EC Markets reported a total trading volume of $5.13 trillion for the first quarter of 2026, marking a 14.6% increase from the previous quarter and securing its position among the top three brokers globally by volume. The figures, published in the Finance Magnates Q1 2026 Intelligence Report, reflect higher trading activity and a growing number of active clients.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).Trading Volumes and Activity IncreaseThe broker recorded consistent growth across all key metrics during the quarter. Monthly trading volume averaged $1.709 trillion, while daily volumes reached $81.4 billion. Compared to Q4 2025, daily trading activity rose by 18.3%, while monthly volume increased by 14.5%.The company attributed the growth to stronger client participation and increased demand for multi-asset trading. The data shows that trading activity remained steady throughout the quarter, supporting the overall increase in volumes.? Q1 2026: EC Markets Hits $5.13T Quarterly Trading Volume! ? +14.6% vs Q4 2025? $1.709T monthly average? 272K active traders (+18.3%)Maintaining our position as 3rd globally by trading volume.#ECMarkets #FinanceMagnates #TradingGrowth #CFDs #Forex pic.twitter.com/ksAuuK4ick— EC Markets Global (@EcmarketsGlobal) April 23, 2026EC Markets reported 272,000 active traders in Q1 2026, up from 230,000 in the previous quarter. This represents an 18.3% increase in active accounts. The average trading volume per account reached $6.28 million during the period.Client Base Expands and Product Mix ShiftsThe firm also reported a shift in trading preferences. Forex accounted for only 2% of total trading volume, while the remaining 98% came from other asset classes, including commodities, indices, and digital assets. This reflects a broader move toward diversified trading strategies among clients.Related: EC Markets Trading Volume Jumps 157% as Active Clients Nearly DoubleThe company continues to expand its presence in regions such as Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. It is also investing in technology and regulatory frameworks to support its operations.Separately, EC Markets stated that its global partnership with Liverpool FC has contributed to increased brand visibility and client acquisition in key markets.Client Numbers Nearly Doubled in Q4EC Markets ended 2025 with strong growth, reporting $4.476 trillion in trading volume in Q4. Its volumes increased steadily throughout the year, rising from $1.737 trillion in Q1 to $3.081 trillion in Q3 before hitting the Q4 peak. Overall, this represents a 157% increase, showing consistent expansion in trading activity.The rise in trading volumes was supported by a sharp increase in active clients. The number of traders on the platform nearly doubled, growing from 118,000 in Q3 to 230,000 in Q4. This surge reflects higher engagement across the broker’s global user base and stronger demand for its trading services.Most of the trading activity came from non-forex assets. About 95% of Q4 volume was driven by commodities, indices, and digital assets, while only 5% came from traditional forex trading. This highlights EC Markets’ growing focus on multi-asset trading rather than relying mainly on FX. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Third-party bridge providers being priced out by metaquotes?MetaQuotes is quietly reshaping a crucial part of the trading technology stack. It stepped directly into the liquidity bridge space in 2025 when it launched Ultency, moving into a part of the trading tech stack that had long been dominated by third-party providers since the early MT4 era.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).This bridge infrastructure is what links brokers’ internal platforms with external liquidity pools, and for years MetaQuotes left that role to others. That hands-off approach has clearly changed. The company has reportedly poured millions into building a global server network to support Ultency.But it is Ultency’s pricing that really stands out. The service charges a flat US$1 per US$1 million traded, with progressive discounts for higher volumes, undercutting what appears to be the industry norm. By contrast, most third-party bridge providers charge brokers on a volume-based model, where infrastructure costs rise as trading activity grows, making Ultency’s structure particularly attractive to high-volume brokers.Hantec markets Q1 volume hits record highSeveral brokers released their earnings this week. Hantec Markets recorded its strongest first quarter on record in 2026, driven by a sharp increase in trading volumes. The performance builds on the momentum the company established in 2025, supported by continued growth across its trading activity and product offerings.The firm reported $1.206 trillion in trading volume for Q1 2026, up from $437.7 billion in the same period last year, marking a 176% year-on-year increase. This also exceeded its previous quarterly high of $1.013 trillion in Q4 2025, representing a further rise of about 19%.Plus500 raises outlook as Q1 revenue climbs 18%At the same time, Plus500 reported $242.1 million in revenue for the first quarter, marking an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. The company also said it now expects its full-year 2026 revenue and EBITDA to exceed current market forecasts. The London-listed broker attributed the strong performance to higher client activity, a growing share of higher-value customers, and continued expansion in its US futures and prediction markets business, which helped drive a 24% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter.Trading 212 UK growth continuesMore numbers this week came from Trading212 UK, which strengthened its position in the UK retail trading market in 2025, reporting a 72% jump in revenue to £277.6 million. Pre-tax profit rose to £123.1 million from £52.9 million a year earlier, while net profit reached £92.2 million. The broker offers both CFD and stock trading. It generates CFD revenue from market making, spreads, and overnight financing, while its zero-commission stock trading model earns mainly from forex conversion fees and interest on client cash.E8 Markets warns retail traders off CFD brokersIn the prop trading space, E8 Markets, a prop trading firm that now describes itself as a “SaaS educational simulation platform for financial markets,” warned retail traders against the risks of depositing funds with FX, futures, and crypto brokers. The announcement was tied to US National Financial Literacy Month.The company also launched a loyalty program named after one of its top-earning users, Tom Gibbs. While losses among FX and CFD traders are widely documented, E8 did not provide data on loss rates within prop firms trading in simulated markets, where industry figures also suggest unfavorable outcomes.Axi says 46% of clients hold crypto across CFDsAxi said 46% of its clients now hold cryptocurrencies as part of their portfolios, despite a recent three-month period of low volatility in the digital asset market. The broker noted that adoption covers its full range of crypto products, including perpetual contracts, CFDs, and spot trading through its “Buy Crypto” feature, which allows users to buy, sell, and hold digital assets. The move reflects a broader trend of CFD brokers expanding into spot crypto services.Russia’s forex volume hits record $68BMeanwhile, Russia’s regulated forex market recorded a quarterly trading volume of $68.6 billion in Q1 2026, the highest on record. However, industry data suggests the growth is concentrated rather than broad-based. According to the market’s self-regulatory body, 90.6% of the total volume came from clients of a single firm, Alfa-Forex. Russia has three licensed forex dealers, with the other two accounting for less than 10% of total turnover.AI RegTech trap: why tools fail unprepared firmsAI is becoming central to RegTech, with firms using it to improve surveillance, reporting, AML detection, and oversight of communications and financial promotions. However, its effectiveness under regulatory scrutiny will depend mainly on two factors: explainability and security. While regulators and industry participants are actively discussing AI-related risks, there remains a gap between these discussions and the development of systems to manage them in practice. This disconnect leaves firms exposed from a compliance and operational standpoint.New York targets Coinbase and Gemini over prediction marketsIn the Wild West of the prediction markets, New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Coinbase and Gemini, alleging that their prediction market platforms operate as illegal gambling services. The case, filed in Manhattan, seeks to stop both exchanges from offering these products in New York unless they obtain state gaming licenses..@Gemini and @coinbase's so-called prediction markets are just illegal gambling operations that expose young people to addictive platforms.Gambling by another name is still gambling. I'm suing to stop these platforms from breaking the law.https://t.co/DosDKe2un1— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) April 21, 2026The lawsuit argues that prediction markets should be treated as unregulated wagering rather than financial instruments. James said the platforms amount to “gambling by another name” and are not exempt from state gambling laws and constitutional requirements.The prediction market industry spent $1.84 million on federal lobbying in the first quarter of 2026, a record level and more than 60% higher than in the same period in 2025. This marks the largest quarterly lobbying outlay yet reported by firms in the sector. The figure provides the first concrete indication of how much the industry is investing in political influence as it confronts growing legislative and regulatory scrutiny. It underscores the extent to which prediction market operators are ramping up formal engagement with policymakers in response to that pressure.Polymarket targets $15B valuation in pre-ruling fundraiseAdditionally, Polymarket is in talks to raise an additional $400 million, which would lift its current funding round to $1 billion and value the company at about $15 billion, according to The Information. The talks come as investor interest in prediction market platforms continues to grow. The extra capital would build on a $600 million investment already committed by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent of the New York Stock Exchange. ICE has previously outlined plans to take a strategic stake of up to $2 billion in the platform.Kalshi and Polymarket push into perpetualsKalshi and Polymarket are both moving into the perpetual futures market, expanding beyond event-based contracts and positioning themselves in direct competition with offshore crypto exchanges that currently dominate this segment.We price the future.Now you can lever it.Perps are coming to Polymarket.Sign up for early access ? pic.twitter.com/j3PRHhxv8N— Polymarket (@Polymarket) April 21, 2026Bloomberg reported that Kalshi plans to launch crypto perpetual futures in the coming weeks, citing a source familiar with the matter. Shortly after the report, Polymarket announced a similar offering, turning what could have been a low-profile rollout into a clear race for market share in one of the most actively traded crypto derivatives.From insider risks to Bitcoin strategy debatesAs US regulators continue to debate who has jurisdiction over prediction markets, current and potential users are being urged to consider the risks they face when placing bets on these platforms. The Wall Street Journal reported that, in late March, White House staff were warned via email not to use non-public information obtained through their work to bet on event outcomes. Responding to the report, Trump administration spokesman Davis Ingle told the BBC that any suggestion officials were involved in such activity without evidence was “baseless and irresponsible reporting.”Executive moves of the week: Scope Markets, BMLL, and Trading Technologies In the executive moves of the week, former Scope MarketsRegional Head Kubra Caglar joined Tattvam Markets as Head of Commercial in the United Arab Emirates. She took up the role in April 2026 after nearly nine years with Scope Markets, where she held a senior regional position.BMLL Technologies appointed nine new employees across partnerships, sales, revenue operations, finance, and engineering. The hires are part of the London-based market data firm’s ongoing commercial and technical expansion following its acquisition by Nordic Capital in October last year.Lastly, Trading Technologies has reorganized its senior management team, creating a new Chief Strategy Officer role for current ChiefRevenue Officer Nick Garrow and appointing Josh Monroe as the new CRO. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Nomura Holdings closed its fiscal year to 31 March 2026 with higher profit, stronger trading income and a larger balance sheet, even as operating cash outflows and expenses rose.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).Net income attributable to shareholders increased 6.3% year-on-year to ¥362.1 billion, up from ¥340.7 billion, while income before income taxes rose 14.4% to ¥539.8 billion.Net revenue climbed 14.5% to ¥2,167.7 billion, compared with ¥1,892.5 billion a year earlier, helped by a 20.1% jump in net gain on trading to ¥696.9 billion and a 23.9% rise in asset management and portfolio service fees to ¥468.6 billion.Profitability Inches up as FX Boosts IncomeProfitability improved modestly. Basic earnings per share advanced to ¥123.08 from ¥115.30, and return on shareholders’ equity edged up to 10.1% from 10.0%. Comprehensive income surged 43.8% to ¥480.0 billion, driven by currency translation gains that lifted other comprehensive income.The profit gains came despite a broad-based increase in expenses. Non-interest expenses rose 14.6% to ¥1,627.9 billion, almost in line with the growth in net revenue. Compensation and benefits climbed 13.3% to ¥829.5 billion, while commissions and floor brokerage costs jumped 25.0% to ¥221.9 billion. Information processing and communications expenses also moved higher to ¥248.4 billion as Nomura invested in systems and business support.Read more: Nomura Makes Largest Overseas Purchase Since Lehman With $1.8 Billion DealBy segment, wealth management net revenue increased 12.5% to ¥487.9 billion and pre-tax income rose 22.8% to ¥204.0 billion, showing better operating leverage than the group average. Wholesale activity remained a core earnings driver, with net revenue up 9.9% to ¥1,162.2 billion and pre-tax income up 20.6% to ¥200.6 billion.Nomura invests in growth and Macquarie integrationInvestment management saw net revenue jump 34.3% to ¥258.5 billion, but income before income taxes slipped 1.4% to ¥88.3 billion as non-interest expenses surged 65.5% to ¥170.2 billion.A key factor behind the investment management expansion was the December 2025 acquisition of three Macquarie Group asset management entities for about 1.8 billion US dollars, or roughly ¥281.4 billion. Nomura said it allocated a substantial portion of the purchase price to intangible assets and goodwill, and that the deal helped lift assets under management to ¥136.9 trillion at year-end.The balance sheet expanded alongside this growth push. Total assets rose to ¥62,645.9 billion from ¥56,802.2 billion, driven by a ¥3,755.7 billion increase in trading assets and a ¥2,094.0 billion rise in loans and receivables. Long-term borrowings grew by ¥2,171.3 billion to ¥15,545.0 billion, supporting a year in which operating and investing activities used a combined ¥2,341.9 billion of cash. Nomura’s annual dividend per share fell to ¥51.00 from ¥57.00, and the payout ratio dropped to 41.4% from 49.4% as the group retained more earnings to fund expansion. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

EU Supervisory Authorities highlight cyber resilience, crypto risks and regulatory simplification in 2025 annual report. The report has indirect relevance for retail trading and CFD markets through its focus on consumer protection, crypto-asset risks and PRIIPs rules.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).It does not introduce new CFD or leveraged trading measures, but continues emphasis on disclosure standards, fraud prevention and supervisory convergence across EU retail markets.EU Supervisors Expand Cyber and DORAThe Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities said it maintained a central coordinating role in 2025 with the European Commission and the European Systemic Risk Board. Chaired by EIOPA, it focused on EU-wide supervisory coordination.The report covered consumer protection, financial stability and supervisory cooperation. It said 2025 was shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, faster digitalisation and financial innovation. The ESAs said they aimed to keep “regulatory frameworks robust, proportionate, and forward-looking”.A key focus was the Digital Operational Resilience Act. The ESAs said they delivered all required legal instruments and issued guidance ahead of the 17 January 2025 application date. They also designated 19 critical third-party ICT providers between April and November 2025, with the European Banking Authority acting as lead overseer.EU Supervisors Launch CITE and ReviewNew cyber coordination tools were introduced, including the Cyber Incident Information Sharing and Threat Intelligence Exchange. The ESAs said these measures “constitute a comprehensive and coordinated effort to bolster the EU’s resilience to ICT-related risks”.The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) requires verification for everything running in your infrastructure. Here's how supported open source and reliable security maintenance help you meet this requirement.Learn more: https://t.co/62Fbv7YEtf#DORA #Compliance pic.twitter.com/c6GXXZ00VG— Canonical (@Canonical) January 28, 2026On regulation, the committee supported EU efforts to simplify financial rules, including PRIIPs Key Information Document work and SFDR reporting adjustments, including deprioritising one annual report. It said simplification must not weaken financial stability or consumer protection.ESAs Highlight Risks Across Financial SystemIn its risk assessment, the ESAs said geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions and global conflicts increased uncertainty and market volatility. They warned institutions should remain vigilant, saying “strengthening risk management practices, enhancing resilience to cyber threats, and ensuring preparedness for market shocks are essential”.The report also flagged risks from cyber threats, ICT third-party concentration, digital assets and non-bank finance. Crypto risks were highlighted, with warnings on limited legal protection depending on asset type.Consumer protection remained a priority. The ESAs updated PRIIPs guidance and reported 12 administrative sanctions across Belgium, Denmark, Hungary and Poland. They also issued warnings on crypto fraud and AI-driven scams.Other initiatives included ESAP development, AMLA cooperation, BigTech monitoring, securitisation review and a supervisory data exchange system. The ESAs said geopolitical risks, cyber threats and structural market shifts remain key financial stability concerns. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Donald Trump made his first public comments on the prediction markets insider trading controversy, and his framing was instructive — though probably not in the way the industry would have hoped.A Framing the Industry Has Been Trying to AvoidAsked at the press conference about the arrest of a U.S. soldier who allegedly used classified information to profit from bets on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump's first instinct was curiosity. "Well, I don't know about it. Was he betting that they would get him or wouldn't?" he asked. When told the soldier had bet on the mission's success, Trump reached for a sports analogy: "That's like Pete Rose betting on his own team. If he bet against his team, that would be no good."JD Vance makes bizarre comment to journalist following speculation of insider trading at the White House:"Let Marco make his Polymarket bet on that first" pic.twitter.com/IbTt7wzm0r— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) April 23, 2026 It looks like a throwaway remark, but it landed in a place the industry has been carefully trying to avoid. Platforms like Kalshi have put significant effort into positioning their products as financial derivatives under CFTC jurisdiction, to distinguish prediction markets from gambling.Trump just collapsed that distance in a single sentence, comparing the central regulatory concern not to insider trading on Wall Street, but to a baseball betting scandal from the 1980s.Political Language, Regulatory Consequences He wasn't done. Asked about the broader pattern of suspiciously timed trades — including those tied to the recent conflict in Iran — Trump offered a more general verdict. "Unfortunately, the whole world has become somewhat of a casino," he said. "I don't like it conceptually. It is what it is." That framing is about as unhelpful as it gets for an industry whose entire regulatory pitch rests on not being a casino.REPORTER: “Are you concerned about insider trading on these prediction markets for the Iran war?”TRUMP: “The world is a casino. It is what it is.”Trump isn’t concerned with insider trading bc his entire family is fleecing the American people. pic.twitter.com/fRfKTBAPja— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) April 24, 2026The “casino” label is one that critics such as Senator Elizabeth Warren have been advancing, and the President’s comments reinforce that framing. None of this translates into a specific policy signal. Trump made no mention of regulatory action, and his comments read more like unfiltered reaction than a considered position. But words from the press conference carry weight regardless of intent. Combined with his family's known financial interests in the sector, the remarks add a layer of political unpredictability to an industry that is already navigating a difficult regulatory moment. The language the President chose — sports bets, casinos, Pete Rose — shapes how lawmakers and regulators think about what they're being asked to approve. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

The Financial Conduct Authority has coordinated a global enforcement effort targeting illegal financial promotions by so-called finfluencers. The action involved 17 regulators and began earlier this week. It is a coordinated operation spanning five continents and covering major retail trading hubs including Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand. New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority said it contacted 14 finfluencers active on social media platforms as part of the operation.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).As part of the operation, the regulator monitored online activity and made 120 requests to social media platforms to remove accounts linked to illegal financial promotions. Within those accounts, it identified 1,267 unlawful adverts. These adverts reached at least 2,338,372 UK users. According to the FCA, 66% of the adverts originated from firms or individuals already listed on its Warning List.UK Secures Guilty Plea in Promotion CaseThe initiative, described as a “week of action,” combined enforcement measures, public awareness campaigns, and education programmes aimed at individuals promoting financial products online. The FCA said the goal was to reduce consumer harm linked to unauthorised promotions on social media.In the UK, the regulator reported several enforcement outcomes during the same period. It secured a guilty plea from Aaron Chalmers for illegal financial promotions on social media. Criminal proceedings were also launched against two additional individuals for similar offences.It also issued four targeted warning letters to individuals suspected of making unauthorised promotions. In parallel, it published 34 new warning alerts against firms or individuals and updated 14 existing alerts.The regulator also said social media platforms need to take stronger action. It stated that platforms are not sufficiently enforcing their own policies to block illegal financial content at the source.International Enforcement Week Follows 2025 OperationSteve Smart, Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, said: “This collective push with international partners is vital… to protect millions of consumers.” He added that progress against financial crime depends on “every part of the system” playing its role, “including social media firms.”The latest operation follows a previous international enforcement week conducted in June 2025 with eight regulators.Regulators Differ on Finfluencer Oversight ApproachesEnforcement approaches to finfluencers also vary across jurisdictions. Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission was involved in the city’s first custodial sentence for a finfluencer, after Chau Pak Yin received a six-week prison term for running a paid Telegram group offering unlicensed investment advice.The Securities and Commodities Authority in the UAE requires licences for individuals producing financial content online, while the Financial Conduct Authority continues to rely on enforcement under existing financial promotion rules.New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority uses an enforcement-led approach without a licensing regime and has proposed tighter CFD rules, including leverage caps of up to 30:1 for retail clients. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

A U.S. Army soldier faces federal charges for allegedly using classified intelligence to trade on Polymarket, marking the first insider trading case tied to a prediction market. The indictment in the Southern District of New York names Gannon Ken Van Dyke. Prosecutors say Van Dyke accessed classified details about "Operation Absolute Resolve," the campaign to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and used it to bet on Polymarket. He wagered about $33,000 on 13 contracts tied to U.S. involvement in Venezuela or Maduro losing power by January 31, 2026. After the operation ended on January 3, he reportedly earned around $409,881. "Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him... That is clear insider trading and is illegal under federal law."U.S. Soldier Charged With Using Classified Information To Profit From Prediction Market BetsGannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly made more than $400,000 trading on polymarket on the basis of classified information regarding the timing of a U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás… pic.twitter.com/528YaGQr8N— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) April 23, 2026The indictment describes a cover-up. After the media reported suspicious trading, Van Dyke tried to delete his Polymarket account and changed the email addresses for his crypto exchange accounts. "Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. What this means for the industry This case immediately impacts prediction market operators and their brokers. By charging Van Dyke under the Commodity Exchange Act, the DOJ is reinforcing CFTC jurisdiction and treating prediction market contracts as financial derivatives — not recreational wagers. That's a legal distinction platforms have been addressing carefully, and the government has now made its position explicit. The ruling also strengthens the position of regulated operators like Kalshi, which has long argued it operates under the same insider trading framework as traditional exchanges.Less-regulated platforms now face pressure to demonstrate comparable compliance infrastructure. Surveillance and monitoring are urgent concerns. All platforms and brokers must show they can detect and flag suspicious activity. The DOJ credited Polymarket's cooperation, signaling that regulators expect platforms to act as enforcement partners, not just infrastructure. Whether insider trading rules apply to prediction markets was theoretical until now. The Van Dyke case ends that debate and raises a practical issue: how enforcement will work in an industry without uniform compliance standards. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

In today's hyper-connected digital economy, a robust and intelligent payment gateway is no longer a mere operational necessity; it's a strategic asset for global e-commerce success. Businesses that treat payment processing as a commodity risk falling behind, while those that embrace a fast, versatile, and customer-centric payment strategy unlock significant competitive advantages.The critical question for modern merchants has evolved from "What are the transaction fees?" to "Is our payment strategy optimized for global reach, diverse customer preferences, and sustainable growth in a mobile-first world?”The Global APM Landscape: Driving E-commerce Growth with Alternative Payment MethodsFor any business aiming for international e-commerce expansion, a sole reliance on traditional credit cards is an outdated approach. The future of online payments is increasingly dominated by Alternative Payment Methods (APMs). These encompass a wide array of digital wallets, real-time bank transfers, and localized payment schemes that are rapidly becoming the preferred transaction methods for millions of consumers worldwide. Integrating these global APMs is crucial for reducing cart abandonment and boosting conversion rates in diverse markets.The APM landscape is inherently diverse and deeply localized. What resonates with consumers in Brazil may not be the preferred method in Vietnam. Successful global payment strategies demand a nuanced understanding of regional payment preferences:Southeast Asia's Digital Wallet Dominance: This region is a hotbed of mobile-first innovation. In the Philippines, e-wallets such as GCash and PayMaya are pivotal for digital transactions, from bill payments to QR code purchases. Malaysia and Singapore extensively utilize super-apps like GrabPay. Vietnam boasts a thriving e-wallet market led by MoMo and ZaloPay. Indonesia features a rich mix of digital wallets (GoPay, OVO, DANA), alongside prevalent bank transfers and cash-based convenience store payments. Thailand has widely adopted QR code payments and bank transfers as primary e-commerce payment methods.Emerging Markets: Real-time Payments and Mobile Wallets: The trend towards localized APMs extends globally. Pakistan is experiencing a significant digital payment surge, with Raast facilitating real-time bank transfers and a growing adoption of mobile wallets. In Brazil, the instant payment system PIX has revolutionized commerce, establishing itself as the country's most popular payment method. Similarly, in South Africa, while traditional card payments remain strong, the rapid growth of digital wallets and instant bank transfers signifies a clear shift in consumer payment behavior.This intricate global tapestry of APMs underscores the need for a strategic payment partner. It's not enough to simply list available alternative payment methods. A truly effective partner provides the intelligence to dynamically present the optimal payment mix to the right customer at the precise moment, thereby maximizing conversion and enhancing the overall customer experience.Overcoming Fragmentation: The Cost of Disconnected Payment SolutionsMany businesses inadvertently create inefficient and costly payment infrastructures by piecing together disparate providers for different regions and payment types. This fragmented approach leads to substantial hidden costs:Operational Inefficiencies: Finance teams face reconciliation challenges across multiple dashboards. IT departments struggle with numerous API integrations. Customer service representatives must navigate various platforms, leading to delays and increased operational overhead.Limited Data Insights: Siloed payment data prevents a unified view of customer behavior, making it difficult to identify trends, pinpoint friction points, and make data-driven strategic decisions for e-commerce optimization.Elevated Security Risks: Each additional payment provider introduces new vulnerabilities and potential attack surfaces. A disconnected system lacks the holistic intelligence required for real-time detection of sophisticated fraud patterns, impacting payment security.Payment Asia: Your Partner for an Intelligent, Unified Payment EcosystemTo thrive in the competitive global e-commerce landscape, businesses must adopt a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to payments. This necessitates a partner that offers more than just a payment gateway; it requires a platform built on speed, intelligence, and a profound understanding of the global payment landscape.Payment Asia stands at the forefront of this evolution, delivering a unified, AI-powered payment ecosystem tailored for the complexities of modern global commerce. With extensive, localized APM coverage across key growth markets—including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Brazil, and South Africa—Payment Asia empowers businesses to seamlessly connect with customers using their preferred and trusted payment methods.Beyond comprehensive coverage, Payment Asia provides the intelligence to optimize every transaction, the resilience to ensure maximum uptime and payment security, and unified data insights to fuel strategic growth. When evaluating your payment strategy, look beyond mere processing. Choose a partner like Payment Asia that can help you build a fast, versatile, and customer-centric payment ecosystem—your ultimate competitive advantage in the digital economy. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

CFD broker ACCM reported a total trading volume of about $2.14 trillion for Q1 2026, Finance Magnates has learned. The company said the period from January to March marked a strong increase in activity across its markets.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).Tien Ching, CEO of ACCM, said: “We had a fantastic first quarter in 2026, with total trading volume from January through March reaching a new all-time high.”March accounted for $1.2 trillion of the quarterly total. Within that, gold dominated trading at $1.09 trillion. Oil trading volume stood at $5.28 billion in March. The company said oil volumes increased 325.8% compared with February, reaching record levels despite their smaller overall share.For the full quarter, ACCM reported average monthly volumes of 712.86 billion units and 288,000 active traders.Metals Dominate Quarterly Trading ActivityTrading was heavily concentrated in spot metals, which accounted for 91.50% of FX/CFD turnover. FX represented 7.00%, while other instruments made up 1.50%.Platform data showed that 30.76% of total volumes were executed on MT4.Device usage was led by desktop trading at 53.67%, followed by mobile at 32.70%, while Expert Advisors accounted for 13.63%, indicating a measurable but not dominant share of automated trading activity.CEO Links Volatility to Record VolumesChing also added that market conditions played a key role. “The elevated volatility encouraged clients to actively participate in the markets.”Finance Magnates Intelligence reporting shows that FX and CFD activity typically rises during periods of elevated volatility, with metals often accounting for a larger share of turnover. Broker disclosures also commonly include platform, execution, and client activity breakdowns as standard performance metrics.Alongside its expansion strategy, ACCM has opened two local support hubs in Vietnam’s major cities. The hubs are intended to support local introducing brokers and partners. The company said Vietnam currently generates the highest traffic to its website. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Retail investors have returned to speculative trading in April, driven by a broader rally in risk assets and a regulatory change that removes a key barrier to active trading. According to CNBC, he shift has already triggered sharp price movements in several stocks, highlighting renewed volatility across meme trades.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)SEC Rule Change Opens AccessThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a proposal by FINRA to eliminate the pattern day trader rule. The rule previously required traders to maintain at least $25,000 in their accounts if they executed four or more day trades within five business days.The new framework replaces that threshold with an intraday margin system, allowing traders with smaller accounts to participate more actively. FINRA said the rule had become outdated since its introduction after the dot-com crash.Continue reading: SEC Approves Plan to Remove $25K Day Trading Limit: How Will the New Risk-Taking Approach Impact Traders?Adam Cohn, Head of Trading Operations at TradeStation, told the publication that the update lowers barriers while maintaining safeguards. “This change opens the door for more investors with smaller accounts to trade more actively, while still keeping protections in place through modern margin and risk controls,” he said.Analysts at JPMorgan noted that the regulatory shift could drive further growth in retail trading volumes in the coming months.Sharp Moves Highlight RisksRetail traders have already moved into highly volatile stocks. Allbirds shares jumped from about $2.6 to $25 after the company announced plans to pivot toward artificial intelligence infrastructure under a new brand. The stock later dropped to around $8, reversing much of the gain.Avis Budget Group also recorded extreme price action. The stock rose from below $100 to nearly $860 before falling sharply within the same session.The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved a plan to eliminate the Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule, which currently requires traders to maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000 to engage in frequent day trading. The rule, introduced by FINRA in 2001 after the dot-com crash, was designed to limit risk exposure for retail investors by restricting those with smaller accounts to no more than four day trades within five business days. Its removal marks a significant shift aimed at broadening access to day trading, particularly for smaller retail participants. In place of the PDT rule, regulators are introducing a new intraday margin framework that assesses risk in real time rather than by trade frequency. Under this system, traders will need to maintain sufficient equity based on their actual market exposure, shifting the focus from “how often you trade” to “how much risk you take.” This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

A major Russian brokerage group has expanded its retail trading offering by integrating contract-for-difference (CFD) trading directly into its primary investment platform, allowing clients to access global markets without switching applications.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)BCS Company LLC, part of the BrokerCreditService financial group, has launched CFD trading within its “BCS World of Investments” app. The feature is currently available on Android devices, with iOS support expected at a later stage.In-App CFD AccessThe update eliminates the need for qualified investor status, enabling broader access to CFDs. Clients can trade instruments linked to international markets without opening a separate account or using another app.According to the firm, “BCS clients no longer need a separate app to work with CFDs, they can trade directly on the BCS World of Investments digital platform.”You may also like: Russia Postpones Telegram and YouTube Ad Ban, Easing Pressure on Online MarketingThe move signals that regulated Russian brokers continue to shift more complex products like CFDs into mainstream retail channels, which may increase competition with offshore providers and concentrate more trading activity on domestic infrastructure.Besides that, the broker also allows users to open accounts in multiple currencies, including rubles, US dollars, euros, yuan, and UAE dirhams.Product Range and Trading ConditionsThe offering includes more than 100 CFDs on shares of major international companies, as well as instruments linked to the S&P 500 index and popular exchange-traded funds. Traders can take positions based on both upward and downward price movements.BCS stated that “this instrument offers extensive opportunities for portfolio diversification,” highlighting its use across different market strategies. The company has set leverage at up to 1:2, with trading conducted via the MetaTrader 5 platform. The minimum trade size is one share, and no minimum deposit is required.Russia’s retail forex market is setting new volume records in 2026, but the growth story is dominated by a single player rather than a broad competitive field.Record FX Boom, but One Broker DominatesRussia's regulated forex market posted a record quarterly trading volume of $68.6 billion in Q1 2026, but more than 90 percent of that flow came from clients of a single licensed dealer, Alfa-Forex, leaving the rest of the market split between two much smaller competitors and a long tail of largely inactive accounts.Meanwhile, SPB Exchange is preparing to launch a new class of perpetual derivatives called “Neo-Assets,” designed to mirror how Russian retail traders use offshore CFDs and perpetual swaps while keeping all trading and settlement onshore. The contracts are perpetual and cash-settled in rubles, support margin trading, and charge no intraday fees, with costs applying only to overnight positions. At launch, the lineup will cover U.S. equities such as Tesla and Amazon, as well as crypto-linked indices based on Bitcoin and Ethereum, with the latter restricted to qualified investors. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) carried out its first coordinated raids against illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading, working with HMRC and a regional organised crime unit. Authorities issued on-site cease-and-desist letters at each location. The FCA confirmed that the evidence gathered is now supporting multiple ongoing criminal investigations.A Market Outside the Regulatory PerimeterThe FCA stated that there are currently no registered peer-to-peer crypto traders or platforms operating in the UK, which means every P2P operation in the country is, by definition, illegal.It was an operation against an entire business model that sits outside the regulatory perimeter rather than a crackdown on outliers within a regulated sector. "Unregistered peer-to-peer crypto traders operating in the UK are doing so illegally and pose a financial crime risk," said Steve Smart, the FCA's executive director of enforcement and market oversight. "We will use our powers and work with partners to disrupt them."An Enforcement Model, Not a One-Off Raid The presence of an organised crime unit and HMRC signals what the FCA considers the core risk: money laundering. The UK government's National Risk Assessment has flagged crypto assets as an increasingly common channel for moving illicit funds, and law enforcement framed the operation accordingly. "By working with our colleagues at the FCA and HMRC we are able to effectively target and disrupt unregistered peer-to-peer crypto traders," said DI Ross Flay of the SWROCU. "As law enforcement, we want to stop these traders providing a route for criminals to move, disguise, and spend illegal money." This is not the FCA's first direct action in the space. The agency has previously prosecuted the operator of an illegal crypto ATM network and supported arrests in an unauthorized exchange case. But the multi-agency raid format is new, and suggests the enforcement model is shifting from reactive prosecution toward active, coordinated disruption.For any firm facilitating crypto activity in the UK, the message is straightforward: FCA registration is a necessary prerequisite to operate legally under the current regulatory framework. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

IC, formerly known as IC Markets, has announced a partnership with Mexican footballer Guillermo Ochoa as part of its expansion strategy in Latin America.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).The move follows a series of recent sports sponsorships. Earlier this year, the firm signed a deal with Australian tennis player Alexei Popyrin ahead of the 2026 season. Before that, the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team named the firm as its official forex trading partner in a multi-year agreement announced before the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, with branding placed on several parts of the car.IC Targets Mexico with Ochoa PartnershipThe company said the latest agreement focuses on Mexico, which it identified as one of its fastest-growing markets. The partnership grants IC exclusive rights to use Ochoa’s name, image, and likeness in global marketing campaigns.Ochoa, who currently plays for AEL Limassol, remains a well-known figure in Mexican football. He has had a long international career and continues to have broad recognition across Latin America.Rollout Focused on Engagement and AcquisitionIC said the collaboration will combine its trading platform with Ochoa’s profile to support regional growth and expand its client base. Andrew Budzinski, Founder of IC, described the move as “a strategic move, not a branding exercise.” He said Ochoa represents “performance under pressure, consistency at the highest level, and absolute trust,” adding that the partnership would help the company “connect deeper, and convert stronger” in markets such as Mexico.The company said it will promote the partnership through broadcast, digital, and social media channels, including live match exposure and localized content across Latin America. It expects the campaign to improve engagement and client acquisition. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

More than a Drop in the OceanWhile regulators in the US grapple with the question of who has jurisdiction over prediction markets, current and prospective users would do well to consider what they are up against when placing their bets.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The Wall Street Journal reports that White House staff received an email in late March warning them not to use any information they came across in the course of their work to gamble on the timing of specific events.The Trump administration reacted in typical fashion to the report, with spokesman Davis Ingle telling the BBC that ‘any implication that administration officials are engaged in such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting’.He went on to point out that all federal employees are subject to government ethics guidelines that prohibit the use of insider information for financial gain, adding that ‘the only special interest that will ever guide President Trump is the best interest of the American people’.Perhaps the most egregious example of potential insider trading to emerge on prediction markets to date is the sizeable pricing bets placed by oil traders just minutes before Trump revealed that he was postponing strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure.There will be some who point to prediction markets as just the latest example of mankind’s obsession with betting that can be traced back to 2300 BC, noting that even children will ‘wager’ on which of two raindrops runs down a window the fastest.But markets rely on at least the illusion of fairness - which is why the first recorded ban on insider trading was introduced in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to outlaw manipulative and deceptive devices following the 1929 stock market crash.Give Us a BreakEarlier this month, we looked at the results of a Crisil Coalition Greenwich survey of buy-side equity traders, which found that one in five saw the quest for work-life balance as their biggest source of fatigue and burnout.Jesse Forster, senior analyst in market structure & technology at Crisil Coalition Greenwich and the author of the study, observed that traders see volatility, long hours and performance pressure as part of the job.However, the findings of the firm’s latest offering in this space - which analyses traders’ attitudes to round-the-clock trading - suggest that even the most stress-free institutional traders are balking at the prospect of moving stocks at any time of the day.Only 14% of the buy-side equity traders surveyed said they were enthusiastic about 24/7 trading, with 60% stating that they had absolutely no interest in round-the-clock trading.“Retail traders are excited, particularly around market-moving headlines that come outside of traditional trading hours,” says Forster. “Institutions largely view it through the lens of execution quality, operational risk and market impact, and they are concerned about the possible negative impact it could have on their physical and mental health.”These individuals saw round-the-clock trading as introducing unnecessary risk for little reward, especially if it siphons liquidity and attention from the core session. Even among supporters, expectations are more evolutionary than revolutionary. They see the ability to trade around the clock as being useful for specific situations, rather than a wholesale transformation of trading workflows.Nearly two-thirds were concerned about poor market quality during overnight hours, expecting these sessions to mirror today’s extended sessions, characterised by sporadic volume, inconsistent participation, wider spreads and less price discovery. A similar percentage were concerned that liquidity would worsen during core hours, adding time-based fragmentation to their list of worries.Liquidity tends to concentrate around auctions and key events, and extending trading spreads participation more thinly.Some noted they don’t want to be trading during the most illiquid, costly time of the day - currently the overnight session. Others point to the existing pre- and post-market sessions as a live experiment, describing them as ‘sporadic at best’ and ‘unreliable’ in terms of volume and participation.“Most traders support focusing on improving outcomes during core hours, such as increasing crossing opportunities, rather than spreading the same liquidity across more time,” says Forster.Strategy or Insanity?The phrase ‘social media spat’ would make most sensible people run for the hills. But a recent exchange on Michael Saylor’s latest Bitcoin purchase highlighted the divide between those who see the cryptocurrency as the ultimate inflation hedge and others who argue that this strategy only works under very specific structural conditions.Strategy Inc (formerly known as MicroStrategy) has doubled down on its strategy of buying Bitcoin despite the fall in its value since last October and is now the largest single corporate holder of the cryptocurrency.On Monday, Saylor posted on X that Strategy had acquired 34,164 BTC for approximately $2.54 billion at $74,395 per Bitcoin, bringing its overall holding to 815,061 BTC acquired for approximately $61.56 billion at $75,527 per coin. In other words, the company’s holding is worth pretty much exactly what it has paid for it at current prices.JUST IN: Coffeezilla publishes video taking on Bitcoin believer Michael Saylor & Strategy's $STRC.Coffee says Saylor's STRC preferred-stock pitch is too simple & the risks are not properly explained."It's been compared to the iPhone. It's been compared to a Ponzi scheme."… pic.twitter.com/H9Tx32VbuR— Altcoin Daily (@AltcoinDaily) April 15, 2026A salesman at a Bitcoin mining company suggested on LinkedIn that whether you agree with the approach or not, the absence of emotional interference in the execution of the strategy is worth studying, and that the investors he has watched make the most durable wealth in Bitcoin didn’t buy based on price targets but instead built a framework, sized to their conviction level, and executed through the periods that tested that conviction.However, one professional financial analyst took exception to the use of the phrase ‘unrealised loss’ to explain the difference between the current value of Strategy’s Bitcoin holding and what it cost to acquire, suggesting that none of the above was relevant to any other class of investor.Separately, he posted that the Strategy model runs on fair value accounting, a corporate tax exclusion that lets you hold indefinitely without a cash tax liability, zero-coupon unsecured institutional debt with no margin calls, and an institutional market premium that creates a self-financing engine – none of which exist in the UK. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

Moomoo launched a tool today (Thursday) that lets retail customers connect their own artificial intelligence agents directly to its trading platform, the Futu subsidiary said, formalizing its entry into a corner of retail brokering that eToro and Robinhood have been reshaping over the past several months.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The tool, called moomoo API Skills, converts plain-English trading intent into executable orders across U.S., Canadian, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japanese markets. Moomoo said the product is aimed at removing the coding requirement that has historically limited algorithmic trading to a smaller group of technically proficient users. Natural Language Goes from Prompt to TradeAt the core of the product is what Moomoo calls intent-driven development, a pipeline designed to interpret English-language instructions and convert them into structured trading logic. The company said the system monitors volatility around the clock and supports backtesting against historical data before any live deployment."We are seeing a fundamental shift where investors are moving from simply accessing information," Neil McDonald, CEO of moomoo U.S., said in the statement.The announcement lands about a month after eToro began letting users delegate trades to their own AI agents via sub-accounts with defined budgets and risk limits. The parallels between the two rollouts are close enough that they look like a single industry direction rather than a standalone experiment.eToro, Robinhood and Webull Set the TempoThe retail brokerage sector has been stacking AI features at a rapid pace since late 2025. eToro's developer App Store, rolled out on April 14, 2026, offers agent skills, a Model Context Protocol server and no-code publishing tools through a builders portal, putting the Nasdaq-listed broker ahead of Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab and Fidelity in packaging agent-facing tooling for end clients.Robinhood's Cortex assistant, unveiled in September 2025, introduced voice-activated order placement and AI-generated stock movement summaries. Webull followed in November with Vega, an assistant that reviews user portfolios against stated goals and accepts plain-English order instructions. Interactive Brokers has rolled out AI research coverage for the entire S&P 1500, free of charge for clients.OpenD Architecture Keeps Credentials Out of Third-Party HandsSecurity framing takes up a large share of the Moomoo announcement. The company said its proprietary OpenD technology keeps trading credentials and account data inside the user's local environment rather than routing them through third-party AI servers, a setup it describes as data sovereignty. ThA FinanceMagnates.com panel at FMLS:25 flagged explainability and regulatory readiness as the hardest open problems for agent-driven retail trading, questions the Moomoo announcement did not directly address. The company warned in its own release that "losses can happen more quickly with quant and algorithmic trading compared to other forms of trading.""We are reducing the technical barriers that once stood between an idea and its execution," Michael Arbus, CEO of moomoo Canada, said.Futu's Record Year Sets the Stage for the AI PushMoomoo's agentic push comes off a strong 2025 for its Hong Kong-based parent. Futu Holdings reported net income of HK$11.3 billion and revenue of HK$22.8 billion for the full year, with total trading volume jumping 89.4% and funded accounts reaching 3.37 million. Total users across the platform, which spans Moomoo and Futubull, hit 29.2 million by year-end.The commercial case for agent tooling is also visible in the industry's cost structures. Both eToro and FXCM have cited agentic AI adoption in their recent layoff announcements, pointing to automation as a lever for shrinking headcount while keeping customer workflows running. The company launched a crypto service in the U.S. last year through a Coinbase partnership, extending the platform beyond its traditional equities focus. The firm did not disclose pricing, beta user counts, or the specific third-party AI frameworks the tool integrates with at launch. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

B2C2 has integrated with TP ICAP’s FCA-registered cryptoasset venue, Fusion Digital Assets, as a liquidity provider under a newly introduced Matched Principal model.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).TP ICAP has been expanding its Fusion platform to build electronic trading infrastructure across asset classes, including structured products markets. It also operates a matched principal model that processed over $200 trillion in notional volumes in 2025, which underpins its move into institutional crypto trading via Fusion Digital Assets.B2C2 Supports Bitcoin Ethereum OrdersThe latest agreement allows B2C2 to provide liquidity and trading capabilities directly to the platform. The companies said the setup is designed to improve execution quality and risk transfer for institutional participants in cryptoasset markets.Thomas Restout, Group CEO of B2C2, described the move as “a significant step in the evolution of institutional digital asset markets.” He added that integrating liquidity into the Matched Principal model is “reducing the need for pre-funding” and delivering “the capital efficiency that wholesale participants expect.”Under the arrangement, B2C2 will initially support Bitcoin and Ethereum order books. It is expected to expand coverage as the venue scales its product offering.Fusion Digital Assets Adds B2C2 LiquidityThe development follows Fusion Digital Assets’ shift to a Matched Principal structure, where TP ICAP acts as counterparty to both sides of each trade. The model is already used across TP ICAP’s traditional markets and is designed to improve capital efficiency by reducing the need to pre-fund trades while also limiting counterparty risk through the firm’s credit profile.Simon Forster, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Fusion Digital Assets, said B2C2’s participation strengthens the platform’s liquidity offering. He added that both firms aim to build “deep, liquid on-chain markets” that could extend into traditional asset classes over time. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

What Changed in Q1 2026 Across FX and CFDs?Finance Magnates has released its Q1 2026 Intelligence Report, giving a data-based view of the main shifts shaping the FX and CFD industry this quarter.But what are the real changes behind the numbers? And what do they mean for brokers, fintech firms, and service providers?The report looks at market performance, competitive shifts, and new trading trends, all available through the FM Intelligence Portal.?Access the full Q1/2026 report now to find out Are Broker Volumes Still Growing or Becoming Concentrated?Several brokers are now reporting over $1 trillion in monthly volumes.But is this growth spread across the market? Or is it moving towards a smaller group of large players?The Q1 data shows strong activity, but also points to increasing concentration, raising questions about competition and market balance.Why Has a New Market Leader Emerged?One broker has now passed the $2 trillion monthly volume mark.What changed this quarter to drive this result? Was it product focus, regional demand, or client activity?And does this mark a short-term spike or a longer shift in market leadership?Why Are Public CFD Brokers Under Pressure?Trading activity remains strong, yet publicly listed CFD brokers are facing pressure in their valuations.Why is there a gap between performance and market value? Are investors becoming more cautious about the sector?The report looks at how public markets are reacting and what this could mean going forward.Are Prediction Markets Becoming a Real Factor?Event-based trading continues to grow.But is this just a trend, or is it starting to take share from traditional CFD products?The Q1 report explores how prediction markets are evolving and how they fit into the wider trading space.Where Is Trading Activity Moving?Are the same regions still driving growth? Or are new markets starting to take the lead?Understanding where volume is shifting is key for firms planning expansion and resource allocation.Are You Benchmarking Your Position Correctly?Do you know where your business stands compared to competitors?Are you growing faster than the market, or simply following it?The report provides a clear view of rankings, performance, and market positioning to support these decisions.What Data Are You Using to Make Decisions?Are your decisions based only on internal data? Or do you have a full view of the market?The Q1 2026 Intelligence Report is built to support firms with:Broker volume analysis and rankingsMarket leadership trackingCFD sector performance insightsRegional and product trendsNew trading model developmentsThis data is part of the wider FM Intelligence ecosystem, where firms access verified market data, compliance updates, and research in one place.How Can You Access the Report?The Q1 2026 Intelligence Report is available through the Finance Magnates Intelligence Portal.By signing up, users can:Access selected data and insights for freePurchase the full Q1 2026 reportFollow ongoing market and regulatory updatesPremium access is available for firms that need full datasets and deeper research.Are you reacting to market changes… or planning ahead with clear data?? Access the full Q1 2026 Intelligence Report through the Finance Magnates Intelligence Portal. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Monetary Authority of Singapore has granted in-principle approval to Robinhood to offer brokerage services in Singapore. The move marks a step in Robinhood’s international expansion and its focus on the Asia-Pacific region.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).Singapore operates a phased licensing framework for brokers, moving from in-principle approval to full authorisation once conditions are met. Other firms are following the same route. Capital.com, for example, has been seeking a risk manager in Singapore as part of its MAS licence application. The structure reflects a regulatory-first environment, where broker expansion is shaped by compliance milestones rather than acquisition-led growth.MAS Maintains Conditional Approval Robinhood said the approval allows it to move toward offering brokerage services through its local entity, Robinhood Singapore Pte. Ltd. However, the IPA is not a licence at this stage. MAS said a licence will only be issued if conditions are met and there are no material adverse developments, and it retains the right to withdraw approval.An IPA reflects MAS’ preliminary view that a licence may be granted in future, subject to compliance with requirements. RHSG must still meet those conditions before operations can begin.The company said Singapore will serve as its Asia-Pacific headquarters. The firm also highlighted its regional structure, including its subsidiary Bitstamp Asia Pte. Ltd., which holds a Major Payment Institution licence from MAS.Robinhood Prepares Singapore Brokerage OfferingThe IPA would allow Robinhood to offer a range of services in Singapore, including trading in securities, exchange-traded derivatives, custody services, product financing, and collective investment funds.Patrick Chan, Head of Asia at Robinhood, said: “Singapore’s world-class regulatory environment, high rates of digital adoption, and growing population of retail investors make it the ideal hub for our mission.” He added: “We see enormous potential to democratize the financial markets for a new generation of investors in Singapore.” This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Just2Trade has become the latest Cyprus-based CFD broker to cross the MiCA threshold. Its crypto arm, J2TX, was registered with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) on March 16, joining a small but growing club of fully authorised players.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The timing is no accident. ESMA has set July 1, 2026, as the cutoff point for the grandfathering period, where firms like J2TX, which operated under previous national frameworks, had to complete the transition to MiCA. The transition has proved exacting, particularly in Cyprus. In an earlier interview, George Theocharides, Chairman of CySEC, noted that early licensees such as Revolut and eToro underwent “extensive scrutiny”. Approval, he stressed, would not be rushed: applicants were frequently required to make substantial changes before securing a licence.Capacity may be part of the story. The small Mediterranean island has been punching above its weight as a CFD and FX hub, so CySEC has had to stretch its resources across a growing supervisory load, which now includes MiCA oversight. Indeed, in January, Theocharides said the watchdog was looking to add around 30 staff in 2026. The numbers are telling. ESMA lists ten MiCA licences for Cyprus, placing the island sixth in the EU. Germany tops the table with 55, though the comparison is flattering: its regulator, BaFin, curtailed the transition period to December 2025, and many of those licences are held by banks focused on custody and administration rather than trading.Converging Markets, Diverging Players?The line between derivatives and crypto has been blurring for some time, opening up a potent new growth vector.Brokers, once confined to CFDs, are building crypto exchanges or plugging them in. Crypto exchanges, for their part, are heading the other way, snapping up MiFID licences. But convergence has not meant convergence in pace. Even as many brokers are still finding their footing in crypto, others are already looking beyond it. Robinhood was among the first to spot the next seam, embedding prediction markets – event-driven contracts – into its core app in 2025.Robinhood Prediction Markets just crossed 4 billion event contracts traded all-time, with over 2 billion in Q3 alone. And we’re just getting started. pic.twitter.com/13LxjqWaNt— Vlad Tenev (@vladtenev) September 29, 2025Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev hailed it as the fastest-growing business line in the firm’s history, with the product line tracking toward more than a US$300 million run rate within its first year.So, is moving into crypto, with all the tooling and strategic overhaul it entails, already yesterday’s problem? This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

Interactive Brokers Singapore has joined Singapore Exchange as a trading and clearing member of its derivatives market, the latest step by the Nasdaq-listed brokerage to widen its direct access to Asia-Pacific venues and route more of its regional flow through local infrastructure.Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!)The admission gives the unit the ability to both execute and clear trades on SGX's futures and options markets without routing through a third-party intermediary. SGX said the addition brings its derivatives ecosystem to 68 trading members and 34 clearing members, up from the 64 trading members and 26 clearing members the exchange reported in 2021.APAC Build-Out Continues for Nasdaq-Listed BrokerInteractive Brokers Group, the parent of the Singapore unit, offers automated execution and custody on more than 170 markets, according to the company. Its Singapore entity was set up in 2020 and has since become one of the firm's main vehicles for regional growth.SGX membership fits a clear pattern. In November 2025, the broker added Taiwan's Taipei Exchange to its trading roster, pitching small and mid-cap access to clients worldwide. A year earlier, in August 2024, it integrated Bursa Malaysia's listed derivatives, covering Crude Palm Oil Futures and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Futures. Earlier moves extended the firm's reach into Japan through global CFDs and into Hong Kong through cryptocurrency trading.Yujun Lin, CEO of Interactive Brokers Singapore, said in a statement that the membership "underscores our commitment to Singapore and the broader Asia Pacific region."SGX Membership Base Grows as Competition BroadensThe SGX roster has expanded steadily over the past six years. US-listed INTL FCStone's Singapore unit joined as a trading and clearing member in 2019, taking the exchange to 62 trading and 25 clearing members at the time. Chinese firms including Shanxi Securities International Futures and Hong Kong-based Synergy Futures followed in 2021, as SGX worked to deepen cross-border participation in its pan-Asia equity index, FX and commodity contracts.The exchange has leaned harder into new product areas in the past year. SGX's bitcoin and ether perpetual futures went live in late 2025 with Marex as a day-one clearer, targeting institutional demand that has historically settled on offshore venues. It has also pushed its OTC FX franchise, naming BidFX co-founder Jean-Philippe Malé as CEO of SGX FX in early 2025.Competition for Singapore Flow IntensifiesThe city-state has become one of the most contested battlegrounds for international brokers. Interactive Brokers itself rolled out zero-commission US stock trading to Singapore residents last year, competing with Tiger Brokers, Futu-owned moomoo and domestic platforms for the local retail base. On the institutional side, SGX has attracted fresh volume from regional and global participants, with banks including Mizuho plugging into its FX platform.Pol de Win, Head of Global Sales and Origination at SGX Group, said the admission "reflects sustained international interest" in the exchange's derivatives ecosystem. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.