Dubai has emerged over the past several years as a key hub for CFD brokers, trading firms, and crypto exchanges. The city attracted companies with incentives including Dubai International Financial Centre and Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority licensing, zero corporate tax, and rapid company setup.Major firms, such as IG Group, CMC Markets, Pepperstone, Saxo Bank, Plus500, and Capital.com, have established offices in the downtown area. Capital.com’s MENA headquarters and CFI are also located nearby.UAE Air Defences Intercept AttacksOver recent days, Iran has launched large numbers of ballistic missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates, and the UAE Ministry of Defence says air defence systems have intercepted most of them. Debris from intercepted missiles and drones has caused fires and damage in parts of Dubai, including near Dubai International Airport, the Burj Al Arab hotel, and Palm Jumeirah. Airspace and flights in the UAE were disrupted as authorities responded to the attacks.Industry Response and ResilienceDespite the attacks, executives and industry observers report no immediate plans to relocate from Dubai. Elizabeth Rayment, founder of a marketing and PR agency working with global financial markets, told The New York Times that the missile attacks were unprecedented. “Dubai is a city built on resilience, and in moments like this, you see why. Dubai doesn’t pause easily,” she said, noting that the city’s calm, forward-looking response reinforces why global firms continue relocating decision-making, capital, and talent to the UAE.Analysts and strategists alike emphasize that Dubai’s long-term vision underpins the city’s ability to withstand short-term shocks. Faruk Arslan, a strategist, noted on LinkedIn that warnings about Dubai’s collapse are nothing new. He wrote, “Never bet against Dubai. We heard it in 2008, during COVID, and the historic floods.” Arslan highlighted the UAE’s long-term vision, citing its financial center, diversified economy, global logistics, tourism, and crypto-friendly regulation. He added that for long-term investors, temporary weakness “is not a disaster.”Anton Golub, a Dubai-based digital asset markets advisor, said: “In my conversations with executives & founders, nobody is discussing relocation from Dubai. Priority is operational resilience: contingency planning, tighter risk limits, and stricter counterparty exposure.”Zak Hashemi, who runs Leverate’s UAE operations, told Gulf News: “While the attack has raised concerns around operational resilience and business continuity, the city’s core strengths, world-class infrastructure, deep talent pools, and strategic regional access remain firmly intact.""For most brokers and service providers, the response will be increased vigilance and stronger contingency planning rather than any meaningful retreat.”Dubai-based portfolio managers say they have no plans to leave, according to Efinancialcareers. One described the situation as “unprecedented” but added, “We are all relaxed.” Another called suggestions of a mass exodus “inappropriate and absurd.” Residents note that debris risks are limited, with one stating, “Civilians are not being targeted…my family are much safer here than in many Western cities.”Crypto Ecosystem Remains StrongThe city has also become a hub for crypto exchanges. Golub added: “Dubai remains the leading crypto hub globally, because licensing is efficient, free-zone setup is fast, and visas, tax treatment, talent density, and regional capital make scaling practical. You can see UAE digital asset ecosystem depth in the numbers: DMCC’s Crypto Centre is past 700 companies, VARA has 42 licensed/in-principle VASPs, and ADGM already has 20+ regulated firms active in virtual assets — density you don’t rebuild overnight.”Lots of people reached out. All good, and very calm here actually, considering the circumstance. ? UAE citizens and tourists have a lot of confidence in the country's leadership, and defense system. Seen a few smoke in the sky and heard a few booms.This ? seems to be the most… https://t.co/7DmtPwTLqr— CZ ? BNB (@cz_binance) February 28, 2026Community Confidence and CommentaryBinance founder Changpeng Zhao, currently based in Dubai, addressed community concerns in a public post. He said conditions remained calm despite heightened defense activity in the city.“Lots of people reached out. All good, and very calm here actually, considering the circumstances,” Zhao said, noting that residents continue to show confidence in the country’s leadership and defense systems.Unfortunately, I had to leave Dubai for Europe a week ago — so I’m not only missing the free fireworks from Iran, but also exposing myself to greater risk. Given Europe’s crime rates, Dubai is statistically safer even with missiles flying. Can’t wait to be back.— Pavel Durov (@durov) March 1, 2026Business Continuity MaintainedOutside commentary highlighted the city’s relative security. Pavel Durov remarked on social media: “Given Europe’s crime rates, Dubai is statistically safer even with missiles flying.”Think genuinely people will view dubai differently and the markets will post this, but the reality is dubai under a missile attack saw less deaths than 99% of cities in Europe and here in the UK. People from the UK throwing shade just salty they are trapped here..— ALLINCRYPTO (@RealAllinCrypto) March 1, 2026On X, a market commentator wrote: “Think genuinely people will view Dubai differently… but the reality is Dubai under a missile attack saw less deaths than 99% of cities in Europe.”Despite short-term volatility and airspace closures, Dubai’s financial and trading hubs continue to operate. Companies appear committed to maintaining their presence, underscoring the ongoing appeal of the UAE’s regulatory and operational environment. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The Bank of Russia has proposed allowing banks and brokerage firms to obtain licenses to operate crypto exchanges, a move that would place traditional financial institutions at the center of the country’s future regulated digital asset market. The proposal was outlined by Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina at an annual meeting with credit organisations. According to the regulator, existing financial institutions already have compliance infrastructure that could be used to supervise crypto transactions. “We hope that the vast experience of banks in AML/CFT and fraud prevention will help protect your clients in the crypto market,” Nabiullina said. Under the proposed framework, banks and brokers would be able to obtain crypto exchange licenses through a notification-based procedure rather than a separate licensing process. In practice, this would allow them to offer crypto services using their existing financial licenses. A Financial Sector–Led Model The proposal forms part of a broader regulatory framework the authorities are developing for digital assets in Russia. Under the plan, cryptocurrencies and stablecoins would be classified as “currency valuables,” allowing them to be owned and traded while restricting their use as a domestic means of payment, with limited exceptions for foreign trade. At the same time, crypto transactions by Russian residents would have to be conducted through licensed intermediaries such as banks and brokers. The framework would also introduce investor protections, including a mandatory knowledge test for unqualified investors and an annual purchase limit of 300,000 rubles for liquid cryptocurrencies through a single intermediary. In addition, the regulator intends to prohibit trading in anonymity-focused coins such as Monero and Zcash.Industry ReactionSome figures in Russia’s crypto community criticised the proposal. Russian crypto entrepreneur Sergey Mendeleev said the plan appeared aimed at transferring crypto exchange activity from existing market operators to major banks, adding that “crypto markets don’t work that way.”Dmitriy Machikhin, founder of crypto compliance provider BitOK, also expressed skepticism about the model. He said crypto users are likely to retain the option of trading through international platforms rather than relying exclusively on domestic intermediaries. “The regulator wants to bring the market under its control,” Machikhin wrote, adding that the decentralized nature of crypto means users will continue to choose between regulated domestic services and independent exchanges. The Central Bank has also indicated that penalties may be introduced for crypto transactions conducted outside the future regulatory framework, with a potential implementation timeline extending to 2027. For Russia’s brokerage sector, the proposal could open a new line of business if adopted. Instead of competing with crypto platforms operating outside the financial system, licensed brokers and banks would act as intermediaries for regulated digital asset trading. The proposal remains under discussion, and final rules for the market have not yet been adopted. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Crypto firms have spent years trying to gain direct access to the plumbing of the U.S. financial system. Kraken has now become the first to get it.The decision could reshape how digital-asset firms move dollars and interact with the traditional financial system, reducing dependence on partner banks.What a Fed Master Account Actually is A master account is essentially the gateway to the Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure. Banks and certain regulated financial institutions use these accounts to hold reserves at the central bank and to settle payments through systems such as Fedwire. Instead of routing transactions through intermediary banks, institutions with a master account can send and receive funds directly within the Fed’s network. Until now, crypto companies typically relied on partner banks to move U.S. dollars between exchanges, clients, and other financial institutions. That arrangement created operational risk: if a banking partner pulled back from crypto exposure, trading platforms could lose access to key payment channels almost overnight. With a master account, Kraken Financial can connect its fiat flows directly to the Fed’s payment rails, potentially making dollar transfers faster and more predictable for institutional clients and professional traders. Not a Full Banking Privilege Despite the significance of the approval, Kraken is not receiving the same privileges as a traditional commercial bank. The access granted to Kraken Financial resembles what policymakers have described as a “skinny” or limited master account model, where firms can use the Federal Reserve’s payment rails but do not receive the full range of central-bank services available to banks.What Kraken Gets — and What It Doesn’tIn practice, this means the Fed is granting infrastructure access without extending the broader safety net that comes with full banking status.Why the Structure Matters The limited access model reflects the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach toward institutions operating under newer or specialised charters. Kraken Financial operates under Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) framework, a type of banking charter designed specifically for digital-asset companies. SPDIs are primarily focused on custody and payment services rather than traditional lending. Because such institutions operate differently from conventional banks, regulators have been developing a risk-tier framework to determine what level of access to Fed infrastructure is appropriate. Granting a restricted master account allows the Fed to test how fintech or crypto firms interact with its payment systems while maintaining tighter controls over liquidity and systemic risk. A Long-Running Battle for Access Crypto firms have been seeking direct access to Federal Reserve infrastructure for years. The industry argues that denying such access forces digital-asset companies to rely on a small number of “crypto-friendly” banks, concentrating risk and making the sector vulnerable to sudden disruptions. Those concerns intensified after the collapse of Signature Bank and Silvergate Bank in 2023, both of which had served as major banking partners for crypto firms. Their failures disrupted key payment networks used by exchanges and institutional traders. From the industry’s perspective, the ability to connect directly to Fed payment rails could reduce reliance on intermediary banks and stabilise the flow of fiat currency in and out of digital-asset markets. Why Banks are Concerned Traditional banking groups have strongly opposed efforts by crypto firms to obtain master accounts. Industry associations argue that crypto companies do not operate under the same regulatory framework as commercial banks and may pose higher risks related to anti-money-laundering controls, operational resilience, and financial stability. The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) voiced similar concerns after Kraken’s approval. The group warned that allowing crypto firms and other nonbank institutions direct access to Federal Reserve accounts could introduce risks into the banking system. “Granting nonbank entities and crypto institutions access to master accounts traditionally limited to highly regulated insured depository institutions poses risks to the banking system,” said ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey. We’re deeply concerned with the master account approval for Kraken Financial. Granting nonbank entities access to master accounts traditionally limited to highly regulated insured depository institutions poses risks to consumers and the banking system. https://t.co/Wng93QV5iA— Independent Community Bankers of America (@ICBA) March 4, 2026Banking lobby groups have also questioned the transparency of the approval process and the safeguards applied in Kraken’s case. Beyond compliance concerns, there is also a competitive dimension. If crypto firms gain direct access to central-bank payment infrastructure, banks could lose part of their traditional role as intermediaries between digital-asset platforms and the dollar-based financial system. A broader regulatory shift Kraken’s approval arrives amid broader policy changes in the United States aimed at integrating parts of the crypto industry into the regulated financial system.Recent developments include proposals to allow fintech firms limited access to Federal Reserve payment systems and approvals for crypto companies to establish national trust banks focused on custody and digital-asset services. The initiatives suggest regulators are exploring ways to allow crypto infrastructure to connect to traditional finance without granting the sector full banking status. What it could mean for the market For Kraken itself, the master account strengthens its infrastructure position. Direct access to Fed payment rails could allow the exchange to offer faster fiat settlement, reduce dependence on partner banks, and improve services for institutional clients such as trading firms and hedge funds. Faster dollar settlement may also be particularly relevant for OTC desks, prime-style brokerage services, and liquidity providers operating in digital-asset markets. For the broader industry, the more important development is the precedent.If Kraken’s arrangement proves workable from a compliance and operational perspective, other crypto institutions with banking-style charters may pursue similar access. That could gradually reshape how digital-asset firms connect to the dollar payment system. At the same time, the restricted nature of the account underscores regulators’ caution. Crypto firms may gain access to parts of the financial system’s core infrastructure, but not necessarily the full privileges that traditional banks enjoy. For now, Kraken’s master account represents something closer to a controlled experiment than a wholesale shift in policy. But if the model holds, it could become a blueprint for how digital-asset companies plug into the core infrastructure of the U.S. financial system. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Amy Meyer-O’Brien has taken on the role of Chief Legal Officer for US at Plus500, following a long legal career in the derivatives and brokerage sector. Fourteen Years at R.J. O’BrienBefore joining Plus500, Meyer-O’Brien spent 14 years at R.J. O’Brien. She served as Senior Director, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate from 2021.Earlier, she worked as Associate General Counsel, Senior Corporate Attorney, Attorney and Junior Attorney at the firm. She started her financial markets legal career as a Contract Attorney at Citadel Investment Group in 2010.In another recent executive move, Plus500 appointed NickScarf as Chief Executive Officer of its Australian entity last year, as it continues to strengthen its presence in the local market. Scarf joined from Marex, where he served as Chief Operating Officer for Australia and New Zealand.Read more: Plus500 Halts New CFD Onboarding in Spain amid Tough Marketing RulesPlus500’s US arm is in expansion and consolidation mode around its futures brokerage. Last year, it entered the US futures market by acquiring Cunningham Commodities and Cunningham Trading Systems in 2021. It now serves US clients through Plus500 US Financial Services LLC, a CFTC‑registered FCM and NFA member.Long-Term Clients Now Play a Bigger RoleThe expansion is paying off, with Plus500 recently revealing that about half of its 2025 OTC revenue came from customers who have traded on its platform for more than five years. This figure is double the 24 percent share reported three years earlier and offers a rare look into client longevity at a CFD broker, a sector often criticized for short customer lifecycles and high churn.In its year-end trading update, the London-listed fintech reported roughly $792 million in revenue and around $348 million in EBITDA for the year ended December 31, both beating Bloomberg consensus estimates of $757.7 million and $345.8 million. Three years ago, clients with more than five years of trading history accounted for just under a quarter of OTC revenue; by last year, their contribution had climbed to 50 percent, underlining the growing weight of long-standing customers in Plus500’s business mix. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Core Scientific has secured a financing agreement with Morgan Stanley worth up to $1 billion to expand its digital infrastructure operations. The company completed the initial $500 million closing of a 364-day loan facility, which includes an option to increase total commitments to $1 billion.$500M Facility with Expansion OptionAccording to Thursday announcement, the loan carries an interest rate of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 2.5%. The company said the additional funds will boost liquidity and support the development of new data centers, including costs tied to equipment, land acquisition, and energy procurement.This deal comes when Core Scientific is expanding from Bitcoin mining toward AI-focused data centers and high-density colocation. It also gives the company short-term firepower to execute that plan after only recently stabilizing its balance sheet.Core Scientific is converting existing facilities to handle artificial intelligence workloads. CEO Adam Sullivan said the financing “enhances our financial flexibility” and helps the firm move faster on project deployments.Core Scientific Lands $500M Loan at ~7.8% as AI Data Center Financing Boom Continues $CORZ https://t.co/Gjg8RUxyRd— TheEnergyMag (@TheEnergyMag) March 5, 2026Additionally, the deal sits within a broader shift across the Bitcoin mining sector, where peers increasingly convert Bitcoin into cash to fund diversification into AI infrastructure and reduce balance sheet risk.Miners Offload Bitcoin Treasuries to Back AIOne prominent example is Bitdeer which recently emptied its entire treasury to build liquidity for AI and high-performance computing projects. In its update, the Nasdaq-listed miner reported zero Bitcoin holdings as of February 20, saying it had sold all 189.8 BTC mined that week alongside reserve coins. The move freed up roughly $12 million at current prices and pushed net BTC added for the period to minus 943.1 BTC. Elsewhere, largest Nasdaq-listed public Bitcoin miner by BTC held MARA Holdings, updated its 2026 treasury policy to allow sales of accumulated reserves after a period of heightened volatility.The report explained that MARA aims to use selective Bitcoin sales to manage risk and potentially fund expansion into areas such as AI and high-performance computing, aligning it with peers that increasingly prioritize cash flow and infrastructure growth over holding large BTC treasuries.Core Scientific operates data center facilities across multiple U.S. states, including Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

One of the most persistent criticisms of Web3 token models is that many tokens exist primarily for speculation rather than for powering real digital activity. While blockchain infrastructure has matured significantly over the past decade, relatively few ecosystems have successfully tied token demand directly to everyday platform usage.Playnance’s G Coin is an example of a model that attempts to address that challenge by embedding a token within an already active digital entertainment ecosystem.Developed as the utility token of the Playnance platform, G Coin functions as the economic layer across a network of gaming environments, prediction markets, and interactive financial experiences. Rather than existing separately, the token powers the core activity of the ecosystem.Every interaction within the network, from gameplay entries and predictions to rewards and settlements, runs through G Coin. In practical terms, the token operates as the transactional infrastructure connecting users, games, and platforms.The scale of activity within the ecosystem is notable. According to Playnance data, the network currently processes more than 1.5 million on-chain transactions per day, while supporting over 10,000 on-chain games and millions of prediction-style interactions across sports and financial markets.The platform’s entertainment network also extends beyond a single application. The ecosystem includes more than 2,000 social partner platforms with its “Be The Boss” program, over 5,000 affiliate partners and creators, and 30 integrated game studios contributing content.Across these environments, G Coin acts as the common economic layer that connects all activity.The architecture reflects a broader design philosophy emerging within parts of the Web3 industry: tokens should function as infrastructure rather than as detached financial assets. In systems built around this principle, token usage scales alongside platform participation.Playnance describes this model as an activity-driven ecosystem. As more players interact with games and prediction markets, the number of token-based transactions increases, reinforcing the role of the token as a core operational component of the network.Early adoption metrics suggest measurable traction. The token currently has more than 180,000 holders, while the broader platform has over 300,000 accounts interacting with the ecosystem. G Coin’s market capitalization has also surpassed $35 million, reflecting growing participation across the network.As Web3 platforms continue experimenting with sustainable token models, infrastructure tokens tied to real digital activity are attracting increasing attention. The premise is relatively simple: when tokens power functioning ecosystems, their relevance is determined less by market speculation and more by the activity of the networks they support.In the case of Playnance, G Coin represents an attempt to embed token economics directly into the mechanics of a large-scale entertainment platform, a design that places usage, rather than narrative cycles, at the center of its economic model. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Cyprus's financial watchdog is preparing to walk through the front doors of CFD brokers and other investment firms in a series of inspections tied to a broader EU-wide supervisory effort targeting conflicts of interest.The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) today (Thursday) issued a new circular, notifying Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) that it plans on-site visits and desk-based reviews as part of the European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA) Common Supervisory Action for 2026, known as CSA 2026. The action runs across all national regulators in the European Union throughout this year.Inspectors Will Look at Pay, Platforms, and Profit MotivesThe question regulators want answered is direct: are brokers putting their own financial interests ahead of their clients? CySEC and ESMA will probe three specific areas, all of them hitting at the heart of how retail investment products get sold.The first is how staff compensation, bonuses, and inducements shape which products brokers recommend to retail clients. The second concerns digital platforms, specifically whether they're built to steer users toward certain products in ways that don't actually serve those users. The third is how firms manage the tension between their own revenue goals and the genuine needs of ordinary investors.CySEC Chairman Dr. George Theocharides has been candid about the challenges regulators face in keeping pace with bad actors. In a FinanceMagnates.com interview ahead of 2026, Theocharides said, "Honestly, no matter what we do, scammers will find new ways to deceive investors." The upcoming inspections reflect a push to at least tighten controls at the regulated end of the market.These concerns have circulated in EU regulatory discussions for years. But the on-site visit element gives this round considerably more force. Rather than waiting for document submissions, CySEC inspectors can arrive at a broker's office directly, a step that puts real operational pressure on firms to demonstrate live compliance, not just on paper.Cyprus Holds an Outsized Stake in EU Retail TradingThe sweep carries particular weight in Cyprus because of the island's dominant position in European retail trading. CySEC-regulated firms serve roughly 3.6 million of the 10.5 million retail clients trading across EU borders (about one in three) while complaints against Cyprus-based brokers jumped 46% in 2024 alone. That combination of scale and rising grievances makes the sector a natural focus for coordinated EU-level oversight.The circular makes one thing unmistakably clear: CySEC expects firms to take this seriously. Adherence to the circular "will form part of CySEC's supervisory review for the purposes of the CSA 2026," according to the document signed by Theocharides.FM Intelligence recently published an analysis suggesting that Cyprus is becoming a "compliance museum" and losing significant ground to the rapidly growing hub that Dubai has become. The proposed hike in licensing fees and the now-planned office raids only confirm this. Separate data, however, tell a completely different story: 1 in 4 jobs in our industry still land on the Island, not in the Gulf.Compliance Load Keeps Growing for Cyprus BrokersThe conflict-of-interest inspections arrive as regulatory pressure on Cyprus-based brokers continues to pile up. ESMA recently told firms that perpetual futures fall under EU CFD rules, warning that existing leverage caps apply regardless of how products are labeled. Further down the timeline, CFD providers face substantial reporting changes by 2027 under ESMA's new derivatives transparency rules. A separate wave of equity transparency requirements is already working its way through EU systems.Some firms appear to be responding to the growing compliance environment by simply walking away from their licenses. Two Cyprus investment firms have surrendered their CIF authorizations in less than a month, though the exact reasons behind each exit aren't publicly confirmed.CySEC, for its part, is expanding. The regulator recently sought additional Nicosia office space for 30 staff, having grown its headcount by 32 employees while targeting 42 more hires. More staff, more office space, and now unannounced on-site visits, the supervisory machine is clearly shifting into a higher gear. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Licensing in The Brokerage SectorThe online brokerage industry continues to grow steadily, with global market value projected to reach approximately USD 9.8 billion by 2030, according to publicly available industry estimates. Alongside this growth, regulatory oversight across key jurisdictions has evolved in parallel. In this environment, brokers focused on long-term sustainability increasingly prioritise operating under recognized regulatory frameworks. As regulatory standards continue to evolve, a brokerage license serves as an integral foundation to business continuity, operational discipline and client confidence. A brokerage license is a regulatory authorization issued by a competent financial authority, permitting a firm to provide brokerage services within a defined jurisdiction. Each regulator imposes legal, financial, and operational requirements designed to ensure that licensed brokers operate responsibly, transparently, and in a manner that safeguards client interests. For traders, a granted license reflects regulatory authorization to operate under a framework designed to promote client fund protection, transparency in trade execution, and ongoing supervision — reinforcing confidence in how the broker operates.Typical Requirements And What They Mean For TradersWhile licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, they are built around a common objective: protecting clients and ensuring the integrity of the brokerage's operations. Below are some of the key common regulatory requirements and how they translate into real protections for traders. Broker's Structure And Governance AssessmentThe licensing process requires brokers to demonstrate how they are structured, governed, and managed, as well as how they intend to operate and meet regulatory obligations. Regulators assess whether these arrangements are appropriate and sustainable.What This Means For Traders:This process helps establish trust by ensuring that licensed brokers meet defined standards before they are permitted to operate.Ongoing Supervision: Compliance Beyond Initial Authorization Licensing is not a one-off event. Licensed brokers are subject to continuous obligations, including periodic regulatory reporting, external audits, compliance reviews, and ongoing monitoring by the regulator.What This Means For Traders:Traders gain added confidence knowing that a licensed broker remains accountable to regulatory expectations and is required to uphold compliance standards on a continuous basis.Capital Requirements: Financial Resilience MattersRegulators require licensed brokers to maintain minimum capital levels, which are assessed during licensing and monitored thereafter. This capital is not operational spending money; it acts as a financial buffer to absorb losses or operational shocks.What This Means For Traders:Capital requirements enhance a broker’s financial stability and reduce the risk of abrupt business failure, helping protect clients from losses linked to undercapitalised or poorly managed brokerages. Safeguarding Client Funds: Segregation And ControlsA core regulatory requirement for licensed brokers is the segregation of client funds from the broker's own operational accounts. Licensed brokers must maintain robust internal controls, comprehensive record-keeping systems, effective risk management frameworks, and formal complaint-handling procedures to ensure disciplined and transparent operations.What This Means For Traders:Client funds are ring-fenced and held separately from the broker's own operational funds to prevent misuse and misappropriation. Brokers are also required to perform regular reconciliations of client funds to confirm all balances are accurately accounted for and fully compliant with regulatory requirements. These safeguards promote transparency and accountability and strengthen client asset protection. In the unlikely event of a broker's insolvency, segregated accounts are intended to help preserve clients' legal claim to their funds and support a more orderly resolution process — though outcomes may vary depending on the circumstances and the jurisdiction in which the broker operates.Elev8's Regulatory Stance: FSC Mauritius Licence Explained Elev8 Markets LTD is licensed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mauritius, the integrated regulator for the non-bank financial services sector and global business. FSC-licensed entities are required to meet regulatory standards covering governance, compliance and risk management frameworks, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing controls, record-keeping, and regulatory reporting.Licensing extends beyond meeting requirements at the application stage. Regulatory obligations are embedded into a broker's internal policies, procedures, and control environment and are subject to ongoing supervisory oversight. Licensed brokers are expected to maintain dedicated compliance and risk management functions to ensure sustained alignment with regulatory expectations. For Clients And Partners, This Translates Into:A broker operating within a recognised regulatory frameworkDefined standards for conduct, transparency, and accountabilityOngoing regulatory monitoring throughout the lifecycle of the licenseA regulatory license serves both as formal authorization to operate and as an indicator of long-term commitment to regulated business practices. Periodic reviews and supervisory checks reinforce regulatory discipline and promote consistent operational standards.From Regulatory Principles to Operational CommitmentRegulatory licensing is most meaningful when it is supported by a broker's internal culture and operating model. Beyond meeting formal requirements, sustainable brokerage operations depend on how regulatory expectations are embedded into day-to-day decision-making, governance, and risk oversight.Elev8's approach to licensing reflects a broader commitment to operating within structured regulatory frameworks, strengthening governance standards, and maintaining controls that support responsible conduct of business. This includes investing in compliance and risk management capabilities, maintaining clear internal accountability, and aligning operational processes with regulatory expectations over time.Rather than viewing licensing as a one-time milestone, Elev8 treats regulatory authorization as an ongoing obligation — one that shapes how the Elev8 manages client relationships, safeguards funds, monitors risk, and engages with regulatory authorities. This long-term perspective underpins Eleve's focus on operational resilience, transparency, and regulatory alignment across its brokerage activities.Broker's Profile: Elev8Elev8 offers trading in contracts for difference (CFDs) across a range of underlying asset classes, including currency pairs, equity indices, metals, commodities, equities, and cryptocurrencies. CFDs are derivative instruments that allow clients to gain exposure to price movements without owning the underlying assets. Trading of these products is available through electronic trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and Elev8Trader — the company's proprietary trading platform.Elev8 Markets LTD, a company incorporated and registered under the laws of Mauritius with Company Number 186509 GBC, is authorized and licensed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius as an Investment Dealer (Full Service Dealer excluding Underwriting) under License Number GB21027161.Disclaimer: The Company does not provide investment advice, discretionary portfolio management, or asset management services. All trading decisions are made by the client. Availability of products and services may vary by jurisdiction and is subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements.The information in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or investment advice. Certain information in this article is derived from publicly available third-party sources. While such information is believed to be reliable, no representation or warranty is made as to its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Risk Warning: Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. CFDs may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade CFDs, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. You should not invest more than you can afford to lose. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Ethereum (ETH) price climbed to $2,161 on Wednesday, March 4, while XRP rose 5.1% to $1.43 on Thursday, March 5, with the entire crypto market catching a bid as Bitcoin surged past $73,000 and extended its recovery from the Iran war lows near $63,000. The catalyst is a combination of deeply negative funding rates being flushed out, $1.4 billion in Bitcoin ETF inflows over five days led by BlackRock's IBIT, and Clarity Act speculation lifting altcoins broadly. The wider geopolitical picture following the US-Israel strikes on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz closure has not resolved, but markets are shifting from crisis pricing toward consolidation.In this article, I will examine why Ethereum is going up and how low XRP can still go, analyzing both ETH/USDT and XRP/USDT charts and checking the newest XRP price predictions, based on my over a 15 years’ experience as an analyst and retail investor.Follow me on X for real-time crypto market analysis: @ChmielDkWhy Crypto Is Rallying This WeekThe catalyst for this week's rally sits in the derivatives market, not in any fundamental shift in the macro environment. Bitcoin had the most aggressive short positioning in three months heading into last weekend, and $458 million in single-day ETF inflows, part of a $1.4 billion five-day run led by BlackRock's IBIT, lit the fuse. As Adam Haeems of Tesseract Group puts it, the result was "a squeeze, not a re-rating."That distinction matters enormously for how you interpret the current price action in Ethereum and XRP. Neither token has had a fundamental catalyst this week. ETH and XRP are moving because Bitcoin moved, shorts were liquidated, and risk appetite temporarily returned. The Dubai missile strike and Strait of Hormuz closure that rocked markets last weekend remain unresolved. Brent crude moved from $73 to $84 in two days as the closure became operational, and as Kaledora Kiernan-Linn, CEO of Ostium, explains: "Higher inflation expectations push back the timeline for Fed rate cuts, which tighten liquidity conditions." That headwind is still in place.Regulatory optimism is doing some additional work. Paul Howard of Wincent notes that speculation around the Clarity Act being close to law "helped lift many altcoins," with ETH and XRP among the biggest structural beneficiaries of any US digital asset framework. The legislation could transform XRP's institutional adoption profile overnight and validate Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem at a regulatory level. For now it remains speculation, but markets are pricing in some probability of progress.Why Ethereum Is Going Up? Technical Bounce With Real Fundamentals Behind ItEthereum's recovery from below $2,000 in late February to $2,161 by Wednesday is partly a squeeze and partly a story with genuine fundamental backing. The market had oversold ETH relative to Bitcoin and the correction created a reset in expectations that drew buyers back in.As shown on my chart, ETH bounced precisely from the $1,900-$2,000 support zone, which coincides with the January 2026 lows before the bull run accelerated. That zone held, and the current $2,161 price represents a recovery of roughly 10% from the lows. The immediate resistance I am watching on my chart is $2,300-$2,400, where the 50-day EMA runs and where the February rejection candles formed a clear ceiling. Above that, $2,700-$2,800 is the next meaningful resistance, and the level I would need to see broken for any conviction about a structural recovery.The fundamental case for Ethereum remains intact even during corrections like this one. Layer 2 adoption is being reread by the market as a demand signal for the network rather than a value-dilution risk, with higher throughput and lower costs expanding real usage across payments, DeFi, and consumer applications. Bitcoin Options OI Flips Futures: What It Means for ETH and XRPOne of the most significant structural developments in crypto this year has gone largely undiscussed. Bitcoin options open interest surpassed futures for the first time ever, reaching $74.1 billion versus $65.2 billion in futures, a moment that reflects genuine market maturation. IBIT has overtaken Deribit as the largest Bitcoin options venue, creating a US-listed institutional market operating on entirely different mechanics from crypto-native venues.The practical consequence is that gamma walls and max pain levels now exert measurable influence on price action around weekly Friday expiries, with the options market able to move Bitcoin, and by extension ETH and XRP, in ways that can appear disconnected from news flow.Total gamma exposure remains less than 0.04% of daily BTC volume, so this is not an all-powerful force, but the concentration of positioning around specific strikes creates predictable zones of resistance and support.For Ethereum and XRP, this matters because the same institutional infrastructure is being built in stages. Paul Howard of Wincent flags that "potential changes that would allow crypto perpetual futures to trade on domestic US exchanges" represent the next evolution of this maturation. When regulated perpetuals arrive for altcoins, the same volatility dynamics that now define Bitcoin's options market will extend across ETH and XRP.Technical Analysis: XRP Still in Dangerous TerritoryXRP's situation on my chart is considerably more fragile than Ethereum's. The token has posted five consecutive months of losses, falling from a cycle peak of $3.40 in October 2025 to $1.43 today, a decline of approximately 58%. Thursday's 5.1% bounce is welcome but must be contextualised: XRP remains 41.8% lower than a year ago and has dramatically underperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum throughout the 2025-2026 cycle.As shown on my chart, XRP is bouncing from the $1.35-$1.40 multi-month low zone. The immediate resistance above is $1.55-$1.60, where the 50-day EMA runs and where February rejection candles formed a clear ceiling. Above that, $1.80-$1.90 is the next meaningful level, coinciding with the January lows and a prior consolidation zone. The January XRP outperformance that crushed both Bitcoin and Ethereum returns feels like a different cycle from where we are now.On the downside, a break below $1.35 with conviction opens the path to $1.25, the October 2025 flash-crash lows. That level also represents a 100% Fibonacci extension from the July-October range, making it a technically significant target rather than an arbitrary number. Forbes identifies $0.80 as a valid technical projection below $1.25, and the extreme bear case sits at $0.53, the full Fibonacci extension target.The XRP price prediction analyses targeting $8.00 require a market structure that does not currently exist. Standard Chartered's Geoffrey Kendrick maintains an $8.00 target driven by ETF flows and regulatory clarity, but getting there from $1.43 is a 460% rally requiring catalysts, trend reversal, and sustained institutional buying that are simply not yet present.XRP and ETH Price Predictions 2026: What Analysts ExpectThe XRP forecast range for 2026 spans from YouHodler's realistic $1.00-$2.00 base case to Standard Chartered's $8.00 bull thesis, with the consensus sitting around $3.90. Binance's algorithmic model projects $2.06-$3.92 by May, while Changelly's updated March 2026 forecast sees a near-term rebound toward $1.36-$1.54. The gap between the consensus average of $3.90 and Thursday's $1.43 price is 173%, requiring a sustained bull market return that depends heavily on the Clarity Act and XRP ETF approval progress.For Ethereum, the 2026 prediction landscape is broadly bullish despite the current $2,161 price. Crypto.com's March 2026 analysis sees ETH recovering to $2,400-$2,800 in the near term, while year-end targets from major analysts cluster in the $4,500-$7,500 range. The $17,000 scenario remains a tail prediction requiring both regulatory and technical breakthroughs simultaneously.What Moves Crypto on Friday and Next WeekFriday's NFP report is the single biggest short-term catalyst, coinciding with weekly options expiry for a dual volatility event. A weak labour market print eases dollar strength, pushes rate cut expectations forward, and extends the current bounce in ETH and XRP. A strong print reignites the oil-inflation-dollar-rates chain, repeating Tuesday's dynamic where all risk assets including crypto were sold hard.The March 18 Federal Reserve decision is the medium-term event that matters most. As Kaledora Kiernan-Linn of Ostium captures it, the crypto market "seems to be in a constant see-saw, trying to figure out whether Bitcoin is a risk-on or safe-haven asset." That uncertainty transmits directly into ETH and XRP, which have even less safe-haven credibility than Bitcoin and face sharper drawdowns when liquidity tightens.Paul Howard of Wincent adds the key technical signal to watch for Bitcoin, which drives both ETH and XRP directionally: "Bitcoin has now broken above the 7-day moving average. The next key level is $75,000, which would represent a breakout from the current Bollinger Band range." If BTC clears $75,000 with volume, Ethereum's path to $2,400 and XRP's test of $1.60 become realistic near-term scenarios. If BTC rejects there, both alts return to their lower consolidation boundaries.FAQ, Crypto AnalysisWhy is Ethereum going up this week?Ethereum climbed to $2,161 Wednesday on a combination of forced short liquidations across crypto following $1.4 billion in Bitcoin ETF inflows, Clarity Act regulatory optimism, Pectra upgrade anticipation, and near decade-low exchange supply suggesting long-term holders are not selling at current levels. How low can XRP go in 2026?As shown on my chart, XRP's immediate downside risk sits at $1.25, the October 2025 flash-crash lows, approximately 12% below Thursday's $1.43 price. Below that, Forbes identifies $0.80 as a technically valid target and the extreme bear case from Fibonacci analysis points to $0.53, a 63% decline from current levels. What will happen to crypto on NFP Friday, March 6?Friday's NFP report is the single biggest short-term catalyst for crypto this week, coinciding with weekly options expiry. A weak labour market print would support rate cut expectations, weaken the dollar, and extend the current crypto rally. Is the Bitcoin options flip bullish for altcoins?Bitcoin options OI surpassing futures at $74.1B vs $65.2B represents genuine market maturation, with IBIT overtaking Deribit as the largest venue. This structural shift means more Bitcoin risk is held in instruments with defined payoff profiles, which tends to compress volatility around key strikes and expiries. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Dubai’s virtual asset regulator has issued a public warning about crypto exchange KuCoin, saying the platform may have offered services to residents of Dubai without regulatory approval.The regulator has previously taken enforcement action against firms operating without authorization. In 2025, VARA fined 19 companies and issued cease-and-desist orders after finding they had offered crypto services outside the emirate’s regulatory framework. Financial penalties ranged from AED 100,000 to AED 600,000, and the companies were instructed to stop their unlicensed activities.VARA Flags KuCoin Over Unlicensed ActivitiesThe latest alert was published by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. The authority said it had identified potential unlicensed activities linked to the exchange’s global platform.According to the regulator, the company “may be providing Virtual Asset activities to Dubai residents without the necessary regulatory approvals.” VARA also alleged that the firm misrepresented its licensing status in the jurisdiction.The warning names several entities connected to the exchange. These include Phoenixfin Pte Ltd, MEK Global Limited, Peken Global Limited, and KuCoin Exchange EU GmbH. VARA said the companies are associated with the platform operating through the domain kucoin.com and advertising services under the KuCoin brand.Dubai Warns Investors on Unlicensed FirmsThe authority said the exchange does not hold a licence to provide virtual asset services in or from Dubai. Any such activities would therefore breach VARA regulations.As part of its action, the regulator instructed the company to “cease and desist all unlicensed VA activities.”VARA also warned investors about the risks of dealing with firms that are not regulated in the emirate. According to the authority, engaging with companies that are not compliant with its rules “exposes users to significant financial risks.” It added that such interactions could also lead to legal consequences if local regulatory requirements or criminal laws are violated.Dubai Regulator Blocks KuCoin PromotionsThe regulator stated that KuCoin “does not meet these legal requirements and is not authorised to provide any Virtual Asset services in/from Dubai.” It also said that any promotion or advertising related to the exchange has not been approved. As a result, the platform is not permitted to offer, promote, or market virtual asset products or services in Dubai or to its residents.VARA urged investors and consumers in Dubai to avoid engaging with KuCoin for virtual asset services. It also advised the public to exercise caution when interacting with unregulated entities. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Devexperts has updated DXcharts, its financial charting library, to allow broker development teams to build their own technical indicators using JavaScript, a capability the London-based company says lifts the previous cap on the number of studies firms could deploy.The feature, which Devexperts calls custom studies, lets client teams write indicators with any calculation logic tied to price data. Developers can run multiple output series, choose from several visualization types, and use a set of built-in functions covering standard technical analysis calculations such as moving averages, standard deviation, and true range. Custom studies connect directly to the chart and refresh in real time as historical data loads, according to the company.Brokers Had Been Capped at a Fixed Indicator SetBefore the update, brokers licensing DXcharts were limited to the platform's existing library of over 100 pre-built indicators. That constraint matters in a market where most retail CFD brokers run on a small number of shared platforms, where the charting layer is one of the few areas where differentiation is still possible. Whether custom JavaScript indicators will prove a meaningful edge in practice depends largely on whether broker development teams have the capacity and inclination to build and maintain proprietary studies.Devexperts has tried this before. In 2021, the company introduced DXscript, a proprietary scripting language aimed at end traders who wanted to write and share their own indicators. The March 2026 update shifts the focus from traders to the development teams at firms licensing the library, exposing the functionality at the API level and adding utility functions for common TA calculations.TradingView Has Offered Similar Tools for YearsThe space Devexperts is moving into is not unoccupied. TradingView's embeddable charting library has long supported custom indicators through its „custom_indicators_getter configuration,” and Pine Script, TradingView's proprietary scripting language - has been the dominant tool for trader-built studies for years. Denis Krivolapov, Product Manager of DXcharts at Devexperts, said the update would give firms "more autonomy over their product offering, and help them to set themselves apart from competitors, without the need for extensive customization work." UI Control Added Alongside Indicator FeatureThe release also includes a separate change: firms can now hide or show specific menu items and settings in the DXcharts interface. Devexperts says this gives licensees more control over what traders see without requiring deep modifications to the underlying code. It is the kind of incremental UI control that most established charting vendors already offer, though a broader roundup of broker platforms in 2026 noted that DXcharts is increasingly competing for the same broker clients as MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and Match-Trader.Devexperts has been active on the product front in recent months. Last week, its DXtrade platform acquired theScreener, a research data provider, in a move aimed at reducing trader drop-off. In January, DXtrade Mobile added BrokerIQ integration to extend CRM tools to mobile users, and the company linked up with Arizet to offer a fuller infrastructure stack for prop trading firms.A year ago, DXcharts added the Devexa AI assistant to handle developer queries around customization and integration, a feature positioned as an onboarding tool for new licensees.Krivolapov said further updates to DXcharts are planned, though he gave no specifics on timing or scope. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Three of the major prop firms said last month that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is now a top growth priority, with one of them making an unplanned expansion announcement directly from a panel stage at iFX EXPO Dubai, held February 10-12 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.The declarations came at a charged moment for the region. Less than three weeks later, Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck targets across the UAE, including near Dubai International Airport and the Palm Jumeirah, killing three people and injuring dozens more. The 5ers' Biggest Regional BetNora Bar Tahhan, Managing Director of The 5ers, used the panel to break what she described as the firm's largest-ever MENA expansion. "I am announcing our plan for another and much bigger expansion for MENA, from this stage," she told attendees, declining to elaborate on specifics. The 5ers, which has operated for a decade, also confirmed it is preparing to launch futures trading products for MENA clients "very soon," a direct response to what Bar Tahhan described as strong regional demand for instruments beyond forex.Bar Tahhan framed the region's appeal in structural terms rather than speculative ones. "In MENA, there is a strong trading culture and a high appetite for financial markets," she said. "The young, dynamic population and fast financial hubs push traders to look for stable firms."Watch the full recording. The rest of the article continues below the video:Dubai Draws the Industry's Biggest PlayersFundedNext, which already operates an office in Dubai, said the region has become central to its business. "When you fly into Dubai, you see a different vibe, ads for brokerages everywhere," said founder and CEO Syed Abdullah Jayed. "Because of regulatory acceptance and emerging populations moving to the UAE and the broader MENA region, the adoption and growth have been very good."The firm said it paid out more than $150 million to traders globally in 2025, and that studying that data shaped its understanding of what separates profitable traders from those who fail. Jayed said the pattern is consistent: successful traders "think end-to-end, not just about passing phase one or phase two," remaining disciplined on drawdown limits, position sizing and long-term consistency.Jayed also said the firm is running internal experiments with Direct Market Access accounts, which would move top-performing traders from simulated environments into live trading. "I can't share all the details yet," he said, but described the internal results as promising. The broader backdrop has been building for years. The DIFC financial hub added over 1,000 companies in the first half of 2025 alone, with fintech registrations rising 28%, and most CFD brokers in the UAE hold Category 5 licences that allow marketing and promotion in the country while routing actual trader onboarding through non-UAE entities, a structure that has made Dubai a low-friction entry point for financial services firms broadly.GCC Growth Outpaces Other RegionsIC Funded's General Manager Petros Kalaitzis said the Gulf's growth curve has not plateaued. "The GCC is constantly showing double-digit growth," he said, pointing to volatility in commodities like gold as one factor drawing MENA-based traders into more active participation. The firm, backed by a larger brokerage group, plans to release new product categories by the end of Q1 or early Q2, with updates continuing throughout the year.The region's economics are compelling for firms. Research published earlier this year found that prop firms operating in high-growth emerging markets can achieve peak return on ad spend of up to 12x, compared to around 3x in the United States. MENA sits firmly within that high-efficiency growth category, making it a priority target well beyond the promotional appeal.A Shadow Over the HubThe expansion ambitions now face a question none of the panelists could have anticipated when they spoke in February. Iranian strikes on the UAE beginning February 28 hit near key financial districts, disrupted over 1,400 flights, temporarily suspended UAE stock markets and sent hedge funds and banks into contingency mode across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As FinanceMagnates.com reported, the attacks rattled financial firms with offices in the city, raising fresh questions about whether Dubai's long-held reputation as a safe, neutral hub can survive a prolonged regional conflict. Whether the expansion plans announced with confidence at iFX EXPO proceed on schedule will depend heavily on how the broader conflict develops in the coming months.Low Entry Costs, High DemandThe core value proposition of prop trading remains intact, at least for now. Jayed put it plainly: a trader wanting to manage a $100,000 account would normally need to put up that capital personally. With a prop challenge, the same access costs $500 to $600 in fees. "Even if they fail a few times," he said, "the risk-to-reward ratio of the potential return is the best thing about it."That low entry point has proven particularly resonant across a region with a large young population and an established appetite for financial markets, and it is a dynamic that geopolitical disruption alone is unlikely to reverse quickly.Regulation Framed as a Filter, Not a ThreatAll three panelists said they welcome regulatory oversight, arguing it will clear the market of weaker operators. "Good firms should embrace regulation as a way to clean up the industry and distinguish good companies from bad ones," Kalaitzis said.Jayed went further, positioning FundedNext as a potential compliance partner. "If regulators decide to enter the market, we want to be the gold standard they partner with to design the best possible compliance," he said. Bar Tahhan added that The 5ers already operates as though it were regulated, calling oversight "a good filter for the industry."The regulatory conversation is gathering momentum. ATFX's Drew Niv argued at Finance Magnates London Summit 2025 that prop trading will reshape the FX market the way retail trading did 25 years ago. Whether Dubai remains the anchor for that transformation is now a question with a far more complicated set of variables than it had on February 12. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL) wrapped up its first full year as a publicly listed company with record revenue and customer metrics across the board, though a sharp rise in spending, particularly on marketing, kept quarterly profits under pressure.The retail brokerage reported full-year revenue of $571 million, up 46% from the year before, driven by a 59% jump in trading-related income. Net deposits hit $8.6 billion for the year, nearly doubling from $4.5 billion in 2024, a figure the company attributed to aggressive customer acquisition campaigns. Customer assets reached an all-time high of $24.6 billion by the end of the fourth quarter, up 81% year-over-year.Profit Turns Positive, but the Math Gets ComplicatedAfter posting a net loss of $22.7 million in 2024, Webull swung to a full-year net income of $24.8 million in 2025, an improvement of $47.5 million. Adjusted net income, which strips out stock compensation, currency swings and one-time items, came in at $84.2 million, up $76.3 million from the prior year.The fourth quarter told a somewhat different story. While Q4 revenue rose 50% year-over-year to $165.2 million, net income attributable to the company fell sharply to $3 million from $10.8 million in the same period a year ago.The culprit was a 128% spike in marketing and branding expenses during the quarter, from $23.4 million to $53.3 million, as the company pushed hard to attract new deposits. Operating expenses as a whole rose 55% year-over-year in Q4, faster than revenues."We reported another quarter of strong financial performance, particularly in our equities and options businesses, which contributed to a significant full-year revenue increase," said H.C. Wang, Chief Financial Officer of Webull."We're seeing robust returns on our... investment in marketing, innovation and addressable market expansion and are confident that we are positioning Webull to deliver lasting shareholder value."Trading Volumes Climb Across the BoardActive trading metrics reinforced the revenue narrative. Daily average revenue trades (DARTs) hit 1.2 million in Q4, up 55% year-over-year, while equity notional volume surged 87% to $239 billion in the quarter. Options contract volume rose 38% to 154 million contracts in Q4, and topped 550 million for the full year, a 19% annual increase.Funded accounts, unique customers with money in a Webull brokerage account, grew 8% year-over-year to just over 5 million. Registered users on the broader platform climbed 15% to 26.8 million. Quarterly retention rates held above 96%, which the company cited as evidence of platform stickiness despite the competitive retail brokerage landscape.For context, eToro reported $868 million in net contribution for 2025 with 3.8 million funded accounts, illustrating how differently two competing retail platforms can look even when both are growing. Webull's funded account base is now comfortably larger, though its revenue base remains well below eToro's.Global Push Spans Four ContinentsWebull spent much of 2025 planting flags in new markets. The company officially launched brokerage services in the Netherlands, giving it a foothold inside the European Union, a move covered in depth when Webull launched its European operations with a new Dutch office and license last September. The company has since obtained regulatory licenses in four additional EU markets, though it has not yet launched publicly in all of them.In Asia, Webull entered into a distribution arrangement with Meritz Financial Group, one of South Korea's largest financial institutions, to bring U.S. equity market access to Korean investors. The company also expanded its CQG futures infrastructure partnership to Singapore, following similar deals in Hong Kong and Malaysia, building out a shared technology backbone across Asia-Pacific. Outside the U.S., Webull now counts more than 760,000 funded accounts, with Asia-Pacific customer assets surpassing $3 billion.In Australia, Webull launched cryptocurrency trading with access to up to 240 digital assets, powered through a partnership with Coinbase Prime. The company also officially relaunched crypto trading in the U.S., integrating its Webull Pay wallet directly into the main app.Earlier in 2025, Webull's UK operation added London-listed shares and cut U.S. stock commissions to a flat $0.10 per trade as price competition intensified across retail brokerage markets. The company's stock debuted on Nasdaq in April 2025 after merging with blank-check company SK Growth Opportunities Corporation. Shares fell more than 70% from their initial post-listing high, and the company's per-share metrics remain complicated by a significant expansion in share count following the conversion of preferred stock at the time of listing. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

TMGM, Official Regional Partner of Chelsea Football Club, successfully presented the highly anticipated “The Famous CFC” Bangkok fan experience event on 1 March, bringing together hundreds of fans from across the Asia-Pacific region for an unforgettable night of football passion and exclusive experiences.Chelsea legend and former captain John Terry made a special appearance at the event, connecting directly with supporters and creating memorable moments throughout the evening.John Rogers, Head of Global Partnerships for Chelsea Football Club, expressed his appreciation for TMGM’s continued support and highlighted how initiatives like these deliver meaningful value by bringing the club closer to its global fan community.VIP Meet & Greet with John TerryAhead of the main event, TMGM hosted an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet session on 28 February, offering selected guests a rare opportunity to meet Chelsea legend John Terry in an intimate setting.Guests enjoyed close interaction with the iconic captain, capturing memorable photos and sharing conversations with one of the most respected leaders in Chelsea history. The evening also featured engaging activities and the opportunity to win exclusive limited-edition gifts jointly presented by TMGM and Chelsea, setting the stage for the highly anticipated fan celebration the following day.A Night of Celebration for Blues FansOn the evening of 1 March, “The Famous CFC” Bangkok officially opened its doors, perfectly timed with Chelsea’s Premier League away clash against Arsenal. The event connected the excitement of a major match night with the energy of Chelsea supporters across Asia-Pacific. (All times below are local time.)19:30 – Doors Open and Guest ArrivalAs guests arrived at the venue, they entered a vibrant Chelsea-themed environment designed for fans to immerse themselves in the spirit of the club. Supporters took photos, connected with fellow fans, and captured memorable moments before the evening’s main programme began.20:40 – Official Event OpeningThe event officially commenced, with the stage becoming the central hub of entertainment and fan interaction.20:40 – 23:15 – Stage Programme and Fan EngagementA series of engaging activities brought the crowd together throughout the evening, including:Live Music Performances creating a festive football atmosphereRaffles and Fan Quizzes, featuring exclusive prizes including memorabilia signed by John TerryOn-Stage Interactive Games, where lucky fans were invited to participate and interact directly with the Chelsea legendSpecial Q&A Session with John Terry, where the former captain shared stories from his legendary career, reflections on iconic Chelsea matches, and personal insights from his time leading the Blues to historic victories including the UEFA Champions League and multiple Premier League titles.Fans responded with enthusiasm and applause as Terry’s stories brought unforgettable moments of Chelsea history back to life.23:30 – Kick OffAs the clock struck 23:30, attention shifted to the giant screen as Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Arsenal began.23:30 – 01:15 – Match ScreeningFans watched the game together in a dedicated viewing space created by TMGM and Chelsea. Every attack, tackle, and goal attempt sparked cheers across the venue, creating an electrifying atmosphere that connected Bangkok with Stamford Bridge through the shared passion for football.01:15 – 01:30 – Event Close and Guest DepartureFollowing the final whistle, guests departed with unforgettable memories, signed memorabilia, and photos capturing their once-in-a-lifetime moments with a Chelsea legend.Strengthening the Partnership Between TMGM and ChelseaThe success of the Bangkok event marks another milestone in the growing partnership between TMGM and Chelsea Football Club. From Gary Cahill’s appearance in Kuala Lumpur to John Terry’s visit to Bangkok, “The Famous CFC” series continues to strengthen the club’s connection with fans around the world, with TMGM proudly serving as the presenting partner.For TMGM, collaborating with one of the world’s most iconic football clubs represents a powerful opportunity to connect with clients globally while reinforcing the brand’s values of professionalism, trust, and precision. For Chelsea, TMGM plays an important role in supporting the club’s engagement with fans across the Asia-Pacific region.As the unforgettable night in Bangkok came to a close, the partnership between TMGM and Chelsea continues to grow. Together, they remain committed to creating more exceptional experiences for fans and clients across the region—delivering moments that truly embody the spirit of being “Precise in Every Moment.”About TMGMFounded in 2013 in Sydney, Australia, TMGM is a global financial broker and the official regional partner of Chelsea Football Club.TMGM is regulated by multiple financial authorities including ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), VFSC (Vanuatu Financial Services Commission), FSC Mauritius, and FSA Seychelles, providing clients with a secure and trusted trading environment supported by strong regulatory oversight.DisclaimerThe document is provided by Trademax Global Limited (VFSC 40356). Please note that investing in CFDs and Margin FX Contracts carries significant risks and is not suitable for all investors. You may lose more than your initial deposit. You don’t own, or have, any interest in the underlying assets. Any information or general financial product advice given in the document is generic in nature and does not take into account your financial situation, needs or personal objectives. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investing in leveraged products carries significant risks. We recommend that you seek independent advice and ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading. It is important that you read and consider our disclosure documents posted on our website tmgm.com before you acquire any product listed on the document. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Crossover Markets has raised $31 million in a Series B round led by Tradeweb Markets, valuing the digital asset trading technology firm at $200 million. The deal marks Tradeweb’s first move into institutional crypto trading as it partners with Crossover to provide spot crypto liquidity to global clients.Tradeweb Expands into Crypto MarketsThe partnership will allow Tradeweb to integrate Crossover’s institutional spot crypto liquidity into its trading platform using its order-routing technology.Tradeweb has been expanding its electronic trading capabilities for years, mainly in bonds, derivatives, and ETFs, and more recently has tested some blockchain-based workflows in traditional markets.Today @crossover_mkts announced the successful completion of its $31 million Series B financing round, led by Tradeweb. In addition to the investment, Tradeweb has entered into a strategic partnership with @crossover_mkts to provide institutional spot crypto liquidity to global… pic.twitter.com/PzFwRVETJv— Tradeweb (@Tradeweb) March 4, 2026Another institutional trading giant that has recently pushed deeper into crypto is TP ICAP, which is shifting its Fusion Digital Assets venue to a matched principal model that puts the broker between both sides of each trade, allowing institutions to trade first and settle later while applying the same balance sheet, credit and market-structure playbook it already uses across its FX, rates and credit businesses.Continue reading: The Broker That Processes $200 Trillion Wants to Do the Same for BitcoinAdditionally, JPMorgan is moving quickly into institutional crypto. Last year, it ramped up its dedicated crypto trading and blockchain-based payment offerings for large clients. It positioned these services as regulated, bank-grade ways to trade digital assets and move value on-chain while helping to cement cryptocurrencies as a mainstream asset class for institutions.Tradeweb CEO Billy Hult welcomed the move as a way to extend the firm’s electronic execution standards into crypto markets, noting that institutional investors are eying crypto to manage risk in a 24/7 global market.“This collaboration marks Tradeweb’s entry into institutional crypto, a natural next step in our multi-asset strategy,” commented Billy Hult, CEO of Tradeweb. “Institutional investors are increasingly turning to crypto to express macro views and manage risk in a 24/7 global market. As adoption grows, the market needs trusted, institutional-grade infrastructure.”Institutional Backing Highlights Market ShiftBesides Tradeweb, other investors in the round include DRW Venture Capital, Ripple, Virtu Financial, Wintermute Ventures, XTX Markets, and Illuminate Financial. Their participation highlights growing traditional finance involvement in advancing institutional-grade crypto infrastructure.Related: Crossover Markets Expands to Singapore After U.S. Launch, Hires Cboe FX ExecutiveCrossover’s model, focused on execution without custody or brokerage services, aims to provide neutrality and efficiency for institutions as digital and traditional markets continue to converge.Crossover’s platform, CROSSx, serves as an execution-only electronic communication network for digital assets, focused solely on trade execution. It reportedly supports almost 100 institutional participants, facilitating over $50 billion in matched trading volume across 12 million trades. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

STG Group, a multi-asset trading firm, has launched a broker-dealer division called STG Securities. The division will operate within the group’s broader electronic market-making and trading operations.The launch reflects a wider industry trend of trading firms expanding into market-making and broker-dealer services. For example, Marex Group acquired UK market maker Winterflood Securities in December2025. Winterflood serves over 400 institutional clients and provides execution, market-making, and custody services.STG Integrates AVT Into Securities DivisionFounded in 2022, STG Group has gradually expanded across global markets. In 2024, it acquired Automated Volatility Trading, a U.S. options group previously part of Barclays and later GTS. AVT’s operations have been integrated into STG Securities to enhance the firm’s systematic options capabilities.STG Securities will use STG Group’s existing technology, quantitative expertise, and capital to provide liquidity on exchanges and through partnerships. The division is led by Kirill Gelman, who has over 20 years of experience at AVT and its predecessor firms, overseeing strategy in options trading.STG Provides Capital, Market LiquiditySTG Group provides risk-bearing capital and quantitative methods to manage trading opportunities in real time. STG Securities will focus on applying this expertise on exchanges, offering liquidity to market participants.The group was founded by principals from Squarepoint and operates independently of its investment management business.Hidden Road Gains Broker-Dealer ApprovalOther firms have recently taken similar regulatory steps. Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC, a subsidiary of Hidden Road, received approval from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to operate as a broker-dealer. The announcement followed the company’s disclosure of a definitive agreement to be acquired by Ripple for $1.25 billion. With the registration, Hidden Road can expand its fixed income prime brokerage platform. The licence allows it to provide prime brokerage, clearing, and financing services for fixed income assets. The firm said the approval supports the development of its fixed income operations and broadens services available to institutional clients. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Industry executive Nicolas Shamtanis has launched a consultancy that advises fintech, CFD brokers, prop firms and trading platforms on how to select their outsourced infrastructure providers. The firm aims to simplify vendor selection in a market crowded with payments, liquidity, technology and risk solutions.“The market is crowded with vendors; many claim to be the best, but only a few truly stand out. Our role is to remove 90% of the noise. We filter the vendor landscape and identify the solutions that actually move the needle,” Shamtanis announced on Wednesday. “In simple terms we help firms save time, avoid costly mistakes, and secure stronger commercial outcomes.”Focus on Vendor FilteringConexus IQ positions itself between financial firms and infrastructure vendors. It helps clients filter providers and identify solutions that add clear commercial value.It joins several other consultancy firms offering related services to CFD and prop trading firms, but usually with a broader or less neutral scope. FutureBridge Consulting, for example, advises prop firms on technology, compliance and operations and can cover infrastructure and vendor choices as part of that work.Larger fintech consultancies and boutiques such as Vention and Finteknology also help trading and brokerage businesses review their tech stacks and select software or infrastructure providers. Conexus also supports reviews across payments and crypto on/off-ramping, liquidity and trading platforms, CRM systems, bridges, plugins, integrations, risk management tools, social and copy trading technology, as well as licensing and regulatory support.You may also like: Interactive Brokers Adds Global Futures, Options Access to Swedish ISK AccountsIts stated goal is to save firms time, reduce costly mistakes and support stronger commercial outcomes.Experienced Leadership TeamShamtanis co-founded Conexus IQ with fintech executive Stathis Xenos. Shamtanis previously served as CEO of Red Acre Ltd and earlier as CEO and Deputy CEO at BDSwiss. It followed senior roles at Exness and a long tenure at easyMarkets. His background covers dealing, business development, commercial leadership and B2B sales.Xenos brings a senior operations and growth background from the fintech and brokerage space, including dual COO roles at Netrios and Red Acre, where he oversaw “broker as a service” and “prop as a service” technology offerings supporting forex and crypto brokers. Before that, he held VP of Growth and Head of Institutional roles at ZuluTrade, leading strategy for client acquisition, retention and institutional relationships, and earlier served as CMO and Director of Growth at A-QUANT. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The US’ top derivatives regulator is gearing to open the door to crypto perpetual futures. Speaking on Tuesday at the Milken Institute’s Future of Finance conference, Michael Selig, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said the agency would establish a framework within the “next month or so”.Crypto perpetual futures, or “perps,” allow traders to hold leveraged positions indefinitely, without the inconvenience of an expiry date. They were popularised by crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX during the 2017-18 boom and have gained significant momentum recently. According to crypto data aggregator CoinGecko, the top ten crypto perp exchanges processed a whopping US$92.9 trillion in trading volume in 2025, a 64.6% increase on the previous year. More importantly, this surge came amid a bruising fourth-quarter market decline for crypto, as bitcoin and its counterparts bled value. For years, however, American traders have largely watched from the sidelines. While global platforms such as Binance and Bybit facilitated trillions in offshore perp trading, US participants were mostly confined to spot markets or traditional futures.Selig cast the CFTC’s forthcoming framework as an effort to repatriate that liquidity. “We need to have that liquidity here in the US and we need the right investor protections to ensure that these firms don’t blow up and affect our shores,” he said. He added that “the prior administration drove a lot of these firms and the liquidity offshore,” a jab at Washington’s recent regulatory past, the sort of partisan point-scoring that has become routine in the US' politics.The move forms part of a broader, coordinated push to position the US as the de facto global hub for crypto finance.Selig has been working closely with Paul Atkins, Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, on “Project Crypto”, a joint initiative aimed at aligning federal oversight of digital assets. Among its objectives is the thorny matter of crypto-asset taxonomy.However, as the US is poised to liberalise, the EU is tightening the screws.ESMA Says Crypto Perps May Be CFDs In recent months, exchanges including Kraken, One Trading and Backpack have begun offering crypto perps to European traders. Coinbase has a dedicated webpage live, though without a formal launch announcement. Others, such as Bitstamp, Gemini and Bybit, are said to be preparing similar moves.Yet Europe’s markets watchdog may yet frustrate those ambitions. In a public statement released in February, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) warned that derivatives marketed as perpetual futures or contracts providing leveraged exposure to cryptoassets such as bitcoin or ether could fall within the definition of CFDs.Should that interpretation prevail, such products would face the full panoply of retail protections.Crucially, retail leverage would be limited to 2x under current CFD rules, a far cry from the 10x routinely advertised by European prep providers.If so, much of the product’s speculative allure would evaporate. Combined with the CFTC’s imminent framework, Europe’s crypto perpetuals market may find its wings clipped before it has properly left the runway. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

In trading, the difference between progress and quitting is rarely a missing strategy. More often, it is the ability to stay calm, follow rules, and wait when results are not immediate.In a Finance Magnates video executive interview at IFX Dubai, Dora Christofi, Head of Marketing at Finance Magnates, spoke with Nikola, founding and managing director at FX Doctor, about how his education-first project evolved into a structured trading community, and what he believes separates consistent traders from those who fall out early.Broceta’s message was blunt and repeated throughout the conversation: success comes down to patience and emotional control, not talent or complex tactics.FX Doctor began as a pure education projectBroceta described the FX Doctor trading community as an educational platform and said it was his first project. He also shared his background, saying he has been trading since 2003, starting on the Serbian market at the Belgrade Stock Exchange. He added that he is a licensed stockbroker and has worked as a portfolio manager.He was clear about the original intent."The FX Doctor trading community is strictly educational."How the “fund” formed into a communityChristofi asked whether joining the FX Doctor trading community could help members build a more stable long-term path. Nikola Broceta agreed that discipline and consistent risk management can support progress over time, but stressed there are no guarantees. He said becoming professional requires mastering emotions, and linked that to the strict risk rules members must follow.He also explained that the community structure was not planned. According to him, FX Doctor began as an education-only platform, but as he met people and they started trading together, a closed group formed gradually."It was never meant to be a fund. It was only through education, step by step, that we made this community. And it’s not like a fund, it’s like a community where we trade together."He added that the group has a trading floor setup, with shared rules and a routine.Why some traders quit, and others stayBroceta said people in the community either quit or succeed. When asked what separates the two groups, he repeated one word several times."Patience. Patience. Patience. Patience. It’s all about patience."He presented patience as a core skill, tied to following risk rules and being consistent rather than chasing results.Who is eligible, and what selection really look likeBroceta said the entry point into the FX Doctor trading community starts through education. He explained that those who attend the advanced and master courses are considered part of FX Doctor, while stressing that participation in the group is not guaranteed.He also said selection is strict, but not in the way many might expect. The goal is not to find “genius” traders, but rather to find people who can follow rules and control their emotions."We don’t look for genius. We are just looking for reliable people, for patience."When asked how strict the selection process is, he repeated that it is very strict and again emphasised calm behaviour under pressure."We don’t need a genius. We need regular people, calm people who know how to manage their emotions."The hardest part of trading: controlling emotionsAsked whether training or controlling emotions is harder, Broceta gave a direct answer."The hardest thing is to control your emotions. That is the hardest thing, definitely."His advice was equally direct."Don’t quit."Trading as a full-time career and what it takes to get thereBroceta said trading can become a lifelong career and described it as attractive for its freedom and flexibility. He suggested that once someone reaches a professional level, the daily workload can be limited to a few hours.At the same time, he stressed that the path to professionalism is long and requires significant commitment, including time, knowledge, patience, and practice. He suggested a minimum of one to two years to become a professional trader.He also spoke about the financial impact in his region, referencing Serbia and the Balkans. Part of this statement is unclear in the transcript, but he appeared to be comparing potential returns to what someone might earn over a longer period.A structured daily routine with limited tradesBroceta described the FX Doctor trading community’s daily process as structured and conservative in terms of execution.He said the group starts around half an hour before the market opens. He divides members into four parts: FX, crypto, indices, and commodities. He reviews the instruments they trade, shares his analysis, and then members of each group discuss it with him.He also said trade frequency is intentionally low.According to Broceta, they take one or two trades per day at most, and some days they do not trade at all. He said their activity is focused mainly on the first two hours of the London session, and then the New York session.ConclusionBroceta’s message throughout the interview was consistent. The FX Doctor trading community began as a trading education project, then evolved into a closed community built around shared routines and strict risk rules.For him, the key differentiator is not talent. It is patience, emotional control, and the discipline to keep going when results are slow.If you want to find out more, contact FX Doctor.About FX DoctorFXDoctor is an education-focused trading platform built around structured learning, market understanding, and long-term skill development.The platform is designed for traders who want to approach markets with discipline, a clear understanding of risk, and a professional mindset. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitcoin (BTC) climbed over 4% on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, touching an intraday high of $71,890, the strongest level in nearly a month, before pulling back to trade around $71,000 at the time of writing. The move comes after a brutal stretch that saw the world's largest cryptocurrency drop to the $60,000-$62,500 zone twice in the past two weeks, dragged lower by the Iran war shock that simultaneously sent gold surging to $5,400 and oil spiking 13%. Bitcoin, unlike gold, moved with equities on that geopolitical event, not against them. In this article, I will examine why Bitcoin is surging today, analyzing the BTC/USD chart and checking the newest Bitcoin price predictions, based on my over a 15 years’ experience as an analyst and retail investor.Follow me on X for real-time Bitcoin market analysis: @ChmielDkWhy Bitcoin Is Rising Today?The bounce has several identifiable drivers, none of which individually represents a fundamental shift in the trend, but together they created enough buying pressure to push BTC back to the upper edge of its consolidation range.The most mechanical reason is that funding rates turned deeply negative during the Iran war selloff. As Adam Saville-Brown, Head of Commercial at Tesseract Group, explains: "The leverage has been flushed. A subset of whale addresses has been accumulating during the drawdown, and funding rates are deeply negative. That combination typically precedes a directional move, not further capitulation." When shorts are overcrowded and leverage is cleared, even modest buying pressure can trigger an outsized move upward.Regulatory optimism added fuel. Paul Howard of Wincent notes: "There was speculation circulating in the US that the Clarity Act was close to being signed into law. This helped lift many altcoins relative to major assets, as they are expected to be among the biggest long-term beneficiaries of the legislation." A clear regulatory framework for digital assets in the US would be structurally bullish for the entire crypto market, and the mere speculation around it was enough to move prices on Wednesday.There is also the stablecoin rotation dynamic building quietly beneath the surface. Stablecoins now account for roughly 13% of total crypto market capitalisation, up from around 11% before the Iran escalation, according to Saville-Brown. That capital needs to go somewhere. With BTC dominance holding above 56%, the market has already made its view clear: when rotation out of stables begins, Bitcoin gets the first allocation.Bitcoin Technical Analysis: Same Consolidation, New TestAs shown on my chart, Wednesday's 4% surge changes very little about the structural picture. Bitcoin is testing the upper boundary of the one-month consolidation range, which I identify between $70,000 and $72,000 on the upside. The lower boundary of this same range sits at $60,000-$62,500, defined by the February 5-6 lows and retested on February 24 and February 28. The metal is bouncing between these levels at the lowest prices since October-November 2024.The $72,000 zone is a well-established resistance. A Head and Shoulders neckline sits at this exact level on the higher timeframe chart, and if Bitcoin decisively breaks and sustains below $72,000 rather than above it, the technical measured move points toward $44,000. Breaking higher through $72,000 with conviction would revive hopes of a recovery toward $76,000 and the 50-day EMA, but even that would only bring Bitcoin to the next wall of resistance.Above the current consolidation, my chart shows a series of important obstacles. $74,000-$75,000 is where the 50 EMA sits, while $76,000 marks the April 2025 lows, a level that has acted as meaningful resistance on multiple tests. Beyond that, the entire $74,000-$85,000 zone represents the lower boundary of the November-December 2025 consolidation, a supply area loaded with sellers who bought near those levels and have been waiting to exit.The only level that would signal a genuine technical trend change on my chart is $90,000, where the 200-day EMA currently runs. Bitcoin is trading approximately 27% below that level right now. Until price reclaims the 200 EMA, every rally, including today's 4% move, remains a bounce within a downtrend.My expectation from here is swing trading behawior rather than a directional breakout. I anticipate a return toward the lower consolidation boundary from current levels. If $60,000 breaks with conviction, my downside target is $50,000, the August 2024 lows, representing a further 30% decline from Wednesday's price.Bitcoin Is Not a Safe Haven: The Iran War Confirmed ItThe events of last weekend settled a debate that has run through the crypto community for years. When US-Israel strikes on Iran killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and shut the Strait of Hormuz, gold surged 2% to $5,390 per ounce. Bitcoin fell to $63,000.Adam Saville-Brown of Tesseract Group is unambiguous: "It has become clear over the past several weeks that Bitcoin does not function as a safe haven when geopolitical risk materialises. The strikes on Iran have confirmed that at scale. Bitcoin's initial move was with equities, not gold. That confirms the risk classification."The transmission mechanism ran through the dollar. The DXY hit 99.4, a five-week high, as oil-driven inflation expectations reset rate cut probabilities. Saville-Brown explains: "The geopolitical transmission is straightforward. The Strait of Hormuz closure pushed Brent into the $80s. The oil shock feeds inflation expectations, and inflation expectations support the dollar. A stronger dollar applies pressure across risk assets, including BTC. Crypto did what it has done in every geopolitical stress test since 2020: it traded as a high-beta risk asset, not a safe haven."Bitcoin's recovery from $63,000 back toward $71,000 has been faster than equities, but Saville-Brown notes this is not a bullish signal: "The recovery has been faster than equities, which tells you more about derivatives positioning than safe-haven demand." Negative funding rates and liquidated shorts explain the speed of the bounce. Conviction buying does not.Bitcoin Price Predictions 2026: From $50,000 to $400,000The institutional forecast range for Bitcoin in 2026 is extraordinary in its breadth, and Wednesday's price of $71,000 sits near the absolute bottom of it.Macroeconomist Henrik Zeberg published his March 2026 portfolio outlook just days ago: "Bitcoin rallies to $110,000-$120,000 in the primary scenario, fueled by Risk-On Fever, ETF inflows, and continued institutional adoption." He also outlined a secondary scenario with 25% probability: a climb to $140,000-$150,000 if the cycle extends.CoinShares' James Butterfill projects a range of $120,000-$170,000, with "more favorable price movements likely in the latter half of the year." JPMorgan's volatility-adjusted gold model suggests $170,000 is in play, while Fundstrat remains the most aggressive at $400,000+.Standard Chartered, notably, cut its 2026 target from $300,000 down to $150,000, citing the decline in Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) buying and a shift toward a consolidation phase rather than outright accumulation. Carol Alexander of the University of Sussex frames the range more conservatively: a "high-volatility range between $75,000 and $150,000 with a central tendency around $110,000."My own bear target of $50,000 if $60,000 breaks sits well outside even the most conservative institutional range, which underlines how much of the current price action is driven by technical positioning rather than fundamental repricing. Getting from $71,000 to $150,000 requires a 111% rally and clearing the 200 EMA at $90,000 first. Getting from $71,000 to $50,000 requires only a 30% decline and a break of one support level.FAQ, Bitcoin Price AnalysisWhy is Bitcoin going up today, March 4, 2026?Bitcoin surged 4% to $71,890 on Wednesday, its highest level in nearly a month, driven by three main factors. Deeply negative funding rates from the Iran war selloff created a short squeeze as leverage was cleared from the system. Speculation that the US Clarity Act for digital assets is close to being signed into law lifted crypto broadly. AHow high can Bitcoin go in 2026?Institutional forecasts range from Carol Alexander's conservative $75,000-$150,000 range to JPMorgan's $170,000 model and Fundstrat's $400,000+ bull case. Macroeconomist Henrik Zeberg's primary scenario targets $110,000-$120,000 for March 2026, with a 25% probability secondary scenario of $140,000-$150,000. How low can Bitcoin go in 2026?As shown on my chart, the current lower consolidation boundary sits at $60,000-$62,500, tested twice already in late February. If that level breaks with conviction, my technical target is $50,000, the August 2024 lows, representing approximately 30% further downside from Wednesday's $71,000. The Head and Shoulders neckline at $72,000 points to an even deeper measured move target of $44,000 if the pattern completes.Is Bitcoin a safe haven during geopolitical crises?The Iran war provided a definitive live test, and the answer is no. When US-Israel strikes killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and shut the Strait of Hormuz on March 1-2, gold surged 2% to $5,390. Bitcoin fell to $63,000 before recovering. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.