Finance Magnates London Summit (FMLS:24) concluded an eventful 2.5 summit packed with panel discussions, keynote speeches, fireside chats, and more.This year, the trading industry's flagship event was much bigger and bolder. As per tradition, it was hosted at the iconic Old Billingsgate, located in the heart of London’s business district.FMLS:24 draws participants from countries and continents worldwide. With a crowd of C-level executives, marketers, company representatives, and traders, it offers the perfect opportunity to meet existing clients or network with potential ones. Additionally, companies can showcase their products and services at dozens of booths.The Finance Magnates London Summit 2024 is buzzing with energy! ? From engaging discussions at the booths to exciting innovations on display, the floor is alive with possibilities.#fmls #fmls24 #fmevents pic.twitter.com/UxVK0ZmzaE— FM events (@F_M_events) November 20, 2024Power Plays: A New Economic Order?As global markets adjust to recent electoral outcomes, they brace for potential economic ripple effects. In this session, experts discussed the implications of shifting political landscapes and intensifying global tensions on interest rates, market volatility, and overall economic stability.Adam Button, ForexLive's Chief Currency Analyst, hosted Hormoz Faryar, the Managing Director of ATFX Connect, MENA, Tim Waterer, the Chief Market Analyst of KCM Trade, and Telmo Simoes, the Business Development Manager of ATFX Connect, to share their insights. Fintechs in Payments: Market Penetration and The Battle Against FraudSharing important insights about fraud and scams in fintechs and payments, Sara Cass, the Chief Compliance Officer at IFX Payments, said: "In the wider space, I think it is really about education in the society and the community. Not just for payment companies or banks to solve the problem of fraud.""Raising awareness across the board of the types of scams and how important it is to report it. Fraudsters currently have more of an advantage because they have got data."Marketing for Humans in Retail Trading Still at the Innovate stage. Industry experts focused on the topic: “Marketing for Humans in Retail Trading.” As competition grows fierce and compliance grows tougher, marketers need to be creative with messaging and acquisition channels to deliver.Elizabeth Rayment, the Director of YMM; Vince De Castro, the Chief Marketing Officer of TopFX; Nolan Shtockhammer, the Head Of Business Development of Track360; and Eric Fulwiler, the co-founder and CEO of Rival, shared crucial insight about marketing in retail trading.AI In Trading Platforms Beyond The HypeAt the innovative stage, technologists in electronic trading shared their insights on what AI can do today. Among them were: Qasim Esak, the Head of Client Optimisation at Pelican Network; Andrew Lane, the CEO of Acuity Trading; Elina Pedersen, the Chief Revenue Officer of Your Bourse; Jon Light, the Head of OTC Platform at Devexperts; Ran Strauss, the CEO and Co-founder of Leverate, and Andrew Saks, the Chief Product Officer at TraderEvolution Global.Trading Tech for The Industry’s Killer AppsExperts engaged in an interesting conversation seeking to understand the industry’s next killer apps. How can dev executives organize their architectures? Should tech providers ‘regulate’ the financial services industry? The conversation also highlighted the best and worst tales of AI's use in creating trading software.The panelists were Aeby Samuel, the CEO and Founder of FYNXT; Jose Calderon, the Lead Software Engineer at JPMorganChase; Tom Higgins, the Founder and CEO of Gold-I; and Chris Ward, the CEO of StarHat Solutions.Wonder Women of Fintech: Changing the GameThe latest study reveals that women make up 30% of the global fintech workforce, and only 12% hold leadership roles. Moreover, female-led startups receive less than 2% of venture capital funding. However, despite these challenges, women are making strides. Jodie Kelsall, the Chief Operating Officer of Britannia Global Markets; Albana Zhdanova, the Chief Operating Officer of Tools for Brokers; and Evdokia Pitsillidou Partner, the Risk and Compliance Director of SALVUS FUNDS, shared insight at a panel discussion hosted by Jonathan Fine, Content and strategy at Finance Magnates Group. "All Work and No Play?" Never"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" – the FMLS:24 participants seem to take this quote seriously. EC Markets has brought a full-size pool table to the event floor. Want to test your skills?Prop Trading Gets the CrowedThe panel discussion on prop trading from the Innovate Stage is attracting a large crowd. With five experts discussing "Getting Prop Trading Properly," what is your take on prop trading?The participants in the panel are Anton Sokolov, Marketing Manager at Brokeree Solutions; Alexis Droussiotis, Head of Match-Trader Platform at Match-Trade Technologies; Otakar Suffner, Co-Founder & CEO at FTMO; James Hughes, Market Analyst at Axi; and Justin D. Hertzberg, Esq., CEO at FPFX Tech."Swimming Naked?"As always, liquidity remains a hot topic at FMLS:24. An all-star panel on the Center Stage, featuring six experts, is discussing the topic, "Swimming Naked? Liquidity Amid Market Hiccups." The participants include Hormoz Faryar, Managing Director at ATFX Connect, MENA; Peter Plester, Head of B2B Sales at Exness; Benedict Sears, Head of the FX Desk and FX Liquidity Management at Equiti Capital; Hugh Whelan, President at ACI UK; Alexei Jiltsov, Co-Founder at Tradefeedr; and Yaacov Heidingsfeld, President at TraderTools.The Double-Edged Sword of AIAI is no longer just a buzzword; it is dominating industries, including the financial services sector. A panel on the Inspire Stage is now discussing the topic, "The Double-Edged Sword of AI and Fraud." The session is being moderated by Bhavin Kapadia, Senior Advisor at AI Security Financial Services, with participants including Arun Chauhan, Specialist Fraud Solicitor and Director at Tenet, Andrew Pattison, Head of GRC Consultancy Europe at IT Governance Europe, and Michael Charles Borrelli, Director at AI & Partners."Put the Story in the Title"Finance Magnates' Editor-in-Chief, Yam Yehoshua, took the stage with Sam Low, Founder of LiquidityFinder, to discuss how marketing and PR teams should focus on securing "earned media." "Help us see the story already in the title," said Yehoshua. "I get 300-400 emails a day and have just a second to glance at the subject line."Regulatory Experts Took the StageThe first panel discussion of the final day has started, with regulatory experts in the industry taking Center Stage. Moderated by Ron Finberg, Executive Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence Cappitech, the participants in the discussion include four experts: Rav Saidha, Chair at Retail Derivative Forum; Matthew Smith, Group CEO at EC Markets; Sophie Gerber, Co-CEO and Director at TRAction Fintech; and Remonda Kirketerp-Møller, CEO at Muinmos."A country like Seychelles suddenly has 200 securities-dealer firms on their very small island. And how many people work in the financial services authority there?" said EC Markets' Smith. "Compared to the UK, there are far fewer brokers, but a much larger regulatory authority.""When you have so few people to monitor what's going on, it becomes difficult. So, what the offshore regulators have done is create committees and invite brokers to sit on them. Whether the brokers can effectively contribute remains uncertain. However, these committees are well-balanced."Busy Exhibition Floor Industry representatives also took their positions at individual booths to showcase their products and services. What are you interested in – tech or liquidity? You will find everything at FMLS:24. Everyone is busy. And when it comes to networking, there is no other place better than FMLS:24!Recap from Day 1Day one of the event was vibrant, with a massive turnout and high energy levels. Along with the bustling exhibition floor, attendees gathered around the three stages to hear insights from industry experts.Wrapping Up the 1st exhibition day of the Finance Magnates London Summit 2024. It was a day filled with knowledge, from insightful speaker sessions to engaging exhibitions and lots of networking opportunities. Get ready for tomorrow, see you at 10:00 am.#fmls #fmls24 #fmevents pic.twitter.com/lQ6pjsAnH7— FM events (@F_M_events) November 19, 2024Many industry experts took the stage to participate in panel discussions and share the insights they have gathered over the years. Most of them are top executives from brokers, technology providers, regtech firms, and other trading industry-related companies.Interviews are an integral part of Finance Magnates. At FMLS:24, industry leaders spoke to Finance Magnates, discussing a range of topics, including the necessity of branding, technology trends, and products.The floors at the exhibition centre were packed with crowds as companies showcased their products and services at the booths.Tired of talking business? FMLS:24 has you covered. The venue features several strategically located tea and snack bars to help you refresh. You can take a quick break, recharge, and return to the action energised.Catch our live coverage from the first day at FMLS:24 here.Are you at FMLS:24? Drop by booth #3 to say hello to the Finance Magnates team. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

The race to acquire new customers is as expensive as it is competitive for brokers and financial services companies. To grow their customer base, brands pour a significant portion of their marketing budgets into various user acquisition strategies to attract and convert traffic to leads. That traffic that comes to the landing pages and/or website, whether paid or organic, is anonymous, which makes it difficult for marketers to understand who they are, what interests them, and how they interact with the site's content. Essentially, if the lead doesn’t register, it’s lost as there is no way to interact with it, other than doing some retargeting.This is the pre-registration problem marketing managers know all too well. Without capturing and leveraging the right information or understanding how visitors interact with your content on the website or app and being able to respond personally, it’s difficult to assess their financial needs, trading preferences, or risk appetite. Brands are squandering engagement, conversions, and the opportunity to win users’ loyalty in the long term.In such a highly competitive market such as trading, the damage is three-fold for brokers and FinTechs: 1) Missed conversions, potentially lost to competing brands 2) Higher Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC)3) Lost revenue and traders’ lifetime value (LTV) That’s why illuminating the blind spot of anonymous visitors and seizing the opportunity to convert them and earn their loyalty is critical for financial brands to grow and succeed. Harnessing the anonymous visitor potentialTo address the anonymous visitor issue, companies are turning to advanced website tracking and conversion solutions. But just as with post-conversion engagement, the effectiveness and speed with which marketers can access and use those insights is key. One unique Customer Engagement Platform that has been pioneering data management for financial companies is Solitics, whose Visitor Activation Module tackles the challenge of converting anonymous visitors head-on, enabling companies to personalise a user’s journey pre-registration. The platform uses unique identifiers to capture anything an anonymous visitor does – or doesn’t do – on the website or mobile app and enables brands to respond live to this timely and critical data. At the pre-registration stage, an anonymous visitor can be engaged with pop-ups, push notifications, or even a gamified widget. For example, take a user that has started but delays completing the registration form, or decides to turn attention elsewhere on the website or app. The broker can then interact with the visitor by raising a pop-up with the top-performing assets (i.e. potential ‘revenue alert’), or introduce the latest analytics based on a real-time market event (i.e. AMZN just released quarterly reports - analysts' recommendation: BUY). Such an approach will create FOMO, or alternatively promote a sense of trust with the brand, and therefore guide them toward registration and conversion.Marketers who use Solitics are able to create contextualised acquisition journeys based on raw user actions within fractions of a second, continue to personalise their engagement post-conversion, and measure their effectiveness, through new registrations, new deposits and revenue. Personalising the journey for every visitorBrokers and banks are using the Visitor Activation Module’s data-driven personalisation to create tailored experiences based on their actions, even before they register – helping to target and engage them most effectively.For example, if a non-registered visitor shows interest in a particular asset, such as a stock, the broker can instantly trigger a pop-up based on this action offering exclusive value-added content such as the latest activity report on that stock, or an incentive to register for an upcoming trading webinar. For prospective traders, this not only increases their knowledge and confidence but also kickstarts a positive relationship with the broker and encourages them to register.Personalised engagement doesn’t just end at registration. Once a visitor becomes a registered user, Solitics' self-learning platform continuously gathers and applies data to ensure that each promotion or offer stays relevant and timely – enhancing their experience and boosting engagement throughout the customer lifecycle.Turning meticulous attribution into smart marketing decisions Key to making the most of data insights is the ability to easily access them and precisely attribute user activity so that the performance of customer journeys can be accurately measured. Solitics’ Visitor Activation Module includes an advanced analytics dashboard that provides detailed insights into user behaviour, campaign effectiveness, and conversion rates. The dashboard allows marketers to track the performance of their campaigns in real time, making it easier to identify gaps fast and which KPIs they affect. These granular insights empower marketers to fine-tune user journeys all along the way and maximise the impact of each interaction.By being able to act Live on relevant anonymous user behaviour data, companies can:● Increase conversion and registration rates● Increase overall return on ad spend (ROAS)● Reduce their Customer Acquisition Costs ● Improve ROI from their marketing automation investments● Set the stage for optimal engagement post-conversion and improve Lifetime Value Continuously redefining how brands can manage data to enhance customer engagementWhile many solutions in the market focus primarily on post-registration engagement, Solitics takes customer engagement a step further by empowering brands with the ability to intelligently target visitors from the moment they first engage with their website or app.Their Visitor Activation Module allows businesses to expand data-driven and personalised journeys beyond registered users, converting anonymous visitors into valuable customers.About SoliticsSolitics is the world-leading Customer Engagement Platform that enables brokers to automate real-time hyper-personalized journeys across their traders’ lifecycle—from conversion to reactivation. Solitics’ unmatched AI data aggregation and processing technology empowers brokers to respond Live to all traders’ portfolio performance and contextually leverage Market events in 1.8 seconds or less, enabling true holistic and multichannel Visitor Activation, Retention and Gamification. With the fastest contractual time to value in the market, Solitics completes the integration in 45 days, enabling partners and clients to see outstanding results across their conversion, retention, and LTV.To find out more about how Solitics can turn website visits into conversions via its Visitor Activation Module, visit this link. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The National Futures Association has filed a complaint against NinjaTrader Clearing and its president Michael Cavanaugh, alleging significant failures in anti-money laundering (AML) controls and suspicious activity monitoring at the Chicago-based futures commission merchant.NFA Files Complaint Against NinjaTrader over AML Violations, Prison-Linked TradingThe regulatory action targets NinjaTrader's handling of multiple suspicious accounts, including one linked to an imprisoned individual and another involving potential unregistered trading operations. NFA states, "These telephone communications with Individual 2 appear to have occurred while he was in prison."The firm, which manages approximately 85,000 accounts and maintains over $22 million in excess net capital, allegedly failed to properly investigate numerous red flags despite its rapid growth following several acquisitions."During the 2023 exam, NFA reviewed a sample of five alerts on the Daily Red Flag report generated on February 13, 2023 and found the firm failed to conduct enhanced due diligence with respect to two accounts on the report, despite unusual activity involving them," the regulator commented.NinjaTrader Clearing is a subsidiary of NinjaTrader Group, the company behind a popular retail trading platform specializing in futures markets. Cavanaugh has served as its President for nearly four years. Two months ago, the company also appointed the former Charles Schwab Director as another C-level executive.Key NFA’s AllegationsIn one notable case, NinjaTrader allegedly failed to properly investigate an account belonging to a 20-year-old who reported income and net worth below $50,000 but managed to deposit $82,000 within months of opening the account. The account was connected to an individual serving prison time for money laundering, who was recorded placing trades despite explicit instructions prohibiting his involvement.The complaint highlights systematic deficiencies in NinjaTrader's compliance infrastructure, including:Failure to aggregate deposits across multiple accounts for monitoring purposesInadequate review of suspicious activity alertsInsufficient investigation of accounts exceeding deposit thresholdsFailure to screen nearly 61,000 accounts against FinCEN's watchlistHistorical ContextThis isn't the first time the firm has faced regulatory scrutiny. Prior to its acquisition by NinjaTrader Group LLC in December 2020, the company's predecessor, York Business Associates LLC (doing business as TransAct) was sanctioned by both the CFTC and NFA for similar supervisory failures. The incident occurred 12 years ago, and the CFTC imposed a fine of just under $200,000 on the company.„Specifically, the CFTC order finds that from about October 2007 to at least February 2008, TransAct’s employees failed to follow-up sufficiently on “red flags” concerning suspicious activity,” CFTC commented in 2012.More than a decade later, the CFTC has again imposed a penalty on NinjaTrader, citing alleged mishandling of fraudulent accounts. As part of the settlement, NinjaTrader Clearing agreed to pay a $750,000 civil penalty and $233,425 in restitution to fraud victims..@CFTC Orders Illinois Futures Commission Merchant to Pay More Than $980,000 for Supervision Failures: https://t.co/GV2brdqBOW— CFTC (@CFTC) September 23, 2024The CFTC reported that the Illinois-based futures commission merchant failed to exercise due diligence in supervising employee actions related to managing suspected fraudulent accounts. Despite a statutory restraining order requiring immediate freezing or restriction of these accounts, the firm reportedly failed to act promptly, leading to further regulatory action.According to the NFA, NinjaTrader added over $192 million in customer funds between August 2021 and May 2022, primarily through acquisitions and bulk transfers from other firms. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Geopolitical worries over Ukraine spike the Fear Index as stocks tumble, bonds rally, and traders brace for a rocky ride.Just when you thought markets had seen it all, Ukraine’s geopolitical tensions returned to rattle investors. Yesterday, Wall Street's VIX Fear Index, a barometer for market volatility, spiked to levels not seen in over a year, heading up by almost 6%. This wasn’t your average bad day—it was panic in real time.The trigger? Escalating fears that Russia might deploy tactical nuclear weapons, a move that could irreversibly escalate the war and its economic ramifications. Markets loathe uncertainty, and investors responded in kind: dumping riskier assets and piling into safe havens faster than you can say "sell-off."By the end of the trading session, the Dow dropped around 350 points, the S&P 500 shed 0.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq slid by 0.3%. As geopolitical fears rise, so does the nervous energy across trading floors worldwide.European Markets Take a BeatingThe Financial Times reported that the FTSE 100 index experienced a decline of 0.5% on November 19, 2024, amid escalating tensions in the Ukraine conflict. Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 indices each fell by 0.7% on the same day, reflecting investor concerns over the geopolitical situation.I am hereby calling on Putin and Zelensky to meet with me and get this terrible war between Russia and Ukraine solved. We have never been closer to a nuclear WWIII than we are right now. We must stop the killing and prevent World War III.NO WORLD WAR 3pic.twitter.com/C5rYzYidAb— Donald J. Trump News (@_IDonaldTrump) November 18, 2024Europe’s main stock index took a nosedive to a three-month low on Tuesday, spooked by Russia’s increasingly loose talk of nuclear strikes. Because nothing says “sell everything” like a hint of apocalypse, right? The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) limped to a 0.4% loss by the close, after earlier plunging 1% to its lowest since August 8. That’s three straight days of red—who needs a winning streak anyway?And where are investors running? Straight to bonds. Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasuries sat at 5% as prices surged.Commodities RallyThe turmoil wasn’t bad news for everyone. Commodities had their moment in the spotlight. Gold—long hailed as the ultimate safe haven—is sitting at $2,630 an ounce, its highest level in six months. Oil markets also rallied, with Brent crude jumping amid concerns that escalating tensions could disrupt supply routes.President Vladimir Putin lowered Russia's threshold for a nuclear response, establishing an updated framework for conditions under which Moscow could order a strike from the world's biggest nuclear arsenal https://t.co/ypGEY5r9H3 pic.twitter.com/ph4n5L3RCL— Reuters (@Reuters) November 20, 2024Even agricultural commodities felt the heat, with wheat and corn prices ticking upward. Investors are bracing for potential sanctions or logistical hurdles that could further strain global food supply chains.The Biden-Putin EffectMarket volatility wasn’t helped by dueling statements from world leaders. President Biden doubled down on his support for Ukraine, reiterating that U.S. military aid would continue. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with ominous warnings, escalating fears of nuclear brinkmanship.Investors have seen this geopolitical chess game before, but each new round of tension tightens market nerves. The Biden administration’s firm stance against Russian aggression, combined with NATO’s ongoing involvement, signals a conflict that shows no signs of abating. And for markets, prolonged uncertainty is as welcome as a market crash itself.What’s Next? Strap in for More VolatilityAs the Fear Index hovers near 2023 highs, analysts warn that the road ahead will be anything but smooth. Volatility is likely to remain elevated as traders attempt to price in the unpredictability of the Ukraine conflict.How Nordic nations are preparing for nuclear Armageddon: Norwegians are told to stock up on iodine, Swedes are given bomb shelter guide and Finns are reminded of 'defence obligation' amid growing risk of war with Russia https://t.co/2nh8xAl7rL pic.twitter.com/Szu4qXKXXy— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) November 20, 2024Iodine. Interesting.Tech stocks could face particular challenges, with their valuations already stretched thin. Energy stocks, on the other hand, might see a temporary boost as oil prices react to potential supply disruptions. Defense stocks are also poised to gain as governments across Europe and the U.S. ramp up spending in response to escalating geopolitical threats.But for everyday traders, the best advice might be to sit tight and avoid making emotionally driven decisions. In moments of market upheaval, cooler heads prevail—or at least lose less.For traders and investors, the challenge will be navigating this turbulence while avoiding costly missteps. With the Fear Index at its highest in over a year, it’s clear that the market isn’t ready to exhale just yet. Stay nimble, stay informed—and maybe keep an eye on your stress levels while you’re at it.For more happy news as we slowly approach the festive season, follow our Trending section. This article was written by Louis Parks at www.financemagnates.com.

The publicly listed Bitcoin (BTC) miner from Wall Street and London’s City, Argo Blockchain (NASDAQ: ARBK, LSE: ARB) reported a net loss of $6.3 million in the third quarter as the cryptocurrency mining company grappled with challenging market conditions and reduced mining margins.Wall Street Bitcoin Miner Argo's Profits Vanish as Bitcoin Blues BiteRevenue fell to $7.5 million in Q3, down 28% from $10.4 million in the same period last year. The company mined 123 Bitcoin during the quarter, averaging 1.3 BTC per day.Mining margins contracted significantly to 8% from 58% in the year-ago period, when the company benefited from power credits due to economic curtailments. Adjusted EBITDA swung to negative $2.1 million compared to positive $2.4 million last year."The third quarter was a difficult quarter for BTC miners, including Argo," said CEO Thomas Chippas. "It is positive that we have seen improvement in BTC mining economics in October, and that this has continued into November."The results come after a better-than-expected first half of 2024. Despite a nearly 50% decline in the number of mined cryptocurrencies during that period, the company managed to increase its revenues by approximately 18%.For the year-to-date period, the results are increasingly deteriorating. The net loss now exceeds $39 million, compared to $26 million reported during the same period last year.Argo’s Q3 2024 results are out!? Generated a revenue of $7.5 million? Mining margin percentage of 8% ? Fully repaid the Galaxy loan in August 2024? Class action lawsuit filed in January 2023 dismissed in October 2024Post quarter updates include:?A non-binding LOI…— Argo (@ArgoBlockchain) November 20, 2024A source of partial consolation may be the fact that Argo is not alone in facing losses. Bitfarms, Marathon Digital Holdings, TeraWulf, and HIVE Digital Technologies, the biggest players in the industry, all struggled to maintain profitability in Q3 2024. The only exception was Hut 8, which posted a modest net profit of $0.9 million.Galaxy Digital’s LoanThe company ended the quarter with $2.5 million in cash and four Bitcoin. During Q3, Argo reduced its debt by $12.4 million, including fully repaying a loan from Galaxy Digital.In early August, the company reported that it had repaid last $18 million out of a total $35 million debt owed to an entity owned by Mark Novogratz, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency space. The loan was intended to save the Bitcoin Wall Street miner from collapse during its most challenging period and help stabilize its operations.“Successfully repaying $35 million of high-interest rate debt ahead of schedule is a testament to Argo's financial discipline,” Argo’s CEO said in August. “We remain committed to optimizing our capital structure and driving long-term value for our shareholders.”In a significant operational update, Argo disclosed that Galaxy Digital will not renew its hosting agreement at the Helios facility beyond December 28, 2024. The company is currently in discussions regarding the miners at that facility.High-Performance ComputingLooking ahead, Argo is exploring diversification opportunities, including a potential expansion at its Baie-Comeau facility through a partnership with BE Global Development Limited to provide high-performance computing (HPC) solutions for AI applications.“The High-Performance Computing hosting opportunity at our Baie Comeau facility is exciting and demonstrates our ability to diversify our capabilities beyond BTC into the growing AI computational market,” added Chippas. “At this juncture for the industry, we are keenly focused on growth opportunities that play to our deep expertise."Argo Blockchain is among several Wall Street mining firms exploring new revenue streams by focusing on HPC and AI. This strategic shift aims to diversify operations and leverage the increasing demand for computational power in the AI sector. Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at investment management firm VanEck, estimates that this pivot could unlock $38 billion in value for mining companies by 2027. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Operating for two years, the retail prop firm Lark Funding announced in November that it now enables its clients and retail traders to complete challenges through the TradingView platform.Prop Firm Offers TradingView on DXtradeLark Funding states that introducing TradingView challenge capabilities was "one of our best launches in 2024." This expansion became possible through DXtrade's integration with the popular charting platform."After Devexperts contributed to multiple broker integrations with us through their DXtrade trading backend and facilitated the process, we stand prepared to welcome new brokerages into our mutually beneficial ecosystem," said Rauan Khassan, VP of International Growth at TradingView. While the integration occurred earlier this year, Lark Funding is only now rolling out TradingView trading capabilities."Traders used to dream of using TradingView to pass their prop firm challenge," Lark Funding states enthusiastically on social media. "After years of waiting, it's now available. It's a game-changer."Lark Funding was among the first prop firms to suspend challenge purchases for US clients in February due to regulatory crackdown in the industry. They quickly implemented DXtrade as an alternative.Since then, the platform has gained significant recognition among prop firms and their clients, adding over 40 proprietary trading companies to the DXtrade XT platform in the past year.One of our best launches in 2024. Use TradingView to pass your challenge. pic.twitter.com/3g8R7X0e5t— larkfunding (@larkfunding) November 19, 2024This week's newest partner announcement was YourPropFirm.YourPropFirm Partners with Devexperts for Multi-Platform TradingYourPropFirm, a technology company helping brokers and entrepreneurs launch their own prop businesses within 10 days, has now added Devexperts' solution to their platform offerings.“Adding DXtrade to our platform lineup means prop firms have real choices and flexibility,” said Markus Sichler, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor at YourPropFirm. “Our clients can rely on us to provide alternative platforms whenever they need, so they’re prepared for any platform-specific challenges and can focus on growing their business.”The prop trading industry continues to evolve rapidly. Just yesterday (Tuesday), Finance Magnates exclusively reported that former AAAFx Business Development Head launched his own prop firm. Somesh Kapuria has left AAAFx to become CEO of Hola Prime.This move isn't surprising, especially considering a recent survey of 3,500 respondents showed that 60% of prop traders view broker-backed props as more trustworthy. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Financial services firm StoneX Group Inc. reported robust growth in its FX/CFD trading business for the fourth quarter, with revenues climbing 7% to $84.7 million compared to $79.2 million in the same period last year.StoneX Reports Strong FX/CFD Growth in Q4 FY24In the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) ending September 30, 2024, revenues in the FX and CFD segments exceeded $316 million, marking a 21% increase from the $262 million reported the previous year.The company's self-directed retail segment, which handles most of its forex and CFD operations, saw particularly strong momentum. Daily trading volumes remained steady at $11 billion, while revenue per million traded increased 8% to $122, reflecting improved pricing efficiency and client engagement."Our expanding global footprint and diversified product offering continues to deliver superior service to our clients," said Sean O'Connor, CEO of StoneX. "We experienced continued strong client engagement with increased volumes across nearly all of our operating segments and products despite relatively low volatility."Net Income Also UpThe FX/CFD performance contributed to StoneX's overall record quarterly results, with net income jumping 51% to $76.7 million and earnings per share rising 48% to $2.32. The company achieved an 18.5% return on equity for the quarter.For the whole fiscal year, the net income also moved up by 9%, from $238.5 million to almost $261 million. In the same time, the operating revenues rose by $18 to $3.44 billion.The institutional segment's FX business saw some pressure, with revenues declining $1.5 million, though this was more than offset by a $7.0 million increase in retail FX/CFD revenues. Average daily trading volumes in the institutional FX segment decreased 11% to $3.3 billion.StoneX is pleased to announce our fiscal 2024 Q4 financial results, and we remain committed to delivering value for both our clients and shareholders. https://t.co/S4QozyOodZ pic.twitter.com/fet8LmFtmi— StoneX Group Inc. (@StoneX_Official) November 19, 2024In October 2024, StoneX Group expanded its operations in India by joining the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) and opening new offices in Pune and Bengaluru. Since entering the Indian market in 2019, StoneX has grown to employ over 550 staff in the country, contributing to a global workforce of more than 4,300 employees. Additionally, in October, StoneX made an unsolicited $480 million takeover bid for UK-listed CAB Payments, offering a significant premium over the company's current share price. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Spreadex, a UK-based provider of sports and financial spread betting services, achieved strong financial results for another fiscal year ending on 31 May 2024. It reported a net profit of over £32.4 million on revenue of £103.26 million, according to the latest Companies House filing.Revenue and Profit GrowthRevenue increased by 16.2 per cent compared to the previous fiscal year, while net profit rose by 15 per cent. Pre-tax profits amounted to £42.2 million, 20 per cent higher than FY23.“The investments made in FY22 and FY23, in the foundations required for long-term growth, have again driven double-digit year-on-year increases in both revenue and profit,” the filing stated. “The underlying fundamentals of the business remain strong with both bet numbers and active clients increasing significantly.”Spread Betting: A Popular Product in the UKEstablished in 1999, Spreadex is the only company in the UK offering both sports and financial spread betting services. The platform also offers contracts for differences (CFDs) trading alongside spread betting instruments.Spread betting instruments are very popular in the United Kingdom, as gains from them, whether in sports or finance, are not taxed. This tax advantage leads many traders in the UK to prefer spread betting over other derivatives contracts.Although financial spread betting was introduced by IG Group, Spreadex remains the only company that offers both sports and financial spread betting services. “The diversity offered by this dual revenue stream continues to be unique to the business,” the filing highlighted.Meanwhile, Spreadex strengthened its balance sheet with net assets of £128.5 million at the end of the financial year, a 15 per cent increase from FY23’s £111.9 million. The Group also completed the acquisition of Sporting Index to support further growth, though the country’s anti-trust regulator is currently reviewing the deal. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Options based on BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) started trading today (Tuesday), opening a new phase in cryptocurrency investment. In just 60 minutes, the fund posted 73,000 contracts traded on the Nasdaq, ranking the top 20 most active nonindex options, CNBC reported. Options offer investors an alternative way to hedge their Bitcoin exposure or speculate on its price. The IBIT options, launched on the Nasdaq, have quickly gained traction with their high trading volumes.Bitcoin ETF OptionsOptions trading enables investors to leverage Bitcoin's volatility without directly owning the asset. By setting predetermined buy or sell prices, traders can design strategies to profit whether Bitcoin prices rise or fall. This mechanism encompasses risk management that is absent in spot Bitcoin trading.Experts predict that the emergence of ETF options will spur the creation of new funds with diverse strategies. While bitcoin has long been associated with high volatility, derivatives have largely been the domain of institutional investors. The launch of ETF options bridges this gap, offering a structured way for retail investors to manage risk and opportunities. Historically, options markets for popular ETFs like Invesco QQQ and SPDR S&P 500 have seen more activity than the ETFs themselves.Bitcoin ETFs Gain TractionThe market is set to expand further as other Bitcoin ETFs follow suit with options trading. Funds like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) are gearing up to join the fray following SEC approvals. As these offerings proliferate, they are likely to dampen Bitcoin's notorious price swings, encouraging broader adoption among cautious investors.In October, The US Securities and Exchange Commission allowed 11 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to list and trade options based on spot Bitcoin prices on the New York Stock Exchange. Early this year, the regulator approved spot Bitcoin ETFs to track the cryptocurrency’s value. The move marked a significant development for Bitcoin and the wider cryptocurrency community.Some of the approved funds included Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, ARK21Shares Bitcoin ETF, Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust BTC, and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Italy’s lawmakers are opposing government plans to increase capital gains taxes and widen the scope of its crypto assets. The proposals, central to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s 2024 budget, are being criticized for potentially stifling innovation and affecting smaller businesses.Push for Crypto Tax CompromiseEconomy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti proposed raising cryptocurrency capital gains taxes from 26% to 42%, aligning them with other financial income. However, some members of his ruling coalition are reportedly opposing the steep hike and suggesting capping the tax increase at 28%, Reuters reported. Amid the internal rift, Giorgetti has signaled a willingness to reconsider, exploring alternative taxation structures to resolve the disagreement. Debates also center on Italy’s digital tax, a levy introduced in 2019 targeting tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon. This restriction aims to strike a balance between generating revenue and maintaining market competitiveness.⚡️JUST IN: ?? Italy is reportedly considering raising its capital gains tax on #Bitcoin and other cryptos from the current 26% to as high as 42%.@paoloardoino, any chance you can stop this? ? pic.twitter.com/v7cvpWiDyY— Satoshi Club (@esatoshiclub) October 16, 2024The current 3% tax applies only to firms with annual global revenues above €750 million and Italian revenues exceeding €5.5 million. The Treasury’s proposal to remove these thresholds has sparked concerns about the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises. In response, the Forza Italia party, part of the ruling coalition, has introduced an amendment to preserve these revenue floors.Lawmakers argue that the thresholds prevent undue financial strain on SMEs while focusing the tax burden on large multinational corporations. Supporters of the expanded digital tax argue it could strengthen Italy’s fiscal position. However, opponents warn of potential diplomatic tensions with the United States, which has criticized such levies as discriminatory against American companies.Balancing Revenue and DiplomacySupporters of the expanded digital tax argue it could strengthen Italy’s fiscal position. However, opponents warn of potential diplomatic tensions with the United States, which has criticized such levies as discriminatory against American companies. Giorgetti has acknowledged these challenges, suggesting that maintaining targeted measures could help avoid further disputes. The latest development about crypto taxes in Italy followed a recent market rally that drove the crypto market to a historic high. The rally pushed the price of Bitcoin to an all-time high of more than $93. Another key trend in the space was the surge of spot bitcoin ETFs.Last month, Deputy Finance Minister Maurizio Leo disclosed plans to increase crypto taxes, highlighting that the initiative was a response to Bitcoin's increasing popularity. Other countries, including India, have attempted to take similar steps in the past but have yet to record a significant increase in revenue. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Finance Magnates London Summit: 24 continued into the second day at Old Billingsgate. It featured exhibitions, insightful panel discussions, and interviews. The event brings together influential brands and leaders in the trading, payments, fintech, and crypto asset space. FMLS:24 is a premier hub that provides financial updates, analysis, and research on online trading, fintech, payment, crypto, and blockchain technology. Here, firms in retail and institutional brokerage businesses, banking, fintech, crypto, and even regulators showcase their services and share ideas about the latest industry innovations.The 2.5-day event will culminate with the FMLS Awards, an important opportunity to recognize outstanding performance across various business categories in the industry.Speed Networking: The Sunset Liquidity BeerThere is more to come at FMLS:24. Among the topics lined up for Wednesday include a discussion with the regulators. At the Centre Stage, for instance, we will delve into the nitty-gritty details of regulatory aspects in the trading business.Some of the questions that will be answered are: What exactly do brokers need to report to regulators to ensure compliance, and when? How do off- and mid-shore jurisdictions keep up with global developments?And in compliant marketing: Are industry participants complying with regulators' growing push on ads and influencers? Who will regulate funded trading as a standalone offering and as CFD brokers' products?Future of Funding: VCs Talk InvestingWhat lies ahead for founders amid diminishing funding interest, market consolidation, and fundamental aspects? The emerging space of NEO banking could suggest opportunities in this regard. Industry participants thoroughly surveyed the aspects of VC funding and the opportunities.The panel discussion brought together Roberto Napolitano, the CMO of Innovate Finance; Rezso Szabo, the General Partner and head of London Illuminate Financial; Laurens De Poorter, Partner of Kraken Ventures; Lex Sokolin, the Managing Partner for Generative Ventures; and Thomas Curran, the Head of CMC CapX, CMC Market. "Payments as a Product" and Broker Innovation in a Multi-Asset WorldAnd at the center stage, the importance of comprehensive payment solutions in reducing operational costs was discussed. Mattia Calvosa, the Director of Regional GTM and BD at Visa, spoke to Finance Magnates’ Jonathan Fine to explore this space. As client demand becomes more complex, expansive payment solutions can reduce operational costs and deliver a better product. The Future of Retail Investment, by Its CreatorsThe impact of retail investors has remained strong since the pandemic. However, to maintain their competitiveness, brokerage firms need to keep up with the new reality. This is because financial services, personal finance, and fintech are becoming more intertwined. At the FMLS:24 Innovate Stage, industry experts delved into the future of retail investment. Steven Hatzakis, Global Director of Online Broker Research, and Lucian Lauerman, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of OANDA, were among the panelists. Pavel Spirin, CEO of Scope Markets; Gerald Perez, CEO of Interactive Brokers (UK); and David Litchfield, Director for Derivatives Sales at Cboe Global Markets, were also present.Tomorrow, a similar panel discussion about "Wonder Women of Fintech" will take place. Interestingly, although women make up 30% of the global fintech workforce, only 12% reportedly hold leadership roles. Also, female-led startups receive less than 2% of venture capital funding. However, despite these challenges, women are rising in this space, with a 58% growth in female fintech founders over the past decade. Besides that, firms with gender diversity perform 30% better financially, proving the value of inclusion. Discover the ways in which women are transforming obstacles into opportunities, leading the charge in fintech innovation, and shaping the industry's future. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has announced the withdrawal of two Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) authorizations.CySEC Withdraws CIFs for Two FirmsOn 11th November 2024, CySEC revoked the CIF authorization of Arumpro Capital Ltd. This decision follows the company’s explicit renouncement of its authorization under the Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law of 2017.In a statement on their website, Arumpro Capital Ltd said, “We regret to inform you that Arumpro Capital Ltd has made the difficult decision to renounce its license and cease offering investment services and activities. We value our customers and investors and appreciate the trust you have placed in us over the years.”The company further added, “Please note that, as communicated, all positions have been closed and access to trading accounts has been terminated.”Finance Magnates has contacted Arumpro Capital for a comment. At the time of writing, the company has not yet responded.On 4th November 2024, CySEC also withdrew the CIF authorization of Greenpost Trading Europe Ltd, following the company’s similar decision to renounce its authorization under the same legal provisions.CySEC Reminds CIFs of UKNF GuidelinesMeanwhile, CySEC has reminded CIFs about the Polish Financial Supervision Authority’s (UKNF) position on referral and affiliate programs, as reported by Finance Magnates.In its October 2023 guidance, the UKNF prohibits clients of investment firms or unregulated intermediaries from engaging in personalized client acquisition activities under such programs. CySEC highlighted in a web release that the UKNF's position restricts individuals or entities outside the firms from undertaking actions to attract clients or potential clients for investment services.Additionally, the UKNF guidance limits the dissemination of information regarding the scope of services offered by investment firms. According to the position, only the firms themselves or their tied agents are authorized to perform such activities.This reminder highlights the importance of compliance with regulatory expectations in cross-border activities involving affiliate or referral-based client acquisition. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Proprietary (prop) trading as a concept has experienced a huge surge in popularity over recent years, developing into an established way of trading for many across the world, while ushering in a new era in terms of how trades are conducted.For the many companies now operating within the sector, prop traders are typically expected to pass a lengthy, multi-level evaluation process before being deemed appropriate to proceed to the funded account stage.This can lead to intense frustration from some participants, particularly skilled or experienced ones, who end up finding themselves caught up in a cycle of repetitive evaluations that can negatively affect both their emotions and outcomes.Ultimate Traders tackles this problem head on, with the innovative prop firm removing the need for a second evaluation stage as part of its ‘Speedy Challenge’ – meaning competent traders can kickstart their trading journeys without unnecessary delay.The speedy way to account fundingUnlike traditional multi-tier structures offered by various other firms, the Speedy Challenge provides a fast-track route on the path to a live funded trading account through its unique single-tier structure.Designed for experienced, disciplined traders with rapid results in mind, this challenge saves time and effort, bypassing the drawbacks of conventional evaluations. It allows individuals to skip the second step by going directly to a funded account once the challenge is successfully completed.It provides traders with up to 1:30 leverage on forex, with tailored leverage for other assets like commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, giving them greater control over their trading strategies. There is also full transparency in the pricing structure, with entry fees starting at $79, while VAT is applied on challengers from the UK or EU.The Speedy Challenge offers quicker access to capital, with multiple account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $200,000, allowing traders to reach the account funding stage and generate profits faster. However, this accelerated path comes with tighter risk controls, including a 4% drawdown limit, compared to the 6% cap offered in the company’s ‘Classic Challenge’. Unlocking the Speedy Challenge benefitsWith no fixed deadlines, participants who sign up for the challenge are encouraged to trade on the days when the market conditions are favourable, meaning there is no time pressure with regards to generating profit on either the live or evaluation accounts.Aside from the obvious fast-track benefits associated with the Speedy Challenge, traders are able to get excellent value out of their registration fee, which is unmatched by other prop firms. It represents only a small fraction of the account balance and is refunded once the first withdrawal is made from their live account.Another helpful feature for traders is the access they have to automated trading tools, with Ultimate Traders granting permission to use Expert Advisors (EAs) so long as they are not used in an abusive way.Important day trading techniques such as scalping and hedging are also permitted, meaning traders can modify their strategies and manage risk more effectively, particularly during periods of rapid market fluctuation.Optional add-ons and fast withdrawalsChallengers have several opportunities to further tailor their prop trading experience through a series of optional add-ons, which include removing stop-loss requirements, and enabling news trading during high-volatility events. They can also opt for a 90/10 profit split in order to retain more of their earnings.Once funded, traders are able to benefit from flexible withdrawals, with the ability to withdraw profits every 14 days, which is significantly better than the industry-standard 30-day cycle. This added flexibility provides quicker access to profits, supporting financial freedom and motivating participants to maintain high levels of performance.Ultimate Traders’ trading rulesOnce a trader accepts the challenge, they are expected to meet a defined set of rules before they are entrusted with the company’s capital in a fully-fledged funded trading account, with the most important rules outlined below.● Minimum of 3 Trading Days: Traders must place at least one trade on three separate days, but this rule is removed for those with a funded Ultimate Traders account.● 4% Daily Drawdown Limit: Losses cannot exceed 4% of the previous day’s recorded equity, including both balance and floating P&L.● 6% Maximum Loss Limit: Total losses must not exceed 6% of the account size, with the limit trailing until it matches the initial balance, where it remains fixed.● 10% Profit Target: Traders need to reach a 10% profit target (e.g., $100,000 account must grow to $110,000) with no time limits imposed.● Weekend Trading / Stop-Loss: All trades require a stop-loss and must close before the weekend, unless traders pay a 10% premium to lift these restrictions.Offering an accelerated path to trading capital, the Speedy Challenge is well suited to disciplined prop traders who can manage risk effectively under tighter constraints and are looking to progress without the usual delays associated with completing multiple evaluation phases. Looking to take on the challenge? To find out how to get started, click here. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

T4Trade, a reputable broker committed to offering both novice and veteran traders the “ultimate trading experience”, has been on an award-winning streak over the last year, taking home numerous industry awards.In 2023, T4Trade stole the spotlight as a “Top100 Trusted Financial Institution in the Middle East”, following a rigorous vetting process by Smart Vision, a well-known awarding body and event organiser setting the benchmark for excellence in the online trading industry. This was only the beginning of a successful journey.Two global accolades followed shortly after, as the broker was voted in two categories of the renowned Global Forex Awards, enjoying the laurels of success as the winner of the “Best Trading Experience Award” and “Most Trusted Broker - MENA”.Titles continued to trickle in through 2024, with T4Trade joining the ranks of global industry leaders as the “Fastest Growing FX Broker”, according to the Global Excellence Awards’ categorisation. Soon after that, the Forex broker was designated as a top industry player for its consistent efforts in offering the “Best Trading Experience”, recognition awarded by Global Business and Finance Magazine. Other honours placing the online broker’s brand at the forefront of the industry include “Fastest Growing Broker 2024” from Global Business and Finance Magazine, “Best Online Trading Platform 2024” from World Business Outlook Awards, and “Best Forex Brand for T4Trade” from Lawyer International.All these awards are a huge nod to the CFD broker’s commitment to equipping traders with the knowledge, trading platforms and tools they need to navigate market volatility.Proof of work in T4Trade’s termsSetting out to democratise the online trading space, T4Trade meets the needs of all traders. With a stable trading environment comprising the popular MetaTrader 4 platform, available in both web and mobile version, and the proprietary T4Trade mobile trading app, the broker improves traders’ bottom line.From advanced charting tools, trading calculators, economic calendar and sophisticated indicators, T4Trade’s online trading platform checks all the boxes. Whether they wish to trade directly from a web browser without having to download and install any software, or the privacy of the desktop MT4 platform, traders can enjoy the same exceptional features and functionalities.Alternatively, the sleek, user-friendly T4Trade mobile app offers the same seamless experience and unmatched connectivity to the markets on the go. As different traders have different asset preferences and risk appetite, the broker’s platform caters to all trading tastes. Providing easy access to 500+ instruments, including a diverse selection of CFDs on Forex, shares, indices, commodities, metals, and futures, T4Trade is the go-to destination for traders worldwide.In addition to the broad market coverage, T4Trade also offers competitive trading conditions across its account types tailored to match the risk tolerance and budgets of novice, intermediate, and professional traders, with Cent, Standard, Premium, and Privilege options.Depending on the account type, spreads can be fixed, floating, and flexible. This provides traders of all levels with lucrative options that give them full control over their capital, taking into account trading costs. For more clarity on the broker’s spreads and pricing, check out the account comparison.Thanks to its direct connectivity to deep liquidity pools, T4Trade offers lightning-fast execution and some of the best prices in the industry. This paired with the 24/5 customer support in over 30 languages, ensuring that every trading-related query is answered accurately and in a timely fashion, and advanced decision-support tools such as Trading Central, make T4Trade a serious contender for traders’ preference, worthy of the “Best Broker” title.Licensed and regulated, T4Trade is bound by strong principles of transparency and fairness, ensuring that client funds are separated from its own by keeping them safe in segregated accounts held with top-tier banks around the world. In line with these principles, the company seeks to empower traders through education. Its knowledge base spans a variety of materials to accompany traders at every stage of their journey. Covering a vast spectrum of topics, from trading basics to advanced trading strategies and trading psychology, the T4Trade Education section groups together content in multiple formats, from Live TV to webinars, and podcasts to eBooks and video on demand, supplying just the bites of information that traders need to form a comprehensive view of market dynamics.“At T4Trade, we’re on a mission to facilitate access to trading opportunities”, explains a spokesperson of T4Trade “This is why we always go the extra mile. Every trader has a different way of positioning themselves towards the markets.“Our mandate as a broker is to offer them the right tools to set them up for success. So far, I believe we’ve achieved that. The numerous awards we’ve collected in such a short time prove it. This is equally thrilling and binding, urging us to continue to innovate and exceed our clients’ expectations,” they added.With an offering that goes beyond modern technology and fair pricing, T4Trade sets a new standard of high-quality financial services, raising the bar in the online trading industry.To explore the broker’s offering and test-drive its platforms, open an account.All trading involves risk. It is possible to lose all your capital. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

In a testament to its commitment to community engagement and sportsmanship, OEXN (Open Exchange Network) proudly sponsored the volunteers at the 7th Larnaca International Marathon, held in the scenic coastal city of Larnaca, Cyprus. This event, known for bringing together athletes and supporters from across the globe, was a celebration of athletic excellence and collective goodwill.Championing Sportsmanship and CharityThe Larnaca International Marathon stands out not only as a premier athletic event but also as a platform that emphasizes the importance of community, inclusivity, and charity. By sponsoring the hardworking volunteers who played a crucial role in making the event successful, OEXN reinforced its belief in giving back to the community and supporting initiatives that inspire unity and resilience.The Backbone of the Marathon: VolunteersVolunteers are often the unsung heroes of such large-scale events, ensuring seamless organization and a welcoming environment for participants and attendees. OEXN's sponsorship covered essential resources for the volunteers, such as uniforms, hydration stations, and operational logistics, enabling them to perform their roles effectively and enthusiastically.Dressed in bright, branded uniforms provided by OEXN, volunteers were stationed across various points of the marathon route, assisting runners, distributing refreshments, and maintaining the event's efficiency. Their dedication and spirit mirrored the values of perseverance and teamwork, which OEXN holds at its core.Strengthening OEXN's Role in the CommunityThis sponsorship aligns with OEXN's broader mission of supporting sports, education, and charitable causes. As a global leader in financial services and technology, OEXN recognizes the importance of fostering connections beyond the corporate realm and contributing to societal well-being."Supporting the volunteers at the Larnaca Marathon was a natural choice for OEXN," stated a company representative. "We see this not just as sponsorship but as an investment in people and their ability to bring communities together through shared values of determination and excellence."A Continued Commitment to ExcellenceWith its active role in initiatives like the Larnaca International Marathon, OEXN continues to demonstrate its leadership beyond the financial sector. The company's dedication to community engagement and philanthropy ensures that it remains a trusted and respected partner in global and local initiatives.The 7th Larnaca International Marathon concluded with thousands of runners and supporters leaving inspired and energized. For OEXN, the event was yet another opportunity to showcase its commitment to fostering goodwill and excellence, both on and off the race track.About OEXNOEXN (Open Exchange Network) is a pioneering financial services and technology company that empowers clients through cutting-edge solutions and robust trading platforms. Guided by values of innovation, integrity, and impact, OEXN continues to shape the future of global finance while fostering meaningful connections with the communities it serves. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

eToro, which offers both CFDs and physical crypto trading, revealed to Finance Magnates that the total value of the newly opened Bitcoin positions jumped by more than 300% in the first two weeks of November compared to the first two weeks of October. While the volume of crypto CFDs on Pepperstone also jumped over 3 times after the US elections, Axi confirmed doubling its figures.For both Pepperstone and Axi, the crypto market rally induced by Donald Trump's victory as the 27th president of the United States only boosted the already growing demand for crypto trading on their platforms.Pepperstone, an Australia-headquartered broker, revealed that its client trading volumes were already increasing into the US election. Axi, on the other hand, experienced a notable volume increase before the US election, from a daily average of over $448 million to more than $892.6 million, representing a 99.23% rise. Following November 10th, volumes further increased by 92% and have remained elevated since then.It should be noted that eToro's figures combine its CFDs and physical crypto offerings. However, the figures for Pepperstone and Axi are only for crypto CFDs.A Significant Jump in Open PositionsThe open positions on all these platforms also jumped significantly, along with the volume. The number of crypto CFDs positions on Axi increased by up to 13 times compared to pre-US election levels. eToro, which only provided data for open positions for Bitcoin, also witnessed a jump of over 170%.“[The figures show] that more investors were buying Bitcoin and in much larger amounts,” said eToro’s Crypto Analyst, Simon Peters, adding that “the number of positions closed also rose 100% as investors took profit.”According to Axi’s Chief Commercial Officer, Louis Cooper, the increase in crypto positions “reflects a clear trend of investors seeking diversification amid uncertainty surrounding traditional asset classes.”"A Notable Increase in Two-Way Flow"Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency with the volatility. In fact, some other altcoins, especially meme tokens, remained more volatile than Bitcoin."We’ve seen some interest in Dogecoin, and Cardano and some of the other coins that have undergone such incredible price shifts since 5 November, however, client activity remains heavily skewed towards Bitcoin," said Chris Weston, Head of Research at Pepperstone."Clients are always drawn to increased movement in any market, and while we’ve seen 100%+ moves in the likes of Dogecoin, clients have still been treated to an impulsive rally in Bitcoin, with price gaining 40% post-election. With the leverage offered in crypto CFDs, many don’t necessarily feel the need to push into Doge, as Bitcoin has the movement, the superior liquidity and lower cost to trade (spreads), to effectively trade their strategy."Furthermore, Pepperstone’s long (vs short) net positioning skew in Bitcoin and crypto is rarely below 70%. While the broker pay 10% on swaps on short positions (held over rollover), its traders are still highly biased to implement strategies that capture upside potential in price."Bitcoin and crypto CFDs are geared towards capturing short-term two-way trading opportunities," Weston added, "and as such, we’ve started to see a shift and an increase in traders turning more aggressive and shorting Bitcoin above $90k – with the broadly held thesis that price has run a little too hot, and the band has been pulled too hard, and due to mean revert. However, momentum and trend strategies have been the clear preference, and clients have been attracted to the increased range expansion and strength in the price."While Axi also observed the usual trend of clients buying and holding, which is expected with Trump coming into office, Cooper added: “There is a notable increase in two-way flow, with many clients choosing to go against the trend, resulting in balanced activity of buying and selling. This indicates a more dynamic trading environment where clients actively manage positions amid evolving market conditions.”“Conversely, there has been a shift towards longer holding periods for equities, particularly in the technology and energy sectors. The current environment seems to be driving a 'barbell strategy,' where investors are actively trading high-risk assets like crypto while holding onto equity positions that are likely to benefit from Trump’s pro-business policies.”"Change in Trading Behaviour"The fiat value of Bitcoin reached a record high last week, fuelled by Trump’s pro-crypto stance. It peaked at $93,400 against the US dollar and trades above $91,500 as of press time.Demand came from both retail and institutional investors. Michael Saylor-chaired MicroStrategy again poured billions into Bitcoin at its peak value.As for retail investors, eToro’s Peters said, “Globally, we are also seeing more people register to join eToro and fund their accounts.” For Axi, the surge in clients actively trading cryptocurrencies since the US elections marked a 200% increase.“This growth highlights the appeal of cryptocurrencies as a speculative asset class, particularly among retail investors looking to capitalise on the latest bull cycle,” added Cooper.Previously, Finance Magnates reported that crypto CFD trading demand on Axi last March reached $16.7 billion, compared to $7.6 billion in January and $10.4 billion in February.Pepperstone's Weston also highlighted that the the broker has seen a strong strong interest from prospects and a clear uplift in new client accounts in recent weeks, "which has resulted in significant volume and flow.""I’m not sure how much of that one can attribute to the US election, as most traders I’ve spoken to couldn’t wait for it to be over," he added. "What matters most is that cross-market price action, range expansion, and volatility have become highly favourable for short-term traders and the general trading environment has seen increased opportunity for traders of all strategies (momentum, swing, mean reversion etc) to cut their craft in."Rania Gule, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, another broker offering crypto CFDs, also acknowledged the overall rise in crypto trading demand but did not share platform-specific figures.“Post-election, there’s been a noticeable change in trading behaviour,” said Gule. “Specifically, users are more inclined towards a buy-and-hold strategy for cryptocurrencies while showing a preference for active stock trading. This indicates a growing interest in crypto as a long-term investment asset, while stocks remain a go-to for shorter-term moves.”"Operational Challenges Have Naturally Arisen"Although higher trading activities translate to more revenue for trading platforms, which often charge through spreads, a sudden surge in volume also brings challenges. One key challenge is the load on the trading infrastructure and the limited time to address it.“With the increased demand for crypto trading, operational challenges have naturally arisen,” Cooper said. “The heightened trading volumes have required us to expand server capacity to ensure platform stability during peak times. We’ve also increased our customer support resources to accommodate the uptick in new users and the associated inquiries regarding crypto trading.”“Additionally, managing liquidity has become a priority, particularly with the heightened volatility in the market. With more flow and demand for crypto trading, we have had to ensure that we provide the best possible price for our clients. This has resulted in significant work sourcing, onboarding, and testing new liquidity providers in the crypto space to maintain tight spreads and ensure efficient trade execution, even during volatile periods, ultimately enhancing the trading experience for our clients.”However, eToro, which is also planning to go public, denied facing any challenges with the surge in crypto trading demand.Pepperstone also did not witnessed any challenges, as Weston highlighted that its "systems have handled the increased flow with ease," adding: "Client fills when executing at market or on market orders have been well received and helped by the extended hours to trade Bitcoin/crypto that limits the gapping risk, while the intraday price action has also been smooth." This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

CyVers and Station70, two companies specialising in Web3 security, have formed a strategic partnership and launched a transaction security solution tailored for institutions of all sizes. The solution addresses the growing attacks on wallet and transaction signing systems.Combining ExpertiseAnnounced today (Tuesday), the solution, named Secure Signer, proactively secures institutional transaction signing while protecting against evolving cyber threats. The solution combines Station70’s hosted co-signer-as-a-service with CyVers’ advanced real-time threat detection engine.The solution offers Fireblocks wallet users a deployment option that simulates and validates transactions for security risks before blockchain execution. According to the companies, the dual-layered security approach enables institutions to gain better control over signing processes while ensuring transactions are legitimate, monitored, and protected without adding operational complexity.“By combining CyVers’ real-time threat intelligence with Station70’s co-signer technology, we provide institutions with a streamlined path to advanced transaction security,” said Adam Healy, CEO and Co-founder of Station70. “This is more than a product; it’s a step towards restoring institutional confidence and trust in Web3 transaction safety.”Addressing Critical Security NeedsThe need for this solution stems from significant losses suffered by crypto companies due to security breaches. A press release shared with Finance Magnates revealed that users and companies lost over $4 billion in crypto assets in the past two years to access control attacks.Hacking incidents involving centralised entities increased by 1,000 per cent in 2024, including a $54 million breach at BtcTurk and a $52 million incident at BingX.Earlier this year, Finance Magnates reported that funds stolen by hackers from cryptocurrency platforms fell by over 50% in 2023 compared to the previous year. However, the number of individual hacking incidents rose, indicating that hacking remains a significant threat for crypto investors.In 2022, hackers stole a record $3.7 billion from crypto platforms. But, according to a new report from the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, in 2023, that figure dropped to around $1.7 billion, representing a decrease of 54%. The main driver of this drop was a major decline in decentralized finance (DeFi) hacking. After exploding in 2021 and 2022, with over $3 billion stolen in each year, funds stolen from DeFi protocols fell by nearly 64% to $1.1 billion in 2023.“The integration of Station70’s co-signer service with CyVers’ threat detection addresses a critical gap in wallet security,” said Deddy Lavid, CEO of Cyvers. “We’re excited to provide institutions with this unique solution to significantly reduce losses from access control breaches and private key exposures.” This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

WhiteBIT crypto exchange is celebrating six years of rapid growth, solidifying its position among the leaders in the European crypto market. From its beginnings as an ambitious startup in 2018, the company has evolved into a key market player with 5.5 million users thanks to innovative solutions, a rapidly expanding ecosystem, a strong focus on security, and continuous enhancements to the user experience.6 Key Achievements1. WhiteBIT Surpasses 5.5 million Users, Strengthening Its Leadership in EuropeAhead of its sixth anniversary, WhiteBIT crypto exchange has reached a milestone of over 5.5 million registered users. In the past year alone, the platform added more than 1.5 million new accounts, doubling its 2022 numbers. The platform’s 24-hour trading volume approaches $11 billion, while futures trading reaches nearly $40 billion as of November 13. Additionally, its B2B services now cater to over 1,000 business clients. These impressive achievements are driven by the continuous enhancement of the user experience and significant investments in security.2. WhitePool: $1.2 Million in a Single DayIn October 2024, WhitePool, the crypto exchange’s dedicated mining pool, set a new record. On October 8, it successfully mined 6 blocks, generating over $1.2 million in one day. With a hashrate surpassing 7 EH/s, this milestone highlights strong user engagement and support. Since its launch, WhitePool participants have collectively mined over 320 blocks, showcasing the platform's efficiency and the computing power of its users. Despite being launched only in August, WhitePool has secured a spot in the top 15 global mining pool rankings.3. WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) Has Nearly Doubled in Value Since the Beginning of OctoberWhiteBIT's native coin has demonstrated its growth, with its rate nearly doubling to $22.42 as of November 13. This surge was propelled by the token's ongoing integration into the platform's ecosystem and additional rewards for users actively engaging on the exchange.4. Strategic Partnerships on Local and Global LevelsWhiteBIT and FC Barcelona have launched an innovative educational program on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency titled “Game-Changing Tech: Mastering Blockchain” through the Barça Innovation Hub platform. The exchange also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the global Visa payment system to integrate crypto assets into fintech products.5. PCI DSS Certification and Hacken Award for High Level of SecurityThis year, WhiteBIT received the highest level of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification for payment data security and a prestigious award from Hacken for achievements in cybersecurity. The crypto exchange is constantly improving its security systems, guaranteeing high standards of security of users' data and assets. In addition, according to the audit of the certification platform CER.live, WhiteBIT is among the five most secure crypto exchanges.6. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the company has donated over $11 million to support the Ukrainian army and civilians.Thanks to Whitepay's solution, major charitable organizations can now receive cryptocurrency donations. This enables transparent transactions and attracts international donors who prefer crypto transfers. To date, over 100 million USDT in crypto donations have been collected through Whitepay's crypto-processing solution.Celebrating Six YearsTo celebrate its sixth anniversary, WhiteBIT has launched the new Bull Run Telegram app, where users can compete throughout November for a prize pool of up to ~30,000 USDT in various cryptocurrencies. Participants can test their intuition by predicting market movements and challenging other players in real-time. The game has already attracted over 640,000 users actively vying for the top prizes, with 15,400 USDT already awarded in various assets. The founder and CEO of WhiteBIT, Volodymyr Nosov, shared: “Six years ago, we embarked on our journey with a clear goal — to make cryptocurrency accessible to everyone. Since then, we’ve continuously invested in innovation, expanded partnerships with leading brands, and implemented cutting-edge solutions to integrate cryptocurrency into the daily lives of millions. But despite our achievements, we are far from done. Looking ahead, our focus is on further developing the WhiteBIT ecosystem, expanding our product offerings, and creating even more opportunities for our users."About WhiteBitWhiteBIT (https://whitebit.com) is one of the largest European centralized crypto exchanges founded in 2018. The exchange offers 600+ trading pairs, 300+ digital assets, and 9 state currencies. The company is an official partner of the Ukrainian national football team, FC Barcelona, FC Trabzonspor, FACEIT. The goal of WhiteBIT is the mass implementation of blockchain technology worldwide. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Marathon Digital Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) has been a focal point in the cryptocurrency market, with recent announcements about a $700 million and $850 million convertible note offering and its impact on the company’s operations. As a leader in Bitcoin (BTC) mining, Marathon develops and deploys digital asset compute technology, expanding its portfolio while navigating market volatility. This article provides the latest information to help investors understand MARA stock performance, its financial strategies, and market implications.MARA Stock News: Overview of Marathon Digital Holdings Inc.Marathon Digital Holdings is a major player in Bitcoin mining and blockchain technology. The company’s digital asset compute portfolio supports Bitcoin's infrastructure and addresses energy transformation challenges. Formerly known as Marathon Patent Group, the company changed its name to reflect its focus on cryptocurrencies.Key Facts:Ticker: NASDAQ: MARAIndustry: Cryptocurrency, blockchain, and digital assetsRecent Development: Announced a $700 million convertible senior notes offering MARA’s share price often reflects trends in Bitcoin and broader cryptocurrency markets, making it essential for informed trading and investing decisions.Financial Performance and Convertible Note OfferingKey Financials:Marathon’s Q3 2024 financial performance highlights its position in the cryptocurrency space:Revenue: $131.6 million (+34.5% YoY)Net Loss: $124.8 million, widening from the previous year.Bitcoin Holdings: 26,747 Bitcoins as of September 30, 2024.$700 Million Convertible Senior Notes OfferingOn November 18, 2024, Marathon announced the pricing of its oversubscribed and upsized offering of zero-coupon convertible senior notes due 2030:Principal Amount: $850 million, with an option for initial purchasers to acquire an additional $150 million.Conversion Price: $25.91 per share (a 42.5% premium over the U.S. composite volume-weighted share price).Maturity: March 1, 2030.Purpose of Proceeds: Repurchase existing 2026 convertible notes, acquire additional Bitcoin. General corporate purposes like asset expansion and strategic acquisitions.Today, we announced a proposed private offering of $700 million of convertible senior notes.⁰⁰Proceeds to be used primarily to acquire bitcoin, repurchase existing convertible notes due in 2026, and for general corporate purposes. https://t.co/0vg7ri8BDX— MARA (@MARAHoldings) November 18, 2024“MARA estimates that the net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be approximately $833 million (or approximately $980 million if the initial purchasers exercise in full their option to purchase additional notes), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions but before estimated offering expenses payable by MARA,” the company commented.Semi-Annual Interest Details:The notes will bear semi-annual interest starting March 1, 2025. Holders may redeem notes starting March 5, 2028, under specific market conditions. Repurchasing $212 million of 2026 convertible notes will reduce the company’s liabilities and provide operational flexibility.This offering aligns with MARA’s broader strategy, which includes publishing quarterly updates to provide informational purposes about its financial health and operational advancements. Investors seeking to get the latest MARA Holdings news can track these developments to evaluate potential opportunities.Impact of the Offering on Stock and Market ActivityThe offering’s structure and hedged holder activities have impacted MARA’s stock price. Shares were trading lower on Monday morning following the announcement due to market uncertainty, but analysts suggest the 700 million convertible senior notes will improve the company’s liquidity.On Monday, MARA stock declined by over 14%, testing lows at $17.72 and closing at $18.11. The stock found support from the 50 and 200 EMA moving averages but returned to the consolidation range established in August.Market Activity and Hedged Holders:Hedged holders could increase the market price of MARA's common stock through derivative transactions. Marathon cannot predict how this activity will affect stock performance, creating potential volatility for investors.Marathon Digital Holdings in the Crypto MarketMARA’s performance is closely tied to cryptocurrency market trends:Bitcoin Volatility: Marathon’s revenue depends on Bitcoin prices, with fluctuations impacting the stock's market price.Regulatory Challenges: U.S. cryptocurrency regulations, including tax policies, could affect operational strategies.Energy Sustainability: Marathon’s digital asset compute technology focuses on reducing environmental impact.Marathon Digital Holdings, a leading publicly traded Bitcoin mining company, reported a net loss of $124.8 million in the third quarter of 2024, despite a 34.5% year-over-year revenue increase to $131.6 million. The loss was primarily due to a $40 million rise in operational expenses during the quarter. In October 2024, Marathon secured a $200 million line of credit, using a portion of its cryptocurrency holdings as collateral. This move highlights the growing trend of companies leveraging digital assets for financingBitcoin Holdings and Portfolio ExpansionMarathon’s digital asset compute that develops and deploys blockchain solutions ensures its long-term position in the market. By repurchasing convertible notes and acquiring more Bitcoin, Marathon secures its financial foundation while increasing its exposure to digital assets.Marathon Digital Holdings reported producing 717 BTC in October, achieving its highest monthly output since the April halving event. The company continues to scale its operations, with its energized hash rate reaching 40.2 exahashes per second (EH/s) in October, reflecting a 14% increase compared to September. Although network difficulty led to a slight decline in blocks won, Marathon still achieved a 2% month-over-month increase in total Bitcoin production, underscoring its operational growth and resilience in the cryptocurrency mining sector.“Despite a slight month-over-month decrease in block wins, driven by the growth in global hash rate and the resulting rise in difficulty level, BTC production increased by 2% to 717 BTC,” said Fred Thiel, MARA's Chairman and CEO.Competitive Analysis: Where Does MARA Stand?Comparison with Competitors:MARA is currently the biggest publicly listed Bitcoin miner from Wall Street. According to the Finance Magnates’ review from August, the company’s market cap almost reached $6 billion, while the second Clean Spark stood at $3.7 billion.Moreover, it is also one of the biggest publicly listed BTC holders.Marathon differentiates itself with its innovative strategies, including diversification into high-performance computing.Analyst Insights and Stock TrendsAnalysts have mixed views on MARA stock:Optimistic Outlook: Strong Bitcoin reserves and innovative growth strategies.Risks: Volatility in Bitcoin's price, potential dilution from convertible notes, and regulatory uncertainty.Target Price: $20–$30 range for 2025, factoring in market conditions.Macquarie recently increased its price target for Marathon Digital Holdings from $22 to $29 while maintaining an Outperform rating following the company's Q3 2024 report. The target hike reflects a sector-wide re-rating, according to the firm.Macquarie highlighted Marathon’s strategic use of acquisitions to expand its operations and reduce costs. Notably, the company's Q3 efforts resulted in a 7% growth in its mining fleet, bringing the total to 268,000 miners. This expansion underscores Marathon’s focus on scaling its operations to strengthen its position in the competitive cryptocurrency mining industry.ETF and Investment TrendsMarathon Digital Holdings has attracted attention from crypto-focused ETFs and institutional investors. Its leadership in Bitcoin mining and strategic acquisitions position it as a preferred choice for diversified portfolios.Conclusion: The Future of MARA Holdings Inc.Marathon Digital Holdings Inc. continues to evolve, leveraging its digital asset compute portfolio and financial strategies to remain a market leader. The $700 million convertible senior notes offering reinforces the company’s liquidity and growth potential while contributing to its focus on acquiring Bitcoin and reducing debt.Investors seeking real-time stock quotes, financial information, and informed trading decisions should monitor MARA’s performance on platforms like NASDAQ and Yahoo Finance. By addressing current market challenges, Marathon is positioning itself as a sustainable and forward-thinking leader in the cryptocurrency space.For the latest MARA stock news and updates, keep an eye on Finance Magnates.FAQ, Understanding MARA Holdings Inc.What is MARA stock?MARA stock refers to shares of Marathon Digital Holdings Inc., a leader in Bitcoin mining and blockchain infrastructure. It is the biggest Bitcoin miner on Wall Street.MARA’s revenue and profitability are directly tied to Bitcoin’s market price, influencing its stock performance.Why did MARA Holdings shares drop despite Bitcoin’s strong performance?MARA Holdings’ shares dropped despite Bitcoin's strong performance due to concerns over its financial and operational strategies. In Q3 2024, the company reported a net loss of $124.8 million, overshadowing its 34.5% year-over-year revenue growth of $131.6 million, largely driven by a $40 million rise in operational expenses. Additionally, MARA’s diversification into areas like artificial intelligence and high-performance computing has sparked investor caution, as these initiatives may not align with its core Bitcoin mining operations. Is MARA expected to go up?Analysts have mixed expectations for Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA). As of November 2024, the average 12-month price target among eight analysts is $21.57, with estimates ranging from $12.00 to $28.00. This suggests a modest potential upside from the current price, but opinions vary, and investors should consider the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market.Why is MARA going down?MARA's stock decline can be attributed to several factors: In Q3 2024, the company reported a net loss of $124.8 million, despite a 34.5% year-over-year revenue increase to $131.6 million. This loss was primarily due to a $40 million rise in operational expenses. Mixed analyst opinions, citing revenue misses and increased costs, have also contributed to the stock's decline. What is MARA's stock price target?As of November 2024, the average 12-month price target for MARA is $21.57, with individual targets ranging from $12.00 to $28.00. Moreover, Macquarie has raised its price target for Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA) from $22 to $29, maintaining an Outperform rating following the company's Q3 2024 report. This adjustment reflects a sector-wide re-rating, as noted by the firm. Who is the largest shareholder of MARA?BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder of MARA, holding approximately 15% of the company's outstanding shares. This significant stake reflects BlackRock's substantial investment in the company.Should I buy MARA stock now?Investors should consider the company’s long-term strategies and weigh the risks of volatility, potential dilution, and regulatory changes.This updated article includes all the requested terms, ensuring it is SEO-optimized while maintaining readability and value for investors. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

In recent years, both artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralised finance (DeFi) have undergone significant technological advancements. However, each industry has faced its own set of challenges. AI has grappled with the high cost of hardware and lack of open investment access, making it difficult for smaller startups to compete against large corporations such as Microsoft, which benefit from access to cheap GPU power and early investments into generational assets such as OpenAI. DeFi, on the other hand, has faced its own set of obstacles, including regulatory challenges and unsustainable yield, resulting in the failure of various exchanges and the breakdown of multi-million-dollar ventures. These difficulties have driven the development of innovative and disruptive solutions that are now redefining the DeFi and AI landscape.One such solution that holds tremendous promise is the convergence of AI and onchain financial systems–Artificial Intelligence Finance, or AI-Fi for short. Where DeFi meets AI, a powerful alliance emerges, one that offers the potential to transform both industries, improve their resilience and adaptability and lay the foundations for long-term financial sustainability. As these industries evolve, tokenising AI assets across the entire AI Value Chain will become a crucial strategy to democratise access to essential resources, support liquidity, and foster innovation in the ecosystem. This Value Chain–which comprises hardware, platforms, models, apps and services–can be effectively capitalised on through tokenisation, allowing AI-Fi to empower both retail investors and smaller startups to compete more effectively against larger corporations, and in turn shape the future of the AI economy.The Advantages of AI-Driven DeFiAs AI-Fi continues to evolve, it becomes clear that the partnership of DeFi and AI will offer a multitude of advantages that will transform the financial landscape.DeFi's peer-to-peer transactions and automated smart contracts effectively remove the need for centralised intermediaries, streamlining interactions between users and financial services, making it the perfect partner for AI, which is mostly online and networked. When applied across the AI value chain, DeFi can significantly transform both industries and lead to new economic opportunities.For example, onchain trading can benefit from AI's rapid examination of blockchain transactions, identifying potentially lucrative opportunities across multiple networks simultaneously. AI could find an opportunity, such as an arbitrage, execute it using DeFi protocols, and return the funds with added interest to a user's wallet, all without any effort on the user's part. Different AI-powered strategies can run behind the scenes in DeFi vaults, offering automated trading to anyone with internet access and modest on-chain funds.AI-driven DeFi also benefits individual users through faster decision-making, enhanced risk assessment, better returns due to the elimination of intermediaries, and improved user experiences with robo-advisors and on-chain portfolio managers. Additionally, investors can take advantage of the tokenisation of AI-related assets, which enhances the overall ecosystem through automated trading and settlement mechanisms. This includes the tokenisation of previously illiquid markets, such as GPU power. The 24/7 operation of these markets, combined with reduced counterparty risk provided by blockchain technology, creates a much more efficient marketplace for AI resources.Data Supporting AI-Fi & the Tokenisation of AI-related AssetsAccording to Accenture, 74% of organisations have adopted AI technologies in 2024, further driving the demand for innovative AI-FI frameworks that can facilitate transparent and efficient markets for AI assets, while ensuring automated compliance. McKinsey analysis indicates that tokenised market capitalisation could reach around $2 trillion by 2030, highlighting the growing influence of tokenisation across various asset classes.This trend reflects an increasing institutional interest in tokenisation, with leaders like BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, recognising its potential as the next evolution in markets. These data points underscore the urgency and opportunity for integrating AI-Fi solutions to enhance market transparency and accessibility. Case Study: AI-Fi & Cloud ComputingThe convergence of AI-Fi and cloud computing represents a transformative shift in how both industries operate. As AI technologies continue to evolve, they demand substantial computational resources for model training and inference, which cloud computing can provide. According to Franklin Templeton's research, the current landscape is dominated by a few major players—commonly referred to as the "Big 3" (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)—alongside telecom giants like AT&T and T-Mobile. These entities have historically benefited from low capital costs and government subsidies, creating an imbalance in access to essential computing resources.AI-Fi addresses this imbalance by enabling fractional ownership of computing resources, such as GPU credits. This democratisation of access ensures that value flows directly to a broader range of participants, rather than being concentrated among a few large corporations. By allowing smaller startups and individual investors to participate in the AI economy, AI-Fi fosters innovation and competition.Currently, the trading and accumulation of these computing resources are largely controlled by centralised players like NVIDIA. However, through AI-Fi, new investment opportunities can now emerge in the hardware layer. Tokenised hardware pools can be established, allowing investors to collectively own and trade shares in computing resources. This not only opens up attractive revenue streams but also enhances liquidity in a market that has traditionally been illiquid.Singularity Finance: Bridging DeFi and AISingularity Finance (SFI) brings together DeFi and AI experts to develop a comprehensive tokenisation framework spanning the entire AI value chain. At the hardware layer, SFI enables the tokenisation of GPU infrastructure and data centers, creating a more inclusive and efficient AI economy. Decentralised computing services are introduced at the platform layer, providing cost-effective alternatives to traditional cloud providers. At the model layer, SFI facilitates the tokenisation of foundation models and knowledge graphs, fostering collaborative development. Finally, at the application layer, SFI deploys AI-powered DeFi solutions and professional services, creating a complete ecosystem for AI asset monetisation and utilisation.By working across the entire AI value chain, SFI's tokenisation approach redefines value creation and exchange in the AI economy, unlocking new asset classes and opportunities for participation. Additionally, with the support of the ASI ecosystem, SFI is well-positioned to drive the future of AI-Fi and shape the decentralised AI landscape.The convergence of AI and DeFi, (aka AI-Fi), is poised to reshape both industries profoundly. As organisations increasingly adopt AI technologies and the tokenised asset market continues to grow exponentially, the demand for innovative AI-Fi frameworks will only intensify. By bridging AI development with DeFi, platforms like SFI create new markets for previously illiquid assets, in turn transforming how AI resources are valued and traded in the digital economy.Author Bio:Cloris Chen, CFA, is a leading expert in decentralized finance (DeFi) with a focus on tokenization and the AI economy. As CEO of Singularity Finance, a SingularityNET ecosystem partner, she bridges AI economy and decentralized finance. Cloris’s background includes six years as a vice-president at HSBC, followed by a role as treasury director at a unicorn startup. Cloris holds master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania and economics from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Cloris leverages her diverse experience to advocate for innovative financial solutions. Her insights on the intersection of AI, tokenization, and DeFi are reshaping perspectives on the future of finance. Follow Cloris for cutting-edge analysis on these rapidly evolving fields. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.