Beeks Financial Cloud Group (LSE: BKS) said today (Tuesday) it signed a five-year Proximity Cloud contract worth £2.1 million with a large foreign exchange broker, with revenue recognition expected to begin in the current financial year ending June 2026.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The broker had been on Beeks' Private Cloud platform since September 2025 and is now extending its use of the company's infrastructure across multiple locations, Beeks said. The upgrade moves the client onto Proximity Cloud, which the company describes as a high-performance, dedicated and client-owned trading environment tailored to financial markets.The announcement arrives as Beeks is working through a challenging period on its income statement. The company reported a 7% drop in first-half revenue to £14.7 million for the six months ended December 31, 2025, swinging to a statutory pre-tax loss, as the timing of Proximity Cloud wins and a structural shift to a revenue-sharing model within its Exchange Cloud product weighed on recognised revenues in the period.Upsell Pattern Drives New WinChief Executive Gordon McArthur said the deal "highlights both the strength of our offering and the significant expansion potential across our growing customer base of major financial institutions," adding that the company "remains focused on converting our considerable and growing pipeline." He did not provide pipeline figures or a specific revenue conversion timeline.The win illustrates a pattern Beeks has leaned on repeatedly: converting existing Private Cloud clients to higher-value Proximity Cloud engagements. In December 2025, the company disclosed a £2 million Proximity Cloud extension with a large FX broker, taking that total contract to £4 million over five years, and also signed a $1.5 million Private Cloud deal with a major Canadian bank, with revenue from both expected in the second half of FY26.A Busy Stretch of Proximity Cloud ContractsBeeks has been active in Proximity Cloud deal-making over the past nine months. In July 2025, the company announced approximately $10 million in Proximity Cloud contracts spanning brokerage and fintech firms across the UAE and Europe, covering four-to-five year terms. The flurry of announcements in that period sent Beeks shares up 40%, reflecting how sensitive investors are to the company's deal flow given the gap between contracted revenue and recognized revenue under its current accounting model.Beeks posted 26% full-year revenue growth to £35.9 million for the year ended June 2025, powered by a near-tripling of Proximity and Exchange Cloud sales to £10.3 million. The H1 FY26 dip is partly a function of when those Proximity Cloud deals were signed and when revenue can be taken onto the income statement, rather than a contraction in the underlying contracted base, the company said. Underlying annualized contracted monthly recurring revenue from Private Cloud offerings reached £32.8 million by the end of H1 FY26, up 15% from £28.5 million a year earlier.Timing of Revenue Recognition Shapes OutlookBeeks said the new £2.1 million contract will begin contributing to recognized revenue in the second half of FY26, the period running from January to June 2026. The company noted in its most recent trading update that it secured over £7 million in new contract wins in the first half, with roughly half of that expected to flow into recognized revenues in H2.The broader question for investors is whether the H2 backlog can translate into a meaningful recovery of the revenue line before the fiscal year closes. Beeks said its full-year outlook remains unchanged, and management has consistently pointed to the second half as the period where contracted deals are expected to convert at a higher rate.The company's first-half results showed record contract wins sitting alongside a declining revenue figure, a combination that has defined much of its recent reporting cycle.Beeks was founded in 2011, floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2017, and employs more than 100 staff globally from its headquarters in Renfrew, Scotland. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

FP Markets has teamed up with Acuity Trading to provide its clients with AI-driven trading signals and market research tools, the broker announced today (Tuesday). The collaboration introduces FP Markets Intelligence, a multi-tool suite accessible through the broker's Client Portal that the company says covers sentiment analysis, market signals, and real-time news data across a broad range of instruments.What the Intelligence Platform IncludesThe FP Markets Intelligence suite integrates directly with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as the broker's own Client Portal. The offering includes three core components, according to FP Markets: AnalysisIQ, which produces market signals; Assets Overview, which delivers data across multiple asset classes; and NewsIQ, which aggregates real-time research and market updates. A Research Terminal and economic Calendar round out the package, the company said."FP Markets shares our belief that traders make better decisions when intelligence is delivered clearly, in context, and directly inside the trading workflow," Andrew Lane, CEO of Acuity Trading, said.[#highlighted-links#] "By bringing Acuity's AI-powered sentiment, signals and real-time market insight into FP Markets Intelligence, we're helping traders cut through the noise, stay aligned with market conditions, and act with greater confidence."FP Markets describes the platform as designed to help traders filter market insights based on individual preferences and refine their approaches accordingly. The company has not disclosed the precise number of instruments covered, characterizing the scope broadly as "thousands."The deal builds on a string of technology moves by the Sydney-based broker in recent years. FP Markets previously partnered with trading signals provider xsee, and the Acuity integration now extends that push into a more consolidated AI-powered product. Acuity Builds Out Its Retail Broker NetworkThe deal adds FP Markets to a growing list of retail brokers that have plugged into Acuity's analytics infrastructure. The London-based fintech launched its AI-powered TradeSignals product in January 2025, a platform that uses machine learning and news sentiment analysis to generate signals across more than 2,000 assets. In the months that followed, Acuity signed up additional partners, including Hantec Markets, which launched an AI intelligence tool in collaboration with Acuity earlier in 2025.FP Markets Eyes Tool Expansion Amid Leadership ChangeThe agreement arrives as FP Markets navigates a period of transition in its technology leadership. In March 2026, the broker's chief technology officer, Alexander Strelnikov, stepped down after two years in the role, with the company yet to announce a replacement. Despite that change, the broker has continued signing vendor agreements and expanding its product line.The broader retail broker market has seen a wave of similar AI tool integrations. Traders' Hub integrated Acuity's AI research tools in late 2025, though that deal came with regulatory constraints that delayed trading signal access in certain jurisdictions. FP Markets has not indicated any similar rollout restrictions.Aaron Hill, Chief Market Analyst at FP Markets, added the collaboration is aimed at giving clients better footing in fast-moving conditions. "Our mission is to equip clients with best-in-class resources needed to navigate an evolving trading environment," Hill commented. "We have teamed up with Acuity Trading to offer a powerful, AI-driven suite of sophisticated trading tools. Traders can leverage these advanced resources to analyze markets, identify potential opportunities, and tailor their trading approach."FP Markets said the Intelligence suite is now live through the Client Portal. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

FXTM, the forex and contracts for difference (CFD) broker brand owned by Andrey Dashin, has decided to give up its Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) licence in the United Kingdom to focus more on Asian and Middle Eastern markets, FinanceMagnates.com has learned. Indeed, the broker is now gaining full brokerage status in the UAE and has also partnered with a local Indonesian broker.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)Leaving the UK for the Gulf and AsiaThe brokerage giant labelled its move out of the UK as “part of its global realignment of strategic priorities.” It has concluded that the UK retail market is no longer its core growth focus area.At the same time, it believes that there is a significant long-term opportunity in the Middle East and Asia.FinanceMagnates.com earlier reported that Exinity, which is the entity behind FXTM, secured a Category 5 licence from Dubai's Capital Markets Authority. The Category 5 licence only allows companies to promote and market financial products in the UAE, but they must onboard clients and execute trades through an offshore entity.Now the broker will upgrade its Category 5 licence to a Category 1 licence, with which it can operate as a full broker within the UAE. That means it can take in clients, accept funds, and execute trades locally.[#highlighted-links#] Although many brokers have flocked to the UAE in recent years, only a handful have obtained the full Category 1 licence. Plus500, XTB, and RoboMarkets are among the few names that have become full brokers in the UAE.Indonesia, a New Front in AsiaFXTM is also advancing its Asia expansion strategy through a planned strategic partnership with a fully licensed Indonesian brokerage firm, operating as Invetra (PT INVETRA TEKNOLOGI BERJANGKA), which is regulated by BAPPEBTI.Under this collaboration, Invetra will offer locally regulated trading powered by FXTM’s proprietary multi-asset technology stack. This model allows Indonesian clients to benefit from global standard tools and execution capabilities while remaining fully compliant with local frameworks.Indonesia has also attracted many foreign brokerage brands. Plus500 bought a local broker, while Doo Group and XTB also gained a licence there.Meanwhile, FXTM is not the only broker to exit the UK market. HTFX, AETOS, and GMI Markets are a few recent ones to give up their FCA authorisation. While some completely wrapped up their business, others are narrowing down their focus markets.Interestingly, FXTM also stopped offering services to retail clients under its Cyprus entity in February 2021 and gave up that licence later in 2023. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

The US Department of the Treasury has tapped Robinhood, alongside BNY, to help bring “Trump Accounts” to life, a new, tax-advantaged savings scheme for children.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)Under the arrangement, BNY will act as the financial agent, managing the accounts themselves, and Robinhood will supply the app design, technology infrastructure and customer service. While Wall Street’s old guard will hold the assets, Silicon Valley’s disruptor will have a chance to shape the user experience. “Our mission has always been to democratize finance for all,” Vlad Tenev, Robinhood’s CEO, posted on X.Robinhood is ready. ?? Our mission has always been to democratize finance for all. Honored to work with @USTreasury, @BNYglobal, @ndstudio and the Administration. Time to build. https://t.co/WOTmXYjWBl— Vlad Tenev (@vladtenev) April 6, 2026What Are “Trump Accounts”?The scheme is, at least on paper, simple: Trump Accounts are custodial, tax-advantaged investment accounts for Americans under 18. Children born between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2028 will receive a US$1,000 government contribution at birth. Eligibility is restricted to US citizens.The programme was established under President Trump’s characteristically named “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act”, signed into law on 4 July. Funds will be channelled into a suite of low-cost index funds. The Treasury estimates that the initial US$1,000 contribution could grow to around US$500,000 or more by retirement age, assuming long-term market returns.As with other custodial accounts, parents (or guardians) will call the shots on investment decisions until the child comes of age.The US's Internal Revenue Service said that as of March 31, taxpayers had signed up more than 4 million children for Trump Accounts, and more than 1 million of those children were covered by elections for the Treasury’s US$1,000 pilot programme contribution. What’s in It for Robinhood?The announcement comes at a useful moment for the retail broker. In March 2026, it unveiled a US$1.5 billion share buyback programme to be executed over three years, aiming to bolster shareholder value after a 39% year-to-date decline in its share price.Although the app will be a white-label product – devoid of Robinhood or BNY Mellon branding – in securing a federal contract, the retail broker gains institutional backing. The Treasury’s endorsement may go some way towards muting past criticisms about “gamified” trading.More subtly, the firm will be able to position itself for the long game. By effectively pre-boarding a generation of future traders, Robinhood ensures that its interface, and, by extension, its brand logic, becomes second nature. Teenagers raised on the app may find switching to Robinhood’s platform later oddly familiar.Parents may also prove a receptive audience, giving Robinhood scope to broaden its customer base.This fits into a wider push to broaden user engagement. The broker is beta-testing social features that allow users to share and discuss trades – albeit in a more controlled format – and is investing heavily in prediction markets, one of its fastest-growing business lines and a key pillar of its post-meme-stock strategy.Nonetheless, the retail broker’s most recent win comes with a political caveat. Programmes tied so closely to a sitting administration have a habit of ageing poorly when power changes hands. Should a future government take a dimmer view of Trump Accounts, Robinhood’s latest success could yet prove fleeting. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

South Korea's Financial Services Commission has ordered all cryptocurrency exchanges to implement near real-time asset reconciliation and submit to monthly external audits.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The directive follows a February operational failure at Bithumb that briefly sent $56 billion worth of bitcoin to hundreds of retail users. The Bithumb Incident On February 6, 2026, Bithumb mistakenly credited approximately 620,000 BTC (worth around $56 billion at the time) to hundreds of users during a promotional event. The intended payment was 620,000 Korean won, roughly $450. Some recipients sold the bitcoin immediately, causing a localized price drop of 10–17% on the exchange. Bithumb froze affected accounts and recovered most of the funds, but the FSC concluded the episode exposed "structural vulnerabilities" in the industry's internal controls. The New Requirements The FSC has set an end-of-May deadline for all Korean exchanges to comply with a new operational framework. The key requirements: Reconciliation every five minutes: exchanges must verify client ledgers against on-chain holdings at five-minute intervals, compared to the 24-hour cycle most currently use. Daily public disclosure of reconciliation results. Monthly independent audits by an external accounting firm. Upgraded trade-halting systems capable of acting immediately on a large asset mismatch. What This Means for the Industry The rules represent one of the first times a major regulator has applied high-frequency internal audit requirements — the kind typically associated with stock exchanges and clearing houses — directly to crypto platforms. The focus is on operational risk: internal failures that occur without any external breach, a category the industry has historically treated as secondary to cybersecurity. The requirements are expected to be codified under South Korea's forthcoming Digital Asset Basic Act. Whether other jurisdictions follow a similar model remains to be seen — but Bithumb's error has given regulators a concrete failure case to point to. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

The growth of external asset management is one of the most significant wealth trends in Singapore, as high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families look for more customised solutions.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).According to new research from Bank of Singapore, external asset managers are gaining traction, driven by a new generation of clients who value autonomy, transparency, and tailored advice. More than half of the managers surveyed in late 2025/early 2026 said they were exploring new markets and forming strategic partnerships, with almost two-thirds ranking improving customer experience and engagement as their top priority. One-third of respondents expected fixed income solutions to see the biggest growth in demand among clients, reflecting a more defensive stance as clients seek to lock in yields ahead of anticipated interest rate declines. Other asset classes expected to see growth in demand include alternatives and ETFs.Challenges and Opportunities for External ManagersLim Leong Guan, global head of financial intermediaries, family office, and wealth advisory at Bank of Singapore, says there is recognition of the twin challenges of helping clients shift their portfolios amid the geopolitical environment and fast-changing investment environment due to technology innovations and demographics, as well as the necessity to build scale and diversification in their businesses.Unlike large financial institutions, external asset managers need not be driven by short-term revenue targets, which enables them to build stronger, longer, and more trusted relationships with clients and develop genuinely customised approaches to wealth management.Who Uses External Asset Management?The core users of external asset management services are high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals and families who prioritise independence, transparency, and a deeper advisory relationship than they may get from traditional banks, explains Damian Hitchen, regional head of APAC and MENA at Saxo Bank. “We are also seeing more institutional players—including insurance asset managers—turning to external portfolio management specialists to complement their internal capabilities, particularly as portfolios become more complex,” he adds.Hitchen refers to a shift driven by second- and third-generation wealth holders, who are more digitally engaged and prefer advisers who can offer open architecture access and a personalised, tech‑enabled service.Serving Smaller Clients Cost-EffectivelyMulti-family offices and external asset managers that have their own funds can accommodate smaller clients far more cost-effectively than banks for relatively modest sums, suggests Simon Hopkins, managing partner at East West Private Wealth.“However, larger clients typically require more bespoke services, including corporate advisory, access to leverage, and trust and fiduciary services at a minimum,” he adds. “Some external asset managers offer full concierge services as well.”At its broadest, the main users are clients who have wealth they wish to grow or protect and who want a service that is tailored specifically to them, rather than built around a standardised product.Younger Professionals and Next-Generation Wealth HoldersThat is the view of Stephen Davies, founder and CEO of Javelin Wealth Management, where one of the fastest-growing segments is young professionals who may not meet the minimum thresholds that private banks prioritise but are looking to build meaningful wealth over time.“Wealth in Asia is increasingly passing to the next generation, and younger inheritors tend to ask harder questions about how their money is being managed and whose interests their adviser is actually serving,” he says. “That shift in mindset is expanding the pool of clients who seek out genuinely independent advice.”Family Offices and Multi-Generational WealthAnother important user group is family offices seeking professionalised management for substantial private wealth and complex multi-generational requirements, observes Nithi Genesan, country head – Singapore at Waystone. “Rapid wealth generation has created a robust pipeline of high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals requiring sophisticated financial oversight,” she says. “This is further bolstered by Singapore’s strategic positioning as a global family office hub, which has attracted significant international capital and a need for local expertise.”Genesan suggests that family offices are increasingly choosing to outsource and delegate their investment decision-making to trusted external asset managers, and that rather than managing complex portfolios internally, these offices utilise external asset managers to act as their outsourced chief investment officers, providing a higher level of professionalised management and objective expertise. “Furthermore, from a regulatory standpoint, they ensure high levels of transparency by generally disclosing all fees in strict accordance with applicable regulations,” she continues.Drivers of DemandAccording to Hopkins, demand for external asset management has been accelerated by disaffection with the private banking industry (which he says is seen as banal yet expensive), the desire of relationship managers to work in a more flexible setup with true open architecture, and a focus on the client rather than the bank’s targets. “However, perhaps the biggest driver is the ability for the relationship manager to be better paid than in the banks, which are all typically burdened by very high cost-to-income ratios,” he adds.Market Growth and Future ProspectsCustodian bank executives have described the growth of this segment in Singapore as ‘staggering,’ with strong prospects for further growth. However, Polka Mishra, Javelin Wealth Management partner and managing director, reckons demand has probably not grown as much as might have been expected, noting that market penetration is estimated to be lower than in more mature markets. “There are two reasons for this,” he says. “Firstly, Asian investors tend to be at a slightly earlier stage of their wealth management needs, and secondly, there is still a strong focus on brand rather than service.The major banks carry a natural advantage because of the existing linkages between the banking services they provide to families and their companies, and many clients have historically preferred to keep those relationships together.”Those linkages are now being questioned, though, with the result that more clients are starting to separate their banking relationship from their wealth management.As second- and third-generation wealth holders rise to prominence and transactional approaches give way to more fiduciary models, high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients' desire for conflict-free advice and independence is keeping the sector growing. “With external asset manager-managed assets representing just 5% of the market in Singapore, there is significant room for the independent wealth management model to grow,” says Mishra. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitcoin miners are pivoting to AI infrastructure as revenue per megawatt from serving AI workloads runs 5 to 10 times higher than from mining Bitcoin, and the post-halving squeeze has turned that gap into a strategic mandate.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!). The clearest signal so far is Bitfarms (NASDAQ: BITF), which announced it is re-domiciling, renaming itself Keel Infrastructure, and halting all new Bitcoin mining investment. "We are no longer making any investments into Bitcoin mining," said executive Ben Gagnon, framing the company as an "infrastructure developer and owner."We’re officially Keel Infrastructure! Built for the accelerating demand for HPC and AI—with the power, locations, and execution to deliver. Explore our new website → https://t.co/3VI028F01M pic.twitter.com/D6ubEMP1lc— Keel Infrastructure (@keelinfra_) April 1, 2026A Clear Trend It's not a one-off case. Core Scientific (CORZ) and TeraWulf (WULF) have largely repositioned as HPC operators and signed multi-year contracts with hyperscalers. Riot Platforms (RIOT), Iris Energy (IREN), and Hut 8 have each announced plans to redirect significant power capacity toward AI clients. Analysts estimate that by end of 2027, up to 20% of the Bitcoin mining industry's total power capacity could be repurposed for AI and HPC workloads. Why Miners Have an Edge The pivot works because miners already hold what the AI industry can't quickly acquire: large-scale sites with high-voltage power contracts and the infrastructure permits to match. Hyperscalers are facing two-to-four-year delays just to get new data centres grid-connected. Miners can bring AI capacity online in one to two years. Goldman Sachs forecasts U.S. data center power demand growing at a 15% compound annual rate through 2030, driven predominantly by AI. The Valuation Play The financial logic is as important as the operational one. Bitcoin miners typically trade at 6–12x EBITDA. Data center operators trade at 20–25x. A successful transition from volatile commodity production to infrastructure-as-a-service — with long-term leases and predictable cash flows — implies a substantial multiple re-rating. That's the bet these companies are making. For brokers and investors, the practical consequence is sector reclassification. What traded as a pure-play crypto mining cohort is becoming a heterogeneous mix of infrastructure companies, AI-levered real estate plays, and residual Bitcoin producers. Applying uniform crypto-cycle logic to the entire group is increasingly the wrong frame. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

SPB Exchange is preparing to launch a new class of perpetual derivatives it calls "Neo-Assets," targeting the retail trading activity that has historically flowed to offshore CFD and perpetual swap platforms.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The rollout is scheduled for the second half of April 2026. T-Investments, the brokerage arm of T-Bank, will distribute the instruments at launch. How the Product Works The contracts are perpetual and cash-settled, with no fixed expiry. They support margin trading, accept both cash and securities as collateral, and charge no intraday fees — costs only apply to overnight positions. Settlement is in rubles within Russia's financial system, cutting out foreign intermediaries entirely. The initial lineup covers U.S. equities — Tesla and Amazon among them — and crypto-linked indices based on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Crypto contracts are restricted to qualified investors. The distribution angle T-Investments already commands a large share of Russia's futures client base, which gives Neo-Assets immediate reach into an active retail audience."Neo-Assets give access to the price dynamics of foreign assets and cryptocurrencies, with the advantages of margin trading and zero intraday commission," said Alexander Gusev, Director of Brokerage Product Development at T-Investments. For SPB Exchange, the launch is a product redesign play — building derivatives around how retail traders actually behave on offshore platforms, rather than how exchange products have traditionally been structured. What Doesn't Transfer Synthetic exposure to foreign assets adds structural complexity, and the product's appeal will ultimately depend on whether domestic liquidity and execution quality can match what offshore platforms deliver. Regulatory constraints on product depth remain a factor that the exchange hasn't addressed publicly. For brokers and infrastructure providers, the more interesting question is whether a domestically regulated instrument can retain traders who went offshore precisely because local alternatives fell short — not just on price, but on product range and execution. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application developed by Jack Dorsey, has been removed from the App Store in China following a request from the country’s internet regulator.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).Dorsey said in a post on X that the app was taken down earlier this year. He wrote that “Bitchat pulled from the China App Store,” and shared a notice from Apple’s app review team. The notice stated that the app had been removed in February and that its TestFlight beta version would no longer be available in China. The decision was made at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China.Apple Blocks Bitchat, Cites Local LawsAccording to the notice, the regulator determined that Bitchat violated rules governing online services with “public opinion or social mobilization capabilities.” These rules came into force in 2018. Under the provisions, such services must undergo a security assessment before launch and “be responsible for the assessment results.”Apple’s app review team said developers must comply with local laws in all markets where their apps are available. The team added that “it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws,” and noted that apps encouraging unlawful or risky behavior would be rejected.Bitchat operates without a central server. It uses Bluetooth and mesh networks to transmit messages directly between devices. The system does not rely on internet access. This structure has made the app difficult to control through conventional network restrictions.Millions Download Bitchat Outside China MarketsIn recent months, the app has gained traction during protests in several countries, including Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran. Authorities in those countries had attempted to limit internet access or block communication platforms, Cointelegraph reported.Despite its removal in China, Bitchat remains available in other regions, according to Apple. Download data indicates growing usage. Figures from the Chrome platform show more than three million downloads, including over 92,000 in the past week. The Google Play Store reports more than one million installs. The data does not specify geographic distribution. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

“Best trading conditions” usually means low all-in costs, transparent fees, and a platform that makes it easy to place and manage orders without surprises.In this article we compare the top trading conditions brokers such as Deriv, Interactive Brokers (IBKR), eToro, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity Investments. These firms don’t all compete in the same lane: some focus more on CFD-style pricing (where spreads and overnight costs matter most), while others are closer to U.S. brokerage pricing (where stock/ETF commissions, options contract fees, and margin rates shape the “conditions”).Because trading conditions can vary by entity and jurisdiction, the goal here isn’t to crown one universal winner. It’s to help readers quickly identify which broker is likely to fit their trading strategies, then verify the exact schedule for the asset they trade.How we compare top trading conditions in 2026We use the same checklist for every broker:Core trading costs: spreads and/or commissions (as published on the official site).Financing / holding costs: overnight fees for leveraged products or margin interest for borrowing.Brokerage Account-level fees: withdrawals, inactivity, and currency conversion (where clearly stated).Platforms: what you can trade on (web/desktop/mobile) and whether the platform stack matches the audience.Availability notes: anything that materially affects who can open an account (especially for international readers).Important: This guide is informational. It doesn’t provide investment advice, and “better conditions” never removes trading risk.Trading Conditions Comparison Table (At-a-Glance)Top Trading Conditions Brokers 2026DerivServing 3 million+ clients across 26 years, Deriv delivers competitive trading conditions through a comprehensive multi-platform ecosystem. The broker provides 24/7 trading availability on synthetic instruments and cryptocurrencies, including weekends and public holidays. With 300+ tradable instruments spanning forex, stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and proprietary derived markets, Deriv offers a broad scope for portfolio diversification.Pricing model: Deriv MT5 Standard accounts feature spread-based trading with no additional price adjustments, while Zero Spread accounts apply a commission based structure with raw spreads from 0.0 pips. Leverage reaches up to 1:10000 on selected instruments, supporting capital-efficient position sizing across experience levels.***Trading conditions, products, and platforms may differ depending on the country of residence.Financing / holding costs: Swap-free accounts provide a 5-day grace period on synthetic instruments and a 15-day grace period on financial instruments before daily administration rates apply. Standard accounts incur traditional overnight swap rates.Account-level rate to be aware of: Deriv MT5 accounts become trading-disabled after 60 days of inactivity, with automatic fund transfers to your Deriv wallet. Accounts that have been inactive for 2 years may be permanently archived.Platforms: Seven integrated platforms serve different needs: Deriv MT5 (6 account types) and Deriv cTrader for CFDs; Deriv Trader for options; Deriv GO for mobile; Deriv Bot for automation; Deriv Nakala for copy trading; and SmartTrader for digital options.Deposits & withdrawals: Deriv charges no deposit or withdrawal rates across all supported methods, which include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, mobile money, and P2P. Minimum deposit starts from $5.Education: Deriv Academy provides structured courses, eBooks, quizzes, and platform tutorials covering forex, synthetic indices, risk management, and derivatives. Research tools include the Deriv Blog and Trading Central's Market Buzz sentiment tool.Interactive Brokers (IBKR)Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is usually the cleanest choice if “trading conditions” for you means verifiable, product-by-product pricing. Instead of summarising costs in one headline, IBKR publishes detailed schedules so readers can check the exact commission structure for the market and product they trade.Pricing model (what you pay):IBKR’s conditions are built around commission schedules that vary by product and region. For stocks, IBKR explains how Fixed vs Tiered pricing works, and it flags a real-world detail active traders care about: when using SmartRouting, an order may route to a venue with a better displayed price but higher fees, depending on the order type and liquidity.Financing / holding costs (what changes if you hold):For traders who borrow on margin, IBKR publishes margin rates and financing and explains the tiered nature of rates (benchmark-based with markups that can vary by tier). This is one of the most important “conditions” checks if the audience holds positions beyond intraday.Account-level fees to watch:With IBKR, the key is less about a single inactivity/withdrawal headline and more about making sure readers look at the relevant schedule pages for their product and account type. The “conditions” are transparent, but they’re also granular.Platforms (official):IBKR supports multiple platforms, with Trader Workstation (TWS) positioned for advanced order control and tooling, alongside web and mobile options for simpler execution and monitoring.eToroeToro tends to work best for readers who want one clear place to understand fees, then drill into product-specific costs (especially for CFDs). Its official fees hub lays out the main account charges, while separate pages cover CFD spreads and overnight costs.Pricing model (what you pay):For CFDs, eToro explains that spreads are variable and can widen in certain market conditions, and it outlines how spread-related costs are applied. For stocks, eToro notes that a stock commission fee of $1 or $2 may apply when opening and closing a stock position, depending on country of residence and the exchange.Financing / holding costs (what changes if you hold):If a reader holds CFDs overnight, eToro states that overnight fees are charged Monday to Friday at 21:00 GMT (22:00 during DST), and it also notes that fee changes can apply to open positions, so this is one of the most important “conditions” checks for swing trades.Account-level fees to be aware of:eToro’s fees page lists an inactivity fee of $10/month after 12 months with no login, and it sets out withdrawal rules by account currency, no fee for GBP/EUR accounts, while a $5 fee applies to withdrawals from a USD investment account (with a $30 minimum for USD withdrawals).It also explains conversion fees and shows they can vary by location, payment method, and Club level.Platforms (official):eToro is offered via its web platform and mobile app (and it promotes a demo account for testing the experience). Charles SchwabCharles Schwab is easiest to compare on trading conditions when your audience is focused on U.S. brokerage pricing (stocks/ETFs and options) and wants access to a well-known active trading platform suite.Pricing model (what you pay):On its official pricing page, Schwab states $0 online trades for stocks and ETFs, and $0.65 per options contract.For broader pricing details (services, edge cases, and non-standard items), Schwab provides an official Pricing Guide for Individual Investors.Financing / holding costs (what changes if you hold):Schwab publishes its margin schedule and lists a base rate plus tiers. On its margin rates page, Schwab states the base rate is 10.00%, “subject to change without notice,” and notes it was last changed on 12/12/2025.Platforms (official):Schwab states that clients can access the thinkorswim platform suite at no charge, with standard trade pricing applying. It also maintains separate pages for thinkorswim desktop and web, which is useful for readers who care about platform fit.Availability note (important for international readers):Schwab provides an international account route and states that non-U.S. residents can open an account if they live in a qualifying country.Fidelity InvestmentsFidelity is best assessed on “trading conditions” as a U.S. brokerage: clear pricing for stocks/ETFs and options, plus published margin rates if you borrow.Pricing model (what you pay):Fidelity states $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and ETFs, and to options trades (+ $0.65 per contract) in a Fidelity retail account. It also notes that sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee, and that a limited number of ETFs can carry a transaction-based service fee.Financing / holding costs (margin):Fidelity publishes margin borrowing costs and states its current base margin rate is 10.575%, effective since 12/12/2025, with tiers that vary by debit balance.Platforms (official):Fidelity highlights Fidelity Trader+™ Desktop as a downloadable, multi-monitor platform rebuilt from Active Trader Pro®, designed for faster active trading and deeper control (with Mac and PC support referenced on the platform page).Availability note (important for international readers):Fidelity states it does not open accounts for any new customers residing outside the United States. How to Choose the Best Trading Conditions Broker in 2026Start by matching the broker to what you trade most and how long you hold. That’s where “conditions” really show up.Pick your product lane firstUS stocks/ETFs + options: your conditions are mainly commissions, options contract fees, and margin rates (if you borrow).CFDs / leveraged trading: your conditions are mainly spreads + overnight/financing costs + key account fees.Choose based on holding timeIntraday / frequent trading: prioritize tight all-in cost + strong order control. IBKR is the most “schedule-driven” (granular commissions and product pricing).Multi-day holding: prioritize financing. Check CFD overnight fees (eToro publishes the timing rules), or margin rates (Schwab/Fidelity publish schedules; rates are tiered and change over time).Don’t skip the “small fees”If you fund/withdraw often, trade in a different base currency, or go inactive for months, account fees can dominate.eToro lists inactivity and withdrawal rules directly on its fees page.Deriv documents dormant-account terms in its terms (relevant if the account sits unused). Final NotesThe “best trading conditions” in 2026 are the ones that keep your all-in costs predictable for the assets you trade most, without hidden frictions when you deposit, withdraw, convert currency, or hold positions overnight.To choose confidently, start with your product lane (stocks/ETFs/options vs CFDs), then compare (1) spreads or commissions, (2) financing or margin borrowing costs, and (3) account-level fees that can add up over time. After that, the platform fit matters: the best pricing on paper isn’t helpful if the tools don’t match how you place and manage trades.Finally, remember that trading conditions can vary by jurisdiction and entity, and leveraged products carry higher risk. Use this guide to shortlist, then verify the latest pricing and terms on each broker’s official pages before making a decision.FAQsWhat do “trading conditions” mean in this guide?They’re the practical inputs that affect your results: spreads and/or commissions, financing costs (CFD overnight fees or margin interest), and the account-level fees that can add friction (withdrawals, inactivity, FX conversion where applicable). For example, Deriv’s MT5 page highlights “zero commission” as a pricing feature, while Fidelity and Schwab publish their stock/ETF and options pricing directly on their pricing pages.Are $0 commissions always the best trading conditions?Not always. Schwab and Fidelity both state $0 online stock/ETF trades, but options still have a per-contract fee (e.g., $0.65/contract on their standard pricing pages), and if you use margin, interest rate can quickly outweigh commission savings.What matters most if I hold CFD positions overnight?Overnight financing rules. eToro states that CFD overnight fees are charged Monday to Friday at 21:00 GMT (22:00 during DST) and that fee changes can apply to open positions, so this is a key page to check before holding longer than a day.Why should I check margin rates (and their effective date)?Because margin interest can be one of the biggest “conditions” costs for longer holds. Schwab publishes a base rate of 10.00% and notes it was last changed on 12/12/2025. Fidelity publishes its margin schedule and states a base margin rate of 10.575%, effective since 12/12/2025. IBKR also publishes tiered margin rates and financing tied to benchmark-rate methodology.Can non-US residents open accounts with these brokers?It depends:Fidelity: states it does not open accounts for new customers residing outside the U.S.Schwab International: states non-US residents can open an international account if they live in a qualifying country (country/region selection is part of the process).IBKR: publishes an Available Countries and Territories list for account opening.Does Deriv really offer 24/7 markets?Deriv’s official Synthetic Indices page explicitly highlights 24/7 trading, including weekends and public holidays (these are Deriv’s “Derived Indices” markets). This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

DMM Securities led global FX in 2025Global retail FX remained highly concentrated in 2025, with Japan’s DMM Securities once again emerging as the clear volume leader. DMM Securities was the top retail FX broker globally, based on Finance Magnates Intelligence data focused solely on FX trading volumes.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The Japanese firm recorded an average monthly volume of $1.463 trillion for the year, with activity peaking in the first half of 2025, when monthly volumes were close to $1.69 trillion. This marks yet another year in which DMM Securities has held the number one spot in the global FX rankings.While the gap between leading Japanese firms is narrowing, the second-ranked broker averaged $1.367 trillion in monthly FX volume in 2025.Poland’s FX/CFD traders surge 50%Elsewhere, Poland’s retail FX and CFD market grew rapidly last year, with the number of active traders rising by about 50% to roughly 370,000, according to data from the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF). Over the same period, clients collectively lost a record 2.68 billion zlotys, underscoring the high risk attached to leveraged OTC derivatives.The KNF report, which covers the full spectrum of OTC products offered by Polish-licensed brokers, found that total losses were nearly four times larger than total profits generated by winning clients. Around 102,919 active clients ended the year in profit, while 266,818 recorded a net loss, meaning more than 72% of traders lost money overall.XTB is estimated to have up to 12,000 CFD accounts in France, where the national regulator is considered one of the most active in the European Union.The broker recently signed a high-profile sponsorship deal with Paris La Défense Arena, Europe’s largest indoor venue, signalling that France is a key strategic market for XTB in 2026. France remains the EU’s second-largest economy, with GDP per capita projected to exceed 51,000 dollars this year.Why patience wins in volatile marketsMarket volatility is inevitable, but trying to predict its ups and downs rarely works. Paul Golden argues that investors who remain calmand stay invested tend to achieve stronger long-term results than those who react impulsively. He highlights 2025’s strong dividend payouts and increased trading in oil and crypto markets as proof that patience can pay off even when conditions shift rapidly.Golden also cites data from Schroders’ Duncan Lamont showing that global equities have seen double-digit declines in most years since 1972, yet, historically, annual gains have more than offset those drops. The lesson is straightforward: market corrections are normal, but recoveries are often swift, and disciplined investors who stay the course capture the biggest rewards.CySEC warns EU on smartphone-fueled risk-takingIn the regulatory front, CySEC Vice Chairman Panikkos Vakkou warned that the explosion of smartphone investing apps, combined with aggressive marketing, is encouraging young and inexperienced investors to take on risks they may not fully understand. He argues that the EU’s planned Savings and Investment Union should go further by explicitly banning the gamification of investing, such as game-like features and reward mechanisms that can nudge users toward speculative products. His latest warning builds on CySEC’s earlier stance: in 2022, the regulator launched an investor protection campaign targeting gamification and the role of social media “finfluencers” in promoting complex, high-risk products to younger audiences.Gibraltar licenses first prediction market operatorGibraltar granted its first license to a prediction market operator at a time when rising UK gambling taxes are putting pressure on the territory’s traditional remote gaming sector. The license, issued on March 26 to Predict Street Ltd, was announced by Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry Nigel Feetham, who highlighted prediction markets as a potential new growth area for Gibraltar. Predict Street describes itself as the “official prediction market partner” of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and runs its platform on infrastructure provided by a blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi. The move signals Gibraltar’s effort to diversify its gambling and fintech ecosystem by attracting innovative operators in emerging niches such as prediction markets.CFTC sues states over prediction market overreachIn the US, the CFTC has turned a simmering jurisdictional dispute over prediction markets into a full-scale legal battle with state regulators. The regulator filed lawsuits against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois, alleging that the states unlawfully interfered with markets that fall under federal oversight.I have some big news to announce… pic.twitter.com/3OBNTaOnIL— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 17, 2026The CFTC says the states tried to restrict or regulate designated contract markets that already operate with its approval. The regulator argues that the Commodity Exchange Act gives it exclusive authority to supervise event contracts, including those tied to outcomes such as elections or company performance.At the same time, more than 40 lawmakers led by Senator Elizabeth Warren are pressing federal regulators to crack down on insider trading in prediction markets. It urged the CFTC and the Office of Government Ethics in a formal letter to issue clear guidance reminding federal employees that using non-public government information to trade on these platforms is illegal.Australia passes AFSL bill to regulate crypto platformsAnd in the crypto regulations space, Australia’s Parliament passed legislation bringing digital asset platforms and tokenized custody providers under the country’s existing financial services licensing regime. The move formally places a wide range of crypto-related services within the same regulatory perimeter as traditional financial products. In 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission clarified that stablecoins, wrapped tokens and tokenized securities are treated as financial products under current law, meaning many providers must now hold a license.Topstep buys The Futures DeskAt the same time, Topstep acquired The Futures Desk in a bid to strengthen its futures trading education and technology capabilities. The proprietary trading firm said the deal supports its goal of developing more disciplined traders through enhanced tools, coaching and evaluation programs.The company plans to integrate The Futures Desk’s trading technology into its TopstepX platform. This will provide traders with additional tools for development and performance tracking.Prop firms curb gold tradingMeanwhile, Philip H. van den Berg, Co-Founder and CEO of Rhodium FX, says more proprietary trading firms are starting to prohibit gold trading for their funded accounts. Speaking on a Thentick podcast, he described this as a growing structural issue for the retail prop trading industry. He argued that gold’s record-breaking rally has made it unusually easy for retail traders to become consistently profitable, exposing weaknesses in many firms’ payout models. As gold hit successive all-time highs, more traders passed evaluations and reached payout stages, challenging business models that rely on most traders failing or dropping out before significant withdrawals.Retail investors eye SpaceXFinally, Wall Street’s largest investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and UBS, are competing for underwriting roles on SpaceX’s planned initial public offering. Elon Musk’s space company is preparing to raise about $75 billion from public markets. The IPO is expected to value SpaceX between $1.25 trillion and $1.75 trillion. That would make it the largest share offering in capital markets history, with a fundraising target reportedly around three times bigger than Saudi Aramco’s record IPO. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Circle is facing criticism from parts of the crypto community after hackers drained about $285 million from the Solana-based Drift protocol, most of which was quickly converted into USD Coin (USDC) and transferred to Ethereum. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT alleged Circle could have acted faster to freeze the stolen assets and limit losses.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).2/ Circle operates USDC, a centralized stablecoin pegged 1:1 to USD, marketed as a regulated company with a robust compliance program.Its token contract includes a freeze/blacklist function, and its terms of service explicitly state it reserves the right to restrict access for… pic.twitter.com/Plnq6IDV6A— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 3, 2026Legal Risks and Regulatory ConstraintsAccording to security firm PeckShield, the attacker bridged roughly $232 million in USDC using Circle’s cross-chain transfer protocol (CCTP), complicating recovery efforts. Critics argue Circle had the authority to blacklist or freeze wallets tied to suspicious activity. However, legal experts say acting without a law enforcement order could expose Circle to liability.The initial estimated loss of today's @DriftProtocol loss is $285m. Here is the detailed breakdown: https://t.co/z3DjfN0NP1 pic.twitter.com/P84p2UVJZi— PeckShieldAlert (@PeckShieldAlert) April 1, 2026Circle maintained that it freezes USDC only when legally required. The incident has reignited debate about the responsibilities of centralized stablecoin issuers during fast-moving exploits.You may also like: CFTC Sues Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois for Overreach on Prediction MarketsAnalysts say the attack, suspected to involve North Korean-linked hackers, exposes a gray area between rapid intervention and due process.Hackers Park Nearly $2B in Stolen CryptoMore than $4 billion was stolen in 255 crypto hacks last year, according to Global Ledger. Hackers now move funds within seconds of an exploit but slow the laundering process, spreading it over days or weeks and making detection harder for brokers and exchanges. Nearly $2 billion in stolen funds from this period reportedly still sits in attacker-linked wallets, creating a sleeper threat that may hit regulated venues later and defeat point‑in‑time screening. Criminals increasingly rely on cross-chain bridges and privacy tools, with over $2.01 billion in stolen funds routed through bridges in 2025. Tornado Cash usage rebounded after sanctions were lifted in March 2025 and was involved in nearly 75% of mixer-related hacks in the second half of the year. These longer, more complex laundering paths are intensifying operational risks and forcing compliance teams to move beyond static blacklists toward continuous monitoring. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

South Korean brokerage Korea Investment & Securities is reviewing a potential stake in crypto exchange Coinone, according to local media reports and company comments. No agreement has been finalized.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The firm previously offered contracts for difference as part of Korea’s leveraged trading market but scaled back and suspended the product following tighter regulatory scrutiny after the 2023 South Korea CFD stock manipulation scandal. Since then, it has focused on listed products and global investment services rather than restarting a broad retail CFD business. Korea Investment & Securities currently provides domestic and global equities trading, exchange-traded derivatives, structured products, and wealth management services.Proposed 20% Cap Could Affect CoinoneCiting people familiar with the matter, The Korea Herald reported that the brokerage has engaged with regulators and politicians as part of a broader process tied to a potential investment in Coinone. The exchange also said that no specific transaction had been decided. [#highlighted-links#]The development comes as South Korea considers a proposal to cap major shareholders’ stakes in domestic crypto exchanges at 20%. Cha Myung-hoon reportedly controls about 53.44% of Coinone, and a stake sale could become one way to comply if the proposal advances into law.Korea Investment & Securities explores 20% stake in Coinone as South Korean brokerages race for crypto exchange access? https://t.co/dIwKbm3St9?️ Benthic pic.twitter.com/9Xidq1meMb— Leviathan News (@leviathan_news) April 3, 2026Mirae Asset Targets Crypto with Korbit DealA potential Coinone deal would place Korea Investment & Securities alongside peers already active in the crypto sector. Earlier this year, Mirae Asset Group acquired crypto exchange Korbit for $92 million through a subsidiary to comply with ownership regulations, adding exchange infrastructure to its brokerage, digital bonds, and tokenized securities activities. Korbit continues operating with a 1% market share.The transaction coincides with South Korea advancing security token rules and considering broader institutional participation in crypto. The move reflects a wider trend of traditional financial firms integrating with digital asset markets. Korea Investment & Securities’ net profit of over $1.3 billion in 2025 indicates it has the financial capacity to pursue a potential stake in Coinone. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has issued reporting guidance for EU investment firm branches operating in Cyprus, including retail CFD brokers, and for crypto asset service providers registered in the jurisdiction. The regulator requires these firms to submit statistical information covering last year. Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).CySEC Sets Electronic Reporting Deadline, PenaltiesAll reporting must be submitted electronically via CySEC’s Transaction Reporting System by 8 May 2026. Submissions must be confirmed with a feedback file, and a “No Error” indication marks a successful filing. [#highlighted-links#] Any errors must be corrected and resubmitted. Feedback files are issued only during CySEC’s regular business hours. CySEC warned that missing the deadline could result in administrative penalties and will not issue reminders.Data should be reported in euros, and no additional information beyond previous requirements is requested. The forms are available in English, with instructions included.CySEC Launches On-Site Inspections 2026Alongside the reporting requirements, CySEC will also carry out on-site inspections and desk-based reviews of CFD brokers and other investment firms as part of the European Securities and Markets Authority’s Common Supervisory Action for 2026. The inspections will focus on staff compensation, digital platform design, and potential conflicts between firms’ revenue targets and client interests. The reviews are intended to verify compliance with regulatory standards and ensure internal practices align with supervisory expectations.CySEC Reviews Amid Complaints, Market ShareThe inspections are particularly significant in Cyprus, where local firms account for roughly one-third of cross-border EU retail trading, serving around 3.6 million clients. Complaints against Cyprus-based brokers rose 46% in 2024. CySEC’s circular notes that adherence “will form part of CySEC’s supervisory review for the purposes of the CSA 2026.” While some analyses highlight competition from other hubs, Cyprus continues to host a substantial share of industry jobs. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The CFTC's enforcement chief stood at a podium this week and told the room that insider trading on prediction markets is illegal, prosecutable, and a top-five agency priority. He said he is hiring more staff to bring cases. The same week, Intercontinental Exchange completed its $1.6 billion investment in Polymarket, Kalshi won approval to offer margin trading to institutional clients, and Gibraltar became the first jurisdiction outside the US to license a prediction market operator. The industry got a regulatory warning and a wave of institutional capital in the same seven days. Here's what mattered this week. What Moved the Prediction Markets This Week The CFTC Names Its Target On March 31, David Miller, the CFTC's newly appointed enforcement chief, gave a public speech at New York University's School of Law. He said insider trading on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket is illegal — a direct rebuttal to a view circulating in finance and social media circles that prediction markets operate in a regulatory gray zone. He listed insider trading as the first of the CFTC's top five enforcement priorities and said the agency is actively hiring to expand its capacity to bring cases. He also announced a simplified cooperation policy — one that would allow platforms and traders to avoid penalties through full cooperation — to supersede the previous version issued 13 months ago. The speech came after Kalshi disclosed two enforcement actions earlier this year: a California gubernatorial candidate fined $2,246 and suspended for five years, and a MrBeast editor fined $20,397 and suspended for two years.JUST IN: Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly proclaims "I have questions for MrBeast."— Polymarket (@Polymarket) April 2, 2026ICE Closes the Polymarket Deal, Kalshi Unlocks Margin On March 27, Intercontinental Exchange completed its investment in Polymarket, finalizing a deal first announced in October 2025. The agreement positions ICE as the distributor of Polymarket’s event-driven data to institutional clients. A day later, Kalshi said it had received approval to offer margin trading to institutional clients through an affiliated, registered futures commission merchant. The product will initially target hedge funds and proprietary trading firms, with margin on event contracts not planned at launch. Together, the moves point in the same direction: institutional access is expanding, but through controlled channels rather than open rollout.Outside the U.S., No Single Rulebook Beyond the U.S., there is no consistent approach to prediction markets. Gibraltar has issued its first license for a prediction market operator, positioning itself to attract regulated activity — but treating these platforms within its existing gambling framework. Malta has signaled interest, saying it is exploring the sector and considering how it could fit within a formal legislative framework. Across much of Europe, the response has been very different. Countries including France, the Netherlands, and Germany have treated prediction markets as illegal gambling or unlicensed financial products, with platforms like Polymarket facing bans, fines, or geoblocking. The result is a fragmented landscape. In some jurisdictions, prediction markets are being formalized. In others, they are being shut out entirely. Quote of the Week CFTC enforcement chief David Miller has not previously spoken on record about prediction markets since his appointment. His remarks on March 31 were direct and consequential for the industry. "A myth has spread that insider trading is permissible, or even encouraged, in the prediction markets. Prominent individuals in finance, media, and particularly on social media, have contended that insider trading law does not apply to these markets. These comments all suggest that insider trading is an important and acceptable part of the prediction market ecosystem. Not so." — David Miller, CFTC Division of Enforcement Director, March 31, 2026 Number of the Week 45,347,255 – that’s the number of transactions processed across major prediction market platforms in a single week. The activity continues at scale — even as regulators, lawmakers, and courts move to define the rules around it. The Friction of the Week The same week that Kalshi ran billboards across Washington, D.C. declaring "Rule #1: We ban insider trading. And we enforce it," the CFTC's enforcement chief said the agency would be hiring more staff to prosecute insider trading on platforms including Kalshi.Not all prediction markets are the same.Some are regulated in the United States. Some aren’t.Kalshi is.Rule #1: We ban insider trading. And we enforce it. pic.twitter.com/GA8mDlE9Ud— Kalshi (@Kalshi) March 30, 2026 There is no contradiction in these two statements, but there is a structural problem they both point to. Kalshi has demonstrated that it can investigate and punish traders who violate its rules — two cases this year produced fines and suspensions. The CFTC acknowledged Kalshi's enforcement record. But Miller was careful to separate platform-level enforcement from federal jurisdiction: the agency, he made clear, retains full authority to investigate and prosecute violations on any designated contract market, regardless of what the platform has already done. The friction is between a self-regulatory model built for speed and a federal enforcement apparatus built for scale. Kalshi can act quickly on individual cases. The CFTC can build cases with prosecutors, including, as of March 30, in coordination with the Manhattan US Attorney's office. The question is not who has the authority — both do. It is whether platform-level rules are sufficient infrastructure for a market that is handling over $20 billion per month. Bottom Line This week moved in two directions simultaneously. On one side: an institutional investment in Polymarket, margin trading approval for Kalshi, and Gibraltar issuing its first prediction market license — all signals of capital and regulatory legitimacy converging around the sector. On the other side: the CFTC's enforcement chief named insider trading on prediction markets a top agency priority, said he is hiring, and federal prosecutors in Manhattan disclosed they are already in conversations with platform operators about potential criminal exposure. The platforms are not waiting. Kalshi's DC ad campaign — billboards, metro placements, a full-page Washington Post ad — was timed to coincide with the wave of Congressional legislation. Polymarket updated its market integrity rules. Both companies are arguing, publicly and loudly, that they already police their own markets. The week's evidence suggests that argument is being heard, and also that it is not considered sufficient by the people who would decide whether to prosecute. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Vantage, the trading name of Vantage Global Prime LLP, has integrated its services with the Ultency Matching Engine, an institutional platform launched by MetaQuotes. The move allows brokers using MetaTrader 5 to access Vantage’s liquidity and multi-asset products within the platform.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).MetaQuotes has introduced Ultency as a native matching engine inside MetaTrader 5. The system is designed to reduce reliance on external bridges and improve execution speed within the platform environment.Vantage Integrates Ultency for MT5 BrokersThrough the integration, brokers can connect to Vantage’s institutional offering directly from MetaTrader 5. The setup provides low-latency execution and removes the need for external configurations. It also reduces operational complexity and shortens time-to-market for brokers deploying liquidity solutions.Ultency functions as a liquidity aggregation and order-matching system built for MetaTrader 5. It allows brokers to combine pricing from multiple providers and manage execution within a single infrastructure. The platform also includes risk controls, integration tools, and reporting features, along with a volume-based pricing model.Ultency Connects Brokers to Over 30 ProvidersAccording to the companies, more than 30 liquidity providers are available through Ultency. This enables brokers to aggregate pricing from different market participants and streamline execution processes.The system is designed to connect brokers with institutional service providers. It centralizes access to liquidity and related services, supporting business development within the sector. Vantage said the integration provides a direct and transparent channel for MetaTrader 5 clients to access its services and partner offerings.Vantage CFD Arm Expands Copy TradingSeparately, Vantage’s CFD trading arm continues to expand retail offerings. Vantage Markets has extended its copy trading feature from its mobile app to its web-based Client Portal. Eligible users opening a Copy Trading account via the portal may receive a deposit bonus of up to 50% in credit. The service allows clients to follow and replicate strategies of other traders directly from their browsers and provides access to technical indicators, daily analyses, and a range of financial instruments. Copy trading continues to account for a notable portion of CFD trading volume, particularly among newer market participants. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Spain’s top football league LALIGA has entered a multi-year agreement with Polymarket, becoming the first major European sports league to partner with a prediction market platform. The deal grants Polymarket exclusive branding rights in the United States and Canada, including the use of league and club marks around matches and broadcast visibility across selected channels. For LALIGA, the move targets younger North American audiences; for Polymarket, it opens a new distribution channel for its event contracts through mainstream sports media, despite ongoing regulatory uncertainty. Distribution Through Sports The agreement reflects a broader push by prediction market platforms to reach users through established sports ecosystems. Polymarket has already signed partnerships with Major League Soccer (MLS), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL) and the UFC, combining branding rights with access to official data and visibility around live events. These deals bring prediction market contracts closer to sports betting audiences, without operating fully under the same regulatory framework. Integrity and Regulatory Questions The LALIGA agreement also includes cooperation on monitoring sports-related contracts. Polymarket said it will deploy integrity tools developed with Palantir to flag suspicious trading patterns. The focus reflects scrutiny around insider trading risks, though how such systems will be evaluated by regulators remains an open question. Implications for Brokers and Market Infrastructure For brokers, market makers and infrastructure providers, the deal highlights growing demand for event-driven products distributed through mainstream channels. At the same time, it does not resolve how these products will be treated by regulators. That question will determine whether such partnerships translate into scalable trading activity or remain limited to niche use cases. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Finance Magnates Intelligence spoke with Nick Twidale, Chief Market Analyst at ATFX, to better understand how current tensions in the Middle East are affecting ATFX Connect's operations. In an era when geopolitical shifts have become a primary driver of asset prices, the interview reveals how a major institutional provider maintains stability during periods of extreme market volatility. Twidale provides a "trader-eye perspective" on why traditional market behaviours are breaking down and how ATFX is evolving to meet a "new normal" of structural volatility."Zero Downtime for Clients"A central theme of the discussion is the firm’s operational resilience in the face of regional conflict. When asked how ATFX ensures uninterrupted service in Dubai despite rising tensions with Iran, Twidale points to a sophisticated global safety net. He explains that, through a robust Business Continuity Plan, the firm’s teams in the UK, Cyprus, and Hong Kong are ready to step in seamlessly. "Our team are fully equipped for remote work... ensuring zero downtime for clients," Twidale notes, emphasising that while clients are monitoring developments closely, the infrastructure remains unshakable.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The Breakdown of "Safe Havens" The interview also explores the unexpected breakdown of traditional "safe-haven" assets. Despite the common narrative of Bitcoin as "Digital Gold," Twidale remains sceptical based on current institutional flows. He observes that Bitcoin continues to trade "purely as a high-risk tech asset," rather than acting as a hedge against geopolitical risk. Even gold has struggled to behave traditionally, as Twidale points out that "the dollar side of that trade has dominated," with US yields and USD strength currently driving global capital flows.Managing "Weekend Gaps"Risk management remains a top priority for institutional partners, particularly regarding "weekend gaps" that often follow major Sunday news developments. Twidale outlines how ATFX protects its clients from negative balances through proactive measures, including a specialised weekend USDT funding facility.By working closely with clients on Fridays to ensure accounts are appropriately funded, the firm maintains one of the strongest credit offerings in the market. This enables partners to navigate periods of heightened uncertainty without the risk of liquidation at Monday’s open.This interview is available on the Finance Magnates Intelligence portal. This article was written by Sylwester Majewski at www.financemagnates.com.

For most of the past two decades, the word Cyprus in financial services carried a specific meaning: CFD brokers. The island, anchored by CySEC regulation and easy MiFID passporting into the European Economic Area, became the operational backbone of retail trading for a generation of firms.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)Compliance officers, relationship managers, and MetaTrader specialists filled the office parks outside Limassol. That identity is now being complicated by a new class of employer. Kraken, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has emerged as one of the most active hirers on the island, according to the Q2/2026 hiring report published by FYI, a marketing intelligence firm focused on the online trading sector.The report, which covers 2,551 qualified job descriptions scraped from career pages and LinkedIn listings across more than 150 companies, finds that crypto exchanges now account for the highest hiring activity across the entire online trading space, ahead of both CFD brokers and prop trading firms.Crypto Tops the Hiring ChartsThe shift becomes visible as soon as you look at the country data. FYI's previous edition, covering Q1/2026, placed Cyprus at 22.8% of all open positions among the top 50 online brokers, a figure that comfortably held off Dubai as the industry's primary employment hub. Adding crypto exchanges to the dataset for Q2 pulls the geographic map in new directions. Singapore and Hong Kong now register prominently in the country rankings, two cities that barely featured in broker-only editions of the report."Crypto exchanges currently show the highest hiring activity in the online trading space," Christian Görgen, founder of FYI, commented for FinanceMagnates.com. "Kraken appears to be building a local presence in Cyprus, with several roles indicating a potential office setup."That office setup follows a clear regulatory path. As FinanceMagnates.com reported in February, Kraken posted roughly 50 Cyprus-linked vacancies on LinkedIn within two weeks, following its 2025 acquisition of Greenfield Wealth, a CFD broker whose main value was the Cyprus Investment Firm license it carried. That CIF license handed Kraken a MiFID II passport into the EEA, while the exchange secured a MiCA license in the same period.The MiFID Land Grab That Changed CyprusKraken is not operating in isolation. A pattern of crypto exchanges acquiring Cyprus-based brokers specifically for their regulatory licences took hold in 2025 and has not slowed. Coinbase purchased the Cyprus unit of BUX in early 2025, subsequently announcing plans to deploy the licence for crypto perpetual contracts and futures across the EEA, and has since expanded its OTC derivatives offering across the EEA under the same Cyprus-regulated entity.Crypto.com acquired AllNew Investments, the operator of LegacyFX, through the same route, obtaining a CIF licence approved by CySEC and stating its intention to offer securities, derivatives, and CFDs to eligible European users. The exchange subsequently brought in former IG Group CEO Breon Corcoran to lead its CFD build-out, a hire that underlined the seriousness of its European ambitions.The logic is straightforward: MiCA, the EU's dedicated crypto regulation, covers spot trading and custody but leaves derivatives largely out of scope. MiFID II covers derivatives. Holding both licences allows an exchange to offer a complete regulated product suite across Europe without building from scratch through a lengthy application process. Cyprus, with its established pool of licensed entities and its CySEC infrastructure, became the fastest path to that dual coverage. As FinanceMagnates.com has previously analyzed in the context of crypto perpetuals, Coinbase, Kraken, and Backpack have all opted to acquire existing MiFID II-licensed firms rather than pursue greenfield applications.What distinguishes Kraken in the current hiring data is the scale of the on-the-ground commitment. The push described in February leaned heavily on senior talent, with roughly 70% of Cyprus vacancies targeting experienced or managerial candidates, including a Regulatory MiFID Officer and a Global Head of Middle Office. Nearly half of those postings sat within software engineering and technical functions, a combination that points to simultaneous investment in compliance infrastructure and platform development. The broader competitive pressure this creates for established FX and CFD brokers has been building for several quarters, as the two industries converge on the same regulatory territory and, increasingly, the same talent pool.IT Dominates, and AI Is No Longer a FootnoteTechnology hiring retains its position at the top of the departmental breakdown, accounting for close to 32% of all open positions in the Q2 dataset, consistent with what FYI recorded in Q1. Python, SQL, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Java dominate the technical requirements. Trading-specific infrastructure is conspicuously absent: MetaTrader appears regularly in the data, but references to FIX APIs, liquidity bridges, and similar brokerage-specific tooling are sparse, suggesting that demand for core engineering skills far outpaces demand for industry-specific platform expertise."There are plenty of opportunities for professionals with strong IT and engineering skills, accounting for roughly one third of all open positions," Görgen said. "Another significant share of roles sits within Marketing, Partnerships, and Sales. These roles are highly market-specific and often require language skills tailored to particular regions, highlighting how specialized and mature the industry has become."The AI data stands out. Some 502 of the 2,551 job descriptions reviewed, representing 19.68% of the dataset, include references to artificial intelligence in some form. FYI attributes much of this momentum to crypto exchanges, where AI appears more actively embedded in products and operations than at traditional FX brokers. For context, the Q1 report, covering a narrower universe of companies, found AI referenced in just 56 job descriptions.What the Numbers Say About CyprusThe island's financial services ecosystem was built to serve the CFD industry, and that industry has not gone anywhere. CFD broker hiring in Q2 is down by roughly 10% to 20% compared to earlier periods, according to the report, but the decline reflects natural turnover dynamics rather than structural withdrawal. What has changed is who else is now operating in the same talent market.Crypto exchanges arrived in Cyprus through acquisition, bringing their own hiring priorities, compensation benchmarks, and product roadmaps. The engineers Kraken is recruiting on the island are not replacements for the MetaTrader specialists that built the CFD industry there. They are building something different, using the same regulatory infrastructure to reach the same European client base.Whether crypto exchanges become a permanent fixture in Cyprus's employment landscape, or scale up through the island and shift operations elsewhere once the regulatory groundwork is in place, remains to be seen. What the Q2 data makes clear is that a report on hiring in online trading can no longer treat FX brokers and crypto exchanges as separate subjects. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Financial services firm Marex has created and sold a structured note linked to the outcome of a prediction market, offering investors a new way to structure event-based payoffs. The product is a bond-like note that pays a 7% coupon depending on whether Nvidia Corp. remains the world’s largest company in a year. Instead of taking a direct binary position, investors receive a conditional payout, while their principal is protected, subject to Marex’s credit risk. How the Structure Works The note converts a binary outcome into a structured payoff. Rather than placing a direct trade on a prediction market, the investor receives a fixed coupon if the condition is met.This allows exposure to the same underlying event in a format more familiar to institutional investors. The issuance, with a size of up to $10 million and sold to a Swiss client, serves as an early example of how such products can be structured. “Marex is going to effectively build our own prediction market structured products, and then leverage Kalshi and other exchanges to replicate that,” said Nilesh Jethwa, CEO of Marex Solutions.Hedging Through Prediction MarketsThe structure relies on prediction markets for risk management. Marex hedges its exposure by taking positions in underlying event contracts on platforms such as Kalshi, allowing it to offset the payout risk embedded in the note. As a structured product provider, Marex does not retain directional exposure. Instead, it aims to capture the spread between the coupon offered to investors and the cost of hedging. This approach depends on the availability and liquidity of prediction markets. Activity is often concentrated in a limited number of contracts, which can affect pricing and hedging efficiency. In less liquid markets, the cost of hedging may increase or become less reliable.London-based Marex Group Plc created and sold the first instance of this new kind of security, which will pay out a 7% coupon if Nvidia Corp. is still the world’s largest company in a year. Marex was able to create the note because prediction markets like Kalshi offer it a place… https://t.co/bTUcDWcVsi— Mick Bransfield (@MickBransfield) April 2, 2026 Related Developments Other market participants have pointed to similar use cases. Structured products linked to event outcomes could be used to hedge tail risks or express views on specific scenarios. Parallel efforts are also emerging. Roundhill Investments has filed with the SEC to launch ETFs tied to election outcomes, while Marex has indicated it may provide swaps on similar event-driven exposures What It Means for the Market For brokers and structured product providers, the Marex note shows how prediction market outcomes can be incorporated into existing financial products. It introduces a way to translate event-based risk into structured payoffs that fit within established investment frameworks. At the same time, its broader adoption will depend on market depth, regulatory clarity, and the ability to manage hedging risk in practice. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.