More than $4 billion was stolen in 255 crypto hacks in 2025, according to Global Ledger. The data reveals a major shift: criminals now use slower laundering techniques, posing new, ongoing risks for financial institutions. Hackers now rapidly move funds at the moment of attack, but intentionally delay laundering—spreading it over days or even weeks. This creates delayed exposure, complicating detection and risk management for brokers and exchanges. The findings come after another year of elevated crypto crime. Chainalysis data showed that funds stolen through hacks surged in 2024 compared to prior years, marking the fourth consecutive year in which annual losses exceeded $1 billion.New Laundering Pattern The 2025 report from Global Ledger analyses the full lifecycle of stolen funds and highlights what it describes as a two-speed playbook. Hackers often move funds within 2 seconds of an exploit, with 76% of transfers occurring before public disclosure, reducing the window for intervention. However, the subsequent laundering slows, with attackers employing multi-stage techniques such as cross-chain bridges and privacy tools. It now takes an average of over 9 days to reach the cash-out point. The $2 Billion “Sleeper” Exposure Nearly $2 billion in stolen 2025 funds remains parked in attacker-linked wallets. This creates a sleeper threat as illicit assets may reenter regulated venues later, heightening compliance challenges. For brokers and exchanges, point-in-time address screening may miss emerging threats. Illicit funds might resurface long after the original attack, evading detection by static systems. The Changing Toolkit The report also notes shifts in laundering infrastructure as over $2.01 billion in stolen funds were routed through bridges, fragmenting transaction trails.Meanwhile, Tornado Cash saw renewed usage following the lifting of sanctions in March 2025. In the second half of the year, the mixer was used in nearly 75% of hacks involving mixers. For compliance teams, operational risks are intensifying. Longer laundering timelines and complex pathways demand more robust, continuous monitoring—outdated blacklists are no longer sufficient. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Plus500 recently revealed that its non-over-the-counter (non-OTC) revenue for 2025 exceeded $100 million and now accounts for about 14 per cent of the group’s total revenue. This surge came from no non-OTC revenue just a couple of years ago.The growing revenue clearly shows how the contracts for difference (CFD) broker is expanding its footprint beyond its core revenue stream, which is still CFD.CFD Brokers Push for Non-OTC RevenueThe trend to push non-CFD offerings is seen among other brokers as well. According to a recent Acuiti survey conducted for CME Group, four out of five firms that do not yet offer listed derivatives are either planning to or actively considering doing so.IG Group, which has been offering non-OTC trading revenue for years, is also witnessing strong growth in its figures in recent years.The reason behind Plus500’s and IG’s push into non-OTC revenue is the same: their entry into the US futures and options market.IG first entered the US market by acquiring tastytrade for $1 billion in mid-2021, a platform with a large user base. Under the new owner, the US-focused platform also grew strongly: its revenue doubled to over £200 million compared to the pre-acquisition pro forma figure of £100.6 million.The performance of tastytrade also helped IG boost its non-OTC revenue, which the company reports as revenue from exchange-traded derivatives (ETD) and stock trading investments. The London-listed broker generated £191 million from non-OTC streams in the last fiscal year, compared to £63.1 million in the year prior to its tastytrade acquisition.The ETD stream was also boosted by IG’s launch of Spectrum Markets in Europe, but the platform was closed last year. IG, meanwhile, entered the non-OTC market after the global financial crisis through its acquisition of HedgeStreet, which was later rebranded as Nadex.Read more: How Does Shifting to Futures and Options Affect Broker Revenue?Following the US PlaybookPlus500, on the other hand, operated largely as a pure-play CFD provider. It began diversifying into non-OTC products with the 2021 rollout of Plus500 Invest, a futures and share-dealing platform in some European markets. It later expanded its non-OTC offering with the acquisition of Cunningham Commodities, which gave it access to the US futures markets. It now offers retail services there under the Plus500 Futures brand.Despite entering non-OTC markets after the COVID-19 pandemic, the broker started to report its non-OTC revenue only in 2024, when it generated $76.8 million from this stream, about 10 per cent of its total revenue. It can be assumed that, before non-OTC revenues appeared on the company's financials, business from those streams was negligible.Plus500 is now also eyeing the regulated Indian derivatives market. It closed the $20 million acquisition of a local derivatives broker earlier this month, but did not share details of its plan for the most populous country. Notably, India is the largest derivatives market in terms of average daily turnover.Meanwhile, retail demand for futures and options trading in the US is also growing. In 2024, total US options volume jumped 10.6 per cent. By Q3 2025, Cboe said overall listed-options activity was running at record levels (59 million contracts per day through September 2025) and linked part of the surge to rising retail engagement.Non-OTC, but in Non-US MarketsCMC Markets is among the early entrants in the non-OTC markets. Its expansion beyond CFDs dates back to 2008, when it entered Australian stockbroking following the acquisition of Andrew West & Co, which became CMC Stockbroking.Lord Peter Cruddas-led platform has maintained a double-digit share from its non-OTC revenue for years. In the last fiscal year, non-OTC streams, which are mainly investing services for this platform, brought in £44.4 million, 13.1 per cent of its total revenue. This share improved to 14.1 per cent in the first six months of the ongoing fiscal year.Related: CMC Markets Joins Other CFD Brokers with “Super App” Ambition, Floats a 3-Phase PlanFor Switzerland’s Swissquote, however, securities trading is core, generating almost 86 per cent of its total revenue in 2024.Meanwhile, like Plus500, Poland’s XTB, which remained CFD-focused for years, is now slowly expanding into non-OTC products, including stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, only 1.6 per cent of its total 2024 revenue came from non-OTC streams, although this was up from 0.7 per cent.The push by Plus500 and IG Group towards non-OTC futures trading shows two things: the need for these brokers to diversify beyond CFDs, and the strong demand in the US retail futures trading market.FinanceMagnates.com also recently pointed out that moving from OTC CFDs to exchange-traded futures and options changes how brokers generate revenue and what risks they face. Although CFDs are high-margin products because the broker controls pricing and internalisation of trades, they are heavily scrutinised by regulators.However, revenue from non-OTC products is driven mainly by commissions and exchange fee mark-ups rather than by client trading losses. Margins per contract are typically thinner but more predictable. Brokers do not control spreads in the same way as in OTC products because prices are formed in a central order book.Despite the growing popularity of non-OTC markets, big CFD brokers are also expanding into institutional services, as many operate as prime brokers and liquidity providers. Plus500 is even directly and indirectly entering new markets, such as prediction markets and prop trading. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at roughly $66,900 on February 19, 2026, less than half the all-time high of $126,198 set just four months ago. Yet despite one of the sharpest drawdowns in recent memory, some of the market's most prominent voices are doubling down on bullish long-term calls. According to my technical analysis, Bitcoin has settled into a new consolidation corridor between $60,000 and $71,000-$72,000, with both the 50-period EMA and the 200 EMA sitting far above current price levels - a clear sign that the broader trend remains firmly bearish. Based on my over a decade of experience as an analyst and trader, these accumulation zones are precisely where the next major directional move begins to take shape. In this article, I examine why the Bitcoin price prediction of $1 million has re-entered the conversation, analyze the BTC chart, and present the newest Bitcoin price predictions from institutional analysts.Follow me on X for more Bitcoin market analysis: @ChmielDkBitcoin Price Today: The NumbersBitcoin opened February 19, 2026 at $66,420, reaching an intraday high of $66,930 before settling around $66,900 - up a modest 0.74% on the day. That quiet session masks a brutal recent history. From the ATH of $126,198 in October 2025, BTC has shed nearly 47% in value. The 24-hour trading volume currently stands at $33.33 billion, while Bitcoin's total market capitalization has dropped below the psychological $2 trillion threshold to approximately $1.34 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap data.The slide accelerated after Bitcoin began 2026 oscillating between $82,000 and $98,000 - a tight range that held for the first two months of the year. That structure collapsed. The question now is whether the new, lower range holds, or whether the next leg down has already begun.Bitcoin Price Technical AnalysisAccording to my technical analysis, after a very dynamic start to 2026, Bitcoin has found a new consolidation range. Where the market previously moved sideways between $82,000 and $98,000 for roughly two months, the new channel is materially lower - bounded by $60,000 support on the downside and $71,000-$72,000 resistance on the upside. As I can see on the chart, these are the lowest price levels since October 2024.The overall trend context remains clearly bearish. The 50-period moving average is located at $79,000 - a considerable distance from current price. The 200 EMA sits at $93,000. Only a recovery and sustained close above that 200 EMA level would signal that the Bitcoin chart is genuinely returning to a bullish trend structure.Key technical levels as I see them right now:Current price: $66,900Resistance zone: $70,000-$72,000 (upper range boundary, recent rejection area)50 MA: $79,000 (distant bearish overhang)200 EMA: $93,000 (major trend reversal threshold)Support: $60,000 (lower range boundary)Downside target on breakdown: $52,000 (September 2024 lows)As shown on my chart, what this environment offers traders is swing trading within the range - buying near tests of $60,000 support, selling into tests of $70,000-$72,000 resistance, and waiting to see what Bitcoin does next. If we break convincingly below $60,000, I would target $52,000 - the September 2024 floor. A breakout above $72,000, however, would demand close attention. The character of that move will determine whether the bull market is truly resuming or whether resistance simply shifted higher.Why Is Bitcoin Falling?The trigger was a violent deleveraging event on February 6, which sent implied volatility spiking and wiped out billions in leveraged positions before a rapid - and deceptive - recovery."The retreat in implied volatility since the February 6 spike is often read as stabilisation. I would characterise it differently," said Adam Saville Brown, Head of Commercial at Tesseract Group. As he described the mechanics, "What we are seeing is the mechanical aftermath of a significant deleveraging event, not a market that has found equilibrium."The numbers are stark. Open interest across major exchanges contracted by roughly 22% in a single week. Over $2.5 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated. Funding rates have turned negative for the first time since 2023 - a signal that speculative excess has been fully purged.Spot Bitcoin ETF flows compound the picture. The ETF complex has flipped to net negative flows for 2026. Fund-level allocators - many of whom entered at an average cost basis around $81,000 - are mechanically de-risking as drawdown thresholds are triggered. That selling is visible, predictable, and structural. Yet at the same time, wallets holding more than 1,000 BTC have accumulated approximately 53,000 BTC over the past two weeks - the largest accumulation wave since November, representing roughly $4 billion in capital deployment. The market is not doing one thing. It is splitting between those managing quarterly benchmarks and those using the dislocation to build structural positions.On the macro front, CPI cooling to 2.4% and the Federal Reserve in pause mode compresses real yields - historically supportive for risk assets including Bitcoin. But uncertainty around the incoming Fed chair has placed a policy overhang over institutional decision-making."The volatility spike observed on February 6 has now subsided, with Deribit pricing BTC implied volatility at 52. While this remains elevated relative to the 12-month average, it is still toward the lower end of the 35-65 range where volatility has oscillated over the past two years," said Paul Howard, Senior Director at Wincent. As he added regarding the near-term setup, "This aligns with our broader thesis that we do not expect an aggressive move higher or lower in the near term. Instead, markets appear to be awaiting clearer catalysts."Eric Trump: "I've Never Been More Bullish on Bitcoin"Against a backdrop of carnage, Eric Trump - son of US President Donald Trump and co-founder of World Liberty Financial - delivered one of the most emphatic public endorsements of Bitcoin since the crash began. In a February 18 CNBC interview, he declared he has "never been more bullish on Bitcoin" in his life and predicted BTC will ultimately reach $1 million."We still are, I'm a huge proponent of Bitcoin. I do think it hits a million dollars. I think it's one of the greatest performing asset classes. I mean, go back two years, Bitcoin was at $16,000, you know, where is it at right now?" Trump said.JUST IN: ?? Eric Trump says Bitcoin will reach $1 million. "I've never been more bullish on Bitcoin in my life." pic.twitter.com/niJH5ILfh9— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) February 18, 2026As he anchored the case in historical data, "If you look at the last 10 years, Bitcoin has gone up 70 per cent a year on average. Year over year for the last decade - name an asset class that has performed better than Bitcoin."Trump pointed to the relentless march of institutional adoption as the structural driver. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs - all are now allocating cryptocurrency to private wealth clients. "Before they were telling them to put exactly zero into cryptocurrency. Then it was 2 per cent, now all of a sudden it's 5-6 per cent, and that number keeps on climbing," he said. His message to investors uncomfortable with volatility was blunt: "If you do not want volatility, go invest in some Munis, go have a great time, go invest in some Treasuries. You are going to have volatility with something that has tremendous upside."The sentiment mirrors that of Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy - which holds one of the world's largest corporate Bitcoin reserves. When Bitcoin fell over 31% from its ATH to $86,800 back in November 2025, Saylor framed the swings as a feature rather than a bug. "Volatility is the vitality of Bitcoin," he said. As he put it to CoinDCX, "In a world where Bitcoin offered steady, predictable returns, Warren Buffett would own all of it and there wouldn't be an opportunity for us."Bitcoin Price Prediction: What Analysts Say for 2026Most institutional forecasts were built before the current crash deepened - which makes them useful anchors for what a recovery scenario might look like.The bull case rests on three pillars: accelerating institutional adoption, a Fed pivot compressing real yields, and the structural supply squeeze driven by post-halving dynamics and continued ETF accumulation. Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas estimated earlier this year that Bitcoin ETF inflows in 2026 could range between $20 billion and $70 billion - with the upper end conditional on Bitcoin pushing toward the $130,000-$140,000 range.But the derivatives market tells a more cautious short-term story. As Saville Brown of Tesseract Group noted, "Negative funding and a crowded short base create the conditions for a sharp reversal if a catalyst emerges. The leverage flush cleared the board. What happens next depends on whether the macro uncertainty lifts before the operators finish accumulating."FAQWhat is Bitcoin's price today, February 19, 2026?Bitcoin is trading at approximately $66,900, up roughly 0.7% on the day. That remains nearly 47% below its all-time high of $126,198 set in October 2025.Can Bitcoin really hit $1 million?Eric Trump and long-term advocates argue yes, citing Bitcoin's decade-long average annual return of 70% and rapidly rising institutional allocation rates. Most analyst forecasts for 2026, however, are significantly more measured - ranging from $130,000 to $225,000 by year-end.What is the Bitcoin price prediction for the end of 2026?Analyst targets range from $130,000 (Bloomberg/Balchunas) to $225,000 (Bit Mining's Wei Yang), with Grayscale calling for a new all-time high by mid-2026. These forecasts assume macro conditions improve and ETF flows return to positive territory.What are the key Bitcoin support and resistance levels right now?Critical support sits at $60,000, with a confirmed breakdown targeting $52,000 (the September 2024 floor). Resistance is clustered between $70,000 and $72,000. A recovery above the 200 EMA at $93,000 would be the first genuine signal that a new bull trend is underway. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The5ers has become the latest prop firm to enter the futures arena with the launch of its new futures prop offerings. Several other contracts for difference (CFD) prop firms have also entered the futures prop sector, including big names such as FundedNext.CFD Props See Value in FuturesThe primary goal of most CFD prop firms expanding into futures prop offerings is to capture the lucrative US market. After the so-called crackdown by MetaQuotes on CFD props onboarding US-based traders, futures prop platforms filled the gap in that country. Now, brands such as TopStep, Apex, and MyFundedFutures lead the US futures prop space.The5ers’ futures prop offerings will be available to traders worldwide, meaning it will onboard US-based traders as well.As FinanceMagnates.com reported earlier, The5ers re-entered the US market with its CFD prop offerings late last year and is offering services there on the cTrader platform. Notably, only FTMO is offering prop services in the US on MetaTrader 5.[#highlighted-links#] Addressing the Gaps in the MarketThe5ers will offer its futures prop products on the Black Arrow trading platform initially, but has plans to add additional platforms in the future.“We realised that attracting traders from different backgrounds and disciplines means we need to find common ground for everyone,” said Gil Ben Hur, founder of The5ers.However, The5ers’ entry into the futures prop market did not come as a surprise, as the company had hinted at its move months earlier.Despite the launch, the futures offerings are still in beta, as the company wants to “ensure stability and optimal user experience.”The futures platform stressed that it will allow traders to hold overnight positions in popular markets such as gold, silver, and the NASDAQ. It will also allow traders to trade the news. This comes as several other platforms have been introducing tight rules for traders.Fundingticks, the futures prop unit of FundingPips, even introduced some harsh rules last December retrospectively, attracting backlash from the trading community. Although the company removed the retrospective effect of the rules, it eventually decided to wind down operations.Meanwhile, the founders of The5ers have also followed industry trends by entering the CFD brokerage market with the Cyprus-regulated TSG brand. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

BMLL, the independent provider of historical order book data and analytics, is joining forces with Features Analytics. The deal gives the company that hunts down market manipulation and abuse an access to BMLL's layers of market data order book records spanning global equities, ETFs, futures and US equity options. The aim is to build a new class of surveillance benchmarking products.The core idea is blunt: most firms running trade surveillance today don't really know how well their systems are performing. They set parameters, watch alerts pile up, and spend significant time chasing false positives. BMLL and Features Analytics are betting that a data-rich benchmarking layer can change that.A New Way to Measure Whether Surveillance Actually WorksThe collaboration centers on giving financial institutions the ability to measure their own surveillance stacks, not just in absolute terms, but against changing market conditions and competing solutions. Firms would be able to run like-for-like comparisons of market abuse detection rates across different systems using the same underlying order book reconstruction, producing documentation that regulators can follow and challenge if needed.That last point matters. Regulators increasingly want to see not just that a firm flagged suspicious activity, but how it reached that conclusion. Explainability has become a compliance requirement in many jurisdictions, and rebuilding the exact state of an order book at a given moment is the cleanest way to produce that kind of evidence trail."Market integrity and surveillance are a natural application layer on top of high-quality historical order book data," said Paul Humphrey, CEO of BMLL. "This partnership reflects our focus on enabling sophisticated workflows on top of BMLL data, now extending beyond market quality into market integrity and surveillance benchmarking use cases."It's a challenge that extends beyond equities. LSEG recently launched a cross-venue market abuse detection platform targeting MiFID instruments and FX, combining client trade data with public feeds and news to cut false positives.False Positives Remain a Costly Problem for Compliance TeamsLegacy surveillance systems are known for generating enormous volumes of alerts, a large proportion of which turn out to be noise. Manually reviewing those alerts ties up compliance teams and drives up operational costs - a persistent headache for banks, brokers and exchanges. Features Analytics has positioned eyeDES as a solution specifically designed to reduce that burden, claiming its algorithms can cut false positives by more than 90% compared to rule-based systems. "Our mission is to help financial institutions stay ahead of regulatory requirements with our unique eyeDES AI technology and tools that deliver measurable coverage and accurate detection of market abuse,” Cristina Soviany, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Features Analytics, said.The company traces the platform's AI methodology back to cancer detection research, which required similar precision in distinguishing genuine signals from background noise.BMLL has been steadily broadening its partnerships in recent months, from cutting ETF spreads by 16% in a joint test with Ultumus to giving Saudi institutional investors Python-native access to historical order book data via Wamid.BMLL's Activate Program Lowers the Entry Barrier for PartnersThe partnership was structured through BMLL's Activate: Data Credits Program, which lets qualified partners build and test products on BMLL's order book infrastructure with no upfront data license costs. Features Analytics received a credit allowance covering access to BMLL's Python research sandbox and Data Feed, with a clear path to full commercial deployment once the build phase wraps up.It's a model BMLL has been refining as it broadens the ecosystem of products built on top of its data. In early 2025, BMLL and Pico launched an end-to-end solution combining real-time and historical data to help quantitative analysts move from research to production, while a partnership with Ultumus cut ETF spreads by 16% in initial tests by combining ETF index data with granular order book analytics. More recently, BMLL launched its Trades Plus execution analytics dataset, built with direct client input to simplify transaction cost analysis and best execution workflows. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

After more than 20 years in traditional finance, my perspective on blockchain has shifted from curiosity to operational assessment. What began as exposure to a new asset class evolved into a closer examination of whether blockchain infrastructure can meet the standards CFOs are accountable for every day.From that vantage point, one pattern is clear. Fortune 500 CFOs are approaching blockchain thoughtfully. Many are observing how the space develops, tracking customer interest, and watching how peers engage. This measured posture reflects the discipline that defines modern finance leadership.At the same time, the role of the CFO is expanding. Today’s finance leaders are not only stewards of capital and risk. They are architects of operating systems. Modern finance leadership now encompasses automation, AI-driven analytics, and an emerging understanding of digital assets and crypto-native infrastructure. Blockchain is becoming part of the broader financial environment, and CFOs have an opportunity to help shape how it integrates into enterprise operations.The credibility checklist Fortune 500 CFOs expectEnterprise engagement with blockchain begins with familiar criteria.Operational assurance comes first. Certified validator infrastructure, including SOC 2–compliant environments, demonstrates that security controls, access management, and internal processes are designed to meet institutional standards. These signals of maturity help finance teams evaluate blockchain participation using the same benchmarks applied to other critical systems.Clear custody pathways are equally foundational. CFOs look for transparency around where assets are held, how signing authority is governed, and how responsibilities are allocated between internal teams and external providers. Blockchain participation increasingly supports models that separate ownership, custody, and operations in ways that align naturally with corporate control frameworks.Capital controls and accounting integration complete the foundation. Treasury teams need the ability to track balances, rewards, and exposures using reporting structures that support audit, disclosure, and internal review. When blockchain activity integrates cleanly into existing financial systems, it becomes part of standard operations.Alongside infrastructure, know-how matters. Practical experience, both internally and through trusted partners, enables finance teams to evaluate blockchain systems based on how they perform in real-world conditions. Institutional confidence is built through exposure, repetition, and operational understanding.How enterprise understanding continues to advanceEnterprise engagement with blockchain is shaped by context.The ecosystem is dynamic, with new protocols, applications, and models emerging regularly. For CFOs and board-level executives, this creates an environment rich with learning opportunities. As more institutional-grade tools, educational resources, and implementation frameworks become available, blockchain participation is increasingly evaluated through an enterprise lens.User experience and education are also evolving. Interfaces designed for finance leaders now emphasize clarity, reporting, and governance rather than technical novelty. This shift makes it easier for CFOs to assess blockchain activity in the same way they assess other financial systems.Regulatory coordination continues to develop in parallel. As frameworks mature across jurisdictions, institutions are engaging from a position of growing operational understanding. CFOs are well positioned to contribute to these conversations, informed by hands-on experience rather than abstraction.What works in enterprise environments todaySeveral participation models have already aligned well with Fortune 500 operating requirements.Staking-as-a-Service delivered through white-labeled interfaces allows enterprises to participate in blockchain networks without building internal validator teams. These models provide oversight through familiar dashboards and reporting environments, keeping activity aligned with internal governance structures.Modular reward structures add clarity. Protocol-defined rewards, visible on-chain and governed by explicit rules, allow finance teams to understand how returns are generated and under what conditions. This transparency supports treasury planning and internal review.Dedicated validator partners often complete the model. Institutional-grade operators provide uptime commitments, performance metrics, and disciplined operating practices designed to meet enterprise standards. When validator operations are treated as infrastructure rather than experimentation, participation becomes repeatable, auditable, and scalable.These approaches show how blockchain can be integrated using the same operational rigor applied to other enterprise systems.A message to enterprise CFOsFor CFOs evaluating blockchain today, progress does not require sweeping change. It benefits from focus.Beginning with one token, one network, and one validator relationship allows finance teams to gain practical exposure to on-chain operations, reward mechanics, and reporting flows in a controlled setting. This approach supports learning without unnecessary complexity.Selecting experienced partners accelerates that learning. The right crypto partners translate blockchain mechanics into familiar concepts around controls, performance, and accountability. This collaboration strengthens internal understanding while preserving CFO ownership of decisions.Most importantly, enterprise finance leaders have an opportunity to define their own path. CFOs have always built internal frameworks ahead of full market standardization. Blockchain follows the same pattern. Organizations that engage deliberately develop internal standards, refine governance, and build confidence through experience.The focus is on preparing financial operations for an environment where settlement, coordination, and value transfer continue to become more digital and programmable.The call to action is constructive and clear. CFOs can move from observation to informed participation by building internal understanding, partnering with institutional-grade infrastructure providers, and defining governance on their own terms. Those who take this approach will not simply adapt to the future of finance. They will help shape it.About the Author Betsabe Botaitis is Chief Financial Officer at P2P.org, where she oversees financial strategy, governance, and operational controls for institutional crypto infrastructure. She brings more than a decade of experience across finance, accounting, and risk management, with a focus on scaling global businesses in regulated environments. Her background spans traditional finance and digital assets, supporting organizations through periods of rapid growth and increasing regulatory complexity. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The noise on the floor of the iFX EXPO in Dubai is usually a good indicator of where the money is moving. In 2026, the Dubai World Trade Centre was packed with the usual array of liquidity providers and platform developers. Yet the most interesting conversations were not about new asset classes. They were about infrastructure. Specifically, they were about the cost of doing business.Brokers have spent the last decade absorbing higher operational costs. Regulatory overheads have increased while marketing costs have risen. The one area where costs should have dropped is technology. Software usually gets cheaper as it scales, yet in the FX industry, the opposite happens. CRM providers adopted pricing models that acted like a tax on growth.Techysquad IT Infrastructure Co LLC took home a major industry award this year, proving that cost-effective technology and operational efficiency go hand-in-hand. Built from the ground up, Techysquad’s CRM solution offers brokers the scalability and cost-effectiveness they seek.Beyond generic infrastructureMost brokers start with a generic CRM because it seems like the safe choice. These systems are broad and cover basic needs. The friction begins when a broker tries to scale. A generic CRM treats every user the same and does not distinguish between a back-office administrator and a high-volume Introducing Broker (IB).Techysquad took a different engineering path. They built an IB-focused CRM from the ground up. This was not a generic tool with a forex plugin. It was designed for the specific workflows of a brokerage.The platform offers specific advantages across three core areas:Operational efficiencyRapid Deployment: The expert team completes full setup in approximately 30 minutes, eliminating the weeks of downtime associated with traditional CRM migrations.24/7 Support: Markets operate around the clock, and so does the support team. Brokers in any time zone receive immediate assistance for urgent operational needs.Platform Integration: The system integrates natively with MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradeLocker, and numerous other trading platforms, allowing brokers to maintain their existing trading infrastructure.Financial controlFixed Monthly Pricing: Expenses remain predictable with no hidden fees or fluctuating costs based on trading volume.Zero Per-Lot Charges: Brokers keep 100% of their spread revenue. The technology provider does not take a cut of trading volume.Unlimited Scalability: There are no restrictions on registered users, staff accounts, or IBs. A brokerage scales from five employees to fifty without triggering price increases.IB and compliance managementMulti-Tier IB System: The platform supports complex, multi-level partner programmes with real-time commission tracking and performance monitoring for both brokers and their IBs.Automated KYC and AML Compliance: Streamlined onboarding processes reduce labour hours while maintaining regulatory standards. Automated reporting tracks review and approval status across all client accounts.Advanced Copy Trading Tools: PAMM accounts and copier functionality execute trades in milliseconds, giving brokers a competitive edge in attracting both novice and experienced traders.Breaking the pricing lockThe most significant aspect of the Techysquad offering is financial. It is rare to see a technology vendor willingly leave money on the table. Most CRM providers charge per user. They charge per lot. They charge for every additional admin account.This creates an irrational incentive. The broker brings in more volume and works harder to sign up IBs. The technology provider then takes a larger slice of that revenue. The broker takes the risk while the vendor takes the profit.Techysquad removed these variables. The pricing is fixed, and the broker pays a monthly fee. This allows a brokerage to forecast expenses with total accuracy. Consider the impact of scaling. A broker starts with five staff members and grows to fifty. Under a traditional model, the monthly software bill explodes. With Techysquad, the price remains flat.Customisation without the penaltyTechnology stacks are rarely static. A broker inevitably needs to change a workflow or integrate a new payment gateway. In the current market, vendors treat these requests as premium consulting projects. A simple request to change a dashboard layout often comes with a significant invoice.This approach stifles innovation. Brokers stop asking for improvements because they cannot afford the customisation fees. Operational efficiency hits a wall.Techysquad includes customisation at no additional cost. This is a radical departure from the norm. If a broker needs a specific adjustment to fit their compliance workflow, the team builds it. There is no negotiation over hourly rates. This policy removes the friction between the tech team and the business team. It encourages brokers to optimise their setup rather than settling for a default configuration.A signal to the marketThe UF AWARDS MEA 2026 title highlights a desire for transparency. Brokers want to know what they are paying for. They want to know that their technology partner is not skimming off the top of their trading volume.For more information on how Techysquad helps brokers scale, visit Techysquad.com. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The XRP Ledger has activated a new “Permissioned DEX” amendment that allows regulated institutions to trade on-chain in controlled environments. The change introduces gated trading venues where only approved entities can place and take orders, addressing strict compliance requirements around customer checks and transaction monitoring.Permissioned DEX to XRPLThe amendment, known as XLS-81, creates permissioned versions of XRPL’s built-in decentralized exchange. These venues keep the same trading mechanics as the native DEX but add control over who can participate. Domain operators can restrict which users may post offers and which may accept them, aligning access with rules such as know-your-customer and anti-money laundering procedures.?JUST IN: XRPL ACTIVATES MEMBERS-ONLY DEX FOR WALL STREETThe $XRP Ledger has activated XLS-81, introducing a “Permissioned DEX” that allows only approved participants to trade on-chain.Unlike traditional decentralized exchanges that are open to all, this new model restricts… pic.twitter.com/9tDtBoWhgX— BSCN (@BSCNews) February 18, 2026The feature targets banks, brokers and other regulated firms that want on-chain settlement and liquidity but cannot engage with fully open DeFi markets. For these institutions, the ability to gate participation forms a basic requirement rather than an optional safeguard.The rollout follows the recent launch of XLS-85, or Token Escrow, which expands XRPL’s existing escrow functionality beyond XRP. The upgrade enables conditional settlement for all trustline-based tokens and Multi-Purpose Tokens on the ledger, including stablecoins like RLUSD and tokenized real-world assets.Token Escrow Extends Conditional SettlementCombined, XLS-81 and XLS-85 provide a toolkit for regulated finance on XRP Ledger. Institutions can use token escrow to manage conditions around transfers while using permissioned DEX venues to trade those assets in controlled markets.You may also like: Why Crypto Is Falling Today? Bitcoin, XRP Price, Ethereum And Dogecoin AnalysisThe changes have limited impact on day-to-day retail activity but indicate a clear institutional-first direction, with XRPL focusing on regulated tokenized funds, stablecoin FX rails and secondary markets for tokenized assets.XRP trades around $1.45–$1.48 and holds the fourth spot by market value, with a market cap above $88 billion and a weekly gain above 5 percent, which indicates relative strength versus most major coins that show flatter weekly moves.Read more: Ripple Provides $150 Million as LMAX Expands RLUSD for CFDs and Cross-Asset TradingOn the daily chart, short-term momentum remains positive as price holds above recent intraday lows near $1.45, while immediate resistance appears near the recent 24‑hour high around $1.49 and then the psychological $1.50–$1.55 zone.Broader XRP Technical AnalysisBroader technical readings show mixed signals, with one set of intraday indicators flagging overbought conditions: an RSI reading near 70 or above on shorter time frames points to stretched upside and raises the risk of a pause or pullback in the near term. Across the wider market, the top five cryptocurrencies by market cap all trade in negative territory over the last twenty‑four hours, with Bitcoin down around 2.3 percent, Ethereum dropping about 2.5 percent, and BNB declining roughly 1.5 percent. Weekly changes remain modest for Bitcoin, Ethereum and BNB, each under 1 percent, while XRP outperforms with a move above 5 percent over seven days, showing stronger relative momentum. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

A new generation of self-directed investors, especially Gen Z, is entering 2026 with a stronger appetite for risk, according to new research from UK wealth manager Charles Stanley Direct. These findings show a shift toward aggressive, self-directed trading in the retail market. The UK study finds over a third (36%) of self-directed investors now seek high or very high investment risk. The trend is clear among the youngest: Half (50%) of Gen Z want to take on more risk, and 60% are taking on more risk than usual. The UK data matches global research. A recent Coinbase study finds that younger investors trade more frequently, use leverage, and allocate about 25% of their portfolios to non-traditional assets such as crypto and derivatives. This data shows younger investors want more dynamic, constant market access and seek higher-growth or higher-volatility products. The Surprising Role of Financial Advice The Charles Stanley report shows another pattern. Investors with professional advice are almost three times more likely to seek high risk than those without advice (56% versus 19%). Advice here seems to build confidence, helping investors structure and justify complex or aggressive strategies rather than restraining risk-taking. “DIY investors have started the year in a positive frame of mind and showing signs of optimism as they adopt risk-seeking behaviour,” said Rob Morgan, Chief Investment Analyst at Charles Stanley Direct. “This is most notable among younger investors, who naturally have more time on their side and are keen go-getters.” For brokers and fintechs, the findings suggest demand for higher-risk and alternative products, including crypto-linked instruments and event-focused contracts, signals a lasting shift in investor preferences. How firms address this could determine whether they attract and keep younger clients. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

The Dutch Gaming Authority has ordered Adventure One, which operates under the brand name Polymarket, to cease offering games of chance in the Netherlands because it has not obtained a Dutch gambling license.The warning follows regulatory action in the United States. Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council directed Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com to halt offering sports-related contracts. The regulator also ordered the platforms to void existing contracts and issue refunds. The council said the companies lacked state gambling licenses and posed a public risk. Federal registration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission does not exempt them from state rules. Noncompliance could lead to fines or criminal action.Dutch Regulator Targets Polymarket Election BetsPolymarket must stop its activities immediately. The Ksa said that if the company continues, it could face a penalty of €420,000 per week, up to a maximum of €840,000. A turnover-related fine may also be applied later, the authority reported.Polymarket has argued that its prediction markets are not games of chance. The Ksa disagrees. The regulator said contact with the company over its activities has not led to any visible change, and the offer remains available.Ella Seijsener, Director of Permits and Supervision at the Ksa, said that “prediction markets are on the rise, also in the Netherlands” but added that the type of business “offers bets that are not allowed in our market anyway, not even by licensees.” She noted the social risks, including “the possible influence of elections.” She said the authority considers such platforms to be illegal gambling and emphasized that companies without a Ksa license “have nothing to do with our market,” including new types of gambling platforms.Prediction Markets Reach Record $702 MillionPrediction markets have seen rapid growth in recent months. In January this year, they reached a record single-day volume of $701.7 million. Kalshi accounted for $465.9 million, while Polymarket and Opinion handled roughly $100 million combined. Kalshi reported a total of $23.8 billion in trading volume for 2025. Some trades on Polymarket, including large political wagers, have raised concerns about potential insider activity. Access to these platforms is now restricted in over 30 countries, including the US and UK. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Alexis Droussiotis has announced his departure from the role of Head of Match-Trader Platform at Match-Trade Technologies after more than two and a half years in the position.“With the arrival of 2026, I decided that it’s time to close this amazing chapter and step down from my role as Head of Platform at Match-Trade Technologies. Next up is taking time to recenter, recalibrate priorities and build on the strengths and perspectives developed along the way,” Droussiotis mentioned on LinkedIn.Exit from Match-TraderDroussiotis joined Match-Trade Technologies in 2023 and worked in Limassol, Cyprus, on-site as Head of Match-Trader Platform. In the role, he supported business development and operational initiatives that targeted platform growth and adoption.He built relationships with clients, partners and technology vendors and coordinated work between sales, product, marketing and technical teams. He also focused on internal workflow improvements, scalability efforts and wider commercial planning and platform positioning.Other recent executive moves: NinjaTrader Taps Ex-IG Exec Christopher Tripp as General Manager, InternationalCommenting about what is next, he said: “It wouldn’t be a meaningful break if I didn’t take advantage of this time to focus on my family. Travel has always been central to how we reconnect as a family and broaden our children’s view of the world, so I truly can’t wait to explore China next month with my wife and two boys. At long last for pleasure instead of business.”Previous Roles at PrimeXMBefore Match-Trader, Droussiotis spent more than six years at PrimeXM in Cyprus. He earlier served as Director for Operations and Business Support and as Chief Information Officer.Match-Trader has experienced strong growth in the recent past. In August 2025, the company reported a 290 percent increase in server clients using the Match-Trader platform since January 2024. The platform first appeared in 2015 for institutional clients and was later rolled out to retail brokers around 2019–2020.Read more: Match-Trader Developer Says Server Clients Jump 290% Since January 2024The company was early in identifying new market opportunities and began licensing the Match-Trader platform to proprietary trading firms. Over time, several prop trading brands, ranging from established names to smaller startups, have adopted the technology as part of their platform offerings.A significant factor that drove this growth was MetaQuotes’ crackdown in early 2024 on prop trading firms using MetaTrader 4 and 5 to serve US residents. The restriction prompted many firms to seek alternative platforms, boosting Match-Trader’s adoption among prop trading companies. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Pepperstone, a leading global online broker, highlights the success of its participation at last week's iFX EXPO Dubai 2026, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where it welcomed thousands of industry participants at Booth #1 for two days of meetings, partner engagement and brand experiences. A centerpiece of Pepperstone’s presence was the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team 2025 show car featuring the 2026 livery, which became a major attraction on the exhibition floor and generated sustained footfall and conversation at the Pepperstone stand. Throughout the event, the team met with brokers, fintech providers, and institutional partners, using the Expo as an opportunity to strengthen relationships and explore how the MENA trading ecosystem continues to evolve. “iFX EXPO Dubai is one of the most significant moments on the regional calendar as it brings so many key players together in one place, and this year was exceptional,” said Marc Boever, Head of Sales EMEA at Pepperstone. “The volume of engagement at our booth was a strong reflection of the momentum across the region. The Aston Martin Show car created a great focal point for the Pepperstone experience, and the energy around the brand activation provided an ideal setting to connect, exchange ideas and build on relationships that matter.” With the show car as a visual drawcard, it became one of the Expo’s most photographed stops and a memorable way to engage with the Pepperstone brand. Visitors to the 2026 iFX EXPO leave with valuable new insight and information that will help shape the next phase of industry growth. The event delivered strong outcomes across business development, with a full schedule of conversations spanning technology, execution, market access and the broader expectations that traders and partners now bring to their broker relationships.About PepperstonePepperstone is a multi-regulated forex and CFDs broker providing trading services with forex, stocks, commodities and other asset classes. The company was founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, by a team of experienced traders with a shared commitment to improving the online trading experience. Trusted by over 400,000 traders around the globe, and regulated by ASIC, SCB, CMA, CySEC, FCA, BaFin and DFSA, the company processes an average of US$12.55bn of trades every day, becoming one of the world’s largest forex brokers and earning multiple prestigious awards from Investment Trends, Deloitte and Compare Forex Brokers. For more information, visit https://pepperstone.com Media Contact:Your Mind Media hello@yourmindmedia.com www.yourmindmedia.com This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

For decades, 4pm on America’s eastern seaboard marked a civilised pause. The closing bell rang, screens dimmed and traders retreated to digest the day’s gyrations. Strategies were refined, notes updated, perhaps even families acknowledged.That rhythm, though, is unravelling. According to data shared exclusively with Finance Magantes, at Capital.com, between 25% and 40% of retail clients traded during pre-and post-market sessions over the past three months. Yet only 4% to 5% ventured into overnight trading. On eToro, where 24/5 trading access has been expanded to S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks, roughly one-third of stock trading in December 2025 took place during the after-hours session. In June 2024, Vlad Tenev, Robinhood's CEO, announced on X that one year after launching its “24 Hour Market,” which offers trading 24 hours a day, five days a week, overnight activity had generated more than US$20 billion in total trading volume. The company did not publish a consolidated annual figure; however, based on reported peak activity, a reasonable estimate would place total trading volume above US$1 trillion, implying overnight flows still accounted for roughly 2% of the whole. Even so, Robinhood noted that on its busiest days, as much as 25% of daily trading occurred outside traditional market hours.Robinhood has surpassed $20B in overnight trading volume since launching Robinhood 24 Hour Market last year. ? pic.twitter.com/qK8gNF797c— Vlad Tenev (@vladtenev) June 5, 2024How Market Hours Have ExtendedTraditionally, America’s equity market operated from 9:30am to 4pm Eastern Time, Monday to Friday. In 1991, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) became the first major exchange to introduce limited after-hours trading, initially extending activity until 5:15pm for institutional investors. At the time, fewer than a million computers were connected to the internet and the Soviet Union had just dissolved. Markets, like geopolitics, were just becoming more open.Today, 24/5 trading offers four distinct trading windows: the traditional session; pre-market (4am-9:30am); post-market or after-hours (4pm-8pm); and overnight (8pm-4am). It should be noted that Robinhood defines “overnight” as between 8 pm and 7am, for Capital.com is 9pm to 2am, and for eToro is 8pm to 4am. Stocks, ETFs and CFDs can now be traded throughout the working week. Yet access during extended hours remains constrained to selected instruments. Retail Traders Are Extending Habits, Not HorizonsWhile retail traders appear to be testing extended hours, it does not necessarily change their appetite. According to eToro, there is little divergence between what clients trade during core hours and what they trade outside them. On Capital.com, which primarily offers CFDs, activity clusters around technology names, including Meta, Tesla, Nvidia and Oracle, alongside ETFs and crypto-related firms. What the Exchanges SeeExchange data tell a similar story. As of January 2025, extended-hours trading accounted for more than 11% of all US equity volume on the NYSE, with over 1.7 billion shares traded daily outside the core session, more than double the proportion recorded in early 2019. The exchange attributes much of this growth to retail participation.Interestingly, the distribution leans heavily toward pre-market hours, which in the first quarter of 2025, represented more than 55% of all extended-hours volume, having expanded fifteen-fold since 2019. Post-market growth, by contrast, has been comparatively modest.Why the Push, and the Problems It BringsA 2025 analysis by the World Federation of Exchanges identified three forces driving the expansion of trading hours: investors conditioned by always-on digital services and cryptocurrency markets; rising demand from international retail traders, particularly in Asia; and seeking faster responses to market-moving news, which explains the pre-market growth. But longer hours are not costless. Liquidity does not remain constant across a 24-hour cycle. Staffing exchanges continuously bring operational complications. And experience from foreign exchange and cryptocurrency markets suggests that activity continues to peak during traditional business hours. Overnight sessions tend to be thinner, spreads wider and volatility is less forgiving.Retail traders are well aware. On Reddit forum r/Trading, users routinely warn of broader bid-ask spreads and lower volumes outside core hours. Add to that uneven access, as extended-hours trading is restricted to selected instruments. The market may be open; it is not entirely available.Will Momentum Build for Longer Trading Hours?Thomas Peterffy, Chairman of Interactive Brokers – the global brokerage offers 24/5 trading on alternative venues – speaking at a Piper Sandler conference in 2025, suggested that overnight trading, then just 2.2% of the firm’s volume, could exceed 30% by 2030. In announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, eToro said it would expand to 24/7 trading, citing the success of its 24/5 expansion. The initial rollout will cover a selection of popular assets, with plans to broaden access across asset classes over time.Today, NYSE is proud to announce the development of a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities. NYSE’s new digital platform will enable tokenized trading experiences, including 24/7 operations, instant settlement, orders sized in dollar amounts, and…— NYSE ? (@NYSE) January 19, 2026At the same time, exchanges are also moving into the 24/7 territory. Both NYSE and Nasdaq are expected to allow nearly round-the-clock trading by the second half of 2026; the former is also preparing to launch a 24/7 trading platform for blockchain-based securities. Reflecting this trend, the LMAX Group added gold to its perpetual futures platform, enabling institutional clients to maintain XAU/USD exposure around the clock, including weekends when traditional markets are shut. The London-based cross-asset marketplace said that the move responds to a growing appetite for gold derivatives beyond standard hours. However, for now, most investor behaviour remains traditional. The majority of activity still clusters around the core session, where liquidity is deepest and spreads tightest, and extended-hours trading tends to spike only at particular moments. On Capital.com, around 80% of total equity volume is still executed during normal US hours.Markets may be open day and night, but whether the money will follow remains an open question. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

In the prop trading industry, a firm's true test comes not when traders lose, but when they consistently win and expect to withdraw their profits. It's one thing for a platform to look good on paper or during a promotional surge; it's another to repeatedly payout earnings to thousands of successful traders over the long term. When a prop firm faces large-scale payouts week after week, that’s when its stability and commitment are truly proven. FundedNext, the global prop trading firm has been undergoing this exact test, and the results suggest it’s meeting the challenge head-on.Consistency in Payouts: By the NumbersOne figure encapsulates FundedNext’s emphasis on consistency: the company has processed over $261 million in total payouts to traders so far. Importantly, this wasn’t a one-time windfall or lucky month. In fact, more than $163 million of that total was paid out in just the last 12 months, a sign that the payout pace is not only large but also accelerating with time.Breaking down that total further shows how robust and diversified FundedNext’s performance has been:$203+ million of the payouts have come from the firm’s CFD trading programs.$58.6+ million has been distributed through FundedNext’s Futures trading program since its launch.This consistent payout performance has grown significantly since FundedNext’s inception. In 2022, the firm’s first year of operation, average monthly payouts were around $461,000. By 2025, average monthly payouts had climbed to approximately $8.8 million, a nearly 19-fold increase in just a few years. Such growth illustrates how rapidly the platform scaled while maintaining its reliability in handling withdrawals.Equally important is the breadth of traders benefiting from these payouts. Since launch, FundedNext has delivered profit withdrawals to over 95,000 unique traders around the world, processing more than 151,000 individual payout transactions to date. Many of those traders have been paid out multiple times, which means FundedNext’s model isn’t about rewarding a few outliers once it’s supporting repeatable success for a wide swath of its users. That repeatability is a strong signal of a prop firm’s credibility.Trading Activity at ScaleAnother way to judge a prop firm’s stability is by looking at its day-to-day trading activity and how well the infrastructure holds up at scale. At any given time, roughly 200,000 – 230,000 traders are actively trading on the FundedNext platform. To support this level of activity, FundedNext has provided around 354,000 funded accounts to traders since its inception. In practical terms, this means the firm is managing an ecosystem of traders and accounts at a scale comparable to some large retail brokers. Traders on FundedNext have executed over 280 million trades across various instruments to date, with a total notional trading volume of approximately $12.16 trillion handled on the platform. These figures go beyond mere statistics – they indicate that an enormous amount of market exposure has been handled through FundedNext’s infrastructure without major incident. Industry Recognitions FundedNext’s track record hasn’t just been noticed by its users – it’s also been validated by independent industry observers. At the Finance Magnates Annual Awards 2025, FundedNext was named Prop Firm of the Year. Additionally, FundedNext received accolades in the Prop Firm Match Awards 2025, where it won for Highest Verified Payout Amount. These particular honors speak directly to what matters for traders: having a prop firm that can deliver large payouts (and verify them) and do so quickly. In a space where many companies advertise lofty payout figures, FundedNext’s ability to actually execute big withdrawals promptly has helped set it apart. For serious traders looking for a prop firm, the takeaway from FundedNext’s story is that consistency and credibility trump hype. Rather than relying on one-off promotions or bold claims, FundedNext has focused on building a platform that can scale and deliver under pressure – paying out profits steadily as traders succeed, and earning trust through real results. Its growing payout figures, substantial active trader base, and industry awards all demonstrate that long-term reliability is achievable in prop trading. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

CMC Markets is pursuing expanded regulatory permissions in Singapore to enter the physical precious metals market.Precious metals markets have remained active amid volatility. Prices have been affected by interest rate expectations, central bank activity, geopolitical developments, and currency movements.Periods of market stress can increase safe-haven demand, while leveraged positions in derivatives markets may amplify short-term price movements. Industry participants report that gold accounts for a significant portion of over-the-counter turnover.Regulatory Role and ResponsibilitiesThe firm has advertised a senior role in Singapore related to the initiative. The position includes obtaining approval under the Precious Stones and Precious Metals Act, enabling the company to operate as a regulated dealer in precious metals. Responsibilities cover oversight of physical gold transactions, gold-backed financing arrangements, client funding processes, anti-money laundering controls, regulatory liaison, pricing governance, and trade supervision.CMC Markets Eyes Bullion Trading StrategiesCMC Markets currently offers cash equities and over-the-counter derivative products in Singapore. Approval under the precious metals framework would introduce a new business line for the purchase, sale, and custody of physical bullion. Holdings could be used within client strategies, including margin and collateral structures, subject to regulatory requirements.Gold Forecasts Show Broad 2026 UncertaintyAnalyst projections for gold prices in 2026 highlight both the potential for further gains and the ongoing market unpredictability. Several major financial institutions forecast year-end targets above $6,000 per ounce, supported by central bank purchases and sustained investor demand for hard assets. Other forecasters are more cautious, anticipating limited upside or modest declines from current levels. These divergent projections reflect the complex environment in which gold prices operate, shaped by interest rate expectations, currency movements, geopolitical developments, and broader market volatility. Together, they underscore both the resilience attributed to gold as a store of value and the potential for continued short-term price fluctuations, providing context for firms such as CMC Markets as they consider entering the physical precious metals market. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Match-Trader Prop has released a platform update in February, introducing full backend integration with MetaTrader 5 alongside a series of operational and monetization enhancements. The update also includes improvements to onboarding, verification, challenge management, and administrative workflows.Several prop firms are reintroducing MetaTrader5 alongside existing platforms such as Match-Trader and cTrader. Funding Pips, Instant Funding, and MyFundedFX have restored MT5 access through direct licenses. Prop Firms Manage Trading Through MT5The MT5 integration allows prop firms to connect their trading programs directly to the platform. According to the company, the integration covers the full prop trading lifecycle, including account creation, equity calculation, challenge management, trading restrictions, and account breach handling.The frontend now displays MT5 prop accounts with live balance updates and detailed challenge status. Administrators can manage both MT5 and Match-Trader systems through a unified backend.Match-Trader Adds Ondato KYC SupportThe update adds Ondato as a KYC provider, letting brokers choose between Ondato and SumSub. A verification button and configuration options simplify onboarding.Phase-based challenge payments are now supported, replacing single upfront fees. Affiliate rewards, discounts, and add-ons are also updated, reducing upfront costs and supporting trader retention.Platform Adds Symbol Grouping and FiltersNew add-ons increase daily profit limits and shorten withdrawal intervals. Data export now supports Manager 2.0, and symbol grouping with filtering improves management.Network reliability is enhanced with automatic reconnection and a Wi-Fi status indicator. Other updates include an Account Rules tab, lot-based exposure calculation, timestamp logging, mobile request access, and a branch column in IB Requests.Prop Firms Expand into Regulated BrokerageProp firms are increasingly expanding their business models beyond challenge-based programs. Some are moving into regulated brokerage operations. For example, The Trading Pit recently launched a Seychelles‑regulated CFD brokerage, TTP Markets, in a limited rollout. The firm described the launch as a test of its regulatory infrastructure ahead of wider international expansion. Similar moves by other prop firms, including FTMO and The5ers, reflect a trend of diversification into brokerage services.Meanwhile, Alexis Droussiotis left his role as Head of Platform at Match-Trade Technologies after more than two and a half years focused on trading technology and platform growth in Cyprus.Before joining Match-Trade, Droussiotis spent more than six years at PrimeXM in Cyprus, where he rose to Director and Chief Information Officer after serving as Information Systems Manager. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The gold price in 2026 has already delivered more drama than most commodities manage in a decade. Bullion punched through $5,000 for the first time in history last month, kept climbing to $5,595 an ounce, then shed nearly $1,200 in two days in what turned out to be the metal's worst two-day rout since 1983. And yet Wall Street's biggest commodity desks mostly shrugged, and raised their gold price predictions.A Reuters poll of 30 analysts and traders now puts the median gold price forecast for 2026 at $4,746.50 per troy ounce, the highest annual consensus in Reuters polling history going back to 2012. That same survey a year ago penciled in $2,700 for this year. The gap between those two numbers is, in itself, the story of how fast the world changed."We are entering a period in which the legitimacy and resilience of the institutions and systems that have underpinned global economic and geopolitical stability for decades are being tested in ways not seen in a generation," said David Russell, CEO at precious metals dealer GoldCore. It is the kind of statement that sounds hyperbolic until you look at the gold price chart.Follow me on X for more gold market analysis: @ChmielDOne Nomination Sent the Gold Price Into a TailspinThe catalyst for January's crash was not a data release or a central bank meeting. It was a personnel announcement. When President Donald Trump named Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair on January 30, the gold price fell 9% in a single session - its worst one-day performance in years. Traders initially read Warsh as a hawkish pick, someone who might resist White House pressure for looser monetary policy and keep the dollar supported. Gold closed that day at $4,894 an ounce.The sell-off, in retrospect, looks more like a mass unwind of leveraged speculative positions than a fundamental reassessment. Within days, the gold price bounced back toward $5,100. By mid-February it has been consolidating in the $4,900-$5,100 range - still roughly 65% above where it was a year ago."Gold's thematic drivers remain positive and we believe investors' rationale for gold allocations will not have changed," analysts at Deutsche Bank wrote following the selloff.Gold Price Predictions: What the Major Banks Are ForecastingHow high can gold go in 2026? The range of institutional gold price predictions is wide - and the upper end of those forecasts has been climbing fast.Bart Melek, managing director and head of commodity strategy at TD Securities - one of the most closely followed voices on commodity markets - put it plainly: "Fundamentally, me and the team still like gold here." His base case of a $5,000 quarterly average comes with a technical ceiling around $5,455, and he does not rule out $5,700 given the volatility regime the market has entered.Why Gold Will Surge?The structural forces behind these gold price predictions are not new, but they are intensifying:Central bank buying reached 863 tonnes in 2025 and is expected to remain historically elevated in 2026, as reserve managers diversify away from US dollar assetsETF demand surged 801 tonnes in 2025 - the second-largest annual inflow on recordDe-dollarization pressures accelerated after China reportedly advised domestic banks to reduce their enthusiasm for US Treasuries, directly weakening the dollar and boosting goldReal rates are expected to stay low or fall further as the Fed navigates stubborn inflation alongside slowing growth - historically one of the strongest environments for gold price appreciationGeopolitical risk from trade wars, Venezuela, Iran, and unresolved tensions in Eastern Europe keeps the safe-haven bid aliveGold Price Technical Analysis: What the Chart Is SayingLooking at the gold price chart, the uptrend established over the past two years remains structurally intact. According to my chart reading, the roughly $1,000 correction from the January 29 high is well within the bounds of a healthy technical pullback given the pace of the preceding rally - one that took gold from around $4,300 to nearly $5,600 in a matter of weeks.What has formed, according to my chart analysis, is a consolidation range with clearly defined boundaries:Lower support: $4,550 - the late-December highs that were retested as support during the January-February selloff. This level held on a closing basis and remains the primary floor of the current rangeUpper resistance: $5,420 - the January 28 closing peaks, which capped the move even as prices briefly touched $5,600 intraday on January 29Intermediate support: $4,850 - currently acting as a local pivot and the first line of defense in any renewed sellingPsychological resistance: $5,000 - the level gold needs to reclaim convincingly to restore broader bullish momentumLocal February highs: ~$5,100 - the next meaningful ceiling before a retest of all-time highs becomes credible50-period EMA: ~$4,700 - the exponential moving average that would come into play on a deeper pullbackAccording to my technical analysis, the gold price is essentially range-bound between $4,550 and $5,420. Trading within that range is noise. What matters for the gold price prediction is which level breaks first.To the downside, a sustained move below $4,550 would bring the more critical $4,000 zone into focus - where the 200-day moving average converges with the November 2025 lows. Based on my technical analysis, a confirmed weekly close below that cluster would be the strongest signal yet that the gold bull market, running for several years now, has finally exhausted itself. Until that happens, the trend deserves the benefit of the doubt.Silver: The Wilder BetIf the gold price in January was dramatic, silver's was something else entirely. The metal hit a lifetime high of $121.64 on January 29- up 147% over the course of 2025 - before crashing to $89.70 within days. The Reuters poll now forecasts a 2026 average silver price of $79.50 per ounce, up from a $50 estimate made just in October.The mechanics of the silver spike deserve attention because they explain both the opportunity and the risk. According to Melek, the market experienced what derivatives traders call a gamma squeeze: market makers who had sold call options on silver ETFs were forced into the physical market to hedge their exposure, driving prices up in a self-reinforcing loop. Add in two- and three-times leveraged retail products, and the move became parabolic. When CME margin requirements rose, the unwind was equally brutal.Silver's dual identity - part safe-haven, part industrial metal - complicates the gold price prediction parallel. On one hand:The Silver Institute projects a sixth consecutive annual market deficit in 2026, at approximately 67 million ouncesPhysical investment demand is forecast to rise 20% to 227 million ounces - a three-year highData centers, EV production, and AI infrastructure are growing end-usesOn the other hand, solar panel manufacturers are actively reducing silver content per unit to cut costs, and jewellery demand continues to weaken in key Asian markets as high prices squeeze affordability.Frequently Asked Questions About Gold PriceWhat is the gold price today?As of mid-February 2026, the gold price is trading around $5,072 per ounce, having recovered from a sharp correction after hitting an all-time high of $5,595 on January 29, 2026. The price remains highly volatile - swings of $100-200 in a single session have become routine in the current market environment.What is the gold price prediction for 2026?The median gold price forecast for 2026, based on a Reuters poll of 30 analysts and traders, is $4,746.50 per troy ounce - the highest annual consensus in Reuters polling history dating back to 2012. Individual bank targets vary widely: JPMorgan sees $5,055 by Q4 2026, Goldman Sachs targets $5,400, TD Securities expects a quarterly average around $5,000, and Yardeni Research has set a target of $6,000.How high can gold go in 2026?Most institutional analysts believe gold can reach $5,000-$5,400 during 2026 under base case scenarios, with JPMorgan flagging $6,000 as a longer-term possibility. On the more aggressive end, GoldSilver.com's data-driven analysis outlines a case for prices between $8,700 and $9,000 before year-end, though this represents a fringe scenario. The key variables are central bank demand, Federal Reserve rate policy, and the trajectory of the US dollar.Will gold go up or down in 2026?The consensus leans up, but with significant volatility along the way. The World Gold Council outlines four scenarios for 2026: in three of them gold rises or holds steady; only in one - where the Trump administration successfully boosts US growth, reduces geopolitical risk, and triggers Fed rate hikes - does gold decline. Most analysts, including those at Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, and TD Securities, believe the structural drivers of the gold bull market remain firmly in place.Is gold a good investment in 2026?Gold has outperformed most major asset classes over the past two years, returning approximately 65% in 2025 alone. Whether it remains a good investment depends on your time horizon and risk tolerance. Analysts broadly expect continued upside driven by central bank buying, dollar weakness, and geopolitical uncertainty - but also warn that volatility at record price levels is significant. Will silver outperform gold in 2026?Yes. Silver has already dramatically outperformed gold over the past 12 months, rising 147% in 2025 versus gold's approximately 65% gain. Whether it continues to do so depends heavily on industrial demand - particularly from the solar panel sector, which is actively reducing silver content per unit. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

LMAX Group has added gold to its perpetual futures platform, giving institutional clients continuous exposure to XAU/USD around the clock and across weekends, a time window when traditional gold markets go dark but price risk very much does not.The London-based cross-asset marketplace announced the expansion via LinkedIn on Tuesday, framing it as a response to growing institutional appetite for gold derivatives beyond standard trading hours. Gold has been on a remarkable run, trading near $4,900 per ounce this week after briefly touching all-time highs above $4,893 earlier this month.Weekend Risk Takes Centre StageThe specific problem LMAX is trying to solve is well understood by anyone running a gold book through a weekend. Spot and standard futures positions sit frozen while geopolitical headlines, macro data from Asian markets, and central bank commentary keep moving. When markets reopen Monday, the resulting gap can be damaging for both hedgers and leveraged traders.LMAX's gold perpetual futures are margin-based and have no expiry date, meaning a fund or broker can hold a position through a Sunday without having to roll or close it. The product is designed to hedge existing spot or CFD gold exposure in a capital-efficient way, according to the company."Access to gold exposure should not stop when the underlying market closes,” Jenna Wright, Managing Director of Digital Assets at LMAX Group, put it plainly. “For institutions managing exposure across spot and derivatives, continuity is key... As market infrastructure evolves, the priority remains consistency of access."From Crypto to CommoditiesLMAX first entered the perpetual futures space in September 2025, launching BTC/USD and ETH/USD contracts with leverage of up to 100x, positioning itself as a regulated, institutional-grade alternative to the offshore offshore crypto exchanges that have dominated the perpetuals market for years. That market has seen annual trading volumes hit $60 trillion, making it one of the largest derivatives segments globally.The gold product follows the same structural model: USD-settled, no expiry, margin-based. It also extends the same execution and liquidity standards LMAX has built its reputation on in FX and digital assets, where it handles over $40 billion in average daily spot volume.The product range then expanded its distribution reach in December 2025 through an integration with Gold-i's technology network, connecting LMAX's perpetuals to a wider pool of institutional buy-side clients. Adding gold now extends the same infrastructure to a new asset class entirely.Infrastructure That Can Handle ItExecution quality for a perpetual futures product is not trivial. Funding rates reset every eight hours, positions need to be managed in real time, and any lag in order processing creates real costs. LMAX addressed that on the technology side in early February, adopting MetaQuotes' Ultency matching engine for its MT5-connected institutional clients, which routes orders through a low-latency aggregation layer without relying on third-party middleware.That infrastructure push sits alongside the launch of Omnia Exchange, LMAX's cross-asset settlement platform that allows real-time conversion across FX, crypto, and stablecoins via a single API. The gold perpetual does not operate in isolation - it plugs into an architecture that LMAX has been building out aggressively over the past six months.Gold's Macro Backdrop Adds UrgencyThe timing is not accidental. Gold's volatility in 2025 and into early 2026 has been one of the dominant themes across financial markets, driven by central bank buying, geopolitical risk, and expectations around US rate policy. The metal gained roughly 65% through 2025 and continued climbing into the new year. Institutions that missed that move or want to hedge outsized exposure now need the tools to manage it, and traditional market hours are not always enough.LMAX is not alone in spotting the opportunity. GCEX recently launched gold futures products aimed at institutional CFD activity, while BingX reported that record gold prices drove roughly half of its $1 billion surge in traditional finance trading volumes. The demand signal is clear, and multiple platforms are racing to meet it. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The (Fat) Cat to "Check Your Fees"The English language has any number of colourful phrases and idioms that delight native speakers, but infuriate those looking to learn our mother tongue as a second or subsequent language. (Even the phrase ‘mother tongue’ underlines how modern English has been influenced by other cultures, derived as it is from the Latin term lingua materna, meaning the language of one’s home, culture and origin.)A term that is often used in relation to the financial services industry is ‘fat cats’. From its origins in the 1920s, when syndicated columnist Frank Kent wrote an essay entitled ‘Fat Cats and Free Rides’ to describe rich political backers, it now conjures images of portly, rich middle-aged men sitting around a table, drinking brandy and smoking cigars.So, when IG decided to refer to its Fat Cat Index when launching its ‘Check Your Fees’ campaign, it was clear that a few feathers would be ruffled, even if senior management at leading platforms are more diverse than the male, pale and stale boardrooms of corporate America a century ago.According to IG, most UK investors are paying hundreds of pounds more than they need to in platform fees each year.More than half (52%) of investors surveyed were using the market’s 12 most expensive providers, and for an active investor using a stocks and shares ISA with one of these platforms, the cumulative fees would be £515 more per year than if they used one of the market’s low-cost alternatives.For active investors using one of the four most expensive platforms, the claimed average annual overpayment rises to £711.Almost half of the retail investors surveyed said they had never calculated their total fees, and a similar proportion reported being confused by investment fee jargon. Yet more than half were confident they were paying the lowest possible fees.The research also found that nearly half of investors are hesitant to switch providers because of the admin involved. This inertia was particularly pronounced among older investors, with 43% of over-55s having been with the same provider for more than 10 years, and a third of this age group saying they are unlikely to switch.We’re Gonna Trade Around the Clock TonightWhether we like it or not, extended trading hours are going to happen. It’s just a question of how and where they are offered.24X National Exchange has already said it will offer 23-hour weekday trading of US equities in the second half of this year, and IG offers 24/5 trading on more than 100 of the most popular US stocks for UK investors. Meanwhile, DTCC subsidiary National Securities Clearing Corporation has committed to increasing clearing hours to support extended trading.The latest initiative to push this process forward is NYSE’s decision to build a blockchain-based platform that will support trading of tokenised stocks and ETFs on a 24-hour basis. It is reported that the exchange hopes to have this platform up and running before the end of 2026.24/5 Stock Trading. Now live on https://t.co/vCNztATkNg App. From Pre-Market to Overnight, trade seamlessly from Sun 8PM - Fri 8PM (ET). More ways to respond when the market moves ?Extended-hours may involve lower liquidity, higher volatility, wider spreads, limited data,… pic.twitter.com/toOpqZD0Qf— Crypto.com (@cryptocom) January 29, 2026Michael Blaugrund, vice president of strategic initiatives at ICE (which owns NYSE), describes the move as an evolution of NYSE’s trading capabilities that will allow for new types of investor accessibility and create new opportunities for retail investors to participate in stablecoin-funded markets.ICE is also reportedly exploring the possibility of creating a new system for clearing round-the-clock trades. Rival exchange Nasdaq has been in dialogue with regulators for several months about allowing investors to trade digital representations of securities.According to one senior financial services executive, these moves are evidence of the inevitability that tokenised trading will become the backbone of the US equities market.His view is that, once exchanges can match in real time, the bottleneck shifts to cash, custody and regulatory treatment, and that these initiatives are less about tokenisation and more about recognising that the real constraint won’t be trading technology, but rather eligible digital cash and funding models at scale.In this scenario, tokenised securities are the easy part — cash and controls are where the major challenges lie.Small Shareholders Feel the Bite from BrewdogThe travails of a relatively small Scottish brewery might seem like small beer (pardon the pun) in comparison to recent stock price movements for Amazon, for example. But they are a salutary lesson in how a seemingly good news story can turn sour for retail investors.Brewdog’s plucky newcomer ethos has attracted a loyal following over the last 20 years. The company played on this image during seven rounds of ‘equity for punks’, where hundreds of thousands of investors put around £75 million into the business.However, falling sales and negative publicity around one of its co-founders have seen the company bring in consultants — a move expected to result in the sale of all or part of the business.The private equity firm that bought into Brewdog in 2017 is expected to do very well from this process, given it is understood to have agreed preferential terms that would see it gain as much as four times its original £213 million investment.LOST LAGER PINT CANS SPOTTED ?️?️Catch these beauties appearing in your local Premier, Londis, & Budgens stores. pic.twitter.com/55bOukOXNr— BrewDog (@BrewDog) February 13, 2026Prior to this investment, the company had Class A shares held by its founders and employees, and Class B shares allocated to those who participated in its crowdfunding. The deal with TSG Consumer Partners resulted in the creation of preference shares.Investors had the option of cashing out when TSG bought its 22.3% stake, but the vast majority held tight and, if the eventual sale price is less than the amount guaranteed to TSG, there will be nothing left for the investors who put in between five hundred and several thousand pounds.The £2 billion valuation at its last funding round in 2021 is now a distant memory and, even if a buyer were to value it at twice its most recent annual revenue of £357 million, it would be some way short of the figure that would see small investors get any money back. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

5PAY had an exciting 2025, and it’s kicking off 2026 with even more exciting news. After taking home an award for offering the best payment gateway APAC, the company is very proud to announce its new award win, but this time in the MEA region - ‘Best Payment Gateway MEA’ at the prestigious UF AWARDS MEA 2026. This reflects 5PAY’s dedication to its clients across the world and its continued mission to offer the best possible product and platform to them.Although their 2025 and 2026 award wins were a fantastic milestone, 5PAY used it as a motivator to surpass what they achieved. And their efforts are being rewarded. Winning one of the industry’s biggest, most prestigious, and credible awards means that 5PAY’s payment solutions can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best the market has to offer. An Ongoing Mission5PAY has dedicated vast resources to continually expanding the access its clients have. Recently, the company has dramatically enhanced its infrastructure by increasing its local payment coverage, strengthening its regulatory framework, and supporting even more secure payment access. With multiple solutions to cover practically every use-case scenario for financial services enterprises, including virtual accounts, fiat-to-fiat and crypto solutions, and the extremely popular, multicurrency QR Pay. It allows transactions in multiple global currencies via multiple funding sources, from widely used e-wallets to traditional financial institutions such as banks. All of 5PAY’s solutions are purpose-built to support an increase in conversions, while practically eliminating the potential for fraud. And they do so at every step of the payment flow, from initiation to the completion of a transaction. Stability, Scalability, and CustomisabilityOne of the biggest bottlenecks companies often face during rapid growth is legacy infrastructure limiting business expansion. Scalability and deployment speed are integral to 5PAY’s solutions. Not only are these payment tools built to keep up with robust growth, but they also have the ability to be integrated in a matter of seconds. Being able to accept payments from a list of countries that is being constantly expanded gives firms even more opportunities and ability to serve untapped markets. 5PAY also offers clients multiple packages: the complete integration package and the system integration. Full integration packageThis package offers clients a completely turn-key payment solution, including receiving accounts. It also includes personalised support for funds receivable, streamlined checkout flows, payouts, settlements, and asset stashing, all optimised. System integrationEasy to set up embedded payments with a full access dashboard, with the full support of 5PAY experts. A powerful yet affordable solution for businesses of all sizes and scales of operation. Award-winning Solutions for Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond5PAY’s solutions are both compliant with local regulations and provide international merchants with scalable, secure payment access. Proof of this mission is both the “Best Payment Gateway” award in APAC at the UF AWARDS APAC 2025, and their most recent win in the same category in MEA, at the UF AWARDS MEA 2026. If you would like to amplify your growth with a reliable payment solution, visit https://www.my5pay.com/ or contact 5PAY via email at sales@my5pay.com. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.