For decades, 4pm on America’s eastern seaboard marked a civilised pause. The closing bell rang, screens dimmed and traders retreated to digest the day’s gyrations. Strategies were refined, notes updated, perhaps even families acknowledged.That rhythm, though, is unravelling. According to data shared exclusively with Finance Magantes, at Capital.com, between 25% and 40% of retail clients traded during pre-and post-market sessions over the past three months. Yet only 4% to 5% ventured into overnight trading. On eToro, where 24/5 trading access has been expanded to S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks, roughly one-third of stock trading in December 2025 took place during the after-hours session. In June 2024, Vlad Tenev, Robinhood's CEO, announced on X that one year after launching its “24 Hour Market,” which offers trading 24 hours a day, five days a week, overnight activity had generated more than US$20 billion in total trading volume. The company did not publish a consolidated annual figure; however, based on reported peak activity, a reasonable estimate would place total trading volume above US$1 trillion, implying overnight flows still accounted for roughly 2% of the whole. Even so, Robinhood noted that on its busiest days, as much as 25% of daily trading occurred outside traditional market hours.Robinhood has surpassed $20B in overnight trading volume since launching Robinhood 24 Hour Market last year. ? pic.twitter.com/qK8gNF797c— Vlad Tenev (@vladtenev) June 5, 2024How Market Hours Have ExtendedTraditionally, America’s equity market operated from 9:30am to 4pm Eastern Time, Monday to Friday. In 1991, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) became the first major exchange to introduce limited after-hours trading, initially extending activity until 5:15pm for institutional investors. At the time, fewer than a million computers were connected to the internet and the Soviet Union had just dissolved. Markets, like geopolitics, were just becoming more open.Today, 24/5 trading offers four distinct trading windows: the traditional session; pre-market (4am-9:30am); post-market or after-hours (4pm-8pm); and overnight (8pm-4am). It should be noted that Robinhood defines “overnight” as between 8 pm and 7am, for Capital.com is 9pm to 2am, and for eToro is 8pm to 4am. Stocks, ETFs and CFDs can now be traded throughout the working week. Yet access during extended hours remains constrained to selected instruments. Retail Traders Are Extending Habits, Not HorizonsWhile retail traders appear to be testing extended hours, it does not necessarily change their appetite. According to eToro, there is little divergence between what clients trade during core hours and what they trade outside them. On Capital.com, which primarily offers CFDs, activity clusters around technology names, including Meta, Tesla, Nvidia and Oracle, alongside ETFs and crypto-related firms. What the Exchanges SeeExchange data tell a similar story. As of January 2025, extended-hours trading accounted for more than 11% of all US equity volume on the NYSE, with over 1.7 billion shares traded daily outside the core session, more than double the proportion recorded in early 2019. The exchange attributes much of this growth to retail participation.Interestingly, the distribution leans heavily toward pre-market hours, which in the first quarter of 2025, represented more than 55% of all extended-hours volume, having expanded fifteen-fold since 2019. Post-market growth, by contrast, has been comparatively modest.Why the Push, and the Problems It BringsA 2025 analysis by the World Federation of Exchanges identified three forces driving the expansion of trading hours: investors conditioned by always-on digital services and cryptocurrency markets; rising demand from international retail traders, particularly in Asia; and seeking faster responses to market-moving news, which explains the pre-market growth. But longer hours are not costless. Liquidity does not remain constant across a 24-hour cycle. Staffing exchanges continuously bring operational complications. And experience from foreign exchange and cryptocurrency markets suggests that activity continues to peak during traditional business hours. Overnight sessions tend to be thinner, spreads wider and volatility is less forgiving.Retail traders are well aware. On Reddit forum r/Trading, users routinely warn of broader bid-ask spreads and lower volumes outside core hours. Add to that uneven access, as extended-hours trading is restricted to selected instruments. The market may be open; it is not entirely available.Will Momentum Build for Longer Trading Hours?Thomas Peterffy, Chairman of Interactive Brokers – the global brokerage offers 24/5 trading on alternative venues – speaking at a Piper Sandler conference in 2025, suggested that overnight trading, then just 2.2% of the firm’s volume, could exceed 30% by 2030. In announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, eToro said it would expand to 24/7 trading, citing the success of its 24/5 expansion. The initial rollout will cover a selection of popular assets, with plans to broaden access across asset classes over time.Today, NYSE is proud to announce the development of a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities. NYSE’s new digital platform will enable tokenized trading experiences, including 24/7 operations, instant settlement, orders sized in dollar amounts, and…— NYSE ? (@NYSE) January 19, 2026At the same time, exchanges are also moving into the 24/7 territory. Both NYSE and Nasdaq are expected to allow nearly round-the-clock trading by the second half of 2026; the former is also preparing to launch a 24/7 trading platform for blockchain-based securities. Reflecting this trend, the LMAX Group added gold to its perpetual futures platform, enabling institutional clients to maintain XAU/USD exposure around the clock, including weekends when traditional markets are shut. The London-based cross-asset marketplace said that the move responds to a growing appetite for gold derivatives beyond standard hours. However, for now, most investor behaviour remains traditional. The majority of activity still clusters around the core session, where liquidity is deepest and spreads tightest, and extended-hours trading tends to spike only at particular moments. On Capital.com, around 80% of total equity volume is still executed during normal US hours.Markets may be open day and night, but whether the money will follow remains an open question. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

In the prop trading industry, a firm's true test comes not when traders lose, but when they consistently win and expect to withdraw their profits. It's one thing for a platform to look good on paper or during a promotional surge; it's another to repeatedly payout earnings to thousands of successful traders over the long term. When a prop firm faces large-scale payouts week after week, that’s when its stability and commitment are truly proven. FundedNext, the global prop trading firm has been undergoing this exact test, and the results suggest it’s meeting the challenge head-on.Consistency in Payouts: By the NumbersOne figure encapsulates FundedNext’s emphasis on consistency: the company has processed over $261 million in total payouts to traders so far. Importantly, this wasn’t a one-time windfall or lucky month. In fact, more than $163 million of that total was paid out in just the last 12 months, a sign that the payout pace is not only large but also accelerating with time.Breaking down that total further shows how robust and diversified FundedNext’s performance has been:$203+ million of the payouts have come from the firm’s CFD trading programs.$58.6+ million has been distributed through FundedNext’s Futures trading program since its launch.This consistent payout performance has grown significantly since FundedNext’s inception. In 2022, the firm’s first year of operation, average monthly payouts were around $461,000. By 2025, average monthly payouts had climbed to approximately $8.8 million, a nearly 19-fold increase in just a few years. Such growth illustrates how rapidly the platform scaled while maintaining its reliability in handling withdrawals.Equally important is the breadth of traders benefiting from these payouts. Since launch, FundedNext has delivered profit withdrawals to over 95,000 unique traders around the world, processing more than 151,000 individual payout transactions to date. Many of those traders have been paid out multiple times, which means FundedNext’s model isn’t about rewarding a few outliers once it’s supporting repeatable success for a wide swath of its users. That repeatability is a strong signal of a prop firm’s credibility.Trading Activity at ScaleAnother way to judge a prop firm’s stability is by looking at its day-to-day trading activity and how well the infrastructure holds up at scale. At any given time, roughly 200,000 – 230,000 traders are actively trading on the FundedNext platform. To support this level of activity, FundedNext has provided around 354,000 funded accounts to traders since its inception. In practical terms, this means the firm is managing an ecosystem of traders and accounts at a scale comparable to some large retail brokers. Traders on FundedNext have executed over 280 million trades across various instruments to date, with a total notional trading volume of approximately $12.16 trillion handled on the platform. These figures go beyond mere statistics – they indicate that an enormous amount of market exposure has been handled through FundedNext’s infrastructure without major incident. Industry Recognitions FundedNext’s track record hasn’t just been noticed by its users – it’s also been validated by independent industry observers. At the Finance Magnates Annual Awards 2025, FundedNext was named Prop Firm of the Year. Additionally, FundedNext received accolades in the Prop Firm Match Awards 2025, where it won for Highest Verified Payout Amount. These particular honors speak directly to what matters for traders: having a prop firm that can deliver large payouts (and verify them) and do so quickly. In a space where many companies advertise lofty payout figures, FundedNext’s ability to actually execute big withdrawals promptly has helped set it apart. For serious traders looking for a prop firm, the takeaway from FundedNext’s story is that consistency and credibility trump hype. Rather than relying on one-off promotions or bold claims, FundedNext has focused on building a platform that can scale and deliver under pressure – paying out profits steadily as traders succeed, and earning trust through real results. Its growing payout figures, substantial active trader base, and industry awards all demonstrate that long-term reliability is achievable in prop trading. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

CMC Markets is pursuing expanded regulatory permissions in Singapore to enter the physical precious metals market.Precious metals markets have remained active amid volatility. Prices have been affected by interest rate expectations, central bank activity, geopolitical developments, and currency movements.Periods of market stress can increase safe-haven demand, while leveraged positions in derivatives markets may amplify short-term price movements. Industry participants report that gold accounts for a significant portion of over-the-counter turnover.Regulatory Role and ResponsibilitiesThe firm has advertised a senior role in Singapore related to the initiative. The position includes obtaining approval under the Precious Stones and Precious Metals Act, enabling the company to operate as a regulated dealer in precious metals. Responsibilities cover oversight of physical gold transactions, gold-backed financing arrangements, client funding processes, anti-money laundering controls, regulatory liaison, pricing governance, and trade supervision.CMC Markets Eyes Bullion Trading StrategiesCMC Markets currently offers cash equities and over-the-counter derivative products in Singapore. Approval under the precious metals framework would introduce a new business line for the purchase, sale, and custody of physical bullion. Holdings could be used within client strategies, including margin and collateral structures, subject to regulatory requirements.Gold Forecasts Show Broad 2026 UncertaintyAnalyst projections for gold prices in 2026 highlight both the potential for further gains and the ongoing market unpredictability. Several major financial institutions forecast year-end targets above $6,000 per ounce, supported by central bank purchases and sustained investor demand for hard assets. Other forecasters are more cautious, anticipating limited upside or modest declines from current levels. These divergent projections reflect the complex environment in which gold prices operate, shaped by interest rate expectations, currency movements, geopolitical developments, and broader market volatility. Together, they underscore both the resilience attributed to gold as a store of value and the potential for continued short-term price fluctuations, providing context for firms such as CMC Markets as they consider entering the physical precious metals market. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Match-Trader Prop has released a platform update in February, introducing full backend integration with MetaTrader 5 alongside a series of operational and monetization enhancements. The update also includes improvements to onboarding, verification, challenge management, and administrative workflows.Several prop firms are reintroducing MetaTrader5 alongside existing platforms such as Match-Trader and cTrader. Funding Pips, Instant Funding, and MyFundedFX have restored MT5 access through direct licenses. Prop Firms Manage Trading Through MT5The MT5 integration allows prop firms to connect their trading programs directly to the platform. According to the company, the integration covers the full prop trading lifecycle, including account creation, equity calculation, challenge management, trading restrictions, and account breach handling.The frontend now displays MT5 prop accounts with live balance updates and detailed challenge status. Administrators can manage both MT5 and Match-Trader systems through a unified backend.Match-Trader Adds Ondato KYC SupportThe update adds Ondato as a KYC provider, letting brokers choose between Ondato and SumSub. A verification button and configuration options simplify onboarding.Phase-based challenge payments are now supported, replacing single upfront fees. Affiliate rewards, discounts, and add-ons are also updated, reducing upfront costs and supporting trader retention.Platform Adds Symbol Grouping and FiltersNew add-ons increase daily profit limits and shorten withdrawal intervals. Data export now supports Manager 2.0, and symbol grouping with filtering improves management.Network reliability is enhanced with automatic reconnection and a Wi-Fi status indicator. Other updates include an Account Rules tab, lot-based exposure calculation, timestamp logging, mobile request access, and a branch column in IB Requests.Prop Firms Expand into Regulated BrokerageProp firms are increasingly expanding their business models beyond challenge-based programs. Some are moving into regulated brokerage operations. For example, The Trading Pit recently launched a Seychelles‑regulated CFD brokerage, TTP Markets, in a limited rollout. The firm described the launch as a test of its regulatory infrastructure ahead of wider international expansion. Similar moves by other prop firms, including FTMO and The5ers, reflect a trend of diversification into brokerage services.Meanwhile, Alexis Droussiotis left his role as Head of Platform at Match-Trade Technologies after more than two and a half years focused on trading technology and platform growth in Cyprus.Before joining Match-Trade, Droussiotis spent more than six years at PrimeXM in Cyprus, where he rose to Director and Chief Information Officer after serving as Information Systems Manager. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The gold price in 2026 has already delivered more drama than most commodities manage in a decade. Bullion punched through $5,000 for the first time in history last month, kept climbing to $5,595 an ounce, then shed nearly $1,200 in two days in what turned out to be the metal's worst two-day rout since 1983. And yet Wall Street's biggest commodity desks mostly shrugged, and raised their gold price predictions.A Reuters poll of 30 analysts and traders now puts the median gold price forecast for 2026 at $4,746.50 per troy ounce, the highest annual consensus in Reuters polling history going back to 2012. That same survey a year ago penciled in $2,700 for this year. The gap between those two numbers is, in itself, the story of how fast the world changed."We are entering a period in which the legitimacy and resilience of the institutions and systems that have underpinned global economic and geopolitical stability for decades are being tested in ways not seen in a generation," said David Russell, CEO at precious metals dealer GoldCore. It is the kind of statement that sounds hyperbolic until you look at the gold price chart.Follow me on X for more gold market analysis: @ChmielDOne Nomination Sent the Gold Price Into a TailspinThe catalyst for January's crash was not a data release or a central bank meeting. It was a personnel announcement. When President Donald Trump named Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair on January 30, the gold price fell 9% in a single session - its worst one-day performance in years. Traders initially read Warsh as a hawkish pick, someone who might resist White House pressure for looser monetary policy and keep the dollar supported. Gold closed that day at $4,894 an ounce.The sell-off, in retrospect, looks more like a mass unwind of leveraged speculative positions than a fundamental reassessment. Within days, the gold price bounced back toward $5,100. By mid-February it has been consolidating in the $4,900-$5,100 range - still roughly 65% above where it was a year ago."Gold's thematic drivers remain positive and we believe investors' rationale for gold allocations will not have changed," analysts at Deutsche Bank wrote following the selloff.Gold Price Predictions: What the Major Banks Are ForecastingHow high can gold go in 2026? The range of institutional gold price predictions is wide - and the upper end of those forecasts has been climbing fast.Bart Melek, managing director and head of commodity strategy at TD Securities - one of the most closely followed voices on commodity markets - put it plainly: "Fundamentally, me and the team still like gold here." His base case of a $5,000 quarterly average comes with a technical ceiling around $5,455, and he does not rule out $5,700 given the volatility regime the market has entered.Why Gold Will Surge?The structural forces behind these gold price predictions are not new, but they are intensifying:Central bank buying reached 863 tonnes in 2025 and is expected to remain historically elevated in 2026, as reserve managers diversify away from US dollar assetsETF demand surged 801 tonnes in 2025 - the second-largest annual inflow on recordDe-dollarization pressures accelerated after China reportedly advised domestic banks to reduce their enthusiasm for US Treasuries, directly weakening the dollar and boosting goldReal rates are expected to stay low or fall further as the Fed navigates stubborn inflation alongside slowing growth - historically one of the strongest environments for gold price appreciationGeopolitical risk from trade wars, Venezuela, Iran, and unresolved tensions in Eastern Europe keeps the safe-haven bid aliveGold Price Technical Analysis: What the Chart Is SayingLooking at the gold price chart, the uptrend established over the past two years remains structurally intact. According to my chart reading, the roughly $1,000 correction from the January 29 high is well within the bounds of a healthy technical pullback given the pace of the preceding rally - one that took gold from around $4,300 to nearly $5,600 in a matter of weeks.What has formed, according to my chart analysis, is a consolidation range with clearly defined boundaries:Lower support: $4,550 - the late-December highs that were retested as support during the January-February selloff. This level held on a closing basis and remains the primary floor of the current rangeUpper resistance: $5,420 - the January 28 closing peaks, which capped the move even as prices briefly touched $5,600 intraday on January 29Intermediate support: $4,850 - currently acting as a local pivot and the first line of defense in any renewed sellingPsychological resistance: $5,000 - the level gold needs to reclaim convincingly to restore broader bullish momentumLocal February highs: ~$5,100 - the next meaningful ceiling before a retest of all-time highs becomes credible50-period EMA: ~$4,700 - the exponential moving average that would come into play on a deeper pullbackAccording to my technical analysis, the gold price is essentially range-bound between $4,550 and $5,420. Trading within that range is noise. What matters for the gold price prediction is which level breaks first.To the downside, a sustained move below $4,550 would bring the more critical $4,000 zone into focus - where the 200-day moving average converges with the November 2025 lows. Based on my technical analysis, a confirmed weekly close below that cluster would be the strongest signal yet that the gold bull market, running for several years now, has finally exhausted itself. Until that happens, the trend deserves the benefit of the doubt.Silver: The Wilder BetIf the gold price in January was dramatic, silver's was something else entirely. The metal hit a lifetime high of $121.64 on January 29- up 147% over the course of 2025 - before crashing to $89.70 within days. The Reuters poll now forecasts a 2026 average silver price of $79.50 per ounce, up from a $50 estimate made just in October.The mechanics of the silver spike deserve attention because they explain both the opportunity and the risk. According to Melek, the market experienced what derivatives traders call a gamma squeeze: market makers who had sold call options on silver ETFs were forced into the physical market to hedge their exposure, driving prices up in a self-reinforcing loop. Add in two- and three-times leveraged retail products, and the move became parabolic. When CME margin requirements rose, the unwind was equally brutal.Silver's dual identity - part safe-haven, part industrial metal - complicates the gold price prediction parallel. On one hand:The Silver Institute projects a sixth consecutive annual market deficit in 2026, at approximately 67 million ouncesPhysical investment demand is forecast to rise 20% to 227 million ounces - a three-year highData centers, EV production, and AI infrastructure are growing end-usesOn the other hand, solar panel manufacturers are actively reducing silver content per unit to cut costs, and jewellery demand continues to weaken in key Asian markets as high prices squeeze affordability.Frequently Asked Questions About Gold PriceWhat is the gold price today?As of mid-February 2026, the gold price is trading around $5,072 per ounce, having recovered from a sharp correction after hitting an all-time high of $5,595 on January 29, 2026. The price remains highly volatile - swings of $100-200 in a single session have become routine in the current market environment.What is the gold price prediction for 2026?The median gold price forecast for 2026, based on a Reuters poll of 30 analysts and traders, is $4,746.50 per troy ounce - the highest annual consensus in Reuters polling history dating back to 2012. Individual bank targets vary widely: JPMorgan sees $5,055 by Q4 2026, Goldman Sachs targets $5,400, TD Securities expects a quarterly average around $5,000, and Yardeni Research has set a target of $6,000.How high can gold go in 2026?Most institutional analysts believe gold can reach $5,000-$5,400 during 2026 under base case scenarios, with JPMorgan flagging $6,000 as a longer-term possibility. On the more aggressive end, GoldSilver.com's data-driven analysis outlines a case for prices between $8,700 and $9,000 before year-end, though this represents a fringe scenario. The key variables are central bank demand, Federal Reserve rate policy, and the trajectory of the US dollar.Will gold go up or down in 2026?The consensus leans up, but with significant volatility along the way. The World Gold Council outlines four scenarios for 2026: in three of them gold rises or holds steady; only in one - where the Trump administration successfully boosts US growth, reduces geopolitical risk, and triggers Fed rate hikes - does gold decline. Most analysts, including those at Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, and TD Securities, believe the structural drivers of the gold bull market remain firmly in place.Is gold a good investment in 2026?Gold has outperformed most major asset classes over the past two years, returning approximately 65% in 2025 alone. Whether it remains a good investment depends on your time horizon and risk tolerance. Analysts broadly expect continued upside driven by central bank buying, dollar weakness, and geopolitical uncertainty - but also warn that volatility at record price levels is significant. Will silver outperform gold in 2026?Yes. Silver has already dramatically outperformed gold over the past 12 months, rising 147% in 2025 versus gold's approximately 65% gain. Whether it continues to do so depends heavily on industrial demand - particularly from the solar panel sector, which is actively reducing silver content per unit. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

LMAX Group has added gold to its perpetual futures platform, giving institutional clients continuous exposure to XAU/USD around the clock and across weekends, a time window when traditional gold markets go dark but price risk very much does not.The London-based cross-asset marketplace announced the expansion via LinkedIn on Tuesday, framing it as a response to growing institutional appetite for gold derivatives beyond standard trading hours. Gold has been on a remarkable run, trading near $4,900 per ounce this week after briefly touching all-time highs above $4,893 earlier this month.Weekend Risk Takes Centre StageThe specific problem LMAX is trying to solve is well understood by anyone running a gold book through a weekend. Spot and standard futures positions sit frozen while geopolitical headlines, macro data from Asian markets, and central bank commentary keep moving. When markets reopen Monday, the resulting gap can be damaging for both hedgers and leveraged traders.LMAX's gold perpetual futures are margin-based and have no expiry date, meaning a fund or broker can hold a position through a Sunday without having to roll or close it. The product is designed to hedge existing spot or CFD gold exposure in a capital-efficient way, according to the company."Access to gold exposure should not stop when the underlying market closes,” Jenna Wright, Managing Director of Digital Assets at LMAX Group, put it plainly. “For institutions managing exposure across spot and derivatives, continuity is key... As market infrastructure evolves, the priority remains consistency of access."From Crypto to CommoditiesLMAX first entered the perpetual futures space in September 2025, launching BTC/USD and ETH/USD contracts with leverage of up to 100x, positioning itself as a regulated, institutional-grade alternative to the offshore offshore crypto exchanges that have dominated the perpetuals market for years. That market has seen annual trading volumes hit $60 trillion, making it one of the largest derivatives segments globally.The gold product follows the same structural model: USD-settled, no expiry, margin-based. It also extends the same execution and liquidity standards LMAX has built its reputation on in FX and digital assets, where it handles over $40 billion in average daily spot volume.The product range then expanded its distribution reach in December 2025 through an integration with Gold-i's technology network, connecting LMAX's perpetuals to a wider pool of institutional buy-side clients. Adding gold now extends the same infrastructure to a new asset class entirely.Infrastructure That Can Handle ItExecution quality for a perpetual futures product is not trivial. Funding rates reset every eight hours, positions need to be managed in real time, and any lag in order processing creates real costs. LMAX addressed that on the technology side in early February, adopting MetaQuotes' Ultency matching engine for its MT5-connected institutional clients, which routes orders through a low-latency aggregation layer without relying on third-party middleware.That infrastructure push sits alongside the launch of Omnia Exchange, LMAX's cross-asset settlement platform that allows real-time conversion across FX, crypto, and stablecoins via a single API. The gold perpetual does not operate in isolation - it plugs into an architecture that LMAX has been building out aggressively over the past six months.Gold's Macro Backdrop Adds UrgencyThe timing is not accidental. Gold's volatility in 2025 and into early 2026 has been one of the dominant themes across financial markets, driven by central bank buying, geopolitical risk, and expectations around US rate policy. The metal gained roughly 65% through 2025 and continued climbing into the new year. Institutions that missed that move or want to hedge outsized exposure now need the tools to manage it, and traditional market hours are not always enough.LMAX is not alone in spotting the opportunity. GCEX recently launched gold futures products aimed at institutional CFD activity, while BingX reported that record gold prices drove roughly half of its $1 billion surge in traditional finance trading volumes. The demand signal is clear, and multiple platforms are racing to meet it. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The (Fat) Cat to "Check Your Fees"The English language has any number of colourful phrases and idioms that delight native speakers, but infuriate those looking to learn our mother tongue as a second or subsequent language. (Even the phrase ‘mother tongue’ underlines how modern English has been influenced by other cultures, derived as it is from the Latin term lingua materna, meaning the language of one’s home, culture and origin.)A term that is often used in relation to the financial services industry is ‘fat cats’. From its origins in the 1920s, when syndicated columnist Frank Kent wrote an essay entitled ‘Fat Cats and Free Rides’ to describe rich political backers, it now conjures images of portly, rich middle-aged men sitting around a table, drinking brandy and smoking cigars.So, when IG decided to refer to its Fat Cat Index when launching its ‘Check Your Fees’ campaign, it was clear that a few feathers would be ruffled, even if senior management at leading platforms are more diverse than the male, pale and stale boardrooms of corporate America a century ago.According to IG, most UK investors are paying hundreds of pounds more than they need to in platform fees each year.More than half (52%) of investors surveyed were using the market’s 12 most expensive providers, and for an active investor using a stocks and shares ISA with one of these platforms, the cumulative fees would be £515 more per year than if they used one of the market’s low-cost alternatives.For active investors using one of the four most expensive platforms, the claimed average annual overpayment rises to £711.Almost half of the retail investors surveyed said they had never calculated their total fees, and a similar proportion reported being confused by investment fee jargon. Yet more than half were confident they were paying the lowest possible fees.The research also found that nearly half of investors are hesitant to switch providers because of the admin involved. This inertia was particularly pronounced among older investors, with 43% of over-55s having been with the same provider for more than 10 years, and a third of this age group saying they are unlikely to switch.We’re Gonna Trade Around the Clock TonightWhether we like it or not, extended trading hours are going to happen. It’s just a question of how and where they are offered.24X National Exchange has already said it will offer 23-hour weekday trading of US equities in the second half of this year, and IG offers 24/5 trading on more than 100 of the most popular US stocks for UK investors. Meanwhile, DTCC subsidiary National Securities Clearing Corporation has committed to increasing clearing hours to support extended trading.The latest initiative to push this process forward is NYSE’s decision to build a blockchain-based platform that will support trading of tokenised stocks and ETFs on a 24-hour basis. It is reported that the exchange hopes to have this platform up and running before the end of 2026.24/5 Stock Trading. Now live on https://t.co/vCNztATkNg App. From Pre-Market to Overnight, trade seamlessly from Sun 8PM - Fri 8PM (ET). More ways to respond when the market moves ?Extended-hours may involve lower liquidity, higher volatility, wider spreads, limited data,… pic.twitter.com/toOpqZD0Qf— Crypto.com (@cryptocom) January 29, 2026Michael Blaugrund, vice president of strategic initiatives at ICE (which owns NYSE), describes the move as an evolution of NYSE’s trading capabilities that will allow for new types of investor accessibility and create new opportunities for retail investors to participate in stablecoin-funded markets.ICE is also reportedly exploring the possibility of creating a new system for clearing round-the-clock trades. Rival exchange Nasdaq has been in dialogue with regulators for several months about allowing investors to trade digital representations of securities.According to one senior financial services executive, these moves are evidence of the inevitability that tokenised trading will become the backbone of the US equities market.His view is that, once exchanges can match in real time, the bottleneck shifts to cash, custody and regulatory treatment, and that these initiatives are less about tokenisation and more about recognising that the real constraint won’t be trading technology, but rather eligible digital cash and funding models at scale.In this scenario, tokenised securities are the easy part — cash and controls are where the major challenges lie.Small Shareholders Feel the Bite from BrewdogThe travails of a relatively small Scottish brewery might seem like small beer (pardon the pun) in comparison to recent stock price movements for Amazon, for example. But they are a salutary lesson in how a seemingly good news story can turn sour for retail investors.Brewdog’s plucky newcomer ethos has attracted a loyal following over the last 20 years. The company played on this image during seven rounds of ‘equity for punks’, where hundreds of thousands of investors put around £75 million into the business.However, falling sales and negative publicity around one of its co-founders have seen the company bring in consultants — a move expected to result in the sale of all or part of the business.The private equity firm that bought into Brewdog in 2017 is expected to do very well from this process, given it is understood to have agreed preferential terms that would see it gain as much as four times its original £213 million investment.LOST LAGER PINT CANS SPOTTED ?️?️Catch these beauties appearing in your local Premier, Londis, & Budgens stores. pic.twitter.com/55bOukOXNr— BrewDog (@BrewDog) February 13, 2026Prior to this investment, the company had Class A shares held by its founders and employees, and Class B shares allocated to those who participated in its crowdfunding. The deal with TSG Consumer Partners resulted in the creation of preference shares.Investors had the option of cashing out when TSG bought its 22.3% stake, but the vast majority held tight and, if the eventual sale price is less than the amount guaranteed to TSG, there will be nothing left for the investors who put in between five hundred and several thousand pounds.The £2 billion valuation at its last funding round in 2021 is now a distant memory and, even if a buyer were to value it at twice its most recent annual revenue of £357 million, it would be some way short of the figure that would see small investors get any money back. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

5PAY had an exciting 2025, and it’s kicking off 2026 with even more exciting news. After taking home an award for offering the best payment gateway APAC, the company is very proud to announce its new award win, but this time in the MEA region - ‘Best Payment Gateway MEA’ at the prestigious UF AWARDS MEA 2026. This reflects 5PAY’s dedication to its clients across the world and its continued mission to offer the best possible product and platform to them.Although their 2025 and 2026 award wins were a fantastic milestone, 5PAY used it as a motivator to surpass what they achieved. And their efforts are being rewarded. Winning one of the industry’s biggest, most prestigious, and credible awards means that 5PAY’s payment solutions can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best the market has to offer. An Ongoing Mission5PAY has dedicated vast resources to continually expanding the access its clients have. Recently, the company has dramatically enhanced its infrastructure by increasing its local payment coverage, strengthening its regulatory framework, and supporting even more secure payment access. With multiple solutions to cover practically every use-case scenario for financial services enterprises, including virtual accounts, fiat-to-fiat and crypto solutions, and the extremely popular, multicurrency QR Pay. It allows transactions in multiple global currencies via multiple funding sources, from widely used e-wallets to traditional financial institutions such as banks. All of 5PAY’s solutions are purpose-built to support an increase in conversions, while practically eliminating the potential for fraud. And they do so at every step of the payment flow, from initiation to the completion of a transaction. Stability, Scalability, and CustomisabilityOne of the biggest bottlenecks companies often face during rapid growth is legacy infrastructure limiting business expansion. Scalability and deployment speed are integral to 5PAY’s solutions. Not only are these payment tools built to keep up with robust growth, but they also have the ability to be integrated in a matter of seconds. Being able to accept payments from a list of countries that is being constantly expanded gives firms even more opportunities and ability to serve untapped markets. 5PAY also offers clients multiple packages: the complete integration package and the system integration. Full integration packageThis package offers clients a completely turn-key payment solution, including receiving accounts. It also includes personalised support for funds receivable, streamlined checkout flows, payouts, settlements, and asset stashing, all optimised. System integrationEasy to set up embedded payments with a full access dashboard, with the full support of 5PAY experts. A powerful yet affordable solution for businesses of all sizes and scales of operation. Award-winning Solutions for Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond5PAY’s solutions are both compliant with local regulations and provide international merchants with scalable, secure payment access. Proof of this mission is both the “Best Payment Gateway” award in APAC at the UF AWARDS APAC 2025, and their most recent win in the same category in MEA, at the UF AWARDS MEA 2026. If you would like to amplify your growth with a reliable payment solution, visit https://www.my5pay.com/ or contact 5PAY via email at sales@my5pay.com. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Exness, a leading multi-asset CFD broker and liquidity provider, was honoured with the Best Trading Conditions award at the Ultimate Fintech (UF) Awards MEA 2026, held during iFX EXPO Dubai 2026. The award highlights Exness’ dedication to excellence, innovation, and transparency in the online trading industry.The UF Awards MEA serve as a regional point of reference and are evaluated in the context of one of the region’s most significant gatherings for the online trading and fintech sector. Over the course of three days, Exness engaged with industry professionals, shared insights, and contributed to discussions shaping the future of the industry.During the expo, Peter Plester, Head of B2B Sales at Exness, participated in a candid panel on identifying hidden operational risks and building a resilient trading environment for traders. Meanwhile, Alfonso Cardalda, Exness CMO, explored what sets top brokers apart and strategies for engaging high-value clients in today’s dynamic markets.Peter Plester commented, "Awards like this matter when they recognise outcomes rather than promises. For us, trading conditions are about removing friction and uncertainty from execution so traders can operate with clarity, even when markets are anything but predictable. This recognition is important because it validates the discipline and long-term focus required to deliver those outcomes consistently."About ExnessFounded in 2008, Exness is a global multi-asset broker with the mission to reshape the online trading industry. Since its inception, the company’s goal has been to create the ultimate trading experience through large-scale investment in technology and infrastructure. Their fresh approach resonates with traders worldwide, growing Exness into one of the most prominent retail brokers in the sector. With a strong balance sheet, Exness now brings its deep liquidity offering to brokers and other financial institutions. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

CFTC Chair Michael Selig has intensified a federal–state showdown over prediction markets, directing his agency to intervene in court battles and publicly asserting that the US derivatives watchdog, not state authorities, holds jurisdiction over event contracts. In a video posted Tuesday on X, Selig said the agency has filed an amicus brief to defend what he called its “exclusive jurisdiction” over prediction markets, which he equated with derivatives markets.I have some big news to announce… pic.twitter.com/3OBNTaOnIL— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 17, 2026Selig Defends Federal Authority, Signals Policy ShiftSelig warned that state entities challenging the CFTC’s authority over event contracts “will see” the agency “in court,” framing state enforcement as an “onslaught of state-led litigation” targeting platforms including Coinbase, Crypto.com, Kalshi and Polymarket.Related: Coinbase Asks Courts to Bar States From Regulating Prediction MarketsHe said the CFTC has regulated such markets for more than two decades and argued that prediction markets allow Americans to hedge commercial risks, such as temperature or energy-price moves, and act as a check on news and information flows.Selig’s stance represents a reversal from the agency’s prior efforts to shut down some political and event contracts at firms such as Polymarket and Kalshi before Donald Trump returned to the White House. Courts resisted parts of that earlier crackdown, and the CFTC dropped its litigation after Trump’s team overhauled the agency’s leadership.Earlier, CFTC dropped a contentious plan to ban political and sports‑related prediction markets and kicked off a joint crypto rulemaking effort with the SEC to keep digital asset trading within the U.S. Selig then announced that he ordered staff to withdraw the 2024 event contracts proposal targeting those markets.States and Senators Push Back on Gambling ConcernsUtah Governor Spencer Cox publicly challenged Selig’s claims, writing on X that he did not recall the CFTC having authority over a “derivative market” for “LeBron James rebounds.”Cox called the products “gambling pure and simple,” said they harm families and young men, and pledged to use every power to “beat” the CFTC in court. Utah lawmakers are advancing a bill targeting certain sports contracts, although the state has not led the main enforcement cases.Mike, I appreciate you attempting this with a straight face, but I don’t remember the CFTC having authority over the “derivative market” of LeBron James rebounds. These prediction markets you are breathlessly defending are gambling—pure and simple. They are destroying the lives… https://t.co/Ohup2x3D8u— Governor Cox (@GovCox) February 17, 2026Meanwhile, Polymarket has sued Massachusetts, arguing only the CFTC can police its markets, while Coinbase is suing Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan over efforts to classify related products as gaming. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

BaFin has warned consumers about several online platforms that present themselves as authorised global brokers for Forex and CFDs but, according to the regulator, do not hold a license in Germany. The authority said the flagged operators provide banking and financial services without its approval and remain outside its supervision.BaFin Flags Websites and Missing LicensesThe Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) said it has identified a series of similarly designed websites that claim: “The [platform name] label holds authorization in multiple global jurisdictions and stands as a reputable online brokerage for Forex and CFDs.”BaFin stated that information available to it shows the operators provide banking business and/or financial services on these sites without the required authorization. The regulator added that it does not supervise these operators.Related: BaFin Warns of “Smarter Trading with Zero Spreads” Pitch That Could Cost You EverythingBaFin said it has so far become aware of the following websites in this context: hashxcapital(.)com, axstera(.)com, upwardstrend(.)com, finstera1(.)com and finstera2(.)com. The authority noted that the sites share similar designs.Regulator Reminds Firms and Clients of Authorisation RulesBaFin stressed that companies may only offer banking business, financial services and crypto asset services in Germany if they hold its authorization. It said some providers still offer such services without a license, which means they operate outside its oversight.Meanwhile, the watchdog sees social media and finfluencers as major market risks in 2026 because they push retail investors toward highly speculative crypto assets. This warning was recently fired as German banks prepare to roll out crypto trading services, and the regulator stresses that the main way to win new crypto clients has itself become a top supervisory concern.A recent BaFin survey of 18- to 45-year-olds shows a clear link between social media use and crypto investing. Investors who follow finfluencers are almost four times more likely to buy crypto (48% versus 13%), and in private chat groups, about half of participants said they had purchased crypto assets. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Kraken has integrated its over-the-counter (OTC) trading desk with ICE Chat, bringing crypto spot and options liquidity into a messaging platform widely used by institutional traders. The move places the crypto exchange’s OTC services directly inside an existing communications tool for trading desks across major financial centers, aiming to streamline access to crypto within established workflows.ICE Chat Integration and Institutional WorkflowsAccording to the firm, the integration allows more than 120,000 ICE Chat clients to connect with the OTC desk. Traders can contact Kraken’s team from within ICE Chat to discuss and execute OTC trades in crypto spot and options markets.“ICE Chat was designed specifically to match the custom needs of traders, and with sophisticated functionality like AI-powered Smart Text Recognition, which turns texts into actionable data, firms using Kraken can communicate using always-on, instantaneous connectivity, in an easy-to-access, fully compliant environment.” commented ICE Head of Global Data Delivery Platforms Maurisa Baumann.ICE Chat Features and Future Expansion PlansICE operates ICE Chat as part of its wider technology and data offering. The platform supports real-time, always-on connectivity between trading firms and includes tools that seek to align communications with market and regulatory expectations.Kraken also indicated that it expects to expand the ICE Chat integration over time through additional initiatives, reflecting what it sees as the increasing integration of digital assets into established financial market workflows.Kraken has lately been targeting established institutional marketplaces. Kraken-backed xStocks recently went live on 360X, giving Deutsche Börse Group clients access to tokenized versions of major equities on a regulated secondary trading venue, and marking the first significant product milestone under the partnership announced in December.You may also like: NinjaTrader Taps Ex-IG Exec Christopher Tripp as General Manager, InternationalIt allows 360X users to trade five xStocks instruments against stablecoins. It broadened institutional access to the xStocks standard and aiming to support further growth in trading volumes and unique holders.Meanwhile, institutional marketplaces are eying prediction markets. Intercontinental Exchange recently launched the Polymarket Signals and Sentiment tool to deliver prediction-market data and analytics to professional and institutional investors. Under the new offering, ICE will act as the exclusive distributor of Polymarket data for institutional capital markets. Polymarket runs one of the largest prediction markets, including contracts tied to financial and commodity themes, giving institutions structured access to this emerging data source. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

NinjaTrader Group has appointed Christopher Tripp as General Manager, International as the futures trading platform accelerates its push into Europe. The Kraken-owned platform recently entered the European market and plans to use the new role to coordinate its international strategy, including wider access to its platform, pricing and trader education outside the United States.Focus on European Rollout and Futures DemandIn his new position, Tripp will lead efforts to grow NinjaTrader’s presence in overseas markets and support the rollout of its platform across the European Union and the United Kingdom.The platform is currently available in the Netherlands and Germany, with broader EU and UK access expected later this year. CEO Martin Franchi said the appointment provides important leadership to scale the business and meet growing global demand for futures trading.“His robust industry expertise showcases our commitment to delivering a strong, futures-native offering that aligns with the evolving global market structure and positions NinjaTrader alongside the world's leading global brokers.”Read more: Following NinjaTrader Acquisition, Kraken Opens Access to CME-Listed Crypto FuturesHe described Tripp’s industry background as a fit for the company’s aim to deliver a futures‑focused offering that reflects changes in global market structure.Tripp’s Background at IG and tastytradeTripp brings extensive experience in international and retail trading. He most recently served as UK Commercial Director at IG Group and earlier as Head of Trading Products (UK). Before that, he worked at tastytrade as Head of International Expansion and previously held senior roles in North America, including Chief Strategy Officer at tastytrade and Chief Commercial Officer for IG North America.His earlier career at IG covered positions such as Chief of Staff to the Group CEO, Business Change Manager, Global Head of Onboarding and Account Opening, Client Operations Manager, Trading Services Manager and Sales Trader. He will be based in the UK as he supports NinjaTrader’s global growth plans.Recently, NinjaTrader expanded into proptrading with the launch of two dedicated platforms, NinjaTrader Prop and Tradovate Prop. The offerings build on the company’s futures trading services, providing prop traders with a complete set of tools for their trading. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

easyMarkets has been awarded Customer Support Excellence by TradingView, as the global CFD broker marks 25 Years at Your Service.The recognition from TradingView, highlights easyMarkets’ long-standing commitment to delivering reliable, human customer support in an increasingly complex and fast-moving trading environment.Customer support has been a core part of the easyMarkets offering since the company’s launch, supporting traders through multiple market cycles, periods of volatility, and major shifts in trading technology. The award reflects a consistent focus on clarity, accessibility, and trust, values that have underpinned the broker’s operations for more than two decades.The TradingView recognition acknowledges a support model designed to simplify the trading experience and provide timely assistance when it matters most. easyMarkets Customer Support team assists traders with platform use, account queries, and operational guidance, helping them navigate markets with greater confidence.“This award from TradingView is a meaningful recognition of the role customer support has played in our business for 25 years, said Koula Lamprou, CEO of easyMarkets. Trust is built through consistency, and our focus has always been on providing clear, dependable, and human support to traders worldwide.”easyMarkets provides multilingual customer support to serve its global client base, enabling traders to communicate in their preferred language. This approach helps reduce friction, improve response times, and support more effective decision-making, particularly during periods of heightened market activity.As the company enters its 25th year, the TradingView Customer Support Excellence award reinforces easyMarkets’ long-term commitment to show up with clear, reliable and human support.If you haven’t yet explored what easyMarkets has to offer, now is the perfect time. Trade with easyMarketsFor more information, please contact:Georgia Kyriakou, Digital PR Manager, easyMarkets ? support@easy-markets.com | ☎ +357 25 828899 About easyMarkets easyMarkets, founded in 2001, is an award-winning global broker. One of the first to offer an online experience with innovative risk management tools, including Guaranteed Stop Loss with No Slippage* and easyTrade. easyMarkets provides its sizeable clientele with a streamlined, accessible, and flexible trading experience. Offering over 275 tradeable instruments, tight fixed spreads, and 24/5 dedicated support to traders around the world, easyMarkets continues to revolutionize the trading sector by providing unparalleled security and safeguards for client funds and consistently prioritizing client commitment and satisfaction This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Pred, a peer-to-peer sports prediction exchange, announced a $2.5 million funding round led by Accel, with participation from BEF by Coinbase Ventures and Reverie. The capital will support team expansion, liquidity development, and global user onboarding as Pred builds exchange-grade infrastructure for sports prediction markets. The platform is live in private beta, with traders being onboarded through an invite-only program ahead of broader public access.Pred is building the fastest sports prediction exchange on Base, Coinbase’s layer-2 blockchain network. The platform lets traders buy and sell positions on sports outcomes with 200-millisecond execution and spreads under 2 percent. It is designed for traders who approach sports markets with the same analytical discipline used in financial markets, emphasising transparent order books, market-driven pricing, and on-chain settlement."Prediction markets have proven their value for episodic events, but sports represent an entirely different scale of opportunity, continuous, global, and deeply liquid. Pred is building purpose-built infrastructure for this market rather than retrofitting general-purpose tools. That's the kind of focused execution we back." - Prayank Swaroop, Partner at Accel.While prediction markets have historically demonstrated strong forecasting accuracy, most applications have been limited to episodic events such as elections or macroeconomic outcomes. Sports present a fundamentally different environment, with continuous global demand, frequent events, and a natural fit for high-speed trading strategies. Despite the scale of the global sports betting economy, the majority of volume remains concentrated within house-controlled sportsbooks that set prices and manage risk internally.Pred takes a different approach by applying an exchange model to sports predictions, allowing participants to trade directly with one another. Prices emerge through real supply and demand, reflecting collective market sentiment rather than fixed odds. By removing the house from the equation, Pred aims to create a more efficient, transparent, and trader-driven marketplace for sports outcomes.“Sports prediction is a $500B global industry still running on infrastructure that punishes winners. We built Pred to change that, a decentralised exchange where speed, transparency, and skill are rewarded, not penalised.” - Amit Mahensaria, CEO and Co-Founder.Pred will use the funding to build out its team with talent from financial and sports sectors, deepen market liquidity through institutional partnerships, and drive the trader growth needed to sustain a high-velocity exchange. The goal: become the premier global destination for sports prediction trading.About PredPred is building a sports prediction exchange that lets traders buy and sell positions on sports outcomes with 200ms execution and spreads under 2%. Unlike traditional sportsbooks that limit or ban winning users, Pred operates as a peer-to-peer exchange where skilled traders are welcome.*Disclaimer: Pred does not operate in India, Singapore, the US, or OFAC-sanctioned countries. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Retail forex deposits across major US platforms edged up 0.8% in December 2025, rising to $499.9 million from November's $495.7 million as the industry snapped a three-month decline that started in September.The modest recovery pushed total deposits back toward the $500 million threshold but remained well below the $530.1 million peak reached in March 2025. Year-over-year, deposits grew 2% from December 2024's $491.3 million, suggesting retail currency traders faced persistent headwinds throughout the year despite isolated spurts of growth.Interactive Brokers Posts Sharp RecoveryInteractive Brokers delivered December's most dramatic turnaround, jumping 20.8% to $32.5 million from November's $25.7 million. The $6.8 million monthly gain reversed the broker's steep November pullback and marked its strongest month-over-month percentage increase in recent periods.The rebound coincided with broader momentum at the electronic broker. Interactive Brokers reported fourth-quarter 2025 revenue of $1.64 billion and earnings per share of $0.65, surpassing analyst expectations. Trading volume in options, futures, and stocks increased by 27%, 22%, and 16% respectively during the quarter.Total customer accounts on the platform jumped 32% year-over-year to 4.4 million in the fourth quarter, while customer equity increased 37% to $779.9 billion. The firm also rolled out stablecoin funding for US clients, cutting account funding time to near instant.Year-over-year, Interactive Brokers forex deposits climbed 8% from December 2024's $29.8 million, extending the platform's longer-term client acquisition momentum despite volatile monthly swings.Schwab Recovers Ground After Sustained DeclineCharles Schwab posted the second-largest monthly gain in dollar terms, climbing 5.4% to $61.8 million from November's $58.5 million. The $3.3 million increase represented Schwab's strongest monthly performance since August and halted a slide that began in October.The institutional broker added forex trading capabilities to its thinkorswim platform in April 2024, offering commission-free access to over 65 currency pairs. Schwab also expanded 24-hour trading access to retail clients in February 2025, joining an industry push toward round-the-clock market accessibility.Despite the December gain, Schwab's deposits remained 3% higher than December 2024's $59.7 million, marking one of the more modest year-over-year increases among major platforms. The broker shed roughly $6.7 million in deposits during the final three months of 2025 as retail forex trading remained subdued.Market Leader Faces Client Fund OutflowsGAIN Capital recorded December's largest monthly decline in dollar terms, dropping 1.9% to $211.8 million from November's $215.8 million. The $4.0 million outflow marked the broker's fourth consecutive monthly decrease and extended a pattern of client fund withdrawals that began in September.Despite the recent slide, GAIN Capital maintained its position as the largest US retail forex broker by client funds and posted a 7% year-over-year gain from December 2024's $197.9 million. The platform held nearly 43% of total US retail forex deposits at year-end, though its market share has eroded from earlier peaks above 44%.Smaller Brokers Show Mixed Resultstastyfx, the US brand of UK-based IG Group, declined 2.6% to $46.3 million from November's $47.5 million, shedding $1.2 million during the month. The pullback snapped two months of gains and brought deposits below the broker's September level.Year-over-year, tastyfx posted a 13% increase from December 2024's $40.1 million, reflecting strong longer-term growth. The broker launched Prime accounts in September targeting professional traders with 6% promotional yields and reduced trading costs. Parent company IG Group reported record revenue of $50.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, up 30% year-over-year.Trading.com slipped 4.7% to $2.9 million from November's $3.0 million, posting a $136,000 monthly decline. Despite the December setback, the platform showed the fastest annual growth rate among tracked brokers with deposits up 27% from December 2024's $2.1 million. Trading.com, part of the Trading Point Group that also operates XM, secured US regulatory approval as a retail forex dealer in April 2020.OANDA Holds Steady Amid Ownership TransitionOANDA edged down 0.4% to $144.6 million from November's $145.2 million, slipping $614,000 during the month. The marginal decline extended the broker's losing streak to six consecutive months and marked its lowest deposit level since December 2024.The December data arrived as prop trading firm FTMO completed its acquisition of OANDA from private equity firm CVC Asia Fund IV. The transaction, announced earlier in 2025, received final regulatory approval in November after an eight-month process involving five separate regulators. FTMO has indicated plans to maintain OANDA as a standalone business.The figures reported monthly by US forex brokers represent "Total Retail Forex Obligations" rather than simple customer deposits. These obligations reflect the total amount brokers owe to retail forex customers, combining initial cash deposits with unrealized profits or losses on open positions plus other payable balances like margin excess and account credits. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

While traditional banks and brokers have often treated stablecoins as a high-risk niche, new research indicates that crypto adopters are using them for practical financial needs rather than solely for speculation. The Stablecoin Utility Report 2026 by BVNK and YouGov finds that stablecoins play a growing role in cross-border payments and savings, highlighting new opportunities for regulated financial institutions. The report draws on an online survey of more than 4,600 respondents across 15 countries. All participants either currently hold or have held cryptocurrency within the past 12 months, or plan to acquire crypto in the coming year. The findings, therefore, reflect behavior within crypto-active populations rather than the general public. The survey also excludes several major markets, including China, Russia, and Canada. Within this user base, practical use cases now appear to drive stablecoin adoption. However, the segment is dominated by crypto-native platforms, while most banks, brokers, and payment providers have so far stayed on the sidelines. Freelancers and gig workers now receive 35% of their income in stablecoins. 73% say this improves work with international clients. In Africa, 79% of surveyed crypto users hold stablecoins. Of these, 92% cite their country’s economy as a driving factor. Merchant acceptance also influences consumer decisions, as more than half (52%) of stablecoin holders surveyed say they have made a purchase from a business specifically because it accepted stablecoin payments. The Opportunity for Banks and Fintechs The survey suggests that traditional financial institutions have yet to capture much of this activity. Crypto users primarily manage stablecoins on centralised exchanges. Despite that, trust in established financial brands remains strong. Around 77% of respondents say they would likely open a stablecoin wallet if their personal bank or fintech app offered one. In low- and middle-income economies, that figure rises to 83%. These results indicate that exchanges currently dominate stablecoin services not because of superior brand trust, but because many regulated institutions have not yet introduced comparable products. Users Want Mainstream Behaviour, Not Crypto Complexity Even among regular users, friction remains. Respondents identify irreversible payments (30%) and process complexity (22%) as their main concerns. Users say they want stablecoins to function more like familiar payment systems. Their top requests include broader merchant acceptance, clearer consumer protections such as refund mechanisms, and a simpler user experience. For the B2B financial industry, the report signals growing engagement with stablecoins among crypto-active users and suggests that demand for regulated, integrated services could expand. Whether traditional institutions enter this segment — and how they structure their offerings — will influence how stablecoin usage develops from here. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Gold prices tumbled over 2.5% on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with silver falling by a steeper 4% margin, marking the weakest levels in 11 days as both metals test critical support zones following their brief recovery from the catastrophic January 31 selloff.The yellow metal drew intraday lows at $4,858 before recovering slightly to trade at $4,911 per ounce, while silver crashed below $73 during Asian hours before stabilizing around $74. This renewed weakness comes despite ANZ Bank's upgraded forecast projecting gold will reach $5,800 per ounce in Q2 2026, up from their previous $5,400 target.In this article, I explain why gold and silver are falling again, what ANZ's bullish forecast means for precious metals, and why Ron Paul's $20,000 gold price prediction remains intact despite extreme short-term volatility.Follow me on X for more gold and silver market analysis: @ChmielDkWhy Gold And Silver Are Going Down Today?Recovery Tested After Historic CrashFebruary 17 marks a critical test for precious metals bulls. After staging a powerful recovery from the January 31 crash lows, gold and silver are retesting support levels that could determine whether the correction deepens or the bull market resumes.Gold peaked at $5,608 on January 30, then crashed to $4,745 the next day before recovering to the $4,750-4,800 range by February 2. The metal traded as high as $5,120 on February 11, suggesting the worst was over. But Tuesday's selloff pushed gold back toward $4,850, down 2.6% intraday, raising questions about whether another leg down is imminent.Gold's Current Price Action:Current: $4,911 per ounceIntraday low: $4,858 (Feb 17)Recent high: $5,120 (Feb 11)Key support: $4,850-4,600Resistance: $5,000-5,100Silver's Current Price Action:Current: $74 per ounceIntraday low: Under $73 (Feb 17)Recent recovery high: $83 (Feb 2)Key support: $70, then $55Resistance: $80, then $100-120Despite the renewed weakness, gold remains up 6.5% over the past month and a remarkable 67% year-over-year. Silver still shows monthly gains of 4% and annual returns exceeding 155%, underscoring that this remains a secular bull market experiencing violent corrections rather than a trend reversal.Dilin Wu, Research Strategist at Pepperstone, notes: "If short-term bears dominate, the lower boundary of the February upward channel near $4,900, and further down at $4,640, may provide support. Conversely, a sustained break above $5,100 could open the way toward $5,180-$5,200, representing key resistance levels before challenging new highs."Technical Analysis: Critical Support TestedGold's Chart SetupGold's price action on February 17 shows the metal falling 2.6% with intraday lows at $4,858 before recovering to trade slightly above $4,911 per ounce. The price is moving within a support zone between $4,850-$4,900, marked by the psychological $5,000 level above and critical support at $4,600 below.According to my chart, the 50 exponential moving average (50 EMA) has been tested multiple times since the January 31 crash, with gold bouncing off this level on February 2 before rallying to $5,120 on February 11. Tuesday's weakness brings the metal back toward this critical technical level, which could determine the next directional move.Key support levels include the current $4,850-4,900 zone, followed by $4,640 (identified by Pepperstone's Dilin Wu as highly important), and then the major support zone at $3,900-4,000 where the 200 EMA and November 2025 lows converge.On the upside, resistance sits at $5,000-5,100, with a sustained break above that level potentially opening the path toward $5,180-5,200 before challenging the January 30 all-time high of $5,608. The trend remains officially bullish based on long-term moving average alignment, meaning any moves down to support should be treated as buying opportunities for those betting on a return to higher levels.Silver's Volatile PatternSilver's chart shows even more dramatic swings. According to my technical analysis, the white metal is down over 4% on February 17, testing lows under $73 per ounce (11-day lows) before recovering slightly to trade around $74. Direct support sits at the round $70 level, while major support lies at $55 where the 200 EMA currently resides.This $55 level coincides with historical highs from October 2024, making it a critical zone for bulls to defend if selling pressure intensifies. A break below $55 would signal bears have significantly shifted the balance of power on the chart.Resistance for silver is found at $80 (the 50 EMA, which is positioned horizontally since late January), with the next barrier at the round $100 level and ultimately historical highs above $120 tested in late January. The long-term trend remains bullish based on the 200 EMA slope, meaning pullbacks to support zones should theoretically attract buyers looking to position for the next leg higher.If Tuesday's session closes near current levels without further deterioration, silver will add another lower wick to recent price action, potentially forming a base from which to launch the next rally phase. But a close below $70 would raise concerns that another violent leg down could be in progress.Gold Price Prediction: ANZ Raises Forecast to $5,800 Target for Q2 2026While traders panic over daily price swings, ANZ Bank upgraded its gold forecast on February 13, projecting the metal will reach $5,800 per ounce in Q2 2026, up from the previous $5,400 target. This represents 18% upside from current levels and suggests the bank views recent weakness as a buying opportunity rather than a trend change.ANZ analysts Soni Kumari and Daniel Hynes emphasized that "the rally is not yet mature enough to reverse anytime soon." They argue the backdrop for gold in 2026 differs fundamentally from previous peak periods in 1980 and 2013.The key differences: easy U.S. monetary policy, escalating geopolitical tensions, ongoing policy uncertainty, and a weakening dollar create an environment where appetite for diversification is intensifying. Unlike past peaks that ended in sustained bear markets, current structural factors suggest dips should be bought."We believe gold remains an insurance asset against a plethora of uncertainties, and the recent correction presents an opportunity for fresh investment," the ANZ team wrote. They noted that market focus is increasingly turning to potential tariff effects, which haven't yet shown up in economic or inflation data but pose significant risks.In the meantime, Congressman and Liberty Report host Ron Paul maintains his ultra-bullish long-term forecast that many dismissed as extreme when first announced.In a January 27 interview with The David Lin Report, just days before the crash, Paul warned: "The fiat monetary system is dying" and predicted gold could reach $20,000 or even $100,000 as the dollar collapses and trust in currency evaporates.Gold and Silver Price Analysis FAQWhy are gold and silver falling today?Gold fell 2.6% to $4,911 and silver crashed 4% to $74 on February 17, 2026, testing recovery levels reached after the historic January 31 crash. The renewed weakness comes despite ANZ Bank raising its Q2 2026 gold forecast to $5,800, suggesting markets remain nervous about Kevin Warsh's Fed Chair nomination and potential monetary policy tightening.What is the gold price forecast for 2026?ANZ Bank upgraded its gold price forecast to $5,800 per ounce for Q2 2026, up from the previous $5,400 target. The bank views recent corrections as buying opportunities rather than trend reversals, citing easy monetary policy, geopolitical tensions, ongoing uncertainty, and a weakening dollar as structural support factors that differ from previous peak periods in 1980 and 2013.Will gold and silver continue falling?Technical analysis shows gold testing critical support at $4,850-$4,900 with key levels at $4,640 (Pepperstone's Dilin Wu calls this "highly important") and $3,900-$4,000 (200 EMA zone). Silver is testing $70-$74 support with major support at $55. Central bank buying (755+ tonnes expected in 2026) provides a structural floor, while Ron Paul maintains $20,000-$100,000 long-term targets based on fiat system collapse thesis.Is this a good time to buy gold and silver?Both metals are testing support levels after violent corrections (gold from $5,608 to $4,850, silver from $122 to $74). ANZ characterizes this as an "opportunity for fresh investment" with $5,800 upside target. However, extreme volatility persists with multi-percent daily swings. Central bank buying at 755+ tonnes annually and industrial silver demand (680 million ounces) provide structural support, but bears could push prices lower if $4,600 gold and $70 silver break. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The Binance app has disappeared from the Philippine version of the Google Play Store as the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission intensifies scrutiny of the cryptocurrency exchange.In 2023, the SEC warned that Binance operates without local authorization. It noted that entities promoting the exchange could face up to 21 years in prison. The regulator said Binance "has been actively employing promotional campaigns on various social media platforms," but does not hold a license to operate in the country.Philippine Users Report Binance Access IssuesMultiple users said searches for “Binance” no longer return the main application. Results instead redirect to local platforms such as Coins.ph or to region-specific Binance apps for Thailand and Turkey. On Reddit, a user questioned whether the disappearance was “a technical glitch or a deliberate move tied to the Binance Philippines ban.” Screenshots and error messages circulated in local crypto communities, illustrating access issues.Reports indicate difficulties extend beyond the app store. Several users said they could not load Binance’s main website, encountering browser warnings such as “Privacy Error” and “Site can’t be reached.” The combined app and website issues suggest regulators may be actively enforcing restrictions.SEC Blocks Binance App and WebsiteThe SEC has repeatedly warned foreign crypto platforms against operating without local authorization. In late 2024, it asked Google and Apple to remove the Binance app. The SEC alleged that Binance offered unregistered securities and acted as an unlicensed broker. The National Telecommunications Commission also ordered internet service providers to block Binance’s website nationwide.Existing users with the app installed may retain limited access, but updates and security patches could become unavailable. A Binance spokesperson previously said the company is “committed to working with regulators globally.” Whether that approach applies to the Philippines is not clear.The Binance Philippines ban highlights risks of relying on offshore platforms without local approval. The move may also strengthen domestic exchanges. With app removals and access restrictions now visible, enforcement has moved from warnings to action, leaving users uncertain about the next steps. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The Trading Pit has opened a Seychelles-regulated brokerage called TTP Markets, becoming the latest prop firm to enter the CFD brokerage space amid a wave of similar moves across the industry.The firm is starting with a restricted rollout, onboarding only a limited number of what it calls "hand-picked successful retail and corporate prop traders" from its existing community. According to the press release, the launch doesn't represent a broad commercial push into retail brokerage but rather a test bed for regulatory infrastructure, the firm says it needs for long-term international expansion."Throughout my career in the financial markets, I've seen that sustainable growth comes from building the right foundations early,” Illimar Mattus, founder of The Trading Pit, said. “Establishing TTP Markets allows us to shape our own regulatory path and prepare the business for the next phase of global development."Prop Firms Double Down on Brokerage OperationsThe Trading Pit's move follows a pattern that has accelerated over the past year. FTMO acquired OANDA in December 2025, while The5ers' founders launched TSG, a CySEC-licensed brokerage, around the same time. TTT Markets also entered the CFD brokerage business in January 2026, operating on MT5 and proprietary technology.The Trading Pit's choice of Seychelles places it somewhere between the more established European regulatory frameworks and the lighter-touch offshore jurisdictions. The Seychelles Financial Services Authority, established in 2013, oversees non-bank financial services and requires brokers to maintain local offices and appoint qualified directors.In the meantime, many firms have pursued offshore licenses primarily to secure direct MetaTrader access from MetaQuotes, which tightened its licensing policies for prop firms. FundedNext sought licenses in Dubai and Mauritius while initially operating under a Comoros license. City Traders Imperium also established a Comoros entity to launch in-house MT5 capabilities.Controlled Expansion Tied to Product RolloutThe firm said TTP Markets will expand "as new products and services are rolled out for prop traders," suggesting the brokerage isn't meant to operate as a standalone retail business in the near term. The Trading Pit, which operates simulated trading challenges across futures, CFDs, stocks, and crypto, has previously integrated cTrader for its Prime CFDs challenges with liquidity from Tickmill."TTP Markets gives us the regulatory infrastructure needed to expand in a controlled and responsible way,” Daniela Egli, the firm's CEO, added. “By taking a phased approach and prioritizing governance, we are ensuring that future growth is both scalable and compliant across jurisdictions."Multi-Jurisdictional AmbitionsThe Trading Pit, headquartered in Liechtenstein with offices in Spain and Cyprus, said it plans to "extend regulatory coverage into additional jurisdictions" over time. The firm offers traders profit shares of up to 80% on simulated trading performance and operates in over 160 countries with partnerships across multiple institutional liquidity providers.The brokerage initiative reflects what the company called an "institutional mindset" and a focus on building "a diversified and resilient regulatory base." Whether that translates into broader retail brokerage services or remains primarily a tool for its prop trading operations will become clearer as the firm moves through its phased rollout. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.