it remains a specialist tool used by firms that have the resources to work with fragmented and evolving datasets. For now, it remains a niche input. But if data standardisation improves, it could move from a specialist signal to a more widely used component in trading and risk models. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Financial reviews influence real decisions. A reader might choose a broker, a platform, a payment provider, or a white-label solution based on what they read. If the information is wrong or outdated, the cost is not just a bad click. It can lead to the wrong account type, unexpected fees, or trading under the wrong entity and regulation.That is why data verification matters. A financial review is only as useful as the accuracy of the facts inside it.Google’s quality guidance also points in the same direction. Content should be created to help people and be reliable, not written just to perform in search.What “data verification” means in a financial reviewData verification is the process of checking every important claim against a source that can be trusted. In finance, “trust” usually means primary sources, such as:the company’s official website (fees, account types, platform access, product specs)legal documents and terms (risk warnings, conditions, limits, restrictions)regulator registers (license status, entity name, permitted activity, jurisdiction)official pricing pages and contract specs (spreads, commissions, swap policies, margin rules)Verification is not about adding more text. It is about reducing uncertainty for the reader.Why verification matters to usersMost readers use reviews to answer practical questions. Verification matters because those answers often change depending on the details.Fees are rarely “one number”: A broker might have different pricing by account type. A platform might have different costs by tier. A payment provider might have different fees by route or currency.Regulation is not one label: Brokers often operate under multiple entities. The experience and protections can depend on which entity a user signs up with.Conditions change: Leverage limits, platform availability, minimum deposits, promotions, and instrument lists can change. A good review should make it clear what is confirmed and when it was last checked.When a review is verified properly, users get something simple but valuable with fewer surprises.Why verification matters for trust and long-term SEOVerification improves trust first. SEO benefits come as a result of trust, not as a trick.A verified review is more likely to:keep users on the page because the details are clearreduce quick bounces caused by vague claimsearn repeat readers and brand searches because people rely on the siteattract natural links and citations because the page is useful over timeThis aligns with Google’s focus on helpful, people-first content.It also avoids the problem Google warns about, where third-party content exists mainly to exploit a site’s ranking signals instead of helping readers.What verified review pages look like in practiceFinance Magnates and investingLive reviews work best when they focus on verified decision data and present it in a way readers can use.Finance Magnates Directory pages can include structured broker information and a detailed review section in a finance-focused directory environment. Example broker page:https://directory.financemagnates.com/forex-brokers/xmcom/investingLive provides the same value through verified, decision-focused data, but the structure is built for speed. Instead of relying only on long text, it uses a clearer layout that helps readers understand the broker faster. Example broker page: https://investingLive.com/brokers/xm-group/review/The key takeaway is not the layout. It is the principle. Building a review around verifiable facts that you can check and update makes it useful.A simple verification checklist for financial reviewsTo ensure the trustworthiness of financial reviews, it is crucial to consistently verify these details.Regulation and entityexact legal entity nameregulator and license statusjurisdiction and who the offering applies toTrading costsspreads vs commissions (and which account types apply)swap and overnight fees policy (where relevant)non-trading fees (inactivity, withdrawal, conversion)Products and platformssupported platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, proprietary)instrument availability (forex, indices, commodities, crypto, futures where offered)any product restrictions by region (if applicable)Account and funding rulesminimum deposit by account typefunding methods and feesRisk and limitsleverage limits and where they differkey restrictions that affect real trading outcomesclear risk wording when neededA review does not need to copy legal documents. It needs to confirm the key facts and explain them clearly.How to show verification clearly on the pageVerification is stronger when the reader can see it.Proper practices include:adding a “last updated” date (and actually updating it)linking to official sources for key claims (fees page, regulator register, terms)stating when information varies by entity or regionThis also helps with transparency, which supports trust and long-term performance.What brands can do to make reviews more accurateBrands often want coverage, but the best coverage comes when data is easy to verify.Brands can help by:keeping fees pages and legal docs clear and easy to findavoiding hidden conditions that create confusionnotifying publishers when key terms change (pricing, entity, platform access)providing official source pages that can be referenced in the reviewVerify the reviews' data before they are published to readersThis improves accuracy for the reader and reduces back-and-forth for everyone.Why this mattersA financial review is not useful because it is long. It is useful because it is correct.Data verification protects the reader, the publisher’s credibility, and the content becomes more valuable over time. In finance, that is the difference between content people skim once and content they return to when they need to make a decision.If you want your brand to be covered through verified, finance-focused reviews and evergreen placements across Finance Magnates and investingLive, you can register your interest through the Finance Magnates Commercial This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Nigeria’s Central Bank has ordered banks and other financial institutions to deploy automated anti-money laundering (AML) systems and submit implementation roadmaps within 90 days of a new circular issued on March 10, media outlet Condia reported.Banks have 18 months to fully deploy automated AML solutions, while other institutions have 24 months. All must file a detailed rollout plan with the Central Bank within three months, setting the first deadline around June.The rules target rising digital transaction volumes and aim to tighten monitoring of suspicious activity across the financial system.Banks Get 18 Months, Fintechs 24 MonthsThe directive covers deposit money banks, payment service providers, mobile money operators, international money transfer operators, and other regulated firms.The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) now requires banks and fintechs to deploy automated anti-money laundering (AML) systems to detect suspicious transactions at scale.Institutions have 90 days to submit a roadmap.Here’s what the new rule means for the industry:… pic.twitter.com/k21zPCuGQu— Condia (formerly, Bendada.com) (@thecondia) March 16, 2026Nigeria’s central lender has gone further than most regulators by not only insisting on automated AML systems, but also writing artificial intelligence directly into its rulebook as a core tool for monitoring financial crime. Unlike other regimes that treat AI as an optional upgrade, the CBN’s standards explicitly allow banks and fintech firms to use AI and machine learning in their AML frameworks. It mandates annual independent testing of models for accuracy and bias, and then tie those expectations to fixed deployment timelines and a 90 day deadline for implementation roadmaps.AI Allowed, Manual Monitoring UnsustainableThe required systems must connect to customer identity data, income information, risk profiles, and sanctions screening tools. Institutions must use these to monitor transactions against expected behavior, support Know-Your-Customer and Know-Your-Business checks, run investigations, and generate regulatory reports automatically.Join the inaugural Finance Magnates Singapore Summit 2026, which will bring together brokers, fintechs, banks, EMIs, wealth managers, and hedge funds across APAC.The Central Bank says manual monitoring no longer suits a market that processes millions of digital payments daily. The framework permits the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in compliance, but it requires independent annual testing of models for accuracy, bias, and performance drift. Supervision will include on-site examinations and off-site reviews of how institutions use the new systems. Fintech firms in Nigeria do not sit under a single statute; instead they fall under a mix of laws and guidelines depending on activity, with the CBN as the primary supervisor for payments, mobile money, switching, and related services. Meanwhile, the CBN operates a tiered licensing framework for payment service providers and mobile money operators, alongside open banking rules, a regulatory sandbox, and minimum capital and escrow requirements for various license categories.Comparing with Kenya and South Africa Compared to other jurisdiction in Africa, Nigeria is taking a more hard‑line, tech‑specific approach. Kenya, for instance, requires strong KYC and reporting but does not yet force every fintech or bank to adopt automated or AI‑based monitoring on a national timetable. Tools and timelines follow a general risk‑based approach instead.Read more: Kenya’s CMA Widens Regulatory Net With Robo-Advisory PermitsElsewhere, South Africa’s AML rules focus on outcomes: firms must show they understand their risks, know their customers, and report suspicious activity. Supervisors then use inspections and penalties to enforce this. However, they do not currently tell all banks and fintech firms to implement automated or AI‑driven AML systems by the same fixed dates as Nigeria. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Mastercard has agreed to acquire BVNK, a UK-based provider of stablecoin infrastructure, in a deal worth up to $1.8 billion. In Tuesday’s announcement, the payments giant mentioned that the acquisition includes $300 million in contingent payments. It will expand Mastercard’s capabilities in digital assets by connecting blockchain-based payments with traditional fiat systems.Today, we announced our intent to acquire @BVNKFinance, expanding our end-to-end support of digital currencies with BVNK’s leading stablecoin-based payment Infrastructure. Together, we’re strengthening how fintechs, platforms and financial institutions connect traditional fiat… pic.twitter.com/2Bc4kBokT6— Mastercard (@Mastercard) March 17, 2026Connecting Fiat and On-Chain PaymentsFounded in 2021, BVNK enables digital asset payments across major blockchains in more than 130 countries. Mastercard said the move will extend its network to support stablecoins and tokenized deposits, providing financial institutions with new payment options.“We expect that most financial institutions and fintechs will in time provide digital currency services, be it with stablecoins or tokenized deposits,” commented Jorn Lambert, Chief Product Officer, Mastercard.“We want to support them and their customers with a best in class, highly compliant, interoperable offering that brings the benefits of tokenized money to the real world.” The deal follows the payment firm’s broader push into blockchain through initiatives such as its Crypto Partner Program.BVNK Builds Up Licensing, Capital and Global FootprintIn recent months, BVNK has boosted its regulatory and funding base, securing an electronic money institution license for European markets reported by Finance Magnates. Besides this, it is building out global coverage to support stablecoin payments at scale.Join the inaugural Finance Magnates Singapore Summit 2026, which will bring together brokers, fintechs, banks, EMIs, wealth managers, and hedge funds across APAC.The firm has also attracted fresh capital, including a $50 million Series B round led by Haun Ventures to accelerate stablecoin payment services and its US expansion, with new offices in San Francisco and New York City.According to the industry, the deal underlines how stablecoin infrastructure is becoming core middleware between banks, fintechs and card networks, not a niche crypto add-on. "Every Bank is currently shopping for vendors and partners to get into this space.For orchestration it has been a three horse race, Bridge, BVNK, and ZeroHash," Simon Taylor, the Founder FintechBrainfood, said. Payment Giants Deepen Stablecoin Push Mastercard is not the only payments giant deepening its ties with the blockchain space. Visa recently expanded its stablecoin work with Circle’s USDC. The move allows some banks and fintechs to settle transactions in USDC over public blockchains instead of only using traditional bank rails.Mastercard’s move comes as demand for stablecoins accelerates. The total market value of dollar-pegged tokens hit a record $313billion in early March, as investors sought on-chain safety amid US–Iran tensions and weak crypto prices. In that backdrop, traders used stablecoins as both a liquidity parking lot and a bridge between fiat and digital assets, with Tether’s USDT holding more than 60% of the market and Circle’s USDC cementing its role in payments and settlement. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Marketing teams are always expected to publish something new. It could be a new campaign, a new launch, a new trend, or a fresh perspective. That kind of content can work, but it often has a short life. Once the campaign ends or the topic fades, the traffic usually drops with it.Evergreen content works differently. A strong evergreen page keeps answering important questions that people continue to ask over time. That is what makes it such a smart investment. Instead of depending on one short burst of attention, it can keep attracting relevant readers, support search visibility, and help brands get discovered while buyers are still comparing their options.This matters even more in finance. Traders, brokers, fintech buyers, and decision-makers do not usually act after reading one page. They compare brands, review features, check pricing, look at regulation, and try to understand which option fits them best. That is why evergreen comparison pages, reviews, and guides continue to matter. They support a research process that keeps happening, whether or not there is a major news event that week.For brands, that creates a very different kind of value. A strong evergreen placement is not just another mention. It puts the brand in front of readers who are already evaluating their options. When the page is useful, well structured, and regularly reviewed, it can keep delivering value long after publication. That is why evergreen content is still one of the smartest marketing investments a brand can make.Evergreen content is not static contentA lot of marketers misunderstand evergreen content. They think it means content that is published once and then left alone. That is not the right approach.Evergreen content is built around topics that continue to matter. The topic stays relevant, but the page still needs to be maintained so it remains useful, accurate, and easy to understand. In other words, evergreen does not mean frozen. It means lasting value with updates where needed.That idea fits well with Google’s people-first guidance. Content should be made to help people, not just to chase rankings. A useful evergreen page keeps doing that over time. It answers real questions clearly and stays relevant as buyers' needs continue.Join the inaugural Finance Magnates Singapore Summit 2026, which will bring together brokers, fintechs, banks, EMIs, wealth managers, and hedge funds across APAC.In finance, this is especially important. A short-term news story may bring temporary attention, but a page that helps readers compare brokers, platforms, liquidity providers, or prop firms can keep working because the main questions do not go away. Buyers still want to know what a company offers, what the costs look like, what regulation applies, and which option may suit them best.This is also why evergreen content supports E-E-A-T more naturally than thin promotional content. When a page is built to genuinely help readers compare options, it becomes easier to show who created the content, how the information was put together, and why the page exists. That makes the page more useful for readers and more credible overall.Why evergreen content beats short-life campaignsMost campaigns are built for a specific moment, such as a launch, promotion, or event. They can bring quick visibility, but that value often drops once the campaign ends.Evergreen content works differently. It is built around topics people keep searching for, which means it can stay useful and continue attracting attention over time. It may not rank forever, but it can keep performing as long as the topic remains relevant and the content stays helpful.That makes evergreen content more like a long-term marketing asset than a one-time campaign. In finance, this matters even more because buyers rarely decide straight away. They compare options, review details, and return more than once before taking action. Evergreen content supports that full research journey.It also keeps building value over time by attracting new readers, repeat visits, and ongoing discovery.Why Finance Magnates and investingLive evergreen listings have long-term valueNot every mention offers the same value. A short promotional placement may create awareness for a limited period, but an evergreen listing works differently.On Finance Magnates and investingLive, evergreen placements can appear inside content built around ongoing research intent. That means the brand is shown in pages designed for readers who are already comparing brokers, platforms, liquidity providers, prop firms, CRMs, and other financial solutions. These are not casual readers with no direction. They are readers already in evaluation mode.That context matters. When someone lands on a comparison page or evergreen guide, they are often further along in the decision process than someone reading a general awareness article. They are looking for structure, useful details, trust signals, and a clearer way to compare their options.That is what makes these placements more valuable. The brand is not only being seen. It is being seen in a useful environment, next to the exact questions and comparisons buyers are already making.There is also a relevance advantage. Finance Magnates already operates in the financial, trading, fintech, and payments sector, while investingLive’s comparison pages are built around recurring trader and investor research topics. That means the surrounding context is already aligned with the audience the brand wants to reach. In many cases, that is much more valuable than being featured on a broad site with weaker category relevance.What makes evergreen listing content actually usefulA useful evergreen listing does more than mention a company name and add a link. It should help the reader move closer to a decision.Here are the main things that make it work:1. Clear purposeThe page should make it obvious what it covers, who it is for, and how the listed brands are being evaluated. Readers should not have to guess whether they are looking at a general article, a comparison page, or a commercial guide.2. Useful comparison pointsIn finance, readers want more than a brand mention. They want the information that matters for their decision. For brokers, that may include spreads, commissions, swaps, leverage, platforms, regulation, and account types. For B2B providers, it may include integrations, execution, reporting, compliance support, or pricing models.3. TransparencyA strong evergreen page should be clear about where the information comes from and what each brand actually offers. Readers should feel that the page is helping them understand the market, not just pushing them toward a click.4. Updates where neededEvergreen does not mean untouched forever. In finance, details can change. Fees, platforms, product terms, and brand positioning may all need review. The topic may stay relevant, but the content still has to stay accurate.5. Value before the CTAThe page should help the reader first. Then it should invite them to take the next step. When the user has already gained context and comparison value, the CTA feels natural. It becomes part of the decision journey rather than an interruption.That is where Finance Magnates and investingLive can be especially strong. If the listing is placed inside a page that genuinely helps readers compare options, the click becomes more meaningful because it happens after trust and context have already been built.Why this matters for brandsFor brands, the real value of evergreen content is not only traffic. It is the combination of visibility, trust, and relevance.A good evergreen page can:keep attracting readers over timeplace the brand in front of people who are already comparing optionssupport trust by appearing in useful, structured contenthelp drive more qualified visits than a short-term awareness mention aloneThat is why evergreen content remains such a smart investment. It keeps working because it matches how real buyers research.ConclusionEvergreen content is still the smartest marketing investment because it keeps delivering value after the launch window ends. A short campaign may create a spike in attention, but a useful evergreen page can continue attracting the right audience as long as the topic stays relevant and the content stays helpful.Buyers do not usually make decisions in one visit. They compare providers, review the details, and look for trust signals before taking action. That is exactly why evergreen comparison pages, reviews, and guides continue to work so well. They match real research behaviour.That is also why being listed on Finance Magnates and investingLive can be more valuable than a short-term mention on a general page. The placement sits inside a format built around active buyer research, in an environment already focused on financial services, trading, fintech, and related solutions.So the case for evergreen content is simple. It supports search visibility, strengthens trust, gives readers useful context, and keeps earning attention beyond one campaign cycle. When that content is published on Finance Magnates and investingLive, the value becomes even stronger because the audience, the format, and the intent are already aligned.Put Your Brand in Front of Buyers While They Are Still ComparingIf your goal is long-term visibility rather than a short burst of exposure, Finance Magnates and investingLive evergreen placements offer a stronger solution.Your brand can appear inside useful comparison-led content built for readers who are actively researching brokers, platforms, liquidity providers, CRMs, and other trading or fintech solutions. That means stronger context, better alignment with buyer intent, and a more durable form of visibility.Explore Finance Magnates Commercial to position your brand where research, trust, and buyer intent already meet. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.