Australia's financial watchdog has wrapped up the most lucrative enforcement period in its history, extracting nearly $350 million in court-ordered civil penalties from some of the country's biggest financial institutions in the second half of last year, while also clawing back more than half a billion dollars for ordinary Australians caught up in misconduct schemes.The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said this week it secured $349.8 million in civil penalties between July and December 2025, the highest six-monthly total since the agency's founding. That figure comes alongside $583 million in refunds and compensation payments flowing back to consumers and investors, a combined outcome that Chairman Joe Longo called evidence of a regulator that has fundamentally changed how it operates."Today, ASIC is one of the most active law enforcement agencies in the country," Longo said. "We are taking more cases to court, achieving record penalties, and protecting consumers."ANZ Pays the Biggest PriceNo single outcome defined the period more than the action against ANZ. In December, the Federal Court ordered Australia and New Zealand Banking Group to pay $250 million in combined penalties - the largest amount ASIC has ever secured against one entity - for a pattern of misconduct that stretched from bond market manipulation to charging fees to the accounts of dead customers.Deputy Chairwoman Sarah Court didn't soften her message. "This outcome sends a clear message to ANZ that it needs to do better by its customers and to all banks that the cost of breaking the law is not an acceptable cost of doing business."ANZ now faces 11 civil penalty proceedings brought by ASIC since 2016. Cbus, NAB, and RAMS Financial Group also faced significant penalties during the period - $23.5 million, $15.5 million, and $20 million, respectively - for failures ranging from botched death benefit payments to home loan compliance gaps.“Our Work Continues”The enforcement ramp-up is part of a multi-year pattern. ASIC secured over $120 million in court-ordered penalties during the full 2024-25 fiscal year and has been steadily increasing the volume and scale of its actions.[#highlighted-links#] The regulator granted 290 new Australian Financial Services licences in FY25 while pulling back 215 others - a pattern that reflects a regulator tightening who gets to operate in the market, not just punishing those who already are.Longo acknowledged that the pace won't ease off. "While 2025 was a significant year, our work continues in intensity in the year ahead."Shield and First Guardian: $420 Million and CountingBeyond the headline bank penalties, ASIC's two most complex ongoing investigations - into the collapsed Shield Master Fund and First Guardian Master Fund - produced some of the period's most consequential outcomes for ordinary investors.Both schemes funnelled Australians' superannuation savings into managed investment products that subsequently unravelled. By December, ASIC had secured more than $420 million in compensation commitments for around 4,000 investors. Macquarie admitted to contraventions of the Corporations Act and committed to paying $321 million to Shield investors, while Netwealth agreed to pay over $100 million to more than 1,000 First Guardian investors.FinanceMagnates.com previously reported on the early stages of these collapses in June 2025, when ASIC first moved to freeze assets across 31 connected entities as some 600 Australians stood to lose $160 million in retirement savings.Corporate Complaints SurgeA separate dataset released Wednesday adds another dimension to the picture. Between July and December 2025, ASIC received 9,686 reports of misconduct, raising 13,036 individual issues, a 28% jump from the first half of the year. The agency attributed part of that increase to a redesigned reporting portal launched in June that made lodging complaints easier.Corporate governance concerns accounted for 40% of all issues raised - up from 3,819 in the previous period to 5,217 - driven by failures to hand company records to liquidators, fraud allegations, and insolvency matters. Financial services and retail investor issues made up another 44%.Deputy Chairwoman Court said the data reinforces where ASIC plans to focus. "They underscore [ASIC's enforcement priorities], which include tackling governance and directors' duties failures, reaffirming that stronger governance remains a top priority for ASIC."Low-Income Customers Get $161 Million BackSeparately, ASIC's "Better and Beyond" review of bank fee practices produced another significant consumer outcome. Twenty-one banks agreed to refund $161 million to customers who had been stuck in high-fee accounts - a group disproportionately made up of low-income earners. The Commonwealth Bank alone committed to returning $68 million in December.Commissioner Alan Kirkland acknowledged progress but struck a cautious note: "Our intervention has forced many banks to take action, but more needs to be done to ensure financially vulnerable consumers are not put in this position again."Several banks also shifted more than one million customers into low-fee accounts, a change ASIC estimates will save them a combined $50 million annually.A 14-Year Prison Sentence Sends a MessageOn the criminal side, the period's most striking outcome was a 14-year prison sentence handed to West Australian fraudster Chris Marco by the Supreme Court of Western Australia - pending appeal, the longest custodial sentence ever imposed in connection with an ASIC criminal investigation. The regulator recorded 17 criminal convictions against individuals across the period, a 31% increase from the prior six months.Across all enforcement categories, ASIC launched 123 new investigations, completed 518 surveillances, filed 23 new civil proceedings, and commenced 11 new criminal prosecutions. Infringement notice penalties totalled $6.9 million. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

At iFX EXPO Dubai 2026, Finance Magnates met with Ilia Iarovitcyn, CEO of Spotware, to discuss the company’s record-breaking 2025 performance, the launch of cBridge, the rapid expansion of cTrader Store, and strategic priorities for 2026.Spotware reported a second consecutive year of triple-digit client growth alongside new trading volume records. In the interview, Ilia addressed how AI is now embedded in Spotware’s core operations, how brokers are managing rising gold concentration in trading flows, and how the company plans to support firms facing higher acquisition costs and conversion rate pressure. He also detailed cBridge’s cost structure and explained how cTrader gives brokers the flexibility to tailor the platform around the specific needs of their business and clients. Record Growth, Operational Stability and a Broader Product VisionFor the second consecutive year, Spotware reported triple-digit growth in new clients alongside record trading volumes. According to Ilia Iarovitcyn, this is not just a numbers story but a validation of long-term positioning.“The year was genuinely packed with achievements. For the second year in a row, we saw a triple-digit number of new clients and set new records in trading volume along the way.”At the core of that growth is his consistent focus on innovation and transparency. Over time, cTrader has become a benchmark for fair and ethical business practices among brokers and prop firms, a stance rooted in its TradersFirst™ vision. That trader-centric positioning has made cTrader essential for brokers: when traders see cTrader offered by a broker, they take it as a sign the broker is operating openly and honestly. That positioning appears to be resonating with users. cTrader maintains a 4.8 Trustpilot rating based on thousands of reviews. As Ilia Iarovitcyn stated, “The ‘trader love’ isn’t something we just talk about; you can measure it.”Operationally, one of the most significant developments in 2025 was the integration of AI into core business processes. With AI supporting daily operations and development, Spotware significantly increased both the frequency and quality of releases while minimising downtime risk across critical components. “In 2025, AI helped us accelerate delivery without compromising the quality our clients expect,”Most importantly, 2025 marked the launch of cBridge, a move that signals Spotware’s evolution beyond a single-product company. “We clearly demonstrated to the industry that Spotware is no longer a single-product developer,” he said.The “Gold Challenge” and Broker Growth in 2026Looking ahead, Ilia ties Spotware’s priorities directly to broker realities.“The challenges we see for 2026 are closely linked to the challenges brokers face, as our success depends on theirs. That’s why one of our core priorities is to make brokers grow.” One of the most pressing structural shifts across the CFD industry is what he calls the “Gold challenge.” For many brokers, gold now accounts for more than 70% of total trading volume, while traditional FX pairs such as EURUSD have fallen down the ranking table.This concentration risk creates pressure on margin, hedging and reporting frameworks. In response, Spotware is investing in enhanced risk-management tools and advanced reporting capabilities to help brokers manage exposure more efficiently.At the same time, acquisition economics are tightening. Rising traffic costs are making it harder to convert leads into first-time deposits. To address this, Spotware has introduced features such as live trading ribbons, personalised push notifications, CRM integrations, single sign-on, KYC flows and in-app deposits. IB programmes have also been synchronised with partner tools like cTrader Invite.“That’s the foundation, and we plan to build on this further in 2026,” Ilia Iarovitcyn said.AI will remain central to that roadmap. “We’re convinced AI will set the pace in the years ahead,” he added, warning that firms slow to adopt new capabilities risk falling into catch-up mode.cBridge: A Standalone, Platform-Agnostic BridgeThe launch of cBridge at iFX EXPO Dubai represents a strategic expansion for Spotware.For years, cTrader offered direct connectivity to liquidity providers within the platform. However, clients increasingly requested a standalone bridge solution. “We kept hearing the same request: clients wanted a standalone bridge with added functionality beyond basic liquidity routing. So we decided to respond to that demand with cBridge,” Ilia explained.One of cBridge's defining features is its pricing model. Unlike many bridge providers, Spotware does not charge volume-based fees.“Brokers can significantly reduce bridge costs without volume becoming a cost driver,” he said.Importantly, cBridge is not limited to cTrader. Built as a standalone solution, it is compatible with all major trading platforms. This reflects the company’s broader “Be Open” principle, rooted in the Open Trading Platform™ concept.cTrader Store and the Power of DistributionIn parallel, cTrader Store has moved from the launch phase to a growth engine.“I expected the Store to be successful, but I didn’t expect it to take off to this extent,” Ilia Iarovitcyn admitted. “In 2025, it really hit its stride.”The Store reflects how traders behave: they search for strategies, tools, automation, copy trading and analytics within a trusted environment. By bringing together in-demand tools in one trusted environment, the Store helps brokers increase trader engagement and extend trader lifetime value. With more than 11 million active traders, the Store also serves as a discovery channel for traders and an acquisition channel for brokers. It provides free organic exposure to a large community of cTrader traders through a dedicated Brokers listing, driving up to 10,000 daily visits. For traders, it means access to brokers and prop firms that meet defined reliability criteria within the environment Ilia Iarovitcyn describes as scam-resistant.The recognition of cTrader as Best Trading Platform at UF AWARDS MEA 2026 further reinforces that positioning.Open Trading Platform™ as a Competitive EdgeSpotware’s Open Trading Platform™ positioning remains central to its identity.“For us, being ‘open’ is a principle that guides our engineering decisions,” Ilia explained. In practical terms, that translates into integration flexibility. cTrader connects with more than 100 FX/CFD solutions, including CRMs, liquidity providers and reporting systems, with further integrations in progress. “This is exactly what makes the difference,” he said. “cTrader gives brokers the flexibility to shape the platform around the specific needs of their business and traders, without any limitations,” Ilia Iarovitcyn said. “With UI plugins, brokers can expand the platform’s functionality in virtually unlimited ways by building and integrating their own custom solutions.”“Our idea is simple: build the highest-quality products and give clients real choice, so they choose you because the product delivers – not because a provider has limited the options,” Ilia Iarovitcyn added.Spotware’s Growth RoadmapWith cBridge live and cTrader Store scaling, Spotware is positioning itself as a broader infrastructure partner rather than a single-platform provider.As Ilia made clear, 2026 will focus on broker growth. Spotware will remain at the forefront of innovation, delivering in-demand solutions for FX/CFD businesses while staying true to TradersFirst™ and Open Trading Platform™ principles.For brokers, liquidity providers, and fintech firms interested in learning more about Spotware’s solutions, including cTrader and cBridge, you can get in touch directly with the team below:? Contact SpotwareRead More about SpotwareSpotware Doubles Trading Volume as cTrader Adds 2 Million UsersIntroducing "Spotware talks" panel discussion series This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

In the world of online brokerages, the need to integrate "the next big thing" is constant. We’ve seen the industry pivot from spot FX to CFDs, then to the democratisation of equities, and most recently, the wild frontier of digital assets. Each wave was met with initial scepticism by incumbents, only to eventually become a standard requirement for any brokerage hoping to maintain market share.Today, we are standing at the edge of the next great shift: the institutionalisation and integration of prediction markets.Recently, prediction markets have been primarily associated with hype around political polling and sports. But that perception is undergoing a radical transformation. We are seeing first-hand that prediction markets are no longer a niche curiosity; they are becoming a fundamental macroeconomic tool.Related: Plus500 Launches Predictions Markets in the US, Offering Kalshi's 'Regulated' ProductsIf you are running a brokerage, a CFD platform, or a fintech operation, here is why prediction markets need to be on your 2026 product roadmap.The New "Source of Truth"The most significant validation for this asset class didn't come from a tech blog, but from the halls of the Federal Reserve. A recent post from the Fed highlighted the rise of "macro markets", noting that platforms like Kalshi are providing real-time, high-fidelity data on how the market perceives future economic events.Traditional markets are often "noisy", influenced by a million variables, from liquidity crunches to unrelated geopolitical tremors. Prediction markets, however, are laser-focused on specific outcomes: Will the Fed hike rates in June? Will the CPI exceed 3.2%? When thousands of participants put capital behind a specific outcome, the resulting price is often a more accurate forecast than expert consensus or lagging indicators. For brokers, offering these markets isn't just about providing a tradable instrument; it’s about providing your users with the ultimate "source of truth" to guide their entire portfolio strategy.Key Takeaways from the Federal Reserve paper:"@Kalshi and the Rise of Macro Markets"The Fed just published a 41-page working paper evaluating Kalshi as a macro forecasting tool.They compare prediction markets to:- Fed funds futures- Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)… pic.twitter.com/DC65j2CABu— PJ (@Prithvir12) February 19, 2026The Ultimate Hedging ToolFor the typical CFD or Forex trader on your platform, event risk is the greatest enemy. A sudden central bank decision or a surprise election result can wipe out a leveraged position in seconds. Historically, traders have tried to hedge these risks using complex options structures or inverse correlations – methods that are often inefficient or too expensive for the retail trader.Prediction markets solve this. They allow a trader to hedge specific, binary risks with surgical precision. If a client has a heavy long position on the euro, they can hedge the specific risk of political upheaval by taking a position in a prediction market focused on that event. By integrating these markets, you aren't just giving your clients a new way to trade; you are giving them the tools to stay in the game longer, manage their downside, and trade with more confidence.The "New, Expected, Lagging" LifecycleWe are currently in the "New" phase of prediction markets. Early adopters are capturing the headlines, the "early-in" liquidity, and the SEO dominance.Very soon, likely within the next 12 to 18 months, prediction markets will move to the "Expected" phase. Just as a modern broker wouldn't dream of launching without gold, oil, or major tech stocks, users will expect to be able to trade the outcomes of the events that move those markets.The final phase is the most dangerous for incumbents: the "Lagging" strategy. In the near future, a brokerage that does not offer prediction markets will be seen as an incomplete platform. You will be asking your users to look elsewhere for their macro-hedging and event trading. And as we know, once a user moves their capital to a competitor for one asset class, the risk of losing them is high.The Opportunity for OperatorsWe know the infrastructure is ready for prime time. The US is leading the way with regulatory clarity, and prediction markets are thriving in 100+ other jurisdictions. Liquidity is deepening, and the technology to integrate these markets is seamless.The question for operators is no longer if prediction markets will go mainstream, but rather who will take them there. The data is clear, the Fed is watching, and the traders are ready.It is time to move beyond the chart and start trading the event. The future isn't just something that happens to us – it’s the next great market. This article was written by Leon Okun at www.financemagnates.com.

Meta plans to reenter the stablecoin market later this year, four years after regulators blocked its earlier digital currency effort, Libra. The company is preparing to integrate dollar-pegged payments across its social platforms, according to people familiar with the matter.Sources cited by Coindesk said Meta issued requests for product proposals to external firms to help manage stablecoin-based payments. One named Stripe, which acquired the stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge last year, as a possible partner. Stripe CEO Patrick Collison joined Meta’s board last year, signaling tighter cooperation between the two companies.SCOOP: Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is planning a stablecoin comeback in H2, eyeing a third-party vendor as a key partner to power payments across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.@IanAllison123 reportshttps://t.co/NGgZHy9MC0— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) February 24, 2026Meta Sends Out RFPs for Stablecoin IntegrationCommenting on the move, fintech analyst Simon Taylor said Meta’s latest move is about distribution, not reinvention. He added that stablecoins could become the “settlement layer” for Meta’s AI-driven commerce as digital agents begin to transact globally.“I can imagine stablecoins will improve cross border flows in long-tail markets where Meta already operates, as it does for Deel and Payoneer today, but think about AI. Meta is earmarking $115-135B in 2026 capex, mostly for AI. They're building agents that shop and transact autonomously, "agentic commerce.”Meta aims to begin integration in the second half of 2026, supported by a new wallet feature. Unlike the failed Libra project, Meta’s new plan relies on third-party payment infrastructure rather than building its own currency. “They want to do this, but at arm’s length,” one source said.Regulation and TimingThe renewed push follows the passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act in 2025, which established rules for stablecoin issuers. The company is reportedly racing to launch before provisions limiting big tech stablecoin activity take effect later this year.Related: Meta Soars 12%, Microsoft Tops $4 Trillion as AI Spending Powers ProfitsMeta returning to stablecoins in a second act shaped by its Libra defeat, a new U.S. law that forces big technology companies into partnership models, and a broader race among global platforms (Meta, X, Telegram) to control the stablecoin payments rails rather than the coins themselves.Policymakers in the United States and Europe were alarmed at the idea of a social media company effectively launching a private global currency, raising concerns over monetary sovereignty, financial stability, and Meta’s track record on data and privacy. Meta’s new strategy fits squarely into this more cautious, infrastructure‑first environment. Rather than issuing its own coin, it is reportedly sending requests for product proposals to external firms, with Stripe emerging as a likely partner for underlying stablecoin payments. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Coinbase has made stock and ETF trading available to all users in the United States. Customers can now buy, sell, and manage traditional securities alongside crypto holdings. Trading is available 24 hours a day, five days a week. The company has partnered with Yahoo Finance, allowing users to move from researching an asset to executing a trade with “one simple click.”Coinbase has expanded from a crypto-only exchange to a multi-asset platform. It integrates equities, derivatives, prediction markets, and crypto, with infrastructure that allows capital to move across products in near real time. The expansion follows regulatory approvals in the U.S., Europe, and Canada. Coinbase has also made acquisitions to gain expertise in regulated markets.Coinbase Plans Tokenized Stocks, Global AccessUsers can fund trades with USD or USDC. Fractional shares allow investing from as little as $1. Coinbase One members receive uncapped rewards on their USDC balances. The company said it is “starting with the market's leading equities and plan[s] to expand 24/5 trading to thousands more stocks over the coming months.” It also plans to offer tokenized stocks and broader access to U.S. equities for international traders in the spring.8,000+ stocks. 24/5 trading. One app.Stock trading is live in the U.S., and we've partnered with @YahooFinance to power real-time discovery for traders everywhere.Wall Street, meet crypto. pic.twitter.com/dXaS9Fz77I— Coinbase ?️ (@coinbase) February 24, 2026Yahoo Finance Users Access Coinbase Trading DirectlyUsers can move from researching an asset to executing a trade with “one simple click,” and Yahoo Finance will integrate real-time data from Coinbase. The partnership includes a free one-month trial of Coinbase One Basic for Yahoo Finance users.The platform uses Apex Fintech Solutions for clearing, custody, and execution services. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Kraken has introduced tokenized equity perpetual futures, giving non-U.S. clients in more than 110 countries continuous leveraged access to leading U.S. equities, indices, and gold. The new offering is built using the exchange’s xStocks framework and is available on Kraken and Kraken Pro platforms.Tokenized Access to EquitiesThe perpetual futures track tokenized versions of major benchmarks and companies, including the S&P 500 (SPYx), Nasdaq 100 (QQQx), gold (GLDx), Apple (AAPLx), Alphabet (GOOGLx), Nvidia (NVDAx), Tesla (TSLAx), Robinhood (HOODx), and others.Crypto derivatives venues such as Binance and BitMEX already list equity‑style perpetual futures tied to names like Tesla and major U.S. indices, also giving traders 24/7, leveraged exposure to stock prices using crypto margin.xStocks Perps just expanded.$TSLAx, $AAPLx, $NVDAx and more now trade 24/7 on Kraken.Long or short, anytime.Click to trade @xStocksFi ⤵️— Kraken (@krakenfx) February 24, 2026 Notably, Kraken’s latest offering is the combination of 1:1‑backed tokenized equities (xStocks), regulated benchmarks, and a more tightly regulated structure around the underlying tokenized shares, rather than simply mirroring stock prices via cash‑settled crypto derivatives.Read more: Kraken-Backed xStocks Debut on Deutsche Börse’s 360X​“This is what it looks like when traditional markets are rebuilt for a crypto-native, always-on world, not a moment too soon given the volatility that all markets are exhibiting,” commented Kraken Global Head of Consumer Mark Greenberg.According to the exchange, each xStock is fully collateralized and backed 1:1 by the underlying asset, allowing them to trade on-chain 24/7, even when traditional exchanges are closed.The tokenized equity perpetuals allow traders to open or close positions at any time, with leverage of up to 20x. The instruments operate with regulated benchmarks and support a range of trading strategies, including directional, event-driven, and hedging positions.Expansion PlansKraken aims to broaden its xStocks offering in the coming months to include more tokenized equities and ETFs, as well as expand access in additional markets. xStocks recently reported that it had surpassed $25 billion in cumulative transaction volume, highlighting the accelerating adoption of tokenized equities across both centralized and decentralized platforms.$25,000,000,000 in total transaction volume.In under 7 months since launch.@xStocksFi is making history.As part of @payward’s group, xStocks is cementing its position as the largest provider and leading framework for tokenized equities globally. pic.twitter.com/XTPyXOMpBU— Kraken (@krakenfx) February 19, 2026The exchange said the total captures trading on centralized exchanges, activity on DeFi protocols, and mint and redemption flows for its tokenized products, all achieved in under eight months. Onchain activity alone contributes more than $3.5 billion of the volume, supported by over 80,000 unique onchain holders participating in the xStocks ecosystem. As of February 17, xStocks accounts for eight of the eleven largest tokenized equities by unique holders and 68% of the top 25 tokenized stocks by holder count. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Another global crypto exchange is edging closer to operationalising its MiFID license. Having acquired CFD broker Sheer Markets in 2024, Gate.io announced in January 2026 that the entity had been rebranded as Gate Securities (Cyprus) Ltd.“This marks a significant step forward, reinforcing our commitment to regulatory compliance while supporting the expansion of the Gate Group brand across global financial markets,” the rebranded entity’s Executive Director and CEO, Wasim Zayed, said on LinkedIn.Derivatives Have Been a Growth Engine for Gate The timing is hardly accidental. By mid-2025, Gate’s global user base had surpassed 30 million and closed the year with nearly 50 million, with derivatives trading emerging as a key growth driver. The platform’s futures market share had climbed into double-digit territory, reaching 10.6%, making it one of the fastest-growing venues in global crypto derivatives.The broader group has also been busy reshaping its corporate structure. Gate Technology Ltd rebranded to Gate.io in 2024 as part of a push to strengthen its European presence, where the firm has been active since 2022.Multi-Asset Expansion Is the Name of the Game Multi-asset expansion has become the playbook in the CFD world; it is little surprise that crypto exchanges are now following a similar path. The pairing of a MiCA licence with MiFID permissions is fast becoming standard practice among large platforms seeking to deepen their European footprint. MiCA provides the regulatory scaffolding for spot trading and custody, while MiFID opens the door to derivatives and brokerage-style services.[#highlighted-links#] Crypto.com, Backpack Exchange and Coinbase have all secured MiFID footholds in Cyprus, while others, like Gemini, have sought MiFID pipelines elsewhere. Kraken, for its part, has recently embarked on a Cyprus hiring blitz, advertising roughly 50 island-linked roles in the past fortnight following its 2025 acquisition of CFD broker Greenfields Wealth. Vacancies such as the Regulatory MiFID Officer appear consistent with building out its MiFID-licensed business, even as many of the engineering roles likely support Kraken’s broader platform. The convergence is also running in reverse. As crypto-native firms push deeper into derivatives, traditional CFD brokers are moving further into spot crypto. eToro was an early – if then unusual – mover back in 2013. More recently, IG Group and Pepperstone have entered the spot crypto market, while Capital.com and XTB are preparing to follow. CMC Markets has likewise signalled ambitions that extend into decentralised finance. According to Pepperstone’s Group CEO Tamas Szabo, part of the rationale is straightforward: “Internal and external research has shown that CFD traders are heavy crypto investors." This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

IG Group has closed its South Africa office, including the lay-off of its local staff, FinanceMagnates.com has learned from an industry source. Although the number of staff made redundant remains unclear, the broker once had around 90 employees there.IG’s Full Exit from South AfricaThe closure of the South Africa office came nine months after the London-headquartered broker stopped offering services under its local unit. IG gave its local South African customers the option to move their accounts to other offshore entities.FinanceMagnates.com understands that IG operated only a marketing hub from South Africa. The closure of the local office after the exit appears to be a natural step.The broker also gave up its ODP licence in the country, which has become mandatory for offering contracts for difference (CFD) trading there.Although IG declined to share details on the latest office closure, it told FinanceMagnates.com that “the business was proposing the closure of its South Africa office for operational efficiency reasons” after the mid-2025 commercial operations exit.“The consultation has placed all remaining roles in South Africa at risk,” the IG representative added. “We cannot confirm any further details until the consultation period has ended.”[#highlighted-links#] IG’s New Business DirectionIG is one of the largest retail brokers offering contracts for difference (CFD) instruments. Apart from South Africa, the brand operates under licences in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Bermuda. It also offers derivatives in the United States through its subsidiary tastyfx.Interestingly, IG has exited several other operations and investments in the recent past, which include Spectrum Markets, Brightpool, Raydius, BadTrader and Small Exchange.Meanwhile, the broker is now eyeing the crypto market and has rolled out spot crypto trading through a third-party partnership. It has also acquired a crypto exchange and plans to offer “crypto propositions” in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Omar Arnaout, chief executive of Polish retail broker XTB, says spot cryptocurrency trading could reshape the company's revenue structure within two to three years, but only if Poland gets out of the way.Speaking in an interview with Polish YouTube channel Comparic, Arnaout was unusually blunt about how lopsided XTB's income currently is. "Around 95%, maybe even more, of revenues are generated from CFD instruments," he said, calling the situation a source of genuine frustration. His ambition: bring that figure down to roughly 70%, with crypto and equities filling the gap.That's not a small shift. It would mean building an entirely new revenue stream from scratch, one that doesn't yet exist for XTB in any meaningful form in its home market.Poland's Crypto Deadlock Is Costing XTB on the Stock MarketThe obstacle isn't product development or client demand, it's regulation. Poland remains one of the few EU member states that hasn't implemented MiCA, the bloc's digital asset framework, leaving XTB unable to offer spot cryptocurrency trading to Polish clients through a domestic license.Arnaout didn't hide his feelings about it. He said the situation "really hurts,” not just because of the revenue opportunity being missed, but because of what it means for XTB's valuation. "I'm convinced we would have a completely different valuation on the stock exchange if we had greater revenue diversification," he said.That's a pointed comment from a CEO whose company trades on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. XTB shares hit an all-time high of nearly 92 PLN last month despite a weaker earnings quarter, driven largely by record client growth. But Arnaout is signaling that the stock could be worth considerably more if crypto revenues were already in the mix.XTB secured a MiCA license in Cyprus in December 2025, sidestepping the Polish legislative impasse by routing its spot crypto ambitions through its Cypriot entity. The plan is to test the product there before rolling it out across the EU. But it's a workaround, not a solution, and Arnaout knows it. XTB had previously written an open letter to Poland's president urging him to sign the domestic crypto bill, warning that the absence of a local framework was pushing Polish investors toward offshore platforms outside national supervision.Client Demand Is Already There, Revenue Isn'tThe commercial case for spot crypto at XTB isn't theoretical. Arnaout said that every time something moves in the crypto market, XTB sees a surge in both new client signups and activity from existing users , even though the company only offers crypto CFDs, not actual digital assets. "Inflows of new clients and the activity of existing clients is simply record-breaking," he said, describing these moments as practically always hitting new highs.That's the second source of pain he described: watching high-intent crypto customers arrive on the platform while being unable to offer them the product they actually want. Competitors based in jurisdictions where MiCA has already been implemented can offer spot crypto to Polish clients, creating what Arnaout called an uneven playing field. "They have cryptocurrencies and offer cryptocurrencies to their clients, and we cannot do this," he said.The CFD-heavy revenue structure isn't just a diversification problem, it's a volatility problem. As FinanceMagnates,com reported in April 2025, CFD revenues accounted for over 97% of XTB's income in Q1 2025, with the company's profitability tightly linked to market conditions. In flat or range-bound markets, that model generates less. Arnaout acknowledged 2025 was exactly that kind of year, roughly flat on most major indices from April through September.Equities Could Also Chip Away at CFD DominanceArnaout's 70% target isn't riding entirely on crypto. He also pointed to equities as a growing contributor, particularly as XTB's client base continues to expand rapidly.The broker added 864,000 new accounts in 2025, roughly equivalent to its entire pre-2020 history of client acquisition compressed into a single year. As reported earlier this month, Arnaout is targeting at least 1.2 million new clients in 2026, with ambitions to push toward 1.3 or 1.4 million. The logic is simple: a larger, more active client base trading stocks and ETFs means more non-CFD revenue, even without crypto.That shift in client behavior is already visible. Only 7% of new XTB clients in 2025 chose CFDs as their first transaction, down from 80% in 2019. The new cohort is predominantly buying ETFs and stocks, lower-margin products but ones that build a stickier, longer-term client relationship. Over 80% of new clients in 2025 opened their first position in an ETF, an investment plan built on ETFs, or equities.The revenue math hasn't fully caught up with that behavioral shift yet. Equities and ETFs don't currently generate enough per-user income to offset what CFDs bring in during volatile periods. Spot crypto, with its higher margins and round-the-clock trading, is the more obvious lever. Arnaout clearly sees it the same way, which is why, for now, regulatory gridlock in Warsaw remains his most pressing business problem. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

KPMG is urging financial institutions to take prediction markets more seriously. The firm argues that event-based contracts are moving from speculative novelty to a potential strategic component of trading and risk infrastructure. In its latest white paper, “Prediction Markets in the Financial Sector,” KPMG suggests the industry may be approaching an inflection point. Banks, asset managers, and brokers can no longer treat event contracts as peripheral products; they must decide whether and how to include these instruments in their existing platforms. Prediction markets are regularly tied to election betting. However, the report frames them more broadly—as tools for structuring exposure to macroeconomic developments, corporate events, and regulatory outcomes. In that sense, they are positioned less as a gambling mechanism and more as an alternative architecture for event risk. What It Means for Brokers For brokerage firms, the implications are structural, not cosmetic. KPMG argues that standardized event contracts could gradually shift emphasis. Firms may move from distributing complex, bespoke derivatives to operating transparent marketplaces where clients trade directly. Such a shift would alter the composition of revenue. Instead of relying primarily on structured-product margins, brokers would generate income from platform access, liquidity provision, and analytics.As Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is quoted in the report, “I believe prediction markets should be live for everything.” The statement captures a wider view within parts of the industry that event contracts could evolve into a standard trading category. For brokerage leadership, the practical question is less about immediate disruption. The focus is more on positioning. Integrating event markets into the core trading infrastructure rather than isolating them as experimental features would require a meaningful platform redesign. Liquidity and Regulation Remain Decisive At the same time, major constraints remain. Liquidity in prediction markets is still much thinner than in established derivatives venues. That gap causes sharper price swings and limits effectiveness for large institutional hedging. Flash volatility and cross-platform arbitrage in late 2025 and early 2026 illustrated the sensitivity of fragmented order books. Regulatory alignment is also critical. In the United States, the CFTC treats certain event contracts as derivatives under the Commodity Exchange Act, requiring futures-style oversight. Some state authorities, however, view political and sports contracts through a betting-law lens. This creates overlapping jurisdictional uncertainty. KPMG’s broader point is that prediction markets will not scale within mainstream finance on narrative alone. Their trajectory will depend on two fundamentals: sustained liquidity and clearer regulatory treatment. If those conditions strengthen, event contracts could become more embedded in brokerage platforms. If they do not, adoption is likely to remain uneven. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

TradeStation Securities has struck a deal with retirement fintech Capitalize to bring 401(k)-to-IRA rollovers inside the TradeStation platform, targeting a pain point that has long frustrated American workers changing jobs.The Florida-based brokerage will embed Capitalize's Rollover API, letting users locate old 401(k) accounts, verify their details, and submit transfer requests without ever leaving TradeStation's interface. The feature is aimed squarely at TradeStation's core audience: experienced, active traders who also hold retirement assets and want everything accessible in one place.A Broken Process Gets a Digital FixThe rollover problem is real and widespread. According to Capitalize's own research, nearly 80% of Americans cannot complete a 401(k) rollover without outside help, and the average unassisted transfer takes close to two months from start to finish. That compares to roughly five days for ACH transfers and around ten days for ACATS brokerage account transfers. Over 43% of savers end up receiving a physical paper check at some point during the process - a relic of an era when paper dominated financial services."TradeStation clients expect award-winning technology, whether they're trading or managing long-term investments," said John Bartleman, President and CEO of TradeStation Group, Inc. "Through our integration with Capitalize, we're bringing that same standard to retirement accounts, supporting confident and efficient movement of assets."TradeStation Pushes Beyond Active TradingThe retirement move fits a broader pattern emerging across trading platforms. TradeStation has been on an expansion drive, adding MultiCharts integration in December 2025 to give clients an all-in-one trading and analysis setup, and before that rolled out XRP Futures from CME Group in the spring of 2025. While those moves targeted active traders chasing new instruments, the Capitalize deal takes the platform in a different direction - toward long-term savers who may not trade daily but still want a capable home for their retirement nest egg.TradeStation is also not alone in this pivot. Across the Atlantic, eToro last year expanded into the French savings and retirement market, opening a Paris office and partnering with Generali for retirement products - following a similar move by XTB into long-term investment accounts in France. Active-trading platforms are increasingly eyeing the much larger pool of passive, long-term investors as a second revenue stream.TradeStation itself has gone through significant structural changes in recent years. In April 2024, Kraken acquired TradeStation Crypto, the crypto arm of the group, which held licenses across 47 US states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, though the financial terms of that deal were never disclosed.Capitalize Builds Out Its Broker NetworkTradeStation is not Capitalize's first rodeo with online brokerages. The fintech has been steadily expanding its network of institutional partners, with Firstrade Securities adding the same Rollover API last October, and TIAA Wealth Management announcing a similar integration just days ago. Capitalize says its technology has already powered billions of dollars in retirement transfers across its growing client roster.Gaurav Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder of Capitalize, said the TradeStation partnership extends the API's reach into one of the more demanding corners of the retail trading world. "TradeStation has long pushed trading execution and innovation," Sharma said, "and together we're giving traders the same high-performance experience they expect, this time for their retirement account transfers."TradeStation says users will "soon" be able to access the Capitalize rollover experience, though the company has not given a specific launch date. Once live, traders will be able to hunt down forgotten 401(k)s, confirm account information, and kick off the transfer - all without switching platforms. The integration does not eliminate the legal complexity of rollovers: TradeStation notes that a rollover to an IRA is not the only option available, and users should weigh tax implications and other factors before making a move. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Swyft Markets, a South African multi-platform access CFDs broker, has integrated the cTrader platform into its trading services. The move expands the broker’s technology offering and adds new trading tools for clients.The integration follows broader growth in the cTrader ecosystem. In 2025, Spotware, the developer of cTrader, reported a 105% year-on-year increase in live USD trading volume on the platform, with over 11 million traders. The firm added 104 new clients and expanded its product range with a liquidity bridge, marketplace tools, and AI enhancements. cTrader Store and cTrader Leads also saw increased adoption, supporting broker and prop firm connections.Broker Highlights “Transparency” Through Social TradingThe integration includes cTrader Copy, a social trading feature that allows users to follow strategies with transparency on performance metrics. Swyft Markets said the feature supports its goal of offering a broad range of trading opportunities.The broker stated that the integration prioritizes compliance and transparency, which it described as key elements of a “safe and ethical trading experience.”cTrader Supports FX, CFDs, Social TradingcTrader is offered as a platform-as-a-service model. Swyft Markets said this allows for regular updates, additional functionality, and potential global expansion. The platform supports more than 100 FX and CFD instruments, spread betting, in-app messaging, and mobile push notifications.Yiota Hadjilouka, chief operating officer of cTrader, said the platform provides technology “tailored to the needs of both newcomers and professionals.” The update also adds social trading features and other broker services.cTrader Admin 9.9 Implements Routine Workflow UpdatesAlongside client-facing updates, Spotware has released version 9.9 of cTrader Admin, its back-office platform for brokers and prop firms. The update focuses on incremental improvements to daily operations rather than new features.Changes include displaying client emails in session views, consolidating workspace settings, trimming navigation menus, and adding a Ticks tab in the Orders app. Configuration for symbols and liquidity feeds has also been simplified. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The conversation around crypto is changing. The industry’s early chapters focused on decentralization and disruption. Today, the attention is shifting toward integration. Sovereign debt onchain. Commodity backed tokens. Programmable money that connects to tangible value.In this evolving landscape, the United Arab Emirates has become an increasingly important jurisdiction. And at the center of that movement is Saeed Al Fahim.A Founder Fluent in Two Financial SystemsSaeed’s path into Web3 differs from many of his global peers. Before launching Tharwa, he operated within large scale commercial and industrial portfolios, managing complex supply chains and capital deployment across sectors.That background instilled a particular mindset. Risk must be measurable. Governance must be clear. Capital must be productive. When he entered the stablecoin sector, he carried those principles with him.Rethinking What a Stablecoin Can BeMost stablecoins are designed as digital representations of fiat reserves. They serve an essential function in trading and settlement, but their backing capital often remains static. Tharwa takes a broader approach.Its stablecoin, thUSD, is backed one to one by a diversified portfolio of high quality real world assets, including Sukuk, gold, UAE linked real estate exposure, and short term sovereign instruments. The structure resembles a conservatively managed fund more than a simple custodial reserve.An internal AI powered treasury system continuously evaluates macro signals and portfolio exposure, seeking balance between preservation and productivity. The aim is not to transform a stablecoin into a speculative instrument. It is to prevent capital from sitting idle when it can be structured responsibly.The UAE as a Strategic BaseThe UAE’s regulatory environment has been instrumental in enabling this model. Abu Dhabi Global Market and Dubai’s VARA have created licensing regimes that give digital asset firms clarity on compliance obligations. That certainty has encouraged serious capital to engage.Operating within this framework allows Tharwa to design its products with audit standards and governance structures aligned to institutional expectations. It also places the protocol within reach of asset originators who think in decades rather than quarters. For Saeed, this geographic and regulatory positioning is not incidental. It is foundational.Aligning Finance With Cultural ContextAnother defining component of Tharwa’s structure is Sharia alignment. By ensuring that yield generation stems from asset productivity rather than interest based lending, the protocol connects blockchain infrastructure with Islamic finance principles.This is more than branding. It opens access to pools of capital that historically remained cautious toward conventional DeFi models. In a region where faith aligned finance intersects with sovereign scale investment, that alignment carries strategic weight.A Measured Approach to GrowthThe real world asset narrative is gaining momentum globally. Financial institutions from New York to Singapore are exploring tokenized treasuries and digital settlement layers. Saeed Al Fahim’s strategy suggests that the long term winners in this space will not be those who move fastest, but those who move most coherently. Asset quality, regulatory clarity, and governance discipline are likely to define endurance.As the UAE continues positioning itself as a hub for tokenized finance, figures capable of bridging traditional capital and programmable systems will play an outsized role. Through Tharwa, Saeed is attempting to demonstrate that digital money does not need to abandon financial orthodoxy to innovate. It can evolve from it. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

XM has obtained a license from the Capital Markets Authority in Kenya. The company said the approval supports its expansion in Africa and allows it to operate under local regulation.Earlier, XM expanded in the Middle East with a Category 5 licence from the Securities and Commodities Authority in the United Arab Emirates. That licence permits promotion of products and client referrals but does not allow holding client funds or executing trades, which require a Category 1 licence. XM also operates under the Dubai Financial Services Authority and holds licences in Cyprus, Belize, Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa.XM Expands Services Under Kenyan RegulationThe CMA licence allows XM to provide trading services to Kenyan clients under regulator oversight. The company said it reflects its intention to operate within established regulatory standards and align with Kenya’s financial framework.Menelaos Menelaou, co-Chief Executive Officer of XM, said, “Kenya represents a dynamic and rapidly growing financial market.” He added that the company will provide services “under a robust, locally recognized regulatory framework.”XM Secures CMA License, Strengthening Its Regulatory Footprint in Kenya #crypto #trading #forexhttps://t.co/sbTOXEqNwq— Today news (@newstarebhtoday) February 24, 2026Local Website Launches, Expands Trading OfferingsXM said the license enables expansion of its local presence and access to more than 1,400 financial instruments. Kenyan clients can access trading products, educational materials, and customer support under CMA supervision.The broker launched a dedicated Kenyan website, xm.ke, allowing clients to onboard and access trading services. XM said its offering will include fast execution, leverage options, promotional bonuses, and a range of trading tools, subject to local regulations.XM serves more than 15 million clients globally. The company did not disclose financial details of the Kenyan licence or plans for further regional expansion. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Prediction markets are no longer a niche product, and broker technology providers are moving quickly to prove it. Leverate has officially launched a white-label prediction markets platform for broker onboarding, positioning itself alongside other infrastructure suppliers already racing to meet what appears to be genuine demand from retail trading firms.The timing reflects a broader shift in the market. Daily trading volumes across major prediction market platforms reached a record $702 million earlier this year, while sector-wide annual volumes climbed from roughly $9 billion in 2024 to around $40 billion in 2025, according to industry estimates. Technology Providers Move to Supply BrokersLeverate's platform covers event-based trading across sports, politics, cryptocurrency, finance, and entertainment. The company, which has been operating for nearly two decades, says brokers can go live with a fully branded product within days and without any development cost on their end. The offering ships with an order book, limit and market orders, real-time price charts, a portfolio dashboard, social leaderboards, and admin controls for market creation and resolution, with no external oracles required for settlement."The biggest players in fintech are already racing into prediction markets," said Ran Strauss, CEO and Co-Founder of Leverate. "The brokers who act now will capture a first-mover advantage that their competitors simply won't be able to replicate. We built this platform to make that move as fast and risk-free as possible, and the reaction in Dubai proved just how ready the market is."However, Leverate is not the first B2B technology provider to spot the opportunity. Devexperts, the company behind the DXtrade platform, launched its own prediction markets infrastructure for CFD brokers and prop firms in November 2025, building on its existing DXtrade and DXmatch engine technology. Firms adopting that system can take either a full standalone event trading platform or modular components that integrate into their current infrastructure, with automated contract creation and settlement, deliberate latency controls for live sporting events, and round-the-clock uptime capability."With our proprietary prototype we can deliver an event based trading platform, either in part for integration or as a full standalone product, in a timely and cost-effective manner that allows firms and exchanges to begin providing these services quickly and efficiently," said Jon Light, Senior Director of Product Management at Devexperts. The company has not disclosed pricing or named any clients for the product.Brokers Weigh a New Revenue LineLeverate positions the product as an additional profit center for existing brokers, projecting 15-25% in incremental revenue through spreads, trading fees, and market creation, with minimal added overhead. The company says the simple Yes/No trading mechanic drives a 127% increase in user engagement across all experience levels, while open positions and pending outcomes create re-engagement loops that it says produce 85% monthly retention.The platform can be deployed as a standalone product or combined with Leverate's broader broker stack, which includes MT4/MT5 infrastructure, CRM, a white-label prop trading suite, and liquidity and risk management tools.Traditional brokers are increasingly moving into prediction markets to diversify revenue, betting that US derivatives regulation will continue to provide clearer ground rules. As industry observers have noted, traders are now applying the same systematic strategies to prediction markets that they use in conventional instruments, pushing platform infrastructure toward tools that resemble traditional trading screens.Interactive Brokers Chairman Thomas Peterffy is reportedly exploring his own prediction markets venture, and Kalshi's CEO has said the platform's trading volumes hit $100 billion annually as it attracts increasingly sophisticated participants.The Binary Options Question RemainsThe regulatory picture, however, is far from settled. Kalshi faced a court-ordered ban in Massachusetts on its sports contracts even as the sector posted all-time revenue highs, illustrating how unevenly oversight is applied across jurisdictions. More fundamentally, Kalshi itself has confirmed that some event contracts "are structured as binary options," a category banned in Europe since 2018 over gambling concerns. For brokers considering entry, that distinction matters enormously, and technology providers like Leverate offer internal compliance tools but leave regulatory classification to the broker.Leverate presented the platform at the iFX EXPO Dubai 2026, announcing the plans for takeoff a few weeks earlier, and says it drew record booth traffic and a wave of partnership inquiries there. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitcoin (BTC) price is falling for the fourth straight session, and the chart is sending increasingly bearish signals. BTC tumbled below $63,000 on Tuesday, February 24, extending a decline that has now lasted four sessions without relief. The intraday low reached $62,964, the weakest print in nearly three weeks. According to my technical analysis and over a decade of experience as an analyst and trader, Bitcoin is consolidating at its lowest levels since Q4 2024, and the structure of that consolidation looks fragile. In this article, I examine why Bitcoin is going down, analyze the BTC chart in detail, and present the newest Bitcoin price predictions and key technical levels to watch.Follow me on X for more Bitcoin and crypto market analysis: @ChmielDkBitcoin Price Today: Back Below $63,000Monday's 4%+ drop - the steepest single-day decline since February 5 - set the tone, and Tuesday's follow-through has done nothing to reassure bulls.The broader damage is stark. From its all-time high of over $125,000 per token set in October 2025, Bitcoin has now shed approximately 50% of its value. VanEck's research desk noted that Bitcoin is currently trading -2.88 standard deviations below its 200-day moving average - a level that has never been observed in the past ten years of data, including during COVID and the FTX collapse.Bitcoin Technical Analysis: What the BTC Chart ShowsAccording to my technical analysis, Bitcoin is increasingly and visibly consolidating at the lowest levels since Q4 2024. As shown on my chart, this consolidation has a well-defined structure:Consolidation floor: $60,000-$62,000 - where psychological support and recent lows convergeConsolidation ceiling: $72,000-$74,000 - the upper cap that has capped every recovery attemptCritical breakdown target: $53,000, and potentially as low as $49,000 - the H2 2024 lowsA weekly close below the $60,000-$62,000 band would, in my view, confirm a breakdown from this consolidation. From there, the next meaningful demand zone does not appear until the $49,000-$53,000 range, where the second half of 2024 set its structural lows. That represents a further 15-22% decline from current levels.Looking higher, the bulls need to reclaim $72,000-$74,000 on a sustained basis to even begin talking about recovery. Until that happens, every bounce is a selling opportunity in a bear-trending structure.One important context point: despite the depth of this drawdown, VanEck's analysis shows that 90-day realized volatility currently sits near 38 - roughly half the levels seen during the 2022 bear market, when Bitcoin fell 78% peak to trough. This is not yet a panic-driven capitulation. It is, so far, an orderly - if painful - deleveraging.Why Is Bitcoin Going Down? The Macro Trigger StackThere is no single cause here. Bitcoin is being hit from multiple directions simultaneously.The immediate trigger is the ongoing Trump tariff chaos. Following the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling last week, Trump imposed new 15% global tariffs via executive order, reintroducing trade policy uncertainty just as markets had begun to stabilize. Risk-off sentiment spilled directly from equities into crypto."Crypto markets remain under pressure into Tuesday, with Bitcoin extending its pullback toward the February low," said Joel Kruger, crypto strategist at LMAX. As he added: "The negative tone reflects a combination of macro-driven risk aversion, ongoing deleveraging, and defensive positioning - including elevated sovereign yields, a firm US dollar, and lingering geopolitical uncertainty."The second major pressure point is geopolitical. The US-Iran military buildup - described by multiple sources as the largest since the 2003 Iraq War - is driving a classic flight from risk assets toward traditional safe havens. Gold and oil are rising. Bitcoin is not."Bitcoin has officially exited its consolidation phase and entered a new bearish cycle," said Samer Hasn, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com. "This toxic cocktail of economic, political, and geopolitical shocks is aggressively flushing capital out of the crypto market - leaving significant room for bears to dominate."The mechanics of the selloff have amplified the fundamental picture:$240 million in forced liquidations of leveraged long positions on Monday aloneContinued ETF outflows, with institutional demand insufficient to absorb sellingWhale selling - on-chain data shows large holders moving significant BTC to exchangesAI stock correlation - as AI and HPC stocks corrected, Bitcoin miners with data center exposure sold BTC to cover balance sheet stress"The decline in Bitcoin appears less like a specific shock to the cryptocurrency and more akin to a typical reset in risk sentiment," said Christopher Hamilton, Head of Client Investment Solutions APAC at Invesco. He described the move as "tactical de-risking rather than a long-term withdrawal."How Low Can Bitcoin Go? Key Levels and PredictionsThis is the question every trader is asking right now - and the honest answer is that the range of outcomes remains wide.Institutional forecasters remain divided. On the bearish side, the breakdown of the $60,000-$62,000 zone would technically open the $49,000-$53,000 window. On the cautiously optimistic side, VanEck notes that the combination of a deep drawdown and materially lower-than-historical volatility "suggests that a significant portion of downside risk has already been absorbed."The key variable is macro resolution. If US-Iran tensions de-escalate or tariff uncertainty clears, the relief trade could be sharp. But as Hasn of XS.com noted, "buyers are currently surfacing only for short-lived corrective bounces" - not the sustained demand needed to flip the structure.Bitcoin Price, FAQWhy is Bitcoin falling today?Bitcoin is going down due to a combination of Trump's 15% global tariff announcement, escalating US-Iran military tensions, $240M+ in forced liquidations of leveraged long positions, and continued ETF outflows. Risk-off sentiment is driving capital into traditional safe havens like gold rather than crypto.How low can Bitcoin go in 2026?Based on my technical analysis, the critical level is the $60,000-$62,000 consolidation floor. A weekly close below that zone opens a technical target of $53,000 and potentially $49,000 - the H2 2024 structural lows. The 200 EMA sits near $38,000-$42,000 and represents the deepest bear case support.Is Bitcoin in a bear market?Bitcoin is now down approximately 50% from its October 2025 all-time high above $125,000, which meets the traditional definition of a bear market. VanEck data shows realized volatility at roughly half 2022 bear market levels, suggesting an orderly deleveraging rather than full capitulation.When will Bitcoin stop falling?The chart requires a sustained reclaim of $72,000-$74,000 - the top of the current consolidation range - to signal any meaningful trend reversal. Until that happens, the path of least resistance remains lower. Macro clarity on US-Iran tensions and tariff policy would be the most likely catalysts for a stabilization. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Europe's top securities watchdog put the financial industry on notice today (Tuesday), warning that perpetual futures and perpetual contracts, products that have exploded in popularity among crypto traders, are almost certainly covered by existing EU rules on contracts for differences, regardless of what companies choose to call them.The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a public statement telling investment firms they must carefully assess whether these instruments fall under the bloc's CFD product intervention measures. If they do, the full set of restrictions applies: leverage caps, mandatory risk warnings, margin close-out rules, negative balance protection, and a ban on monetary and non-monetary incentives.A Name Change Doesn't Change the RulesThe core message from ESMA is blunt: rebranding a product as a "perpetual future" or "perpetual contract" doesn't put it outside the regulator's reach. What matters is how the instrument actually works, not what it says on the label."The commercial name provided by firms, for example, “perpetual futures,” is irrelevant for the categorization under MiFID II," ESMA wrote in the statement. A derivative that gives exposure to an underlying asset and isn't settled exclusively in physical form "would likely fall in scope of the product intervention measures on CFDs," the authority said.The EU's CFD framework traces back to ESMA's temporary restrictions introduced in 2018, which were later made permanent by national regulators across member states. The regulator emphasized that firms cannot sidestep these obligations by adding features like funding rate mechanisms or voluntary "insurance funds" - those elements are irrelevant to the legal classification.Crypto Perpetuals in the CrosshairsThe timing of ESMA's statement is no coincidence. Perpetual futures, instruments with no expiry date that track prices of assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum through a funding rate system, have become one of the most traded products in crypto markets. By the end of 2025, DeFi platforms alone were processing roughly $1.2 trillion in perpetual futures monthly, dwarfing spot crypto volumes.The growth has caught regulators' attention. Firms have been racing to offer these instruments to European retail clients, including through regulated venues. Amsterdam-based One Trading launched what it described as the EU's first regulated crypto perpetual futures platform under MiFID II rules in April 2025, later expanding retail access in Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria the following month. The Dutch regulator subsequently backed One Trading's push into 24/7 equity perpetuals in January 2026.Compliance Failures Could Be CostlyBeyond the product classification question, ESMA's statement lays out a checklist of investor protection requirements that firms must follow when selling these products - and signals where it thinks some of them are falling short.On product governance, ESMA was explicit that these instruments need a "narrow target market" given their complexity and risk, and that distribution strategy must match that assessment. Blanket marketing efforts aimed at the general public are out. The regulator was specific: "Mass marketing campaigns, initiatives aimed at inexperienced investors, or emails and pop-ups to all clients of a firm that state that such products are now offered and investors should 'get started now' should not be considered to be consistent with a narrow target market."Firms also need to run appropriateness checks on retail clients before allowing them to trade - a standard requirement for complex financial instruments under MiFID II. And they need to manage conflicts of interest, especially where the perpetual futures are issued by or traded on a platform belonging to the same corporate group. ESMA flagged that setup as a "prominent conflict of interest" that could push firms to steer clients toward their own products.There's a paperwork requirement too. Under the PRIIPs Regulation, firms distributing perpetual futures to retail clients must prepare a Key Information Document - a standardized disclosure used for packaged retail investment products. ESMA said these instruments qualify as packaged products and therefore trigger that obligation.Broader Regulatory Pressure on CFD FirmsThe statement adds to what has been a busy period for European derivatives regulation. ESMA finalized new derivatives transparency standards in December 2025 that will require significant reporting changes from CFD providers by 2027, while the authority has also flagged concerns over tokenized stocks and their potential to mislead investors. Meanwhile, duplicate reporting obligations under MiFIR, EMIR, and SFTR have been costing the industry billions each year, a problem ESMA proposed tackling through a unified reporting framework last June.Monday's statement doesn't introduce new rules. It's a warning to firms that the existing ones apply - and that the regulator is watching. ESMA noted it is prohibited to participate in any activities aimed at circumventing the product intervention measures. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Capital.com revealed that 73.8 per cent of gold trades on its platform in 2025 were closed within one hour, while 95.9 per cent were closed within 24 hours. Although the broker highlighted that this concentration was consistent with intraday trading patterns during the volatile period, it did not capture the gold rally in January 2026.Another Record Year for Capital.comMeanwhile, the broker closed last year with $3.42 trillion in trading volume, 92.1 per cent higher than the $1.78 trillion recorded in the previous year.Trading activity on the platform was also concentrated among traders in the Middle East, with about 50 per cent of its total annual trading volume coming from that region. Volumes in Europe, its second-largest market, also jumped 73 per cent.The number of trades executed on the platform rose by 87 per cent to 224.8 million.Gold was the most traded instrument globally on the platform, both in terms of volume and trade count. This was also observed by other brokers, mainly due to the one-sided rally in the yellow metal.Read more: Volatile Gold Makes Brokers' Risks No Longer Around P&L, but About Balance-Sheet ProtectionThe broker further highlighted that Millennials and Gen X accounted for the largest share of its trading volumes, followed by Zoomers and Boomers.An Expanding Broker“2025 was marked by sustained macroeconomic uncertainty and cross-asset repricing,” said Rupert Osborne, CEO of Capital.com’s UK operations. “In that environment, our priority was not simply scale, but strengthening operational resilience and deepening a structured decision-support framework within a regulated setting.”The broker recently secured a licence in Kenya and is also seeking regulatory approval in South Africa, Japan and Turkey. It is hiring CEOs for its operations in Brazil and Chile, signalling expansion into those countries.In addition, Capital.com is regulated in the UK, Cyprus, Australia, the Bahamas and the UAE.The broker also plans to enter the spot cryptocurrency market and recently acquired a MiCA licence in Cyprus, which allows it to offer crypto products across Europe.The brokerage group is also working on expanding AI-driven behavioural safeguards. Its product roadmap includes behavioural analytics and AI-assisted tools designed to support risk definition before execution, enable real-time exposure monitoring, and facilitate structured reviews of trading patterns. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

From 6 to 9 May 2026, the 3rd Cyprus Diaspora Forum returns to Limassol, building on the powerful legacy of its first two editions and reinforcing its position as one of the most strategic international gatherings connected to Cyprus.This is not simply another conference. It is where global influence meets opportunity, where ideas, investment, innovation, and talent converge to shape Cyprus’ future on the world stage.Where Global Opportunity Meets Strategic VisionThe Forum has firmly established itself as Cyprus’ most comprehensive cross-sector platform, bringing together leaders from business, government, academia, finance, technology, culture, and innovation. It attracts decision-makers who are actively shaping industries — and those seeking to be part of what comes next.Each year, the event draws strong interest from international investors who are:• Exploring relocation to Cyprus• Seeking investment in local businesses and franchises• Partnering with Cypriot companies expanding globally• Integrating advanced technologies into financial and operational systemsFor attendees, this means more than visibility — it means direct access to meaningful partnerships and high-value connections.A Programme Designed to Inspire, Inform, and ConnectThe 2026 edition will feature an exceptional global lineup, including renowned entrepreneurs, influential thought leaders, AI and digital transformation innovators, medical pioneers, education specialists, finance experts, film personalities, and sporting icons.Across four dynamic days, participants will engage in:• High-level keynote presentations• Strategic panel discussions and fireside conversations• Industry-focused masterclasses• Targeted networking opportunities• Interactive workshops and interviewsA highlight of this year’s programme is a practical masterclass exploring Cyprus as a gateway to EU tech excellence, alongside major discussions on artificial intelligence, fintech, medtech, cybersecurity, energy, education, culture, and content creation.Repatriation will also be a central theme, in collaboration with the government’s Minds in Cyprus initiative, which encourages talented Cypriots abroad to return and contribute to national growth.A Platform That Moves Economies ForwardThe Forum goes far beyond dialogue; it drives outcomes.Its mission is to strengthen global business ties, attract investment, and accelerate innovation across sectors, including energy, tourism, shipping, real estate, finance, film, health sciences, and green technologies.It also serves as a vital meeting point for high-net-worth individuals, C-level executives, institutional investors, and international corporations seeking to engage with Cyprus’s rapidly evolving economic landscape.Founder and CEO Paul Lambis describes the Forum as:“A global movement that transforms heritage into opportunity, connects generations through shared values, and positions Cyprus as a centre of innovation, culture, and collaboration.”A Global Community with Real ImpactPrevious editions have brought together thousands of delegates from across the world — entrepreneurs, investors, returning diaspora professionals, and international partners who have chosen Cyprus as a place to live, work, and invest.The Forum continues to strengthen economic and diplomatic relationships with key global regions, including the Gulf and MENA, India, Australia, Central Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. Strategic discussions will also examine the potential economic and geopolitical implications of Cyprus joining the Schengen Area.Four Days of Experience — From Vision to CelebrationThe 2026 programme opens with a spectacular ceremony and VIP cocktail event at the luxurious AMARA Hotel, setting the tone for dialogue, collaboration, and discovery.The event concludes with the prestigious CYDIA Awards Gala Dinner — a celebration honouring individuals of Cypriot heritage, and friends of Cyprus, who have made a profound global impact across business, science, culture, and society. The evening features world-class entertainment, international performers, and an unforgettable atmosphere of recognition and pride.Nominations remain open, with the final submission deadline set for 31 March 2026.https://www.cyprusdiasporaforum.com/nominateWhy You Should Be ThereThe Cyprus Diaspora Forum is more than a networking event; it is a catalyst for investment, innovation, and long-term growth. It connects global expertise with national ambition and transforms conversations into collaboration.Whether you are an investor, entrepreneur, policymaker, academic, or global professional, this is where Cyprus’ future takes shape.Secure your place today, tickets are available on the Cyprus Diaspora Forum website.https://www.cyprusdiasporaforum.com This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

ViewTrade Technology has signed a deal with Bruce Markets to give financial institutions across Asia and the Middle East direct access to U.S. equities during their local business day, a window when Wall Street is technically closed.Bruce ATS, an SEC-regulated alternative trading system, runs from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM Eastern Time, which lines up with roughly 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in South Korea. Through the new arrangement, ViewTrade will now offer both certified FIX order routing into Bruce ATS and approved redistribution of its real-time market data, letting brokers stand up an overnight U.S. trading offering without building much of the underlying plumbing themselves.ViewTrade Connects Asian Brokers to U.S. Trading WindowVieTrade says it normalizes Bruce ATS's raw market data into application-ready form, then delivers it via RESTful APIs, real-time socket streaming, and SDKs. The practical effect is that a broker can embed live overnight U.S. equity data directly into a mobile trading app or risk management platform without extensive downstream development work."Our goal is to make overnight U.S. equities trading feel native to our global clients," said Kenneth Chan, President of ViewTrade Technology. "By normalizing Bruce ATS overnight market data and delivering it through APIs, streaming, and SDKs, we aim to reduce integration friction, lower cost and enable financial institutions to more rapidly introduce overnight trading and market data experiences."ViewTrade has also deployed Bruce ATS market data inside its Asia-region infrastructure, rather than routing everything back through U.S. servers. That localization is meant to cut latency for brokers and end users sitting in time zones far from New York.Overnight Access Demand Keeps Building Across AsiaThe deal fits into a broader build-out happening across the industry. Nasdaq filed late last year to extend its own trading session to a near-24-hour weekday schedule, targeting a 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM Eastern window with clearing services expected to go 24/5 by mid-2026.eToro recently joined the push toward 24/7 trading access, though retail activity in true overnight sessions remains thin - hovering below 2% on most platforms even as pre- and post-market activity has climbed to 40% on some. The World Federation of Exchanges has urged a slower approach, arguing that 22/5 or 23/5 models are safer than an abrupt jump to continuous trading.Bruce Markets CEO Jason Wallach framed the ViewTrade partnership as a necessary piece of that infrastructure puzzle. "As demand for overnight U.S. trading continues to grow globally, partnerships like this are critical," he said. "By combining Bruce ATS's overnight market with ViewTrade's localized infrastructure, we're making overnight U.S. trading more accessible, efficient and scalable for international clients."Chan also pointed to tokenization as an additional growth driver in the region. "Momentum around real-time access to U.S. markets and the tokenization of real-world assets is accelerating across Asia, driven by mobile-first platforms and global portfolio diversification," he said, adding that ViewTrade can serve as a redundancy path for brokers who already carry a primary Bruce ATS connection.ViewTrade's Asia Push Has Been Building for Over a YearViewTrade has been expanding its footprint in Asia and the broader emerging market belt for some time. In 2024, the firm rebranded its technology division as Orbis Systems and reported $339 billion in year-to-date trade flow alongside over $22 billion in assets under management - announcements that came alongside new hires across Asia and the Middle East. Earlier in 2024, ViewTrade moved into Australia, targeting the country's $9 trillion superannuation fund market with claims it could save the local wealth industry $160 million annually.Bruce ATS itself has been steadily building its data distribution network. Nasdaq struck a deal in early 2025 to exclusively distribute Bruce ATS market data through its existing global network, dramatically reducing the time brokers need to plug in, from up to a year to potentially days for firms that already have Nasdaq connectivity. The platform uses Nasdaq's underlying market technology and a maker/taker pricing model. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.