FINRA has censured and fined Cowen and Company $80,000 for violating securities rules related to a 2022 partial tender offer, according to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) released by the regulator. Cowen, once an independent broker-dealer, was merged into TD Securities (USA) LLC in December 2024 and subsequently withdrew its FINRA registration in February 2025. According to the AWC, Cowen violated Rule 14e-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by over-tendering 100,000 shares during a modified Dutch auction-style partial tender offer for an unnamed company in 2022. The firm, acting alongside an affiliate, tendered 150,000 shares without properly calculating its net long position. Regulators found that Cowen failed to account for 1,000 short call options held in its proprietary account, which represented 100,000 underlying shares with an exercise price below the highest tender price offered. FINRA also determined that Cowen’s supervisory framework, including its written supervisory procedures, was inadequate between October 2022 and May 2024. The firm’s procedures did not clearly address how to calculate short call options with exercise prices falling between the final tender price and the highest offer price in Dutch auction tender offers. Cowen has since updated its procedures to address the gap. Under the settlement, Cowen agreed to the censure and fine without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings, with $40,000 of the penalty going to FINRA and the remainder allocated to NYSE Arca. At the time of its merger, Cowen had 274 registered representatives and 12 branch offices, while TD Securities now operates with roughly 1,600 registered representatives across 22 branches.The post TD Securities’ Cowen Unit Fined $80,000 by FINRA Over Tender Offer Violation first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), announced on Friday that it will extend the validity period of eligible New Listing applications from six months to 12 months, effective from the date of the listing application form. The change, described as a Temporary Waiver, is subject to prescribed conditions and safeguards, and has received formal consent from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). It will apply for three years, running from 21 August 2026 to 20 August 2029. According to HKEX, the move is designed to give applicants, sponsors and their advisers more flexibility in managing listing timetables and to reduce the frequency of refiling applications. The Exchange said this would allow parties to focus more on the quality of application materials rather than administrative resubmissions. Regulatory standards and investor protections will remain unchanged, with applicants still required to meet all Listing Rules and provide complete, up-to-date business and financial information. Katherine Ng, HKEX’s Head of Listing, said the extension builds on the Enhanced Application Timeframe introduced jointly by the Exchange and the SFC in October 2024, and reflects HKEX’s ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s listing framework while maintaining robust oversight. Applicants and sponsors will still be expected to monitor progress, inform regulators of material developments, and maintain feasible timetables throughout the application process. The Exchange noted it will monitor the waiver’s implementation and may review requirements or launch a public consultation if necessary during the three year period.The post HKEX Extends Validity Period for New Listing Applications to 12 Months first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL) reported record second-quarter 2026 results on August 19, with total revenues rising 51% year-over-year to $198.8 million, the company announced in its earnings release for the period ended June 30, 2026. Trading-related revenue climbed 66% year-over-year to $147.7 million, while adjusted operating profit reached $62.6 million, representing a 31.5% operating margin. Adjusted net income totaled $43.2 million, up from $15.4 million in the prior-year quarter. The company reported net income of $24.4 million, compared with a net loss of $28.3 million a year earlier. Anthony Denier, Group President and U.S. CEO, attributed the results in part to the rollout of updated active trader functionality following the June 4 elimination of the Pattern Day Trader Rule, which he said contributed to record trading volumes and customer engagement. Operationally, customer assets grew 79% year-over-year to $28.5 billion, funded accounts rose 8% to 5.13 million, and registered users increased 13% to 28.2 million. Daily average revenue trades (DARTs) grew 62% to 1.6 million, while equity notional volume reached $279 billion and options contract volume hit 213 million, both up sharply from the prior year. The company also highlighted progress on its AI platform, Vega, which added roughly 160,000 new users during the quarter for a total of about 480,000 active users. Webull continued its international push, launching operations in Spain, Argentina and Colombia, and announced plans to acquire Pi Securities in Thailand as it expands its Asia-Pacific footprint, where customer assets now exceed $5 billion. CFO H.C. Wang said the results reflect operating leverage within the platform and potential for further margin expansion.The post Webull Posts Record Q2 Revenue as Trading Volumes Surge first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has posted record results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, with profit attributable to shareholders rising 24.1 percent year-on-year to HK$10.57 billion, ahead of market expectations of HK$10.15 billion. Revenue and other income also reached a half-year high of HK$16.7 billion, up 18.7 percent from the same period last year and above forecasts of HK$16.15 billion. The board declared an interim dividend of HK$7.43 per share, a 24 percent increase from HK$6.00 a year earlier. Core business revenue climbed 19.5 percent to HK$15.47 billion, driven by record trading volumes across the cash, derivatives and commodities markets. Net investment income from corporate funds rose 3.7 percent to HK$1.08 billion, helped by a non-recurring gain of roughly HK$298 million tied to unlisted equity valuations, though this was partly offset by a sharp drop in fair value gains from externally managed funds. On a non-HKFRS basis, EBITDA rose 22.6 percent to HK$13.41 billion, with margins improving to 81 percent. Second-quarter results were similarly strong, with profit of HK$5.38 billion, up 21 percent year-on-year, marking a quarterly record. Group CEO Bonnie Chan attributed the performance to improved market sentiment, strong financing demand from technology and AI-related companies, and active participation from both domestic and international investors. She noted that Stock Connect turnover and London Metal Exchange volumes also hit half-year records. HKEX said it continued to advance market reforms during the period, including a consultation on shortening the settlement cycle, simplifying board lot sizes, and expanding its derivatives and fixed income product offerings.The post HKEX Reports Record First-Half Profit as Trading Volumes Surge first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Stripe, the programmable financial services company, announced on 19 August 2026 that it has agreed to acquire OpenRouter, a prominent AI model gateway and routing platform. The deal, revealed in a joint statement from the companies’ San Francisco and Dublin offices, is aimed at helping businesses better manage token usage and optimise AI-related costs. OpenRouter’s platform allows companies to route and optimise token usage across more than 400 models from over 80 providers, dynamically directing requests to the most suitable model based on task complexity, price, speed, and reliability. Its client base already includes major names such as NVIDIA, Zoom, and Lovable. Stripe, which provides financial infrastructure to many companies building AI products, has been expanding its offerings in this space since last year, including the launch of its Token Billing product. The acquisition of OpenRouter is intended to extend that effort by addressing not just the cost of AI usage but also performance tradeoffs across models. Patrick Collison, cofounder and CEO of Stripe, said the acquisition reflects the growing importance of tokens as a core resource for AI-driven businesses. Alex Atallah, cofounder and CEO of OpenRouter, said the company was built on a similar philosophy to Stripe, emphasising neutral infrastructure, and that joining Stripe would help accelerate its mission of supporting a multi-model AI ecosystem. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.The post Stripe to Acquire OpenRouter to Boost AI Token Routing and Cost Efficiency first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Standard Chartered has become the first Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB) and the first UK issuer to issue digitally native notes (DNNs) on Euroclear’s Digital Financial Market Infrastructure (D-FMI), the bank announced on August 20, 2026. The transaction consists of USD 200 million in three-year floating-rate notes, issued using distributed ledger technology through Euroclear’s D-FMI. The platform allows for the issuance of digital international securities within a regulated market infrastructure while retaining connectivity to existing issuance, settlement and servicing systems. Standard Chartered served as sole dealer for the offering, and an application has been made to admit the notes to trading on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange. According to the bank, the deal represents a step forward in the development of digital capital markets, showing how distributed ledger technology can operate alongside established infrastructure to improve issuance efficiency. It also extends Standard Chartered’s prior experience advising clients on digital bond deals to its own funding operations. Vikash Mistry, Deputy Group Treasurer at Standard Chartered, said the transaction reflects the bank’s effort to modernise its funding capabilities while maintaining ties to trusted international infrastructure. Ankur Prakash, Head of Digital and Strategic Initiatives for Global Banking, said the issuance signals broader institutional movement toward adopting digital capital markets infrastructure. Sebastien Danloy, Chief Business Officer at Euroclear, added that the deal illustrates how digital issuance can integrate with existing liquidity channels and regulatory frameworks. Standard Chartered has previously supported similar digital bond transactions, including for Emirates NBD and Doha Bank.The post Standard Chartered Issues First G-SIB Digitally Native Notes on Euroclear’s D-FMI first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Axiology, a digital asset financial infrastructure platform, has been named to the European Central Bank’s list of distributed ledger technology operators registered for the initial launch of Pontes in September 2026. The company has also been selected to join the ECB’s Appia Contact Group, extending its involvement in two of the Eurosystem’s major initiatives for DLT-based settlement using central bank money. Axiology is one of four DLT operators included on the Pontes list, alongside Clearstream, SWIAT and Cashlink. Pontes and Appia represent related strands of the Eurosystem’s approach to tokenized wholesale markets. While Pontes is focused on linking DLT platforms to TARGET Services, Appia addresses the longer-term development of a more integrated tokenized financial ecosystem. The newly formed Appia Contact Group consolidates market engagement on both initiatives into a single forum. According to the announcement, these efforts aim to reduce fragmentation across Europe’s national financial systems, which currently create additional complexity for cross-border issuance and investment. Axiology is working to connect its regulated DLT Trading and Settlement System with Eurosystem payment infrastructure, testing scenarios that include primary issuance, secondary-market trading, redemptions and coupon payments, with tokenized securities settling against central bank money. Marius Jurgilas, CEO of Axiology, said the company’s participation in both initiatives offers an opportunity to demonstrate how regulated DLT infrastructure can integrate with the broader European financial system. Axiology is currently undergoing testing and certification ahead of the Pontes launch, scheduled for 21 September 2026. The company noted that its production participation depends on completing operational requirements and receiving final certification and regulatory approvals.The post Axiology Joins ECB’s Pontes Launch Group and Appia Contact Group first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Deutsche Bank has secured new office space at YY London in Canary Wharf, marking another vote of confidence in the London financial district and continuing a wave of major banking leases in the area. The German lender confirmed on Thursday that it has taken space in the recently refurbished YY building, located at 30 South Colonnade, in a deal reported to cover around 250,000 square feet. The building, owned by a venture between Oaktree Capital Management and Quadrant Estates, also houses the global headquarters of fintech giant Revolut and was previously occupied by Thomson Reuters. The move will house Deutsche Bank’s infrastructure functions, including technology and operations teams, currently based at 10 Upper Bank Street in Canary Wharf. The bank’s lease at that building expires in July 2028, and staff are expected to relocate to YY London in early 2028. Deutsche Bank’s core businesses remain headquartered at 21 Moorfields in the City of London, where asset manager DWS is also set to relocate in late 2027. “This move underlines our commitment to London. YY London’s sustainability performance, employee experience and ability to support modern ways of working made it the clear choice as we plan for the years ahead,” said Vathany Vijayaratna, Deutsche Bank’s CEO for the UK and Ireland. Quadrant’s Development Director, Jeremy Lacey, welcomed the letting as confirmation of the building’s appeal, while Oaktree’s Stuart Keith called it “a testament” to the fully electric, net-zero-in-operation asset the two firms built at 30 South Colonnade. The deal adds to a string of recent leasing wins for Canary Wharf, reinforcing the district’s standing as a hub for major financial institutions despite broader questions over office demand in London.The post Deutsche Bank Rents New Office in London’s Canary Wharf first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined Raymond James & Associates $125,000 after finding that the firm failed to report roughly 2.56 million fractional share liquidations over nearly seven years. According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) published by FINRA, the violations occurred from at least January 2018 through October 2024. During that period, Raymond James did not report the fractional share trades to the FINRA/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility or the Over-the-Counter Reporting Facility, in breach of FINRA Rules 6380A, 6622, and 2010. The case stemmed from a routine FINRA cycle exam. Investigators found that the unreported transactions were linked to the firm’s dividend reinvestment program (DRIP), which automatically reinvests dividends into additional shares, sometimes creating fractional positions. When clients sold or transferred these fractional holdings, Raymond James treated the liquidations as internal journal entries rather than reportable trades, and consequently did not pay the associated Section 31 regulatory transaction fees owed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. FINRA also determined that Raymond James lacked an adequate supervisory system to ensure compliance with trade reporting obligations for fractional shares, violating FINRA Rules 3110 and 2010, as the firm had not conducted any reviews specific to this type of transaction. As part of the settlement, Raymond James, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, and operating around 1,050 branch offices with approximately 8,600 registered representatives, agreed to the censure, the fine, and an undertaking to pay outstanding regulatory transaction fees tied to the unreported trades. The firm neither admitted nor denied the findings.The post FINRA Fines Raymond James Over Fractional Share Reporting Failures first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Bank of China (Hong Kong), or BOCHK, and Ant International said Thursday that they have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening cross-border payment connectivity and developing new corporate financial service solutions through fintech and artificial intelligence. The agreement is said to bring together BOCHK’s banking infrastructure with Ant International’s fintech and AI capabilities. The two companies intend to explore AI-driven financial services, support real-time treasury management, and improve liquidity solutions for global enterprises, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, said the bank’s expertise in cross-border payments and treasury management, combined with its role as Bank of China’s Southeast Asia regional headquarters, positioned it to support Ant International’s expansion in the region. Eric Jing, Chairman of Ant International, described BOCHK as a trusted partner since 2013 and said the collaboration would help deliver more seamless payment experiences for businesses and consumers. The partnership will involve three Ant International units. Alipay+, the company’s wallet gateway, will work with BOCHK to improve retail payment connectivity across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, a network that already includes more than 50 payment partners and over two billion user accounts. AlipayHK will deepen ties with BOCHK, including linked accounts and joint marketing campaigns. Bettr will explore blockchain-based treasury and liquidity tools, while WorldFirst will collaborate with BOCHK on cross-border fund management services for SMEs trading internationally, covering more than 220 countries and regions.The post BOCHK and Ant International Announce Strategic Partnership on Cross-Border Payments and Fintech Innovation first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Standard Life has announced a new strategic partnership aimed at expanding its Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) business, teaming up with CVC Capital Partners, Prudential Financial Inc (PFI), The Goldman Sachs Group and MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings. The consortium, led by CVC and PFI, will commit up to £2bn in initial capital, expected to be drawn over five years, with £500m contributed by Standard Life itself. The partnership, to be known as Standard Life PRT Solutions, will allow the firm to serve a broader range of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, including some of the largest and most complex in the UK. It combines Standard Life’s existing PRT expertise and customer service model with the private markets asset origination capabilities of its new partners, subject to regulatory approval. According to the announcement, schemes at the upper end of the market are expected to account for a growing share of the £350bn to £550bn in UK scheme assets projected to be de-risked over the next decade. Standard Life said the arrangement would generate a new source of fee-based revenue while allowing it to retain full operational control, holding 51 percent of shareholder voting rights at completion. Andy Briggs, Group Chief Executive Officer of Standard Life, said the partnership brings together comprehensive PRT capabilities with specialist private markets expertise and significant capital resources. Completion is expected in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approval, and follows Standard Life’s previously announced acquisition of Aegon UK.The post Standard Life Announces UK Pension Risk Transfer Partnership Worth Up to £2bn first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Cantor Fitzgerald said Wednesday that it has launched institutional trading for prediction markets.  As a result, the firm becomes one of the first full-service investment banks to give institutional clients access to block trading in event contracts on a CFTC-regulated exchange. Cantor will act as an introducing broker, arranging and facilitating institutional-size block trades in event contracts. This will allow clients to negotiate block trades at a single price through Kalshi’s block trading framework, away from the central order book.  Cantor is also collaborating with Susquehanna Predictions, part of the Susquehanna International Group, to provide institutional-scale pricing and liquidity. Cantor said it is applying the institutional trading model it has developed across equities and fixed income to a new regulated asset class, running the business within its Global Markets division. It will initially facilitate block trades on Kalshi, with additional venues expected to follow. “Cantor has spent more than eighty years building institutional access to new markets, and prediction markets are the next one,” stated Pascal Bandelier, co-chief executive and global head of equities at Cantor.  “The liquidity is here. With the launch of block trading, institutional investors can now access block trading in event contracts through an institutional intermediary they know and trust.” Joe Grubb, head of business development at Susquehanna Predictions, said the next area of material growth for prediction markets would be large institutional risk transfer, adding that the firm can price and execute custom contracts for counterparties seeking to hedge risk unserved by traditional insurance markets.The post Cantor Launches Institutional Block Trading in Prediction Markets first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Monex revealed on Wednesday that its group company Monex Securities has integrated its proprietary services with AI platforms including ChatGPT and Claude, allowing customers to access their account information through natural conversation. The Tokyo-based firm said customers who consent to allowing AI platforms to access their account information will be able to request and obtain relevant information and analyses based on their own account data directly through these platforms.  Monex Group described the move as a first among major securities firms, launching what it called the “MONEX MCP Server” with ChatGPT plugin support. The group said it views AI not merely as a means of improving operational efficiency but as a new interface connecting customers with financial services, and is working to integrate the technology across its services.  It said financial transactions that once required navigating multiple screens and steps are increasingly being folded into everyday conversations with AI. The development follows a similar move by the group’s US subsidiary. In January, TradeStation Securities enabled connectivity between AI platforms and securities accounts through the Model Context Protocol, providing customers with an interactive trading experience. Monex Group added that it believes the enhanced convenience will expand customer touchpoints and opportunities to use its services, contributing to increased trading activity and growth of its customer base.The post Monex Securities Integrates Accounts with ChatGPT and Claude first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Standard Chartered and HSBC have announced the successful execution of the first live cross-border tokenised deposit transaction between two banks on Swift’s blockchain-based ledger, marking a milestone in efforts to modernise cross-border payments infrastructure. The transaction demonstrated interbank interoperability for tokenised deposits, regulated digital representations of bank deposits, and represents a step toward the industry’s goal of enabling 24/7 cross-border payments with improved liquidity efficiency. The move builds on Swift’s July 2026 announcement that its blockchain-based ledger was ready for initial use, with 17 banks across six continents preparing to pilot live transactions. Today’s transaction is the first interbank exchange carried out on the ledger. The process involved HSBC and Standard Chartered exchanging payment messages via Swift’s ledger, with resulting obligations recorded on HSBC’s Tokenised Deposit Service and Standard Chartered’s own tokenised deposit infrastructure. Swift’s ledger functioned as an orchestration layer, allowing obligations to be matched and netted between the two institutions before settlement through existing systems. Lewis Sun, HSBC’s Head of Digital Currencies, described the transaction as a “landmark moment,” saying it shows how bank issued digital money can operate across institutions while preserving regulatory oversight. Mark Willis, Standard Chartered’s Head of Emerging Payments, Transaction Services and Digital Assets, said tokenised deposits are central to the bank’s digital assets strategy, adding that interoperable tokenised deposits will help institutional clients manage treasury operations and liquidity across markets more efficiently. The banks framed the transaction as part of a wider industry push to apply distributed ledger technology to real world payment needs while maintaining the use of regulated bank money.The post Standard Chartered, HSBC Complete First Live Tokenised Deposit Transaction on Swift’s Blockchain Ledger first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SNEX) announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Advanced Marketing Group, LLC (AMG), a merchandiser of feed ingredients, pet food ingredients, and organic fertilizer. The deal will see AMG folded into StoneX Supply & Trading’s existing feed ingredients operations. AMG, founded in 2010 and based in Wilsonville, Oregon, trades animal protein based feed ingredients and produces organic fertilizers. Its client base includes pet food manufacturers, dairy and poultry producers, feed mills, feedlots, and fertilizer brands. The company employs around 20 trading and operations staff across four US states, Oregon, Kansas, Texas, and Virginia, as well as Canada, with support from a network of trans-load and storage facilities. According to StoneX, the acquisition will strengthen its feed ingredients platform by adding new underliers in animal based protein, along with a broader client base and wider geographic footprint across North America. For AMG, the deal provides access to StoneX’s capital base, risk management infrastructure, and global network. Brent Grecian, CEO of StoneX Supply & Trading, said AMG brings an established business with supplier relationships and “approved supplier” status that would be difficult to replicate. He added that the company expects to grow its share of client feed and ingredient needs by working across other StoneX business units, noting that the deal extends its physical commodities reach into animal protein and pet food ingredients. Ted Skinner and Pete Schoonveld, owners of AMG, said joining StoneX would give their business the capital and infrastructure needed to expand beyond what it could achieve independently, while preserving the team’s work to date.The post StoneX Group Acquires Advanced Marketing Group to Expand Feed Ingredients Trading first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

iFOREX Financial Trading (LSE:IFRX), the fintech company behind a proprietary online and mobile CFD trading platform, has issued a trading update warning that performance has deteriorated sharply since its half-year update in July. The company said trading in August has been “unusually subdued,” with low trading income amid generally weak market volatility. This follows an H1 2026 update on 27 July that had described “good underlying progress” in line with expectations. July 2026 trading income came in at approximately $720,000, sharply down from around $3.1 million in July 2025. iFOREX attributed the decline largely to a coordinated currency intervention by Japan’s Ministry of Finance and the US Treasury on 30 and 31 July, which triggered a sharp appreciation of the yen after it had hit a 40-year low against the dollar. The move worked against the Group’s net client exposure and also reduced the dollar value of income from yen-funded Japanese client accounts. As a result, the Board now expects full-year Adjusted EBITDA of between $0.5 million and $2.5 million. Despite the setback, iFOREX pointed to continued strength in key performance indicators, including a 40% year-on-year increase in new customers in July and an 8% rise in total deposits. The company reported net cash of approximately $10 million as of 17 August, of which $4 million is ringfenced for regulatory purposes. CEO Itai Sadeh said the company remains confident in its medium and long-term prospects, citing operational leverage that has historically enabled recoveries following weaker periods. Interim results are expected on 24 September 2026.The post iFOREX Cuts FY2026 Profit Outlook After Weak August Trading first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Webull Financial LLC has agreed to a $115,000 fine and censure from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after regulators found the firm mismarked hundreds of thousands of options contracts and failed to properly supervise its order-marking processes. According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) published by FINRA, Webull routed options orders to third-party broker-dealers between October 2021 and April 2023 using inaccurate origin codes. Roughly 180,000 options contracts, spanning about 33,000 trades, were labeled “Customer” when they should have carried a “Professional Customer” designation, a distinction that affects order prioritization and exchange fees. FINRA said the errors stemmed from Webull applying incorrect criteria to identify Professional Customer accounts between July and December 2021. Even after adopting the correct criteria in January 2022, the firm did not properly append the required origin code to affected accounts until July 2023, despite restricting those accounts to liquidation-only trading in the interim. Regulators also found that Webull’s supervisory systems, including its written supervisory procedures, lacked adequate provisions addressing Professional Customer classification and origin code accuracy from July 2021 through August 2023. The firm updated its procedures in September 2023. As a result, FINRA determined Webull violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Exchange Act Rule 17a-3, and FINRA Rules 4511, 3110, and 2010. Webull, a FINRA member since January 2018, is headquartered in New York and offers self-directed trading through its mobile app, desktop platform, and website. The firm settled the matter without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings.The post FINRA Fines Webull Financial $115,000 Over Options Order Mismarking first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Trading Technologies announced Tuesday that it will support connectivity to OG.com, Crypto.com’s CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse, as the capital markets technology provider expands access to prediction markets and crypto derivatives on its platform. TT revealed that connectivity to OG.com, Crypto.com’s regulated prediction markets experience, is scheduled to go live on its platform in the fourth quarter of 2026. The firm will also provide full support for Crypto.com’s new margin-based crypto futures contracts at launch. “As regulated prediction markets and digital asset derivatives continue to mature, providing institutional participants with secure, compliant and seamless access is paramount,” said Steve Humenik, chief legal officer of OG.com and executive vice president of Crypto.com. “Partnering with Trading Technologies allows us to effectively bring OG.com’s innovative prediction markets products directly into the workflows of the world’s leading market participants.” Alun Green, executive vice president and managing director of futures and options at TT, noted that the firm was seeing strong and growing appetite among institutional clients to expand their participation in regulated prediction and digital asset markets. He added that the connection to OG.com would give clients the ability to use TT’s execution and algorithmic trading tools alongside its clearing and margin optimisation solutions, describing the move as part of the firm’s “multi-X strategy” across asset classes.The post Trading Technologies to Support Crypto.com’s OG.com Prediction Markets first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Tuesday, EDX Markets announced a strategic partnership with StoneX Digital, a wholly owned subsidiary of StoneX Group, to enhance institutional access to digital asset markets through EDX’s trading infrastructure. The digital asset technology firm, which combines an institutional-only trading venue with a central clearinghouse, said StoneX Digital has onboarded to its platform to support the continued expansion of its digital asset offering.  Through the partnership, StoneX Digital is expected to use EDX’s trading venue and central clearinghouse model to deliver enhanced market structure, operational efficiencies and access to liquidity for its clients. “StoneX is a highly respected global financial services firm with deep relationships across traditional markets, and their onboarding to EDX underscores the growing demand for institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure,” commented Tony Acuña-Rohter, chief executive of EDX Markets. EDX separates trading from custody, which it said reduces counterparty risk and enables capital-efficient trading. The company said that by integrating with the venue, StoneX Digital can offer clients a scalable pathway to access digital asset markets. “We’re pleased to partner with EDX Markets as we continue to expand our digital asset capabilities,” said Eric Rose, global head of StoneX Digital. “EDX’s differentiated market structure and focus on operational efficiency align with our commitment to providing secure, transparent and high-performance access to our clients.”The post EDX Markets Partners with StoneX Digital to Boost Institutional Crypto Access first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Marex Group, the diversified global financial services platform, has announced a multi-year Principal Partnership with Nottingham Forest Football Club, securing front-of-shirt sponsorship rights across the club’s senior men’s, women’s and netball team kits. The deal, announced on 18 August 2026, marks a significant investment in one of the Premier League’s oldest clubs and reflects Marex’s continued transition from its roots as a commodities firm toward a broader global financial services provider offering market access, infrastructure services and liquidity to clients worldwide. Nottingham Forest, one of only four English clubs to have won two or more European Cups, recently appointed Oliver Glasner as head coach. Under the agreement, Marex branding will appear on Forest’s men’s and women’s playing and replica shirts, as well as on the netball team’s dresses, in addition to prominent placement at the City Ground and across digital platforms for the 2026/27 season and beyond. Marex will also serve as the club’s Global Markets Partner and exclusive provider of foreign exchange and other financial services. The partnership includes a focus on encouraging more women to pursue careers in financial services, with plans for joint initiatives on financial literacy in the community. Marex Chief Executive Ian Lowitt said the partnership would introduce the firm’s capabilities to a wider global audience, citing shared values of performance, ambition and teamwork. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis welcomed Marex as the club’s new front of shirt partner, describing the firm as ambitious and reputable, and expressed confidence in building a successful long-term relationship.The post Marex Signs Multi-Year Principal Partnership with Nottingham Forest FC first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.