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.

“Traders don’t need promises, nor do they need brokers to reinvent the wheel; they just need more clarity on spreads, brokerage fees, and the right tools to navigate market uncertainty” - George Kyriakoudes, Skilling CEO.Scandinavian-founded forex and CFD trading brokerage firm Skilling has a simple vision: to unlock the potential of the world’s markets. The broker is well known for providing competitive trading conditions and communicating in a way that respects traders’ time: clear, honest, and easy to understand.What does this mean for traders?“Radical transparency is part of all our operations, especially Skilling Trader,” answers Skilling CEO George Kyriakoudes.On its mission to connect everyone to the global financial markets, the firm has developed a proprietary trading platform with ultra-fast order execution. Skilling Trader provides an innovative and powerfully intuitive environment to trade over 1200 instruments, with access to cutting-edge trading tools, including the Skilling Trade Assistant, to support beginners. The AI assistant is designed to offer practical on-the-spot explanations of the basics of trading while helping new traders to place their first trade. It marks a clear shift toward trading agility and real-time, informed decision-making.Built from the ground up on a foundation of retail trading transparency, the platform has gained hundreds of favorable trader reviews and a high rating on Trustpilot, with highlights showing that clients appreciate its user-friendliness and the firm’s efficient customer service and overall offering.78% of the traders reviewing Skilling cited transaction speed, the vast choice of tradable assets, and the ease of use as the main drivers of satisfaction with the broker’s services. Achieving this level of client satisfaction is no easy feat, and it goes beyond “numbers on a spreadsheet,” Kyriakoudes highlights. According to him, the most important thing is “understanding clients’ needs and creating a transparent environment for them to achieve their goals.”Why is Skilling Trader different?“Transparency isn’t something you bolt on at the end,” Kyriakoudes argues. “It’s a decision you make at the beginning, when you’re designing products and building execution systems.”The clarity of Skilling’s vision and mission makes it stand out from other online trading platforms, “during trading, where it counts,” he adds.When fast-paced trading decisions are made against a background of complexity and jargon, complications often arise for traders. To counteract this, Kyriakoudes directs the team to focus on the client experience in actual practice. He observes, “Looking through the trader’s lens, the fundamentals of pricing, execution, and product design must simply line up with what they expect day to day.”How does Skilling solve traders’ frustration over complexity in trading?“Traders compare experiences, not just spreads. While they don’t expect trading to be easy or risk-free, they do expect it to be understandable,” Kyriakoudes answers.In practice, this means “a platform that behaves consistently,” he explains.Traders face enough market risk without the additional uncertainty of knowing how a broker or platform operates, Kyriakoudes goes on to say. He underlines that the Skilling solution has been to set high standards of transparent trading conditions and a more consistent platform with clean execution.The Scandinavian-founded broker relies on its Nordic ethos of efficiency, simplicity, and radical transparency when developing its platform and relationships with clients. “The result is straightforward product quality,” Kyriakoudes adds. “Clients don’t have time to waste on confusing order execution.”Another trader pain point is the complex pricing found at many brokers, according to more insights from Skilling’s CEO: “Retail traders are savvy and don’t tolerate hidden costs. At Skilling, we are clear on what we offer, what our spreads are, and why.”Retail traders in EuropeRetail traders in Europe build their trust in their broker not through empty promises but through the everyday behavior of the platform and trading conditions, Kyriakoudes underlines.“This is why radical transparency is a competitive advantage, not just an ideal. And trust is the next major growth driver,” he comments.With a perspective shaped by long-term industry experience and the adoption of a Scandinavian business mindset that values clarity over hype, Kyriakoudes maintains that: “When their financial goals are at stake, traders must have a clear overview of what’s involved.”Kyriakoudes has fifteen years of experience in the online brokerage and forex industry, including working with three of the largest brands in the sector. His leadership has spanned Internal Audit, Risk Management, Business Reporting/Intelligence, and, more recently, overseeing Skilling’s Dealing and Sales functions.Other aspects of this CEO’s principles are sustainability over short-term growth, and trust over aggressive monetisation at the cost of trader trust.Key takeawaysUnder the guidance of Skilling’s CEO, transparent practices are clear and upfront, centered around fair pricing and transparent communication about risk and execution.Skilling’s product development philosophy is rooted in the Scandinavian principles of simplicity and efficiency that lead to quality trading experiences.Kyriakoudes comments, “Our product design is aligned to Nordic expectations of openness, fairness, and long-term value. We’re proud of Skilling’s strong local relevance and brand trust in Sweden and Norway.”To learn more, visit their website. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Cybersecurity Ventures' data shows that global spending on security products and services is projected to reach $522 billion in 2026. This figure represents a fundamental decoupling from the logic that drove the previous market cycle. In 2021 and 2022, exchange dominance was often measured by stadium naming rights and celebrity endorsements. By the close of 2025, that metric shifted increasingly to the "cost of doing business"—specifically, the cost of infrastructure hardening.As digital assets integrated deeper into traditional finance over the last twelve months, the primary driver for user acquisition stopped being marketing visibility. It became trust. Capital allocation strategies have pivoted aggressively from customer acquisition costs to operational resilience. In this matured environment, a platform's ability to remain solvent and secure during stress events offers a higher return on investment than any advertising campaign.Why Security Investment Scales Non-LinearlyThe math regarding risk management has changed. As platforms expand, the attack vectors become increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, requiring defensive spending that outpaces user growth. Chainalysis estimates that cryptocurrency scams and fraudreached $17 billion in 2025 alone, which suggest that the primary vector is no longer just code vulnerabilities but the human element.Hacken’s data shows that access control failures accounted for approximately$2.12 billion in losses in 2025. This figure represents roughly 53% of all recorded incidents and signals that smart contracts are hardening but internal access remains a critical battlefield.This environment demands a regulatory framework that enforces rigorous internal controls. Binance Co-CEO Richard Teng notes thatsecuring the first global exchange license under the ADGM framework "means that we adhere to the gold standard on risk management, governance, and compliance prescribed by the ADGM across the entire spectrum of our activities." This adherence is not merely bureaucratic; it is the structural prerequisite for handling scale, as the platform recently "crossed300 million users globally."The necessity for such scaling becomes clear when viewing the sophistication of state-sponsored actors. The Lazarus Group alone was responsible forstealing $2.02 billion in 2025, according to Chainalysis, turning large, centralized platforms into high-stakes targets. A doubling of users does not simply double the risk; it creates a honeypot effect that requires exponential investment in defense systems to counter AI-driven social engineering and sophisticated intrusion attempts.Institutional Expectations Redefine Baseline StandardsRetail traders might chase volatility, but institutional capital demands custodial certainty. TheBasel Committee on Banking Supervision's principles for operational resilience now dictate that financial entities must be judged by their "tolerance for disruption." This shift has effectively ended the wild west era of asset management; institutions will not deploy capital where infrastructure cannot withstand severe stress scenarios.Data from 2025 supports this flight to quality. Binance's Year in Review noted a 21% YoY increase in institutional trading volume. It's an influx that suggests that sophisticated market participants are prioritizing venues that demonstrate robust infrastructure over those offering novel and untested features. Binance Head of VIP & Institutional Catherine Chen expanded on this during the WEF in Davos recently, “We believe smart regulation is essential to unlocking further institutional participation.” Chen continued, “The next step is consistent, risk-based implementation across jurisdictions, with clear licensing, custody, and consumer-protection standards.”The threat landscape reinforces this caution. TRM Labs observed a distinct shift in attacker focus during 2025 moving fromdecentralized cross-chain bridges toward centralized infrastructure. As attackers target centralized exchanges with greater frequency, the security burden on these platforms has increased, forcing budgets to divert rapidly from marketing departments to compliance and cold storage technologies. Institutional partners require assurance that a platform can defend against these targeted strikes before they integrate their order books.Platforms Competing on Resilience Rather Than ReachIn the current market structure, compliance functions act less like legal safeguards and more like product features that ensure longevity. The ability to stop funds from leaving the ecosystem illicitly is a measurable value proposition.In 2025, Binance's risk controls prevented $6.69 billion in potential losses for 5.4 million users. Furthermore, the platform recorded a 96% reduction in direct exposure to illicit funds between 2023 and 2025.Noah Perlman, Chief Compliance Officer at Binance, highlights this trend, noting that the "analysis of independent industry data shows a steep reduction in our direct illicit exposure," a feat accomplished "even as Binance handled growing volumes comparable to the next six largest exchanges combined." This illustrates a new competitive reality: compliance teams are effectively growth engines—preserving the license to operate in a tightening global jurisdiction.This performance contrasts sharply with the broader Web3 ecosystem (where governance often lags). In this sector, Hacken reported that $4 billion was lost to Web3 incidents in 2025.The disparity between platforms capable of preventing billions in fraud and a broader market that continues to bleed capital defines the new competitive landscape. Users are migrating toward safety, and platforms are competing on their ability to provide it.Why Security Investment Now Correlates with User RetentionAs the industry moves through 2026, the marketing budget of the past has effectively morphed into the security budget of the present. The most effective advertisement is a platform that remains solvent and operational during a crisis.TheNIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 emphasizes that governance is now the core component of risk management. Platforms that govern risk effectively are the ones positioned to survive the next cycle. In mature crypto markets, capital flows not to the loudest voice, but to the strongest vault. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

UK-based Spreadex, which offers both sports and financial spread betting, closed the financial year ending 31 May 2025 with largely flat results. Revenue increased slightly to £104.6 million from about £103.3 million, while pre-tax profit rose to £43.2 million from £42.2 million in the previous financial year.However, net profit after tax fell to £31.6 million in the last financial year, compared with £32.4 million in the previous year.The Unique Advantage in the Spread Betting Space“Spreadex remains the only company that offers both sports and financial spread betting services,” the company noted in its latest Companies House filing. “The diversity offered by this dual revenue stream continues to be invaluable to the business.”The company generated its entire turnover within the United Kingdom.“The investments made in FY22 to FY24 in the foundations required for long-term growth have again driven year-on-year increases in both revenue and profit before tax, while the underlying fundamentals of the business remain strong,” the filing added.The company also intends to continue investing heavily in marketing through branding and sponsorship. It stressed that it focuses on Championship football and currently sponsors more than a dozen football teams in the UK across several divisions.Interestingly, the company paid about £25.6 million in dividends last year, which was 61 per cent higher than the previous one.[#highlighted-links#] Are UK Traders Losing Their Appeal?Established in 1999, Spreadex also offers contracts for difference (CFD) trading alongside spread betting instruments. However, these offerings appear to be small compared with its spread betting products.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 derivative contracts.According to Investment Trends data, the number of leveraged traders in the UK who trade spread bets, as well as margin FX and CFDs, declined to around 167,000, down from about 275,000 four years ago.Although UK-based leveraged traders were (and may still be) very profitable for brokers, some fragmented industry data suggest that traders from other global markets, such as Singapore and the UAE, are attracting brokers’ attention and investment. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Layer 1 blockchain Pharos has announced the formation of the RealFi Alliance to standardize the development of RWA infrastructure for institutional players. If successful, the organization will supercharge real-world asset adoption by enabling developers to use tooling and infrastructure that works consistently industry-wide.More than just an ambitious attempt at standardizing RWAs, the RealFi Alliance looks odds-on to realize its goals thanks to the backing of major infra companies. Founding member Pharos is joined by 10 other entities in the form of Chainlink, Asseto Finance, Ember, Faroo, LayerZero, R25, Re7 Labs, TopNod, and Centrifuge, the majority of whom need no introduction.Making RWAs GreatWith the promise of tokenizing trillions of dollars in capital, allowing it to be traded 24/7 and plugged into new financial markets, the bull case for RWAs doesn’t need retelling. Everyone knows the upside and numerous blockchain builders are working tirelessly to deliver it. But exciting as all this innovation is, it’s no secret that the blockchain industry suffers from fragmentation due to the number of competing chains and protocols, each with their own programming languages and quirks.The RealFi Alliance can’t solve that, but what it can do is ensure that RWAs operate seamlessly across the omnichain landscape, regardless of which network they were issued on. This is important because tokenizing real-world assets is only the first step. Unlocking their true value calls for making them fully composable and thus capable of being integrated into new onchain markets. Which is why the need for a single standard to govern all cross-chain infra is so valuable.Institutional-Grade Execution The term “institutional-grade” is used a lot in DeFi, but in the case of engineering RWA infrastructure, it’s the correct term. The layers on which tokenized assets operate need to be not just fast and efficient but also secure and with robust risk management tooling built in. You know: stuff that meets the standard of institutions, who are bound by strict guidelines mandating what they can and cannot do with capital.To facilitate this, the RealFi Alliance is aiming to tackle the industry’s most pressing pain points, starting with fragmented liquidity, inconsistent architecture, and regulatory silos. Broadly speaking, these are all infrastructure challenges. If there was a universal layer on which RWAs could operate, however, allowing them to be slotted into existing protocols and money markets, these points of friction would be significantly smoothed off – if not eliminated altogether. Four Pillars That Work as OneEvery newly formed organization needs a mandate and a roadmap so that it can get off to a flying start, and the RealFi Alliance has already outlined its vision delineating how it intends to get there. It’s identified four core pillars that will form its focus initially. First, there’s asset enablement to ensure RWAs are secure and composable. This foundation is accompanied by infrastructure and compliance alignment.It’s here that founding member Pharos will have a pivotal role to play, enabling deep-parallel execution and integrated compliance modules. Thirdly, the Alliance is targeting liquidity and utility design. Making RWAs that support as many use cases as possible, in other words, and that can be easily traded at market value. Finally, market transparency forms a core pillar, making it easier for industry participants to gauge risk.If the RealFi Alliance succeeds with its goals, it will benefit its 11 founding members, whose infra will see increased adoption and adaptation. But the real winners will be institutions, who’ll be able to enjoy greater capital efficiency, deeper liquidity, and more ways to put their tokenized assets to work. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Singapore-based mining firm Bitdeer has sold its entire Bitcoin treasury as it reallocates capital into AI and high‑performance computing infrastructure. The move marks a clear break from the traditional miner strategy of stockpiling coins on the balance sheet and signals a focus on growth in data centers and hash rate instead.Bitdeer #BTC Weekly Update? BTC Holdings: 0 (pure holdings, excluding customer deposits)? BTC Output: 189.8 BTC? BTC Sold: 189.8 BTC? Net BTC Added: -943.1 BTC? Data as of February 20, 2026.#Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinHoldings #BitcoinCommunity #BTCMining $BTDR pic.twitter.com/vtvBVEui0Q— Bitdeer (@BitdeerOfficial) February 21, 2026Bitdeer Sells All BTC, Builds LiquidityIn its latest weekly update, the NASDAQ-listed miner and AI infrastructure company reported Bitcoin holdings of zero as of Feb. 20, excluding customer deposits. The company produced 189.8 BTC during the week and sold the entire amount. With the current value of around $64k per Bitcoin, the amount is approximately $12 million. The sale resulted in net BTC added of minus 943.1 BTC once reserve sales are included. Bitdeer is reportedly now using its Bitcoin production as a direct source of liquidity instead of treating it as a long‑term treasury asset.However, the firm said this decision should not worry the broader market. It explained that it is evaluating several powered land acquisition opportunities and considers it prudent to prepare liquidity in advance while it continues to grow hash rate and mine more Bitcoin for shareholders.You may also like: Largest-Ever $1M Lightning Transaction Marks Bitcoin’s Leap Toward Faster SettlementsOperationally, Bitdeer continues to scale. The company mined 668 BTC in January, up 430% year on year. Its self‑mining hash rate reached 63.2 exahash per second, with total proprietary hash rate at 65.1 EH/s.Our decision to sell Bitcoin should not be a concern for the broader market. We are currently evaluating multiple non-binding powered land acquisition opportunities, and we believe it is prudent to prepare liquidity now. Our hash rate will continue to grow, and we will continue…— Bitdeer (@BitdeerOfficial) February 23, 2026Capital‑Intensive AI Push and Sector TrendBitdeer is accelerating its push into AI infrastructure. It is rolling out NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 systems in Malaysia and converting multiple sites in the United States and Europe from crypto mining facilities into AI data centers.To support this strategy, Bitdeer recently priced a $325 million convertible notes offering and completed a 43.5 million dollar equity raise. The proceeds will fund data center expansion, HPC and AI cloud growth, and ASIC development.Other miners are adopting similar strategies. Riot Platforms has sold 200 million dollars’ worth of bitcoin to fund operations and AI expansion.Currently facing a bearish momentum, Bitcoin is trading around $64,400, with a modest 24‑hour gain of about 0.14%, while its weekly performance shows a stronger advance of roughly 5.81%, indicating a steady short‑term uptrend despite only marginal day‑to‑day movement. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.