360T, part of Deutsche Börse Group, has struck a partnership with Bitpanda to expand institutional access to crypto trading and wider digital asset services across Europe. The deal connects 360T’s 3DX trading platform with Bitpanda’s digital asset infrastructure, aiming to give banks and other financial institutions a ready-made route into client-facing crypto products.Announced in Frankfurt and Vienna on Tuesday, the collaboration combines Bitpanda’s digital asset services with 3DX, 360T’s crypto-asset trading venue. Deal Structure and ScopeAccording tothe company, institutional clients will be able to offer comprehensive digital asset services to their end-users while they keep liquidity management inside the existing 360T environment.Under the model, 3DX continues to operate as the regulated trading venue built on 360T’s established technology stack, which many institutional clients already use for FX and other products.“Together with Deutsche Börse Group, we are building the infrastructure that will enable the next generation of institutional digital asset adoption. Partnering with 3DX is an important step as we continue to scale our partner solutions,” Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, the CEO of Bitpanda, said.“We are proud to bring together one of the leading global exchange groups, with one of Europe’s leading digital asset platforms, a testament to the role Europe can and must play globally in digital assets.”Bitpanda provides the infrastructure and capabilities needed for retail-oriented crypto services, including access to a broad universe of digital assets and operational support.Read more: Bitpanda Secures Full Dubai License in Major Regulatory Win Outside Europe360T and Bitpanda position the integration as a way to reduce operational overhead and accelerate time-to-market for firms expanding their digital asset capabilities. A Bid to Shape Europe’s Digital Asset RailsBitpanda presents the agreement as a step forward in its institutional strategy, adding a Deutsche Börse-backed channel to its existing retail and B2B partnerships.The Vienna-headquartered firm offers more than 650 crypto-assets and works with several institutional partners, underpinned by regulatory permissions that allow it to provide services across the EEA.360T serves as Deutsche Börse Group’s FX and digital assets arm and runs a multi-bank trading platform that covers FX, crypto-assets, cash and money market instruments for more than 3,000 buy-side clients and over 200 liquidity providers in around 80 countries.Meanwhile Bitpanda is moving closer to the public markets as it lines up a potential blockbuster listing in Germany’s financial capital. The exchange is preparing for a potential stock market listing in Frankfurt in the first half of the year, targeting a valuation in the range of 4 billion to 5 billion euros, according to a Bloomberg report. The Austrian firm has reportedly mandated Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank to arrange the offering. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

MetaMask, the self-custodial wallet developed by Consensys, has launched access to tokenized U.S. stocks, exchange-traded funds, and commodities through Ondo Global Markets. The feature is initially available on MetaMask mobile and allows eligible users in non-U.S. jurisdictions to acquire more than 200 tokenized assets, including major stocks and gold or silver ETFs, directly on the Ethereum network.Recent data shows spot trading volumes for tokenized stocks have surpassed $1billion, driven mainly by investors outside the U.S. seeking on-chain access beyond standard market hours. Analysts say this reflects geographic arbitrage and rising interest from both retail and institutional participants.MetaMask Enables Global Access to Tokenized AssetsActivity is largely concentrated among investors outside the U.S. seeking on-chain access to equities beyond standard market hours. The trend reflects a shift in global trading behavior, with tokenized instruments providing continuous access to traditional assets and bypassing local brokerage and currency constraints. Analysts note this highlights a geographic rather than temporal arbitrage, with growing interest from both retail and institutional investors.Users acquire these tokenized assets by swapping USDC stablecoin for Ondo GM tokens, which track the value of the underlying securities on a 1:1 basis. MetaMask expects to add desktop support via its browser extension by the end of February.Consensys CEO Joe Lubin said the offering demonstrates “a single, self-custodial wallet where people can move between crypto and traditional assets without intermediaries and without giving up control.” He added that it shows “what a better model looks like.”NEW: METAMASK ANNOUNCES "INTEGRATION THAT BRINGS TOKENIZED US STOCKS, ETFS, AND COMMODITIES DIRECTLY INTO THE METAMASK WALLET VIA ONDO GLOBAL MARKETS" FOR ELIGIBLE MOBILE USERS IN SUPPORTED NON-US JURISDICTIONSSOURCE: https://t.co/eZyfZ2zPuD pic.twitter.com/JfVLptJaeQ— DEGEN NEWS (@DegenerateNews) February 3, 2026Crypto Wallets Expand Tokenized Asset AccessThe rollout excludes users in 30 countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Economic Area. MetaMask enforces these geographic restrictions using IP-based checks and said it continues to explore compliant ways to expand access in line with regulatory requirements.MetaMask’s launch reflects a wider industry trend toward integrating real-world assets into crypto wallets and trading platforms. Other companies, including Coinbase and Trust Wallet, have also begun offering tokenized assets. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

As retail investors in the US continue their steady migration from mutual funds to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), an unintended casualty may be the commission-free trading model that has defined the past decade of retail brokerage. According to JP Morgan, as reported by Reuters, US brokers and custodians may start seeking distribution fees from ETF managers.The zero-commission model began in earnest in 2013, when Robinhood popularised free trading through a slick mobile interface. Millions of first-time investors followed. Legacy players soon capitulated. In 2019, Charles Schwab cut online trading fees on US equities, ETFs and options from US$4.95 to zero. Why the Shift to ETFs Hurts RevenueMutual funds, long a staple of retail portfolios, typically paid distribution or servicing fees to brokers in exchange for shelf space and access to clients. ETFs, by contrast, trade like stocks and were swept into the same zero-fee regime. To offset the loss of commissions, brokers turned to payment for order flow (PFOF), routing client orders to market-makers in exchange for rebates. That reliance has since waned, as regulatory scrutiny has intensified.As investors rotated out of mutual funds and into ETFs, a dependable revenue stream quietly dried up.The scale of the shift is striking. According to analytics company FactSet, more than 1,000 ETFs were launched in the United States last year, pushing total ETF assets to roughly US$13.5 trillion. The US Federal Reserve noted in 2025 that strong inflows into equity ETFs over the past decade had coincided with “notable outflows” from equity mutual funds. For brokers, this represents a double squeeze: declining fund-related payments and no explicit commission income from ETF trading.The Case for ETF Distribution FeesJP Morgan estimates the US ETF management-fee pool at around US$21 billion annually. If intermediaries were to capture 10-20% of total expense ratios, this could translate into US$2-US$4 billion a year in new costs for fund managers.The bank argued that urgency is growing, particularly if regulatory changes accelerate the tax-free conversion of mutual funds into ETFs. The burden, however, would not fall evenly. Large players such as BlackRock and Vanguard are likely to wield enough market power to negotiate favourable terms. Mid-sized managers may find themselves with less room to manoeuvre.Pressures for Diversification IncreaseMeanwhile, US retail brokers are eyeing Europe for diversification, including Robinhood, which acquired Luxembourg-based crypto exchange Bitstamp Ltd. to expand its crypto offerings. Indeed, the traditional retail FX and CFD landscape is converging with crypto. . In a recent interview with Finance Magnates, Kaledora Fontanta Kiernan-Lin, the co-founder and CEO of Ostium, a blockchain-based perpetual swaps platform, argued that decentralised finance will further disrupt the global CFD market within five years, a shift that could further erode over-the-counter revenues and accelerate the industry’s move toward exchange-style products. Among other strategies, many brokers are now also increasingly giving retail traders access to tools and market structures once reserved for institutional investors. Taken together, these shifts suggest that the zero-commission model will continue to lose ground, as brokers diversify products and geographies to make their economics more resilient. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

Institutional foreign exchange (FX) volumes jumped across major trading platforms in January 2026, reversing December's pullback as currency volatility returned to global markets.Institutional FX Volumes Surge 25% as Dollar Volatility ReturnsFXSpotStream's institutional ECN recorded total average daily volume of $154.3 billion last month, up 25% from December's $123.1 billion. The platform's spot ADV climbed to $108.1 billion, marking a significant recovery from the prior month's lull. The January figures reflect heightened trading activity as institutional desks repositioned following year-end.Cboe's spot platform processed $1.33 trillion in total January volumes with average daily turnover of $63.3 billion across 21 trading sessions, rising 30% from December's $48.6 billion daily pace. The Chicago-based venue benefited from renewed dollar volatility that emerged in late January after weeks of relative calm.The rebound followed December's cooling period, when currency volatility had subsided and institutional desks reduced risk ahead of year-end. Trading typically picks up in January as new capital enters the market and macro positioning resumes.European Venues Post Strong GainsDeutsche Börse's 360T platform recorded January volumes of $853.7 billion with average daily turnover of $38.8 billion, jumping 15% from December's $32.2 billion daily average. The German venue saw increased activity in euro crosses as traders adjusted positions following the year-end rebalancing period.Euronext FX processed $732.8 billion in total monthly volumes with daily averages reaching $34.9 billion, up 16% from December's $30.1 billion. The platform maintained steady growth as corporate hedging activity picked up after the holiday period.Both European venues outpaced their December performance as volatility in major currency pairs increased. The activity levels suggested institutional traders were rebuilding positions after the typical year-end risk reduction.Tokyo Platform Shows Mixed ResultsTokyo Financial Exchange's Click 365 retail-focused platform recorded 2.03 million contracts in January with daily averages of 96,878, rising 29% from December's 68,736. The yen-denominated platform showed stronger month-over-month growth as Japanese retail traders increased activity.The Turkish lira-yen pair led volume contributors with 518,420 contracts, up 19% from December. USD/JPY trading reached 511,583 contracts, jumping 37% month-over-month. The Mexican peso-yen pair recorded 281,662 contracts, climbing 22% from the prior month.January Pattern Mirrors 2025 StartThe January surge echoed patterns from twelve months earlier, when FXSpotStream reported near-record trading volumes to start 2025. At that time, total ADV reached $101.2 billion as the dollar hit multi-year highs.The 2026 January figures exceeded those levels significantly, with FXSpotStream's total ADV climbing 52% compared to January 2025's $101.2 billion. Spot ADV in January 2026 reached $108.1 billion, up 48% from the $72.8 billion recorded in January 2025.Other venues also showed broad-based gains when 2025 began, with institutional FX markets rebounding for consecutive months across Asia, the United States, and Europe. The pattern suggests seasonal factors play a role in January trading activity. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The Financial Commission has announced the certification of trading technology provider iTech Software. The certification confirms that the company’s technology meets standards intended to ensure brokers and traders operate under commonly accepted trading technology requirements.iTech Software provides technology solutions for Forex, CFD, crypto, and NFT brokerages. The company develops and maintains its core systems in-house, including web trader platforms and back-office infrastructure. It also offers live support, monitoring, and risk management services.Commission Certifies Technology for Online BrokersThe Commission reviewed iTech Software’s systems to confirm they met the technical requirements of its certification evaluation process. The assessment included system security, system capacity, business disaster recovery and continuity plans, reporting, record keeping, and other areas considered important for certification.Founded in 2013, the Financial Commission is an independent, member-driven external dispute resolution organization for online brokerages operating in global forex, derivatives, and CFD markets. The Commission also provides a technology certification process for developers seeking membership.Commission Warns Traders About Scam ActivityIn a separate update, the Financial Commission announced RA Prime as its member. The brokerage offers foreign exchange and CFD products globally. Previous additions to the organization include FP Markets, OneRoyal, FXON, and GTCFX. Neex, an online brokerage providing access to Forex, indices, and commodities, has also joined the Commission.The Commission further updated its investigation into a scam involving individuals falsely claiming to represent the organization. These imposters targeted traders who reported losses or blocked withdrawals from brokers such as Umarkets and TPG Deals. They offered supposed funds recovery or chargeback services in exchange for fees and issued counterfeit guarantee letters through entities claiming to be legal firms, including Orbital Limited and AK Law. The scammers also used fake contact information resembling legitimate digital wallet providers to mislead victims.The Financial Commission stated it does not provide funds recovery or chargeback services, does not contact traders unsolicited, never uses social media or messaging apps for official communication, and does not issue guarantee letters. Its services remain free for clients of member brokers. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Trading Technologies named Reena Raichura to Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer as the firm reshapes its product organization. The move comes less than a year after she joined the company as Managing Director for core platform product management.TT Taps Raichura to Sharpen Platform RoadmapTrading Technologies mentioned that Raichura will lead the next phase of the company’s product evolution. Her responsibilities include building and delivering the platform strategy and strengthening planning, preparation and go-to-market execution across the product function.She will relocate from Singapore to Chicago for the role, and will report to Jason Shaffer, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Product Officer.Raichura joined TT last year as Managing Director, Core Platform Product Management. She previously held senior product and technology roles at J.P. Morgan Corporate Investment Bank and Wealth Management, ION Fidessa, Exane BNP Paribas and interop.io. She serves as a Non-Executive Director at Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC, a FTSE 250 company.Read more: Prop Firm Raen Trading Teams With Trading Technologies for Futures Trader RecruitmentRecently, the firm boosted its operations in EMEA with the appointment of Rajiv Shah as Head of Sales in the region, bringing over 20 years of enterprise technology experience to its London team.More Recent Appointments and DevelopmentsTT provides technology for the trading operations of banks, brokerages, hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, CTAs, commercial hedgers and risk managers.Last year, Private equity firm Thoma Bravo acquired a stake in the technology provider as part of what it described as the next phase of the company’s growth, with Bloomberg reporting that the transaction value exceeded $1 billion. Despite the agreement with Thoma Bravo, existing owner 7RIDGE will retain a stake in Trading Technologies; 7RIDGE acquired the company in 2021, but the purchase price at that time was not officially disclosed.Earlier, Justin Llewellyn-Jones took over as the CEO ofTrading Technologies, succeeding Keith Todd, who became Deputy Chairman of the Board. The company described the change as going beyond listed derivatives into multiple asset classes, integrates recent acquisitions and launches new business lines. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

"If you stumble upon a crypto press release on a news site, odds are better than 50/50 that the project behind it is of low credibility or worse," Tal Shmuel Harel, co-founder of Chainstory, told FinanceMagnates.comHis warning comes as Chainstory’s new research exposes how the crypto press release industry has evolved into a distribution channel for market manipulation, with dubious projects exploiting pay-to-play platforms to bypass editorial scrutiny and manufacture credibility.“Better Than 50/50 the Project Is Low Credibility”An analysis of 2,893 press releases published between June and November 2025 found that 62 percent came from projects flagged as high-risk or outright scams. In the cloud mining sector specifically, 90 percent of issuers fell into those categories.More than half of all releases covered routine events that traditional newsrooms would dismiss, including product tweaks, exchange listings, or token sales. Only 58 releases, roughly 2 percent, related to substantive developments like funding rounds, mergers, or research reports.The largest category, representing 49 percent of releases, consisted of product or feature updates. Another 24 percent announced trading listings or exchange promotions.The tone skewed heavily promotional. Roughly 54 percent were tagged as "overstated" and another 19 percent as "promotional." Only 10 percent used neutral, factual language.Fake Walmart Partnership Exposed Systemic WeaknessThe vulnerability of press release systems came into sharp focus in September 2021, when a fake announcement claiming Walmart would accept Litecoin appeared on a traditional newswire. Major outlets including Reuters and CNN initially reported the story, sending Litecoin's price up roughly 30 percent in minutes before Walmart denied the claim."If a fake press release could dupe even Reuters and CNN, it's easy to imagine how everyday retail crypto investors, who see press releases on aggregator sites or social media, might be misled by the steady stream of paid announcements that look like real news," the report notes.Distribution services claim to perform compliance vetting, but by their own admission, it's impossible to rigorously fact-check thousands of daily releases. The onus falls on clients to be truthful, creating what the report calls a "fox guarding the henhouse" scenario.Projects Buy Credibility Through Guaranteed PlacementCrypto-specific distribution platforms operate differently from traditional services like Business Wire or PR Newswire. Instead of syndicating announcements to journalists for review, crypto wires sell guaranteed placement across partner websites, bypassing editorial filters entirely.Projects with a few thousand dollars can secure publication on dozens of sites, including some that auto-post releases in sections labeled "Press Release" rather than "Sponsored Content." This creates what the report describes as a "false hierarchy" where paid announcements shed the stigma of advertising.Harel explained that distribution platforms have exclusive contracts with crypto websites and are motivated to push high volumes of releases. "A few years back, the service was called 'article placements' or 'link building brokerage,' where everything was handled manually," he said. "This model is a bit more sophisticated since there's software in place, which is integrated in third-party websites and acts as a 'bridge' to publication, designed to place advertorial content at scale and high volumes."Exchange Listings Create Illusion of ActivityMajor exchanges flood press release channels with listing announcements to signal constant activity, even for obscure tokens that mainstream outlets would ignore. The practice serves multiple purposes: satisfying token projects that expect promotional support, generating permanent web pages for search optimization, and creating the appearance of dynamic growth.The SEO strategy largely fails due to duplicate content filters. When identical text appears across dozens of domains, search engines typically index only the original source while hiding remaining placements. Clients pay for guaranteed placement on 100-plus websites believing they've bought visibility, but most links remain hidden from average users.Buzzword Bombing Targets Retail InvestorsPress releases frequently deploy trending terminology - AI, NFT, DeFi, Web3, Layer-2, Metaverse - regardless of actual relevance to the project. Titles read like clickbait designed to trigger FOMO: "Project X Blazes Into Web3 with Unprecedented Growth," "Startup Y Tops Global Charts in Security.""This keyword bombing approach is a hallmark of promotional writing aimed at investors and not genuine tech announcements," according to the analysis.Any seasoned editor would recognize such language as a rejection flag, which is precisely why these projects bypass editorial channels entirely.Research shows automated trading algorithms compound the effect. Some bots scrape news feeds for keywords like "partnership" or "launch" to execute trades. A press release crossing the wire with the right buzzwords can trigger algorithmic buys before anyone realizes the source was just paid placement with no external validation.Regulatory Gaps Leave Enablers UnscathedThe FTC hasn't enforced native advertising transparency rules against crypto newswires despite clear violations. Harel attributes this to regulatory bandwidth. "In fast-moving markets, regulators typically target the 'obvious' fraud after investors cry foul, which is the projects themselves, while the 'enablers' (the distribution platforms) remain under the radar," he said.The SEC has prosecuted stock promoters for issuing misleading press releases to pump prices, with data from 2002-2015 showing press releases appeared in 73 percent of 150 pump-and-dump cases targeting penny stocks."Distribution platforms shield themselves with Terms and Conditions that dump all accountability onto the issuers, claiming it's 'impossible' to fact-check every claim," Harel said. "On the other hand, their publishing partners shield themselves by hosting these releases with minor disclaimers, often with paid disclosures omitted, effectively acting as a 'convenience' for readers while profiting from the placement."Information Quality Crisis Threatens Market IntegrityThe proliferation of unvetted promotional content disguised as news creates an alternate reality where every project appears best, biggest, safest, and revolutionary according to its own paid output.Harel warns that investors cannot rely on single sources of information. "In an environment where even Tier-1 outlets can be manipulated or rush to report inaccuracies, relying solely on unvetted press release distribution platforms is a recipe for disaster," he concluded. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

TradingView has added market data from Matsui Securities, allowing users to access real-time prices and depth for key foreign exchange pairs.Matsui Securities, founded in 1918 and regulated by the Japan Financial Services Agency, serves over 1.7 million accounts from its Tokyo headquarters. The firm provides trading services in stocks, mutual funds, futures and options, as well as foreign exchange margin trading.Japan Dominates Global Retail FX VolumesJapan has one of the world’s largest retail FX markets. Margin FX trading is widely used by retail investors, and the sector has grown steadily alongside CFDs in recent years.According to Finance Magnates’ Q2 2025 Intelligence Report, average monthly trading volumes in the global retail FX and CFD industry surpassed $30 trillion. This represents a significant rise from levels below $10 trillion a decade earlier. Japan remains the world’s largest retail FX market. While growth has slowed in mature markets such as the EU and UK, the report notes strong expansion across Asia, led by India.Matsui FX Data Now on TradingViewThe new data feed includes 32 currency pairs from Matsui. The feed offers tight USD/JPY spreads tradable from one unit. Users can view Matsui quotes alongside other global markets, compare spreads, and analyse trading strategies directly on TradingView charts.You may find it interesting: Broadridge Elevates Matsui's Stock Lending Operations in Japan.IG Japan Ended Crypto ETF CFDsSeparately, IG Securities, the Japanese arm of IG Group, stopped offering cryptocurrency ETF CFDs following updated guidance from Japan’s Financial Services Agency. From last December, new orders were no longer accepted, and pending orders were canceled. The FSA had clarified that ETFs containing specific crypto assets were tied to underlying cryptocurrency prices, so derivatives on such ETFs fell under Japan’s crypto-related derivatives rules. Customers were required to close positions by January this year; any remaining positions were forcibly liquidated. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitcoin price (BTC) hit my $74,000 bearish target this week, exactly as I predicted three months ago in November 2025. Now trading at $77,986 on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, I'm accumulating at current levels for a potential return to all-time highs. The bullish path requires breaking $97,000 to confirm the uptrend, but I'm also prepared for alternative bearish scenarios targeting $68,000 or even $53,000 if key support fails.In this article, I am analyzing how high can Bitcoin go after the latest correction and looking at BTC/USDT chart.How High Can Bitcoin Go? $74K AchievedIn November 2025, I called for a bearish target of $74,000 while most analysts remained bullish. Over the past three months, I consistently maintained this view as Bitcoin descended from its October highs. This week, Bitcoin touched exactly $74,420. validating my forecast with almost 1:1 precision.As I said throughout those three months: from this moment of reaching $74K, I assume the possibility of re-accumulation and the return of strong hands to the game, which should push Bitcoin back upward. That's exactly the phase we're entering now.True to my word, I've been executing purchases yesterday around $75,000 levels. Why accumulate before confirmation of the uptrend? Because by the time we have certainty about returning toward all-time highs, buying at attractive prices may be too late.Follow me on X for more Bitcoin market analysis: @ChmielDkThe Bullish Case: Step-by-Step Path to ATHFor Bitcoin to return to its bullish trajectory and target new all-time highs, price must navigate through several critical resistance levels. Here's my roadmap:Step 1: Return to Consolidation Range ($84-85K)Bitcoin must first reclaim the consolidation range established between November and late January. This means moving above at least $84,000-85,000, which would signal that buyers are regaining control.Step 2: Break the 50 EMA ($89K)The 50-day exponential moving average currently sits around $89,000. Breaking above this level confirms short-term momentum has shifted bullish and attracts technical traders back into long positions.Step 3: The Critical Breakout ($97K)This is the line in the sand. The $97,000 level marks both the upper boundary of the November-January consolidation and the 200-day moving average. In my view, the 200 EMA separates uptrend from downtrend, it's the decisive battleground.Successfully breaking $97,000 would accomplish two things simultaneously: escape the months-long consolidation range and flip the 200 EMA from resistance to support. Only then will we have real certainty that Bitcoin is returning toward all-time highs above $126,000.Joel Kruger, crypto strategist at LMAX, sees early signs of this potential recovery: "The crypto market has stabilized over the past 24 hours after a sharp weekend selloff that pushed prices into meaningful longer-term technical support. The ability to hold those key levels combined with improving intraday momentum suggests we could be seeing signs of the start to a bigger recovery."Why Bitcoin Crashed So Hard? Market Structure BreakdownThe descent to $74,000 wasn't just about bearish technicals. Paul Howard, Director at Wincent, explains the structural fragilities that amplified the selloff."The digital assets market downturn has showcased fragilities in market structure," Howard notes. The core problem? Liquidity is dispersed among tens of thousands of coins and hundreds of venues, while many second-tier market makers "provide little more than a gamma scalping service with very little support for the market."The real issue emerges during stress: "Many market makers withdraw liquidity when market conditions don't suit them and that's why we often see these big gap downs." Howard spoke with three small-to-mid size market makers last week, all of whom are looking to exit the space, yet they're currently providing liquidity behind hundreds of projects.The situation worsens with "hundreds of second-tier venues with poorly or undocumented liquidation mechanisms." Their weak credit worthiness means legitimate liquidity providers won't post real liquidity there, creating a vicious cycle during selloffs.Technical Stabilization: On-Chain Metrics Hold FirmDespite the price carnage, underlying fundamentals haven't deteriorated. Kruger emphasizes this crucial point: "Importantly, there has been no material deterioration in on-chain or flow-based indicators, keeping the medium-term technical picture intact."Current technical readings show Bitcoin trading at $77,986, down 0.87% on the day but holding well above the $74,420 yearly low. The 50-day moving average sits at $88,955, while the 200-day moving average, my critical uptrend/downtrend separator, rests at $97,000.Bitcoin remains 48% below its 200-day EMA, a significant deviation that typically resolves either through sharp price recovery or extended consolidation. My bet is on recovery, which is why I'm accumulating now.Alternative Bearish Bitcoin Price PredictionOf course, I can't rule out that my bullish scenario won't materialize and price will continue moving down. I always prepare for multiple outcomes, and Bitcoin offers two additional support levels worth watching.Support Level 1: $68,000 (200-Week EMA)If Bitcoin fails to reclaim $84-85k and instead breaks below current levels, the next major support appears around $68,000, where the 200-week exponential moving average provides long-term trend support. At each such descent, I plan to add to my positions.Ultra-Bearish Target: $53,000My long-term ultra-bearish scenario targets approximately $53,000, which represents a 100% Fibonacci extension measured from the current trend and aligns with the lowest levels from September 2024. This would represent a -32% decline from current levels.My Strategy: Flexible PositioningHere's where I differ from many "hardcore holders": I don't forget the possibility of profiting from declines. Being a structural bull waiting for ATH return doesn't prohibit earning when the market moves down.If my $68,000 support gets broken, I'll open short positions targeting $53,000. If that level also fails, I'll continue with shorts to $53,000 while simultaneously preparing to accumulate for the long-term. This flexibility allows me to profit in both directions while maintaining my conviction in Bitcoin's eventual return to new highs.Bitcoin Price Levels: Complete RoadmapWhy Crpto Is Going Down?Bitcoin's decline to $74K didn't happen in isolation. The move was part of a broader crypto market selloff that saw XRP fall to November 2024 lows and gold/silver suffer their worst crash in decades, wiping $15 trillion from precious metals markets.The coordinated risk-off move reflected Kevin Warsh's Fed Chair nomination, geopolitical tensions with Iran, and structural liquidity issues that Paul Howard described. Bitcoin's ability to hold $74,000 and recover to $78,000 while these headwinds persist actually reinforces my bullish conviction.The beauty of having a clear framework is that Bitcoin will tell us which scenario is playing out. I don't need to guess, I just need to react appropriately at each level.Bitcoin Price Analysis, FAQWhat is Bitcoin price today?Bitcoin is trading at $77,986 on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, down 0.87% on the day after hitting the author's predicted $74,420 target this week. The cryptocurrency is attempting to stabilize after a sharp weekend selloff, holding above the yearly low with improving intraday momentum according to LMAX strategist Joel Kruger.How high can Bitcoin go?Bitcoin's path to new all-time highs above $126,000 requires breaking three key resistance levels: $84-85k (consolidation range), $89k (50 EMA), and critically $97k (200 EMA and consolidation top). Only a confirmed breakout above $97,000 would signal the return to uptrend and open the path toward ATH, according to the author's technical framework.How low can Bitcoin go?I identify two bearish scenarios: Support Level 1 at $68,000 (200-week EMA) and an ultra-bearish target at $53,000 (100% Fibonacci extension from current trend, aligned with September 2024 lows), representing a potential 32% decline from current $77,986 levels. However, on-chain metrics show "no material deterioration" according to LMAX's Joel Kruger, keeping the medium-term picture intact.Is Bitcoin a buy now?Yes. I am actively accumulating at current $78k levels following his successful $74k target prediction from November 2025. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Several contracts for differences (CFD) brokers last week were either forced to halt gold trading or imposed strict margin conditions following the sharp gold rally. The reason was one-sided, skewed exposure from their internalised trades.Although the double-digit dip on Friday helped these brokers rebalance their books, the past few days have clearly exposed flaws in their risk management.“The Risk of Running Out of Cash”“Gold used to be treated much like an FX instrument, albeit a more volatile one,” said Tom Higgins, CEO at Gold-i. “However, recent XAUUSD volatility means gold now needs to be managed more like a high-volatility asset, closer to a digital asset than to FX, with far greater emphasis on A-booking than was historically the case.”He further pointed out that the central issue from a risk perspective “is balance-sheet protection,” explaining: “If gold moves strongly in one direction and a broker is heavily B-booked, the risk is no longer just P&L volatility, but also the risk of running out of cash.”These circumstances force brokers to tighten exposure limits on gold, hedge more frequently, and therefore make A-booking far more common than before.Interestingly, ‘Rogue Trader’ Nick Leeson, whose actions brought down Barings Bank, on CFD brokers’ risk management, also pointed out the risks to CFD brokers when they get themselves involved in one-sided positions.According to Higgins, around 40 per cent of gold flow was A-booked in 2023–2024, but that number has now jumped to “probably” 80 per cent.However, he stressed that brokers are not abandoning B-booking altogether, as “it can still be highly profitable, but only if it is applied selectively.”Read more: Gold Trading Rises to 90% of Total Volumes, but Liquidity Is Not a Concern for CFD BrokersMost retail brokers cover the trade first and then give the client the fill. If there is slippage, clients receive the slipped price, meaning brokers are always giving clients the best price available at the time. Issues can arise if the broker fills the client first and then attempts to hedge seconds later; by then, price movements can create significant losses.“Delayed hedging is particularly risky for volatile instruments like gold, and is not something that most retail brokers or LPs do in this industry,” Higgins continued.“The Rally Exposed Existing Risk Management Problems”Gold has rallied about 30 per cent since the beginning of January 2025, reaching a peak of about $5,600. Although the gold price corrected sharply on Friday, the one-sided rally in the safe-haven metal has created chaos among CFD brokers.Several industry insiders also pointed out on social media that the gold rally has pushed many B-book-heavy brokers close to bankruptcy.“The rally didn’t create new problems; it exposed existing ones,” said Domantas Mocevicius, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Hedgx. “Brokers without clearly defined risk policies, exposure limits, and escalation procedures struggled to respond in a consistent way. In some cases, decisions were reactive rather than rule-based, leading to delayed hedging, over-concentration, or inconsistent execution.”Related: “CFD Brokers Don’t Really Understand Risk Management” - ‘Rogue Trader’ Nick LeesonThe gold rally pushed traders worldwide towards the yellow metal. On Rostro, volumes in gold futures contracts or spot instruments ranged between 50 per cent and 90 per cent, depending on geography, last year.Data from Finance Magnates Intelligence shows that CFDs on metals accounted for more than 60 per cent of global broker volumes in the first half of 2025. Nearly 80 per cent of that came from gold contracts.Gold-i also revealed that it has seen a 74 per cent increase in gold trading over the past couple of years. Recently, Australia-headquartered CFD broker Axi also said that gold became its dominant trading instrument.Higgins further noted that retail positioning on gold has become “increasingly one-directional,” adding that “it is similar to Bitcoin in that many people just buy and hold it.”“Sustained, one-way positioning pushes brokers towards higher levels of A-booking,” he added.However, the move from B-book to A-book becomes difficult during periods of strong one-way volatility when the risk management framework is poorly structured.“Brokers with modern execution hubs can dynamically reroute flow at multiple levels: by account, account group, symbol, symbol group, or volume threshold,” Mocevicius added. “This allows partial or full A-book routing in real time, often with adjusted mark-ups or reduced internalisation limits.”“However, brokers relying on static configurations or manual intervention typically cannot react quickly enough. In fast-moving markets like gold, delays of even minutes can materially impact P&L. The ability to shift exposure quickly is therefore a structural capability, not an operational afterthought.”Liquidity Providers’ Biggest Challenge – Handling Toxic FlowOne immediate response from brokers during periods of volatility is to tighten trading conditions. In mid-January, US-based futures exchange operator CME Group switched to a new margin calculation system for precious metals futures, moving away from fixed dollar amounts to percentage-based requirements following a continued rally in both gold and silver.Brokers, meanwhile, usually raise margin requirements.“The tightening of trading rules is primarily liquidity-driven rather than discretionary,” added the Hedgx Managing Director. “During volatile periods, many liquidity providers increased margin requirements, reduced leverage, widened spreads, or discouraged metals flow due to balance-sheet and risk concerns. As metals liquidity becomes more expensive and selective, brokers are effectively forced to mirror these conditions downstream.”“From a technical standpoint, tightening leverage, increasing margin, or adjusting trading parameters is often the only viable way for brokers to stay aligned with LP risk limits and avoid holding unmanageable exposure.”Higgins pointed out that prime brokers also tighten conditions for smaller brokers in volatile markets. In addition, volatile markets make liquidity providers concerned about toxic flows, which arise when short-term traders take advantage of rapid price moves before positions can be hedged.“Liquidity providers may respond by widening spreads, increasing margin requirements, or even cutting off feeds if toxic flow continues,” he concluded. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Dubai has become a hotbed of retail trading, with a deep-pocketed base of traders. Local brokers are thriving there, with record trading volumes, while many global brokers are also seeing stronger demand in the region than elsewhere.Against this backdrop, iFX Expo is launching The Trading Festival to increase transparency for the global trading community.An Event for TradersThe event will be trader-focused and will feature live sessions where traders put real ideas on the line and share practical work on discipline and routines. There will also be a lab where traders can test tools offered by brokers.“There are a couple of reasons we chose Dubai,” said George Panayiotou, CEO at Ultimate Group. “The main one is that it has established itself as a regional hub for trading and fintech.”“We saw a gap that could be filled by the Trading Festival. This growing environment has created strong demand for trading-focused education and suits people interested in trading and personal asset management, but who may lack a clear view of what the market offers and the knowledge they need to trade.”The regional rise in trading activity is reflected in CFI Financial’s figures, which handled a record $2.07 trillion in trading volume during the fourth quarter of 2025. By comparison, the broker’s total trading volume for the whole of 2024 was $2.79 trillion.Capital.com also reported that 52 per cent of its H1 2025 trading volume came from the Middle East, compared with 15 per cent from Europe. The broker had 35,000 MENA traders, compared with 61,400 in Europe. In addition, 71.7 per cent of Capital.com’s $804.1 billion trading volume in MENA was generated by UAE-based traders.This clearly shows how the UAE is becoming a key centre for CFD traders.[#highlighted-links#] Education Needs to Be Localised, Not StandardisedWith this comes the importance of education. Regardless of capital size, traders need proper education to trade CFDs. The Trading Festival will address this issue directly. Although many brokers offer trading education, it is often biased towards their own tools and services.There is also the difference between offline and online educational sessions.“Although what brokers offer is valuable, it is also largely online and usually not interactive,” said Panayiotou. “The Trading Festival focuses on hands-on, face-to-face educational experiences. Attendees will have direct access to brokers, fintech brands, data providers, market experts, and analysts. Each of the Trading Festival’s three stages will cater to a specific type of education or knowledge. Visitors will be invited to explore, discuss, trade, and test strategies and ideas on real platforms.”Read more: “Gamification of Education Can Be a Game Changer”Although the basics are the same, trading is very localised, and educational platforms need to reflect that. Localisation also covers language and tone, which must connect with traders in each region.“Given today’s consumer expectations and tech trends, it should be fully localised,” Panayiotou continued. “They need to speak directly to the trader or client the company is trying to reach, in a language they understand.”“There is another part of localisation that is often overlooked: asset selection. Some assets are more popular in certain regions, and this can differ widely. This is the gap we want to address for traders, to reduce noise and provide useful information on assets that interest them, through trusted sources and in their native language.”Disclaimer: The Trading Festival and Finance Magnates are part of the same parent company, Ultimate Group. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Administrators handling the collapsed UK currency broker Argentex Group have abandoned thousands of active derivatives trades, leaving most counterparties facing a 98% loss on positions that were in their favor, according to Bloomberg.Argentex Counterparties Face 98% Loss FRP Advisory Group, overseeing Argentex's wind-down, issued "disclaimer notices" to counterparties in recent weeks on the volatile portfolio of foreign exchange derivatives that contributed to the firm's July collapse. The legal maneuver allows insolvency officials to walk away from contracts deemed "onerous" under UK law, crystallizing massive losses for clients while clearing a path for creditor Christopher Harborne's IFX (UK) to recoup some of the £34 million it pumped into a failed rescue attempt.The broker's implosion has ensnared high-profile clients, including Wrexham AFC, the Welsh soccer club owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The club had £4.6 million tied up with Argentex when it collapsed, Bloomberg reported in January, representing nearly one-third of the firm's e-money customer funds. While administrators expect customers in Wrexham's category to be repaid, those holding derivatives positions face a far bleaker outcome.Clients holding derivatives that were in-the-money, meaning Argentex owed them cash when positions matured, now hold unsecured claims expected to return no more than two pence for every pound owed. These liabilities totaled roughly £13.3 million when the London-based firm entered administration. Meanwhile, Argentex held derivative assets valued at £34.8 million, but has given up pursuing most counterparties on losing trades.Disclaimer Tactic Crystallizes Client LossesThe disclaimer notices invoke Section 178 of the Insolvency Act 1986, which permits liquidators to renounce ownership of "onerous property,” including unprofitable contracts or assets that pose ongoing liabilities. While commonly used for property leases, the tactic is rarely applied to derivatives portfolios, according to Jeremy Whiteson, a partner at London law firm Fladgate."Counterparty risk is more important than market risk," Jeremy Thomson-Cook, a former head of sales and trading at Currency Solutions, told Bloomberg. "Show me a market risk where you stand to lose 98%-99% of your value outside of crypto."The move frees many counterparties from positions that had moved against them, but devastates clients who were expecting payouts. It also removes a major obstacle for IFX, which is first in line among creditors after providing emergency financing during Argentex's final months.The firm had initially agreed to acquire Argentex for around £3 million in April 2025, a fraction of its historic market capitalization, before walking away from the deal as regulatory pressure mounted and the firm entered administration.Derivatives Book Defied Resolution AttemptsArgentex arranged about 3,000 derivative contracts for corporate clients hedging currency risks when it collapsed. The portfolio quickly became a headache for administrators after banks including Barclays and Citigroup closed out their hedges as Argentex spiraled into distress, leaving the book unhedged and vulnerable to market swings. Some positions were not set to expire until 2029.Attempts to sell the derivatives to an outside buyer fell apart in late August. Administrators also explored closing trades early by paying out clients with winning positions, but a London court ruled this approach was not legally feasible, Bloomberg reported.Dollar Volatility Triggered Broker's UnravelingArgentex began unraveling in April 2025 during market turmoil sparked by President Donald Trump's tariff policies and comments criticizing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The firm had pursued high-risk "zero-zero lines" dollar trades with counterparties while lacking a treasury function and foreign exchange expertise on its board, Bloomberg previously reported.The broker offered currency management services and e-money accounts to hundreds of customers beyond Wrexham. When the dollar plunged to multi-year lows against the euro and Swiss franc, Argentex struggled to meet margin calls from banking partners. IFX, wholly owned by businessman and Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne, extended millions in loans as part of its acquisition plan. The firm ultimately scrapped the takeover as Argentex came under mounting regulatory pressure, leading to the broker's administration under the Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency Regulations 2021. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Plus500 has launched its own prediction markets for its United States retail customer base and will offer event contracts, including products from locally regulated Kalshi. The new platform will be a part of Plus500's US B2C brand, 'Plus500 Futures'.Plus500's Bet on Event ContractsThe announcement today (Tuesday) came about a couple of months after the London-listed broker became the clearing partner for CME and FanDuel’s new event-based contracts platform. “Prediction markets are attracting increasing interest from both retail and institutional participants alike, reflecting their growing relevance as a transparent and fully regulated way to express views on real-world outcomes,” the broker noted.“The introduction of prediction markets aligns with Plus500's continued focus on technological innovation, customer-centric approach and product development.”The broker stressed that it will offer its B2C customers “a broad range of regulated prediction markets”, which would include economic indicators, financial events, geopolitical developments and other measurable real-world outcomes.Kalshi will deliver the offering, but the event contracts will be cleared directly by Plus500, a member of Kalshi's clearing unit.The broker further stressed that, in the future, its scalable institutional infrastructure will support broader participation across the prediction markets ecosystem.Mainstream Players Entering Prediction MarketsThe popularity of prediction markets has exploded in recent years, especially during the wagers on the last US Presidential election. Although the industry is massive offshore, where crypto-based Polymarket dominates, Kalshi played a significant role in popularising the regulated version within US borders.The trading volume of event contracts even climbed past $13 billion a month.While disrupters like Robinhood have already been offering event contracts for some time, the CME Group's entry into the industry last year showcased its future in the mainstream financial markets.Meanwhile, Plus500 is also entering into other trending sectors. A few months ago, it also signed an exclusive agreement with Topstep, under which the London-listed broker will handle all clearing and technology infrastructure for the Chicago prop firm’s brokerage arm and its wider operations.Plus500 generated $182.7 million in revenue in the third quarter of 2025, down 2.5 per cent year over year and 12.7 per cent quarter over quarter. The company is known for offering contracts for differences (CFDs), but now it focuses on expanding beyond over-the-counter (OTC) instruments.About 15 per cent of total group revenue was generated by its non-OTC business, along with 18 per cent of new customers. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Sarah Court will take over as Chairwoman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on June 1, marking a notable shift in Australia's regulatory landscape where women now lead all five major economic institutions.Longo Out, Court InCourt currently serves as ASIC's Deputy Chair, a position she's held since June 2021. Before that, she spent 13 years at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), where she chaired enforcement and compliance committees. Her background includes nine years as a senior lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor.Outgoing Chairman Joe Longo, who announced Court's appointment, pointed to her enforcement track record as a key qualification for the role.[#highlighted-links#] "Her work as ASIC's Deputy Chair has been instrumental to the success of the agency's structural transformation that has strengthened our enforcement posture and work, leading to better outcomes for consumers and a fairer financial system," Longo said.The Trend to ContinueCourt takes the helm as ASIC's enforcement activity reaches unprecedented levels. The regulator secured over 120 million dollars in court-ordered penalties during the 2024-25 fiscal year, a 50% jump in enforcement actions compared to the previous period.The agency also launched 252 investigations and completed 829 targeted surveillances while removing nearly 7,000 scam websites. Financial reporting misconduct has become one of ASIC's ten priorities for 2026, signaling tougher scrutiny for CFD brokers and other financial services firms.Court's enforcement background suggests this trend will continue. During her time at the ACCC, she held responsibility for the enforcement committee, compliance committee, and legal committee - all positions focused on investigating and prosecuting violations.Licensing Activity Surges Amid Crypto InterestThe regulatory environment Court inherits is busy. ASIC granted 290 new Australian Financial Services licenses in fiscal year 2025, a 10% increase from the prior year. Applications from digital asset operators drove much of that growth.At the same time, the regulator canceled or suspended 215 licenses, maintaining pressure on firms that fail to meet compliance standards. Court will need to balance this surge in applications with the agency's mandate to protect consumers and maintain market integrity.ASIC has also begun simplifying its rulebook. The agency recently deleted 9,000 pages of regulatory guidance after acknowledging its own rules had become too complex. Longo said overly complicated regulations stifle innovation and raise costs for businesses.Women Control Australia's Economic Institutions"With the appointment of Sarah Court as ASIC Chair, women now lead five of Australia's key economic institutions - Commonwealth Treasury, the Reserve Bank of Australia, ASIC, the ACCC and the Productivity Commission," Finance Minister Katy Gallagher highlighted the broader significance of Court's appointment in a LinkedIn post.She called it "a historic moment for our economy and an important one for young women who now look to the fields of finance and economics and see a clear place for themselves at the table."Court's transition period runs through the end of May. Longo said he would support Court, the commission, and staff to ensure a smooth handover. ASIC's structural transformation, which Court helped shape as Deputy Chair, will continue under her leadership as the agency maintains its focus on enforcement and consumer protection. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

STARTRADER announced the launch of a basketball court renovation project at Ban Nam Lad School in Thailand as part of its “Where Tomorrow STARS Begin” corporate social responsibility initiative.The project involved the construction of an 18×12 meter multi-purpose basketball court. In addition, STARTRADER is providing sports equipment to students, with the aim of supporting physical activity and encouraging teamwork within the school.Details of the ProjectThe basketball court, scheduled to be unveiled on February 16th, will be used by almost 100 students, with ages ranging from 4 to 12. However, as the broker aims to benefit the community at large, the wider local community in the surrounding villages of Ban Wong Bo and Ban Nam Lat will have access to the court as well. Whereas on January 30, the groundbreaking ceremony took place, marking the start of construction on the following day.The campaign took place at a strategic time, as the broker had earlier in the year announced partnerships with several leading sports brands. The name chosen for the campaign highlights the values the company has emphasized through its partnerships: high-level performance, precision in execution, and discipline.This campaign stands as a translation of these values into meaningful action, as stated by the CEO of STARTRADER, Peter Karsten: “STARTRADER's goal is to make a difference, and this time through sports. Giving the youth in Thailand the chance to improve their skills and build their confidence, discipline, and teamwork.” The principal of the school, Wirot Sukreedist, also highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating: "On behalf of the faculty, students, and staff of Ban Nam Lad School, we would like to express our profound gratitude to STARTRADER for their generous support in the construction and donation of our new futsal and basketball courts. These facilities are more than just a sports ground; they are a precious gift that provides our students with the opportunity to hone their athletic skills, improve their physical well-being, and learn valuable life lessons outside the classroom. We are committed to maintaining and utilizing these courts to their fullest potential for the benefit of our students’ future development."About STARTRADERSTARTRADER https://www.startrader.com/ is a global broker that provides its clients with opportunities to trade financial instruments online. STARTRADER services both Partners and Retail Clients, who can trade using the MetaTrader Platform, the STAR-APP, and using STAR-COPY. As a global broker, STARTRADER holds a client-first approach as our core principle.Regulated in 5 jurisdictions (ASIC, FSA, FSC, FSCA, and CMA), STARTRADER upholds strong governance alongside sustainable growth. STARTRADER's team comprises dedicated professionals working collaboratively to deliver quality service to its Partners and Clients. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

In the institutional landscape, credibility isn’t built by the loudest narrative. It’s built by the broker who remains dependable when market conditions stop being tidy. As liquidity fragments and client expectations rise, operational reliability has moved from a technical concern to a commercial one. As regulation tightens and client expectations shift toward institutional-grade performance at retail scale, operational resilience has transitioned from a competitive advantage to a commercial requirement.In this discussion, Peter Plester, head of B2B sales at Exness, examines what professional partners actually evaluate today, and why sustainable growth is increasingly tied to infrastructure, governance, and performance that can be measured rather than assumed.Q1. How would you describe the current state of the brokerage industry from a B2B perspective? What pressures are shaping how brokers operate today?The industry is undergoing structural maturation. We are moving into an always-on market environment; faster, more connected, and more fragmented. This complexity, more than sheer volume, is now the primary operational risk. Brokers are no longer judged solely on headline pricing; they are judged on whether their systems behave consistently during periods of extreme stress.There’s also a broader industry shift underway. The online trading platform market, including front-end platforms and supporting infrastructure services, is projected to grow from around 11.65 billion USD in 2025 to 16.98 billion USD by 2030, with a CAGR of roughly 7.8%. With that growth comes a new baseline of expectation. From a B2B perspective, three pressures stand out:Technical pressure: Systems must behave consistently, not only during calm conditions.Governance pressure: Resilience and third-party oversight are increasingly formal expectations.Credibility pressure: Partners and clients want evidence of stability, not reassurance.In this environment, the winners aren’t necessarily the brokers that grow fastest, but the ones that manage complexity best.Q2. You work closely with brokers at very different stages of growth. What separates those that scale sustainably from those that struggle as complexity increases?It mostly comes down to how sustainable scaling becomes a function of control. Brokers that succeed assume growth will inevitably stress their systems, so they build for that pressure early. They measure performance through the metrics that actually impact a partner's bottom line: execution stability, latency, and reliability under pressure. Those that struggle often allow volume to outpace their operational maturity, or outsource too much of their core resilience to third-party vendors. At a certain scale, you cannot outsource your reputation.Q3. Why do you think many brokerages underestimate operational and infrastructure risks until it’s too late?I believe they do this because operational risk is quiet until it isn’t. It’s easy to deprioritize in favor of visible metrics like user acquisition, as it often sits between technology, product, and commercial teams. These risks don’t affect day-to-day performance, making them easy to deprioritize in favour of more visible priorities like growth, acquisition, or product development. The challenge is that preventing operational failure is rarely rewarded in the same way growth is, even though the costs of failure are far higher. This preventative work, spanning capacity planning, redundancy, incident readiness, and disciplined release processes, is measured through operational indicators such as uptime, latency, rejection rates, incident frequency, and recovery times. When those metrics look healthy in normal conditions, it can be tempting to assume the job is done.The issue is that markets eventually apply real pressure, and pressure compresses time. Weaknesses that seemed manageable quickly become expensive. And once the failure is visible, the cost of fixing it is almost always higher than the cost of preventing it.Q4. Trust is often discussed as a brand value, but in B2B, it’s built operationally. How does execution quality, withdrawals, and system stability translate into trust between brokers and their partners?In B2B relationships, trust is earned through consistent outcomes, not promises. It becomes visible when execution behaves as expected, even during the market's most unstable periods. Partners judge trust by predictability. Execution must behave as expected, withdrawals must be processed reliably, systems must remain stable, and the overall experience must be consistent. When issues arise, what matters is how fast they are detected, how clearly ownership is defined, and how transparent communication is.Over time, consistent operational performance reduces friction, escalations, and uncertainty. That’s the point where a service provider becomes a long-term partner.Q5. Looking ahead, what capabilities will define a future-proof brokerage over the next several years, especially as volatility and regulatory pressure increase?Future-proof brokers will be those that remain reliable as complexity and scrutiny increase.That means:Operational transparency: Partners want measurable performance, not reassurance.Resilience and governance: Regulation is pushing these priorities higher, a move in the right direction.Third-party oversight: This becomes strategic, not administrative, as critical services increasingly sit outside a broker’s direct control.This naturally pushes the industry toward consolidation around fewer, more operationally mature players. In this environment, long-term success will depend less on visibility or marketing reach and more on the ability to run complex systems consistently and with control.ConclusionAs the brokerage industry becomes more complex and expectations continue to rise, partners are becoming less interested in promises and more focused on proof. These themes are part of the wider conversation at iFX EXPO, where Plester is joining industry leaders on stage to discuss what sustainable growth looks like in an always‑on market environment, and how brokers can build credibility through infrastructure and transparent performance metrics.For partners evaluating brokers in 2026 and beyond, the message is clear: growth may attract attention, but reliability earns trust. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

EC Markets closed 2025 with a strong surge in client activity, lifting its quarterly trading volumes to new highs. The broker reported $4.476 trillion in trading volume in the final quarter of the year.EC Markets' the volumes rose steadily throughout the year. It posted $1.737 trillion in Q1, then $2.319 trillion in Q2 and $3.081 trillion in Q3, before reaching $4.476 trillion in Q4. The expansion is equivalent to a 157 percent increase over the period.Record Q4 Caps a Year of ExpansionAccording to the broker, average monthly trading volume rose from $579 billion in Q1 to $1.492 trillion in Q4. Daily volumes climbed from $27.6 billion at the start of the year to $68.8 billion, highlighting a steady build-up in activity on the broker’s multi-asset platform.“Our Q4 performance reflects the strength of our global infrastructure and the trust our clients place in us,” commented Nicholas Xydas, global marketing director at EC Markets.“Scaling quarterly volumes by 2.6x in a single year demonstrates not only growth, but operational discipline and long-term strategic execution. As we move into 2026, our focus remains on innovation, resilience, and delivering a world-class multi-asset trading environment.”You may also like: Interactive Brokers Starts the Year With 27% Jump in Daily Average Revenue TradesGrowth in trading volumes went hand in hand with a sharp rise in active traders. The number of active clients on EC Markets’ platform increased from 118,000 in Q3 2025 to 230,000 in Q4, almost doubling within a single quarter.Multi-Asset Flows Drive VolumesThis jump pointed to broader engagement across the firm’s forex and CFD offering and highlighted its reach across multiple regions. The increase in active traders also supported the sustained growth in volumes through the year.The report further showed that only a small portion of EC Markets’ Q4 2025 activity came from traditional foreign exchange trading. Just 5 percent of the firm’s total volume in the quarter originated from FX, while 95 percent was generated across other asset classes.Last year, EC Markets opened a new office in Mexico City, its first physical presence in Latin America. This move followed the firm’s launch of operations in Mauritius and formed part of a broader strategy to strengthen EC Markets’ global expansion. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. started 2026 with a sharp rise in trading activity and client balances, while IBKR PRO clients continued to pay less than 2 basis points to trade U.S. Reg‑NMS stocks. The broker’s January 2026 metrics show broad-based growth across DARTs, equity, margin and accounts.Activity and client growthDaily Average Revenue Trades rose to 4.411 million in January, up 27% from a year earlier and 30% from December. Annualized average cleared DARTs reached 211 per client account.Client accounts increased to 4.539 million, a 32% year-on-year jump and a 3% gain month-on-month. Ending client equity climbed to 814.3 billion dollars, 38% higher than the prior year and 4% above the previous month.Client margin loan balances stood at 91.2 billion dollars, up 41% from January 2025 and 1% from December 2025. Client credit balances totaled 162.6 billion dollars, including 6.2 billion dollars in insured bank deposit sweeps, marking a 35% annual increase and a 2% monthly rise.Related: Interactive Brokers’ Q4 2025 Revenue and Profit Top Estimates, Trading Activities JumpAcross products, the average commission per cleared commissionable order was 2.62 dollars in January, including exchange, clearing and regulatory fees. Execution costs and GLOBAL impactInteractive Brokers reported that the average U.S. Reg‑NMS stock trade for IBKR PRO clients was 21,785 dollars in January. The total cost of executing and clearing those trades was about 1.9 basis points of trade money for the month, versus a 2.6‑basis‑point average over the rolling twelve months.The firm also noted that the value of its GLOBAL currency basket, which it uses to diversify net worth across 10 major currencies, increased by 0.27% in January. Notably, retail forex deposits at major US brokersedged down 0.8% in November 2025 to $495.7 million, marking the sector’s third straight monthly decline. Compared with November 2024, deposits were 3% lower, underscoring persistent challenges for retail currency trading despite isolated growth among smaller firms. Interactive Brokers posted the sharpest setback during the month, with client deposits tumbling 20% to $25.7 million from $31 million in October.Additionally, Interactive Brokers reported fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of $1.64 billion and earnings per share of $0.65, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.61 billion and $0.06, respectively. Year-over-year, revenue rose from $1.39 billion in the same period of 2024. Pre-tax net income increased to $1.30 billion, compared with $1.04 billion a year earlier. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

After more than two years of limited public communication, MyForexFunds CEO Murtuza Kazmi has provided an update on the company’s legal battle with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the sudden account freezes in 2023, and plans for resuming operations.In an exclusive interview with Finance Magnates, Kazmi reflected on the challenges the firm faced after the CFTC’s asset freeze and the subsequent legal proceedings following MFF’s shutdown in August 2023. He said the company was “blindsided” by the events and that he “had to beg, borrow funds from family and friends” to navigate the period. Kazmi added that MFF “would have won the case regardless” and suggested that a successful comeback could “bring the industry back to its prior glory,” potentially involving several major competitors.MFF Unable to Communicate with ClientsKazmi further detailed these events in a video released today (Monday), describing August 30, 2023, as “sudden, shocking, and completely out of our control,” and adding that “there was no opportunity to prepare, explain or protect the community that we have taken years to build.” Kazmi said that systems, servers, infrastructure, and data were seized, leaving the company unable to communicate with clients while it focused on the legal dispute.MFF Wins Case, Receives Legal FeesKazmi stated that the CFTC took more than three years to allege fraud. “Did they find anything? No. Why? The answer is simple. We never committed fraud,” he said. According to Kazmi, the agency “simply lied to the judge before getting a freeze order,” claiming that MFF misappropriated investor funds, which he said was false because MFF does not take deposits.In May 2025, Kazmi said, the district court dismissed the case with prejudice, awarding legal fees to MFF and finding “no elements of fraud.” He criticized the lack of prior warning or complaints, noting that earlier transparency could have avoided “so much pain and uncertainty for traders, for staff, for the families.”Kazmi Apologizes, Promises “Restored Client Access”Kazmi expressed regret for the impact on clients, saying, “I want to say I'm sorry. I really do. Not because we did something wrong, but because of what you were put through.” He emphasized that restoring client access to data, accounts, and payouts is now a top priority.He also reminded clients that MFF had paid out close to $300 million to customers over two years, and that the firm was built “by you for you.” Kazmi concluded with an update on payouts: “Anyone that had requested a payout prior to the freeze should be expecting communications from us shortly.” This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Hong Kong will start issuing its first stablecoin issuer licenses in March, with the city’s regulator set to approve only a “very small number” of applicants in the initial phase. The move marks a cautious but concrete step toward a fully regulated stablecoin regime in one of Asia’s key financial hubs.According to ChannelNewsAsia, HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue told Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Monday that the review of license applications is nearing completion and that the first batch will be granted next month. Considerations for Approving IssuersYue said the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will focus on several core areas when approving issuers, including risk management frameworks, anti-money laundering measures and controls, and the quality and composition of assets backing the stablecoins.?? JUST IN: Hong Kong Monetary Authority plans to issue first stablecoin licenses in March, with only a limited number expected initially. pic.twitter.com/B1KLbg0eK2— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) February 2, 2026Licensed issuers must also comply with local rules when engaging in cross‑border activities, with the possibility of mutual recognition arrangements with other jurisdictions explored at a later stage.CFD brokers are increasingly turning to stablecoins because traditional card-based payments are slow, expensive, and operationally cumbersome for cross-border flows.Card transactions often involve 2–4% processing fees, delayed settlements, chargeback risk, and limited card access in some regions, all of which create friction for brokers trying to serve a global, high-volume client base.“Institutional payment providers are already using stablecoins as a back-end settlement layer, keeping existing client interfaces while cutting 60–80% of correspondent banking costs and compressing settlement times from days to under an hour,” Fractional CPO and product strategy consultant Melissa Stringer recently commented.What It Means for BrokersAdditionally, for brokers, the launch of a regulated stablecoin framework in Hong Kong introduces the prospect of using licensed tokens for client funding, margin, and internal settlements, subject to how individual firms update their policies.Read more: Gold Backed Stablecoins Wait as Hong Kong Holds to Fiat-Only RulesLiquidity providers could see regulated Hong Kong‑issued stablecoins emerge as a new collateral and settlement layer, particularly for cross‑venue flows in Asia. Trading platform providers may also need to prepare for potential integration with HKMA‑licensed stablecoins, both at the wallet and payment‑rail level, as regulated digital money gains traction in trading workflows.Market participants will watch which issuers make the first cut in March and how quickly the HKMA expands the pool. For now, the limited number of licenses points to a regime that prioritizes control and supervisory comfort over rapid scale. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.