Capital Index UK Limited, a UK-based CFD broker, has changed its legal name to Vantos Markets UK Limited, according to filings published by Companies House.The rebrand follows a period of financial pressure for the UK arm of the broker. Capital Index UK reduced its losses in 2024, returning to a pre-tax profit position, although it remained loss-making after tax amid a challenging retail trading environment.Companies House Confirms Broker Name ChangeThe name change was registered today (Thursday), following a special resolution passed by the company’s members a day earlier. The company remains incorporated in England and Wales as a private company limited by shares and continues to operate under the same company number.Companies House issued a new certificate of incorporation reflecting the updated name under the Companies Act. The filing indicates that the change was authenticated electronically by the Registrar of Companies and does not reference any amendments to the firm’s corporate structure or ownership.CFD Broker Rebrands Without Regulatory ChangesCapital Index has operated as an FCA-regulated provider of contracts for difference, offering leveraged trading across multiple asset classes. The Companies House documents do not suggest that the rebrand is accompanied by changes to the firm’s regulatory permissions or business activities.The company has not publicly disclosed the rationale behind the rebranding, and no further details were provided in the filing.UK CFD Broker Reports Net LossFor the year ended 31 December 2024, the company reported a pre-tax profit of £23,678, compared with a pre-tax loss of £207,006 a year earlier. However, it still recorded a net loss of £18,247 after tax, marking a second consecutive year without net profitability. Turnover declined by more than 17% year-on-year, while administrative costs continued to outweigh gross profit, with directors citing cost-of-living pressures and weaker client activity in the UK market. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The Financial Commission has approved Monstrade as its newest Member. Monstrade was founded by a group of asset managers with experience in Dubai’s financial sector. The company initially provided data services to large institutions, financial support to fintech start-ups, and liquidity solutions to institutional counterparties. It has since grown into a forex broker.The move follows the Commission’s recent certification of trading technology provider iTech Software. The certification confirmed that its systems meet standards for brokers and traders. iTech provides technology solutions for Forex, CFD, crypto, and NFT brokerages, including web trader platforms, back-office infrastructure, and live support with monitoring and risk management.Financial Commission Provides €20K Complaint ProtectionAs an Approved Broker Member, Monstrade and its customers can access a range of services offered by the Financial Commission. These include protection for up to €20,000 per complaint, supported by the Commission’s Compensation Fund.The Financial Commission serves as an independent third-party mediation platform. It resolves complaints when parties cannot reach an agreement directly. For members operating in CFDs, forex, and cryptocurrency markets, the platform offers a faster and simpler alternative to arbitration or local courts.Commission Warns Against Impersonation Scam ActivityIn a separate update, the Financial Commission confirmed RA Prime as a member. The brokerage provides foreign exchange and CFD products globally. Other recent additions to the organization include FP Markets, OneRoyal, FXON, GTCFX, and Neex, an online brokerage offering access to Forex, indices, and commodities.The Commission also provided an update on an investigation into individuals falsely claiming to represent the organization. These imposters targeted traders reporting losses or blocked withdrawals from brokers such as Umarkets and TPG Deals. They offered purported fund recovery or chargeback services in exchange for fees and issued counterfeit guarantee letters through entities claiming to be legal firms, including Orbital Limited and AK Law. The scammers also used fake contact details resembling legitimate digital wallet providers to mislead victims. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Spotware launches “Spotware Talks” – a new panel discussion series on the company’s YouTube channel. The series will run regularly and deliver practical, B2B-focused discussions for brokers and prop firms, sharing deep expertise on running and growing a trading business in today’s market. The panels will feature senior executives discussing how they approach strategy, technology, risk and operations.The first Spotware Talks panel, “Gold gone wild: brokers’ survival guide – managing risk under extreme market conditions”, will go live on 26 February at 17:00 (GMT+2). It will be valuable for specialists in dealing and risk management, as well as founders and executives at FX/CFD brokerages. The session will bring together Angus Walker, Global Head of Trading at IC Markets, and Drew Niv, Chief Strategy Officer at ATFX. With decades of combined experience, the guests will share practice-based perspectives on securing stable operations when markets become increasingly unpredictable. David Kimberley, a recognised forex media expert, will host the discussion. Subscribe to the Spotware YouTube channel so you don’t miss this discussion.This panel examines how brokers can control risk in extreme market conditions. The speakers will share the proven ways to maintain steady processes while keeping trading conditions fair and consistent. Using real volatility scenarios, the session will outline the operational steps brokers can take to stay resilient when markets turn erratic. With gold trading in increasingly wide ranges and volatility remaining elevated, this discussion serves as a practical guide for brokers seeking to protect execution standards without constraining client activity.Roman Snegirev, CMO at Spotware, said: “With the launch of ‘Spotware Talks’, we’re introducing a new, regular panel series on our YouTube channel – a format designed to support our clients through valuable, B2B-focused discussions. In each session, we bring senior industry professionals to the table to set out the operational realities of successful CFD businesses.”You can become a part of the first discussion – submit your question. The invited experts will answer your questions during the session. Join us and learn how to stay afloat when market moves get unpredictable. About Spotware SystemsSpotware Systemsis a fintech company founded in 2010, based in Limassol, Cyprus, with a global team of 200+ professionals. It designs and delivers innovative trading technology and custom solutions for brokers worldwide, supporting long-term growth and scalability. Spotware’s solutions include cTrader, the flagship trading platform, and cBridge, a highly cost-efficient liquidity bridge for all platforms that eliminates volume fees and hidden charges entirely. Spotware’s expertise is consistently recognised with multiple international industry awards, including Best Trading Platform, Best Services for Partners and Best Mobile Trading App. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Startale Group and SBI Holdings have launched a blockchain that provides exchange infrastructure for tokenized securities and real-world asset (RWA) trading in Asia. Dubbed Strium, the new platform is built to support trading and settlement of tokenized equities and RWA-linked instruments in both spot and derivatives markets. It plans to operate 24/7 and focuses on securities-linked products rather than crypto-native perpetual contracts. Strium also separates its exchange architecture from direct asset issuance or custody to stay compatible with existing financial systems.Exchange Layer for Tokenized SecuritiesThe venture builds on a partnership between Startale and SBI last year that targeted the growing market for tokenized assets and onchain capital markets. With Strium, the partners aim to position the network as a core exchange layer for Asia’s onchain securities market.“Building on the August 2025 partnership announcement, which positioned the alliance at the forefront of the $18.9 trillion tokenized asset market opportunity, Strium addresses a fundamental shift now underway in institutional and professional markets,” Startale announced.You may also like: SBI Holdings Invests in U.S. Prime Broker Clear Street, Plans Japan Joint VentureThe launch of the Strium brand comes alongside proofs of concept that test the network’s exchange architecture, settlement efficiency and interoperability. The PoC work focuses on performance under high-load conditions and connectivity with traditional financial infrastructure and other blockchain networks.The two firms earlier collaborated to develop a fully regulated yen‑denominated stablecoin aimed at global settlement use. The project seeks to merge traditional financial infrastructure with blockchain‑based payment systems. It includes the creation of a tokenized yen tailored for enterprise applications and cross‑border transactions. The initiative aligns with Japan’s push for digital currency frameworks.SBI Steps Up US PushSBI recently acquired a minority stake in US brokerage Clear Street through its American subsidiary, SBI Holdings USA, in a $50 million deal. The investment represents less than 1% of the New York-based firm, which is preparing for an initial public offering on Nasdaq.Alongside the capital injection, SBI and Clear Street agreed to pursue a partnership that will establish a joint venture in Japan. The new entity will initially concentrate on asset management services, with plans to expand into equities trading, prime brokerage, and digital asset-related businesses as the collaboration evolves. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The cryptocurrency market plunged for the third consecutive session on Thursday, February 5, 2026, with Bitcoin dropping 3.5% to test $70,000, the lowest level since November 2024, before recovering slightly to $71,340. XRP crashed over 7% below $1.40, Ethereum fell to $2,068 (lowest since May 2025), and Dogecoin battles support at $0.10 as $775 million in leveraged positions were liquidated. In this article I analyze XRP/USDT, BTC/USD, ETH/USDT and DOGE/USDT charts, answering the question of why crypto is going down today.Why Bitcoin Is Going Down? Breaking Through $74K Opens Path to $68KBitcoin's price fell for the third straight session, dropping 3.5% to test $70,052, the lowest since November 2024, before recovering to $71,340, down 1.5%. This represents a decisive break below my target range of $74,000 that I've been discussing since November.While I forecasted a potential bounce at $74,000, I practice reactive analysis rather than wishful thinking analysis, which means I was prepared for this scenario as well. With the breakdown confirmed, I'm now targeting $68,000, where the 200-week exponential moving average (200 WMA) runs on the weekly chart. That's where I'll expect a demand reaction.If that level also fails to hold, I have my long-term ultra-bearish target around $52,000, where the 100% Fibonacci extension based on the current trend lands. One thing is certain: pressure on cryptocurrencies continues to persist.Bitcoin is now approximately 45% below its October peak near $126,000, with the recent drawdown accelerating as expectations that BTC would never revisit sub-$100K levels were shattered.Joel Kruger, crypto strategist at LMAX, offers perspective on the brutal selloff while identifying potential bottoming signals."Price action across crypto has been undeniably heavy over the past 24 hours, with bitcoin acting as the primary drag on broader sentiment and ETH following suit," Kruger notes. However, he points to emerging signs of exhaustion.Follow me on X for more crypto market analysis: @ChmielDkXRP Price Analysis: Testing $1.40 Opens Path to $1.25 or $0.53XRP is also falling for the third consecutive session, and today is one of the strongest declines this year, losing over 7% and testing levels below $1.40. If we exclude October's flash crash, this is the lowest value since November 2024.Breaking the local support defined by April 2025 lows opens the path toward targets in the $1.25-1.26 range, the minimums from the aforementioned flash crash. If this level also fails to hold, I'm targeting just $0.53 on the XRP chart.What would need to happen for me to change my bearish stance? Such scenarios are really far away, XRP would need to return above $2.20, where the 200-day EMA currently sits.Dogecoin Price Analysis: Fighting $0.10 SupportDogecoin (DOGE), like BTC and XRP, is falling for the third consecutive session and is fighting with local support around the round level of $0.10, which coincides with the lowest levels since September 2024.Doge already broke its important support at the end of January, located just below $0.12, and is currently in short-term consolidation at medium-term lows. Bearish pressure remains strong here, and breaking this level will open the path to declines toward 2024 minimums around $0.08.To relieve pressure from Dogecoin's shoulders, we would need to wait until around $0.16, where the 200 EMA sits.Ethereum Price Analysis: $2,068 Tests June 2025 SupportEthereum's price, unlike the three charts mentioned above, is also falling for the third consecutive session, deepening this year's lows on Thursday to $2,068—the lowest value since May 2025.Support designated by June 2024 lows around $2,100 continues to hold price in check, and today we also see a reaction at this level. As a result, ETH is currently losing only 0.7% and changing hands at $2,132.Although bearish pressure persists, even if the current support breaks, the next support sits around $1,760 (March 2025 lows), and the final ultimate level around $1,400 (April 2024 yearly lows).According to my technical analysis, Ethereum prices could fall to $1,725 or lower in February, aligning with the inverted cup and handle downside target, which historically achieves its expected target with an 82% success rate.I'll abandon bearish scenarios when ETH returns at least to the consolidation range drawn from November to the end of January, between $2,750 and $3,430.Why Is Crypto Crashing Today?$775 Million Liquidation CascadeThursday's crypto crash triggered a massive $775 million liquidation event across major exchanges as Bitcoin plunged to $70,000. What began as a minor technical correction "accelerated into a mass capitulation of long positions," according to market analysis.The violent flush caught leverage traders off guard, with open interest ballooning to unsustainable levels over the past week driven by retail FOMO and aggressive perpetual positioning. When the floor gave way, algorithmic selling pressure was instantaneous.Recent data shows over $800 million in leveraged liquidations impacting around 165,000 traders, with the majority coming from long positions. This follows the February 1 "Black Sunday II" event that saw $2.2 billion liquidated in 24 hours, the largest single-day wipeout since October 2025.Hawkish Federal Reserve Policy"The recent downturn in the cryptocurrency market has been swift and severe, with analysts attributing the decline to the appointment of Kevin Warsh as the prospective chair of the Federal Reserve, amid expectations that he might reduce the Fed's balance sheet," according to Reuters.Signs of ongoing high interest rates have pushed the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) above 97.5, making investors less interested in riskier assets like Bitcoin. The Fed's January 28 hold at 3.50-3.75% with Powell stating he's "not in a hurry to cut" continued to weigh on risk assets, with real yields remaining elevated.Institutional Outflows AccelerateBig investors such as BlackRock have sold large amounts of Bitcoin, with $373.8 million leaving spot BTC ETFs recently. Bitcoin ETFs have continued bleeding with cumulative multi-billion dollar outflows since mid-January, removing spot bid support and forcing correlated selling in leveraged products.Technical Targets TableWith clear breaks below key support levels across major cryptocurrencies, here are my next technical targets:Crypto Price Analysis, FAQWhy is crypto falling today?Crypto crashed for the third consecutive session on February 5, 2026, with Bitcoin testing $70,000 (lowest since Nov 2024), triggering $775 million in liquidations. Kevin Warsh's Fed Chair appointment raised expectations for balance sheet reduction and hawkish policy, pushing DXY above 97.5 and making risk assets less attractive. How low can Bitcoin go?Bitcoin broke my November target of $74,000 and tested $70,052 before recovering to $71,340. The next technical target is $68,000 where the 200-week EMA provides critical support, with an ultra-bearish scenario targeting $52,000 (100% Fibonacci extension). Analysts Peter Brandt and Michael Burry identify support levels at $60,176 and $47,824 if $70,000 breaks. LMAX's Joel Kruger notes Bitcoin is "roughly 45% below its October peak" with "hallmarks of capitulation now in place."Why is XRP crashing?XRP crashed over 7% on Thursday to below $1.40—the lowest since November 2024 excluding October's flash crash. Breaking April 2025 local support opens the path to $1.25-1.26 (October flash crash lows), with the long-term ultra-bearish target at $0.53. Bull invalidation requires a return above $2.20 where the 200-day EMA currently sits, representing a 57% rally from current levels. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

If the Cap Fits, Why Not Reap the Dividend?UK mid-caps have had a hard time over recent years, weighed down by negative sentiment around the domestic economy and investor preference for large-cap stocks and international equities.Historically, mid-cap stocks tended to offer higher growth potential but at the expense of dividends. Now this situation has reversed and, for the first time since the early years of the 21st century, there are a large number of mid-cap companies trading on lower valuations and offering significantly higher dividend yields than large caps.Are you attending iFX Expo Dubai? Do not miss the first-ever Trading Festival.With the UK economy showing tentative signs of growth and the government seemingly getting a handle on inflation, this segment of the market is starting to look more attractive, especially when valuations are taken into account.The FTSE 250 is trading at not much more than two-thirds of its long-term average price-to-earnings ratio.According to AJ Bell, the highest-yielding stock among mid-cap companies in the UK market is Ithaca Energy at 11.4%. However, the firm’s head of markets cautions that any yield above 9% would need extra investigation by potential investors to make sure it is not a one-off payout, as companies are not normally that generous with dividends.The second-highest dividend payer in the FTSE 250 is Lancashire, a speciality insurer focusing on risks in areas including property, energy, marine and aviation, which has a strong history of paying high dividends due to the nature of its business.Other generous dividend payers in the FTSE 250 include various investment trusts in the renewable energy and property sectors.Gains in Spain Lead to Market OvervaluationThe suggestion that Europe offers equity investors better value than the US is not a new one, as discussed previously, with European stock markets starting last year significantly undervalued.However, when looking at individual countries, a more uneven pattern emerges. While the Morningstar Europe Index gained more than 19.4% in 2025, compared with 8.7% in 2024 and 15.5% in 2023, there was a large gap between Spain, which returned more than 57%, and France, where the stock market gained a more modest 13%. Italy was the other strong performer, gaining more than 37%.European stocks continue to outperform the US, with the STOXX 600 up over 4% YTD versus a 1.9% gain for the S&P 500 and riding a seven-month winning streak. Within Europe, France is the only country lagging behind the S&P.Read today's Morning Lineup at https://t.co/StU33FFeZV pic.twitter.com/HTbYgxxmAJ— Bespoke (@bespokeinvest) February 3, 2026Unsurprisingly, the extent to which European markets are undervalued has decreased over the past 12 months. Only seven markets had a price-to-fair-value ratio below 1 at the end of 2025, and overall values were at their highest level for three years.Spain was the most overvalued market, followed by Italy and Belgium, where values increased even faster than in Spain last year.Another factor in the narrowing gap between European and US equities was the rise in fair values for some large companies in the US index, including NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet, which reduced the valuation of the market as a whole.Fernando Luque, a senior financial analyst at Morningstar, noted that the financial services sector was the most expensive in valuation terms, followed by utilities, where the three largest companies in the sector ended the year with very different valuations. Spain’s Iberdrola was overvalued by 20% and Italy’s Enel by 10%, while the UK’s National Grid was undervalued by 6%.Apart from real estate, one of the cheapest sectors was consumer cyclical. Although most European sectors saw their price-to-fair-value estimates increase during 2025, this was not the case for the technology, industrials and communication services sectors, with technology failing to see an increase despite the rise in ASML Holding.Why Emerging Markets Could Build on Earnings ExpectationsAnalysis conducted by investment firm Redwheel indicates that 2025 marked the first year emerging markets outperformed the US since 2017. Long-term supporters of non-US markets hope this marks a new period of stronger performance, similar to the first decade of the millennium, when emerging markets outperformed every year except 2008.In the 2000s, emerging market performance was driven by higher commodity prices and a weaker US dollar. By 2025, similar conditions were in place, supported by falling rates, attractive valuations, reform momentum and shifting capital flows.European stocks continue to outperform the US, with the STOXX 600 up over 4% YTD versus a 1.9% gain for the S&P 500 and riding a seven-month winning streak. Within Europe, France is the only country lagging behind the S&P.Read today's Morning Lineup at https://t.co/StU33FFeZV pic.twitter.com/HTbYgxxmAJ— Bespoke (@bespokeinvest) February 3, 2026While US equities rely on earnings growth and maintaining higher valuations, international equities have stronger return potential from a re-rating of valuations to narrow the gap with the US, as well as currency gains against the US dollar. Markets outside the US began to close the valuation gap in 2025, and earnings outside the US, although more volatile, are improving and are expected to match the US growth rate through 2026.Interest rates are expected to be the most important economic driver of global equity performance this year, with the Federal Reserve setting the pace. The easing cycle that began in late 2024 resumed later last year and is likely to continue in 2026, with futures pricing indicating that the US will cut its policy rate twice more in 2026, reaching a level of 3–3.25% by the end of the year.Looser US monetary policy allows emerging market central banks to lower interest rates, which are currently very tight given how quickly inflation has fallen.Meanwhile, the dollar is expected to face many of the same pressures this year as in 2025, including larger US fiscal deficits and rising government debt without a clear plan for fiscal control. Markets have also shown concern about erratic US economic and trade policy, as well as the potential weakening of the independence of key institutions such as the Federal Reserve. This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

Sydney, Australia, 5 February 2026 —Amid heightened volatility in global precious metals markets ,VT Markets has proven the strength of its trading infrastructure, maintaining stable execution and uninterrupted access during periods of intense market stress.During the recent market volatility, VT Markets recorded USD1.5 trillion in gold trading volume in January, underscoring strong client engagement and sustained confidence in its trading environment. Notably, 20% of gold traders were new to the platform, highlighting VT Markets’ ability to attract new traders eager to seize opportunities amid heightened market fluctuations.The platform experienced its highest gold trading volume on 29 January 2026, a day when global gold markets saw dramatic price swings-gold futures surging past $5,500 per ounce and then exhibiting sharp intraday volatility amid geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures. Crucially, VT Markets’ deep and diversified liquidity pool enabled the platform to maintain consistent pricing and high order fill rates, even during peak volatility. Average spreads on gold and silver remained competitive, while execution stability was preserved during fast-market conditions that challenged liquidity across the industry.Ross Maxwell, Global Strategy Operation at VT Markets shares: “Volatile conditions inevitably test market infrastructure. While some platforms pulled back to manage their own risk, our systems performed exactly as designed- keeping gold and silver trading open and accessible for clients. That ability to stay operational during extreme conditions is what sets us apart from other brokers." This performance underscores VT Markets’ commitment to providing traders with dependable market access when it matters most. In volatile conditions where execution speed, liquidity depth, and platform resilience are critical, VT Markets has demonstrated its capability to perform under pressure- turning market uncertainty into opportunity for its global trading community. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

XTB doesn't see limits to how fast it can grow, even after adding more clients last year than it accumulated in its first 20 years of operation.Omar Arnaout, the broker's chief executive, told Polish financial daily Parkiet that bringing in two million new accounts annually "is completely realistic" within a few years. The Warsaw-listed company pulled in 864,000 clients during 2025, a 73 percent jump that pushed its total base past 2.16 million."It took us 20 years to have a million clients," Arnaout said in the interview published this week. "In 2025, we acquired over 860,000 clients. So in one year we did practically what took 20 years."When asked where the ceiling is for client acquisition growth, Arnaout was blunt: "We still don't see that ceiling."XTB reported record fourth-quarter revenue of 610.1 million złoty ($173 million) and net profit of 180.5 million złoty in preliminary results released last month. For the full year, the company posted 644 million złoty in net profit, falling short of the billion-złoty threshold that analysts have floated as the next psychological milestone.Flat Markets Masked Client Growth ImpactArnaout blamed sideways price action across most assets for keeping results below what the expanding client base could have delivered. He said 2025 stood out for how many instruments traded in tight ranges, limiting the volatility that typically drives trading volume at contracts-for-difference brokers like XTB."If conditions had been favorable, I think that billion really would have been broken," the CEO told Parkiet. The number of active clients climbed 70 percent during the year, reaching 1.19 million, but many of those traders sat on the sidelines when markets stalled.XTB added 117,000 clients in the first 28 days of January alone, according to company disclosures. Arnaout wouldn't discuss specific monthly performance but said his personal goal for 2026 includes crossing the billion-złoty profit mark. The company has publicly committed to signing up one million new clients this year, which would work out to roughly 250,000 per quarter at minimum."That's the minimum," Arnaout said. "Our aspirations are definitely bigger."Crypto License Opens New Revenue StreamThe broker secured approval from Cyprus regulators in December to offer spot cryptocurrency trading under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework. That authorization came after months of legislative gridlock in Poland, where President Karol Nawrocki vetoed crypto legislation that parliament had passed.Arnaout sees crypto as an entirely separate market from the stock and CFD traders XTB already serves. Poland has more than two million brokerage accounts but an estimated three million people who own cryptocurrencies, he noted. Unlike the broker's zero-commission stock and ETF products, crypto and options will carry transaction fees."If we add cryptocurrencies to the offer, we're entering an entirely new business, we're starting a completely different competitive battle," Arnaout explained. "That's a completely new client base, so I don't see that ceiling."XTB plans to launch spot crypto trading in Cyprus first, then roll out to other markets once it clears regulatory hurdles in each jurisdiction. The company is waiting to see how Poland's legislative process plays out but won't delay indefinitely. Arnaout said XTB will make a decision by the second quarter, or third quarter at the latest, on how to proceed.The crypto push fits into Arnaout's broader vision of building what he described last year as a "super app" that handles everything from investing to payments. That strategy has already reshaped the company's customer mix, with only 7 percent of new clients now choosing CFDs as their first transaction, down from 80 percent in 2019.Options Already Live in CyprusThe broker began offering options trading to Cypriot clients late last year and expects to extend the service to at least one other European branch during the first quarter of 2026. Like crypto, options represent a fee-generating product that could reduce XTB's dependence on CFD spreads for revenue."If the client base grows dynamically and interest in CFDs is maintained, that will positively impact our business," Arnaout said. But he acknowledged that XTB's stock and ETF products, along with interest paid on idle cash, don't yet produce meaningful income because the user base remains too small. Crypto and options could change that math by adding paid services to the platform.The company also announced plans last week to introduce margin lending for stock purchases and extend trading hours to 24 hours a day, five days a week. Those announcements sent XTB shares up 12 percent in the biggest single-day jump since 2021, even as full-year profit dropped 25 percent.Competition Heats Up in Polish MarketPoland continues to drive a disproportionate share of XTB's growth, even as the broker operates across multiple countries. Brand recognition has reached a point where XTB is often the first choice for Polish investors opening new accounts, Arnaout said.But rivals are circling. German fintech Trade Republic entered Poland last year, launching a direct challenge to XTB's market leadership. ING Bank Securities, the country's fourth-largest brokerage, is preparing its own offensive with tax-sheltered retirement accounts and expanded foreign market access."I would like to be able to say that we will have much greater diversification, but at this pace of business development in Poland, it still seems unrealistic for now, although foreign branches are also developing very quickly," Arnaout told Parkiet.The CEO said XTB won't sacrifice profitability to chase expansion in 2026. Marketing budgets will stay aggressive because becoming Europe's largest retail broker requires sustained ad spending, but other costs face tighter controls. Headcount is budgeted to rise just one percent this year, the slowest pace in company history, though total personnel expenses will climb about 16 to 17 percent due to raises and other compensation adjustments."Approaching the budget for this year, for the first time we were very cautious," Arnaout said. "If I'm talking about my goals, I would like to exceed that billion złoty profit this year."Client assets held at XTB reached approximately 10.8 billion euros by the end of 2025. The average cost to acquire each new account held steady at 700 złoty for the full year and 600 złoty in the fourth quarter. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

LMAX Group has integrated MetaQuotes' Ultency Matching Engine into its trading infrastructure, giving institutional clients faster execution and tighter connectivity across its MetaTrader 5 offering.The London-based cross-asset exchange handles over $40 billion in daily spot FX and digital asset flow. Brokers accessing that liquidity through MT5 will now route orders through Ultency, MetaQuotes' low-latency aggregation and matching system.LMAX also expanded its digital asset derivatives in recent months, and the Ultency integration arrives as the firm adds 19 new tokens to its perpetual futures lineup. The exchange initially launched 100x leverage crypto perpetuals in September targeting institutional demand for leveraged digital asset exposure."Integrating MetaQuotes' Ultency Matching Engine enhances the existing seamless functionality our broker and institutional clients expect across our trading venues," said Jenna Wright, Managing Director of Digital Assets at LMAX Group.[#highlighted-links#] "It strengthens execution quality, improves performance and enables clients to trade effortlessly across the full suite of LMAX products, including our expanding range of perpetual futures, offering a substantial market opportunity for institutions."Execution Speed Becomes Competitive FactorUltency functions as a built-in matching engine within MetaTrader 5, eliminating the need for brokers to maintain separate liquidity bridges. MetaQuotes introduced Ultency at FMLS:25, positioning it as an alternative to third-party bridge providers that have historically connected MT5 brokers to external liquidity sources.Order processing speed matters for firms trading perpetual futures, where funding rates reset every eight hours and price movements can trigger rapid position adjustments. LMAX clients trading through MT5 will route executions through Ultency's aggregation layer rather than external middleware."Their reputation for delivering transparent, high‑performance liquidity aligns perfectly with our commitment to advancing institutional‑grade trading technology," Renat Fatkhullin, CEO of MetaQuotes, added. "This integration enables MT5 participants to access faster execution, deeper liquidity and greater operational resilience."Perpetual Futures Offering ExpandsLMAX also has added Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, XRP, Solana, TRON, Dogecoin, Cardano, Uniswap, Chainlink, Aave, Aptos, BNB, Toncoin, Sui, Avalanche, Polkadot, Internet Computer, Hedera, and Near to its perpetual futures contracts. The exchange started with Bitcoin and Ethereum pairs when it entered the perpetuals market last September.GMG Prime adopted Ultency in January to connect institutional liquidity to MT5, becoming one of the first liquidity providers to implement MetaQuotes' matching technology. LMAX follows a similar path, though it operates regulated execution venues rather than serving purely as a liquidity provider.The firm's infrastructure includes FCA and CySEC-regulated brokers, an FCA-regulated multilateral trading facility, and a Gibraltar-licensed digital asset venue. LMAX secured 150 million dollars from Ripple in January to support RLUSD stablecoin trading and cross-asset CFD products.LMAX operates matching centers in London, New York, Tokyo, and Singapore, serving funds, banks, and brokerages in more than 100 countries. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Scope Prime, the institutional liquidity brand under the Rostro Group, has expanded its offering beyond its core contracts for differences (CFDs) and launched a futures and options trading service.Direct Access to On-Exchange LiquidityAnnounced today (Thursday), the platform will now offer professional market participants direct access to on-exchange liquidity across multiple global exchanges, including the CME, Eurex, ICE, and CBOT.“We know market participants are becoming more sensitive to execution quality, pricing transparency, and counterparty risk management,” said Saul Knapp, Managing Director, Futures & Options, at Rostro Group.“Our futures and options offering complements our established OTC suite by providing direct market access to regulated, on-exchange liquidity, offering an alternative to traditional broker-delivered OTC execution.”Scope Prime is offering futures and options trading through three platforms: MT5, CQG, and Trading Technologies (TT).[#highlighted-links#] Futures Is the Future?The popularity of futures and options instruments among existing CFD brokers has been growing for several years. London-listed IG Group entered the United States after acquiring tastytrade for $1 billion in 2021. Plus500 followed a similar path, acquiring a US-based derivatives broker, and now generates a significant share of revenue from its non-OTC offerings.Other large CFD broker brands offering futures and options include AvaTrade, XTB, and Saxo.Although CFDs differ from futures and options, the latter reduce counterparty risk for institutional clients placing larger orders. They also remove the overnight financing fees linked to CFD trading.“Our role is to make it accessible, commercially viable, and operationally practical for professional clients by providing access to level 2 pricing, connecting clients directly to the central limit order book, and ensuring orders are filled at the best available market price,” Knapp added. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Compagnie Financière Tradition (SWX: CFT), an inter-dealer broker and operator of a Japanese retail forex trading platform, ended the fourth quarter of 2025 with total revenue of CHF 293.2 million, which was 11.7 per cent higher than the previous year.Another Strong QuarterThe figure was also higher than in the previous quarters. The company generated CHF 278.3 million in the third quarter of last year and brought in CHF 632.1 million over the prior six months.“The reported performance was limited by the strengthening of the Swiss franc during the year, particularly against the US dollar and the Japanese yen,” the group noted in a statement.Indeed, the fall of the Japanese yen has a significant impact on its business, as it operates Gaitame, one of Japan’s largest retail forex trading venues.The inter-dealer broking business of the Swiss group brought in CHF 284.8 million in revenue, an 11.6 per cent increase, while its retail business generated CHF 8.4 million.A Good Year Overall for the Swiss GroupThe group ended the year with total consolidated revenue of more than CHF 1.2 billion, of which the inter-dealer division brought in CHF 1.16 billion and the retail business generated CHF 39.6 million.“In 2025, Compagnie Financière Tradition operated in a complex macroeconomic environment marked by the shift of major central banks’ monetary policies towards cautious easing and by a rise in international trade tensions, notably the introduction of significant US tariffs that triggered retaliatory measures and increased global geopolitical uncertainty,” the group added.“These developments prompted investors to reassess and reposition their portfolios, generating an increase in transaction volumes across all asset classes and regions.”Compagnie highlighted that it was able to capitalise on these market conditions while continuing its organic growth strategy. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

investingLive will take part in iFX EXPO Dubai 2026, giving traders the chance to learn through live, hands-on sessions.The event runs from 10 to 12 February 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As part of The Trading Festival by iFX EXPO, investingLive will deliver a six-hour live trading masterclass inside the Investing Hub.The sessions will be led by Greg Michalowski, Director of Client Education and Technical Analysis at investingLive.Two in-person workshops will be available. Each is built for a different stage of a trader’s journey.Beginner Workshop: Trading Fundamentals? 11 February 2026 | Trading Festival (Investing Hub)This workshop is open to everyone. No prior trading experience is required.It is designed for traders who want a clear starting point and a simple way to think about markets.Workshop Times11:30 – 13:00 14:00 – 15:30What attendees will learnHow trading decisions are made How to build good habits from day one How to plan a trade before entering How to avoid common beginner mistakesWorkshop Format Live presentation Step-by-step explanations Interactive quiz Open Q&AAt the end of the workshop, attendees will complete a short quiz. Those who attend both sessions on the 11th of February and pass the quiz will receive a digital Beginner Workshop Certificate issued by investingLive.Advanced Workshop: Trade Execution Mastery? 12 February 2026 | Trading Festival (Investing Hub)This workshop is open only to verified traders. Participants must already have an active trading account.It is designed for traders who want greater control in live markets and improved execution consistency.Workshop Times 11:30 – 13:00 14:00 – 15:30What attendees will learn How to stay focused during live market moves How to manage risk while trades are active How to improve entries and exits How to review trades using clear rulesTopics include Key technical levels Timeframe selection Risk control during execution Trade management and exitsAt the end of the workshop, traders will take a short quiz. Those who attend both sessions and pass will receive a digital Advanced Workshop Certificate from investingLive.The beginner workshop is not required to attend the advanced session.Why the investingLive Certificate MattersEach certificate confirms that the trader completed structured, live training and demonstrated understanding through a quiz.These certificates can be used to:Show proof of trading education Add credibility to a trader’s personal profile Track learning progress over timeTraders who attend both workshops will receive two separate digital certificates.Not registered for iFX EXPO Dubai 2026 yet?Register to attend take part in Greg’s workshops and get certified by investingLive. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

As global trading audiences become more sophisticated, brokers are being forced to rethink what “product quality” really means. Competitive spreads and leverage are no longer differentiators on their own. What increasingly defines a broker’s credibility is execution quality, infrastructure resilience, and the ability to serve very different trader profiles under one technological framework.According to Oleksii Dubovyk, Head of Trading at Versus Trade, modern brokerage is less about marketing promises and more about architectural decisions — from liquidity aggregation and account design to margin mechanics and swap policies.In this interview, Oleksii explains the key challenges facing the industry today and how Versus Trade addresses them at a platform level.1) Oleksii, welcome. Let’s start with the fundamentals. For years, brokers relied on one or two liquidity providers. Why has that model stopped working in today’s market?Well, in the past, one or two liquidity providers could cover most execution needs. Today, that approach is outdated. The market has become more fragmented, volatility is more frequent, and traders — especially experienced ones — expect consistently tight pricing and stable execution across all conditions.To deliver that, a broker must aggregate liquidity from multiple providers. By combining several liquidity pools, you can always take the best available bid and ask from different sources and offer a more competitive spread to the client.At Versus Trade, we operate a true multi-LP environment because our goal is not just good pricing in theory, but consistent execution quality in real market conditions. By reducing dependency on a single liquidity source, we can offer more predictable execution even during periods of elevated volatility.2) You often describe the bridge as a critical part of execution quality. Why?Because liquidity alone doesn’t solve execution problems. Without a strong bridge, even the best liquidity setup becomes ineffective.The bridge is the central nervous system of the trading infrastructure. It aggregates quotes, routes orders, manages latency, and applies smart order routing logic. If it’s slow or poorly optimised, traders will see slippage, requotes, or delayed execution — regardless of how many liquidity providers are connected.What we do differently at Versus Trade is treating the bridge as mission-critical technology. A lot of our infrastructure decisions are driven by one key objective: predictable, low-latency execution, especially during high-impact market events. That focus allows us to maintain stable spreads, reduce execution friction, and deliver the kind of reliability traders associate with institutional environments.3) In your opinion, how important is account segmentation for a modern broker?It’s absolutely essential. A single account type simply cannot serve everyone effectively. A beginner trading with a small deposit has very different needs from a professional trader running advanced or algorithmic strategies.That’s why product segmentation is a core part of how we think about platform design at Versus Trade. Each account type is built around a specific trading behaviour and stage in the trader’s journey.For beginners, we offer Cent accounts, which are designed specifically for learning and strategy testing. They allow traders to operate with very small position sizes, keeping risk and emotional pressure low while they build confidence. For us, this is a natural and important entry point into the Versus Trade ecosystem.The Standard account is our classic mass-market product. All trading costs are built directly into the spread, with no separate commissions, which makes the model simple and intuitive. It’s well suited to the majority of retail traders who value clarity and ease of use over complex pricing structures.For more advanced clients, we provide Raw Spread accounts, which are aimed at professional traders, scalpers, and algorithmic strategies. Here, clients receive interbank-level spreads combined with a transparent commission. For this segment, execution cost and spread accuracy are often decisive factors, and the account is built specifically around those priorities.At the top end, we offer Pro accounts, designed for traders with larger deposits and professional requirements. In this segment, pricing is important, but so is priority execution, platform stability, and personalized service. These clients expect institutional-grade conditions, and the account structure reflects that expectation.One of Versus Trade’s key goals is to ensure that clients don’t outgrow the platform as their experience, strategies, and capital develop — instead, the platform grows with them.4) Swap-free and Islamic accounts are often discussed solely as regional products. How do you see their role today?For a global broker, swap-free and Islamic accounts are no longer optional. In regions such as MENA and parts of APAC, they are an industry standard.For Muslim traders, swaps are considered interest, which makes conventional accounts incompatible with Sharia principles. Offering Islamic accounts is therefore not a feature but a requirement if you want to serve those markets properly.Versus Trade provides fully compliant Islamic accounts as part of its core offering. For us, this is about inclusivity and accessibility. We want traders from different regions and backgrounds to access global markets without compromising their principles or execution quality.5) Having said that, can zero-swap conditions be relevant for non-Islamic traders as well?In certain cases, yes. If a broker already has the infrastructure and risk-management framework to support swap-free models, it becomes possible to extend zero-swap conditions beyond Islamic trading — for example, on specific instruments or within tailored account setups.At Versus Trade, swap-free conditions are available not only through Shariah-compliant Islamic accounts, but also to non-Muslim clients who prefer to eliminate overnight financing charges altogether. This approach reflects how many traders actually operate, particularly those using swing and position strategies.For these traders, overnight costs can have a meaningful impact on long-term profitability. By offering swap-free levels more broadly, we allow clients to optimise their strategies without being constrained by financing mechanics. From a platform perspective, this flexibility is part of our wider goal: aligning trading conditions with real trading behaviour, rather than forcing everyone into a single cost model.6) One of the most discussed features at Versus Trade is the 0% stop-out level. Why take that approach?The stop-out level defines when the platform forcibly closes a trader’s positions. Many brokers set this at 50% or even 100% of margin level. With higher leverage, that often means positions are closed due to short-term market noise rather than a genuine failure of the trading strategy.At Versus Trade, the stop-out level is set at 0%, and this is a very conscious decision from both a technological and value-based standpoint.This approach gives traders maximum control over their positions. It allows strategies to withstand deeper drawdowns and play out according to their logic, especially for swing traders, algorithmic strategies, and portfolio-based approaches. We deliberately avoid aggressive, mechanical liquidation rules because we believe the platform should support the trader’s decision-making and not override it prematurely.Final ThoughtsThe modern broker is no longer defined by leverage or spreads alone — rather by infrastructure, flexibility, and execution philosophy.At Versus Trade, a multi-LP environment with a robust bridge delivers institutional-level execution. A carefully segmented account structure supports traders at every stage of their journey. Flexible swap policies and a 0% stop-out level reflect a platform built around trader control, not platform convenience.In a market where technology increasingly determines outcomes, Versus Trade’s goal is clear: to ensure that trading strategies are supported by infrastructure — not limited by it. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

With 2025 marking a pivotal year for trading platforms, we caught up with Michał Karczewski, CEO of Match-Trade Technologies, ahead of iFX EXPO Dubai 2026 to take stock of the evolving landscape. In this discussion, he explores how the Match-Trader platform grew despite MetaQuotes’ changing strategy, why mobile-first design is becoming non-negotiable, and what the company’s bet on prediction markets says about where the industry might be headed.Let’s start with 2025. How would you assess the year for Match-Trader? Are you satisfied with how things turned out?2025 was definitely successful for us. Looking at the numbers, it’s clear we delivered on the targets we’d set out to achieve. Over the year, we managed to onboard over 160 brokers and prop firms who decided to add Match-Trader to their offering, and 1.8M traders registered accounts on our platform. These figures show that Match-Trader has established itself as a solid alternative to MetaTrader, despite its dominance in the market.Staying with MetaTrader for a moment – MetaQuotes resumed selling its platform to prop firms in 2025. How did that affect your business?Well, platforms like ours, cTrader, or DXtrade clearly benefited when MQ wasn’t accepting prop firms for some time. When they started working with props again, we definitely felt it because some of those firms brought MT5 back into their offering – this meant fewer challenges being run on alternative platforms. Thankfully, the drop wasn’t dramatic, and combined with new clients coming on board, we were still able to significantly increase Match-Trader revenues.What’s also worth noting is that Match-Trade Technologies continues to offer and roll out new solutions for MetaTrader. We’ve kept our CRM for brokers and a bridge in the offering, and recently expanded our prop CRM with MT5 integration following MetaQuotes’ latest moves.As far as I know, you’re pretty much the only, or one of the very few, alternative platforms that also offers solutions for MetaQuotes. What’s the thinking behind that?It really comes down to our roots, because that’s exactly where the company started – creating solutions for MT4 and later MT5. As the business evolved, Match-Trader came along, but those earlier solutions stayed in the product lineup.Looking at the latest integration of our Prop CRM with MT5, we know this is exactly what our clients expect. They’re satisfied with the CRM for MTR, and when expanding their offering to include MT5, moving to a different system just doesn’t make sense. For us, that’s not much of a challenge, and frankly, you simply can’t afford to ignore a platform that still holds the majority of the trading-platform market share. And what about TradingView – it’s really gained traction recently. Absolutely. TradingView has done an excellent job building a community around its platform, which explains its popularity among brokers. And we’ve made it easy to quickly switch between our charts and TradingView charts, so if a trader prefers the charting setup they are already familiar with, they can use it.In general, one of the core pillars at Match-Trade Technologies is creating a chart-oriented platform. The reality is that users spend most of their time analyzing charts, so our goal is to provide a really strong option alongside TradingView charts. That’s why we’re consistently adding new features and improving performance to make the experience even more convenient. Beyond the chart integration itself, Match-Trader can also act as a backend for TradingView – TV on its own provides only the frontend.There seem to be more and more platform providers popping up – just looking at the iFX Expo Dubai exhibitor list. How are you viewing the competition, and does it change your plans for 2026?We’re certainly aware of the increasing number of companies entering the space. But as we all know, healthy competition is always positive for the market – it motivates us to keep moving forward, innovate, and find new ways to differentiate ourselves. With Match-Trader, we’re all about delivering an intuitive platform that’s genuinely mobile-friendly.Actually, not that long ago, one of our clients asked his daughter to download a few different platforms, set up demo accounts, and place a trade on gold. She found Match-Trader the fastest and simplest to navigate, which convinced him to build his entire brokerage around our platform. This confirms our strategy is working, and it’s exactly how we want to continue standing out from other platforms.Prop trading has been a massive driver for platform growth over the past few years. But what about prediction markets? Could they become the next big thing for the industry?Prediction markets are certainly worth watching closely, because it’s hard to say exactly where and how far they will go. The space faces far more barriers than prop trading did, so right now it’s too early to say whether they’ll become "the next prop trading" or not.Even with those uncertainties, we’ve decided to launch a beta version of prediction markets functionality within Match-Trader. It’ll be demoed at iFX Expo in Dubai to collect feedback from brokers, and if there’s genuine interest and real potential, we’ll absolutely continue building it out.About Match-Trade TechnologiesFounded in 2013, Match-Trade Technologies is a global provider of trading solutions for forex brokers, prop trading firms, and financial institutions. Its flagship Match-Trader platform supports flexible deployment as a standalone platform, a back end for proprietary applications, or a dual trading environment, with open APIs enabling seamless external connectivity. Match-Trader features advanced built-in charting tools and also offers TradingView, available either as an integrated charting option within the platform or as a full-featured front end powered by the Match-Trader back end. Match-Trade serves brokers of all sizes – from emerging firms to established global players – delivering end-to-end technology that includes trading platforms, CRM, liquidity connectivity, social and copy trading, and back-office solutions. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Hantec Markets has noted the growing popularity of combat sports and has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with UFC across the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement will allow Hantec to promote its contracts for differences (CFD) broker brand, as well as its prop trading arm, Hantec Trader.Strengthening the Hantec Brand in APACThe partnership, announced today (Thursday), will allow Hantec to place its two brands across live events, broadcasts, and social media content for all UFC events taking place in the Asia-Pacific region.In addition, UFC athletes will promote the two brands through appearances, content, and creative campaigns.“This partnership with UFC is a strong statement of our long-term commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and to building a brand associated with trust, performance, and global credibility,” said Rajan Naik, Hantec’s Chief Marketing Officer.UFC Is Becoming a Popular Sports BrandThe sponsorship deal comes as the popularity of mixed martial arts, particularly UFC, has been growing steadily in the Asia-Pacific region. A recent event in Sydney attracted 18,000 fans to a sold-out arena, setting an Australian box office record of AUD $14.4 million and becoming the highest-grossing indoor arena event in the country.There is also strong demand for UFC in China and its autonomous regions. According to UFC, it has more than 700 million fans globally, with a significant share based in APAC.In addition, the sport attracts a largely male audience. A study from a decade ago shows that around 70 per cent of UFC fans are male, while nearly 20 per cent of the overall fan base falls into an income bracket of more than $100,000 per year.Notably, the UFC fan base closely matches the target audience for CFD and prop trading services.“UFC’s global audience and reputation for excellence provide a strong platform to engage new traders, raise regional brand awareness, and present the wider Hantec group, including Hantec Trader,” Naik added.Meanwhile, several other firms have also recognised the marketing value of UFC. Recently, Tradeify, a futures prop trading platform, signed a long-term partnership with UFC athlete Israel Adesanya. Pepperstone and eToro have also been among retail brokers that promoted their brands on the UFC Octagon. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Seacrest Markets has announced it will close its proprietary trading operations and focus entirely on its contract-for-difference brokerage business. Closing its proprietary trading arm is not something that has been seen before among brokers in the market.Last year, MyFundedFX rebranded as SeacrestFunded to align with Seacrest Markets. The rebranding marked a move toward a broker-backed model. The firm continues to offer prop trading with futures instruments through MyFunded Futures for now.Final Payouts Processed Within Thirty DaysThe company said all prop trading accounts and open positions will be closed on February 6, 2026. Affected traders have begun receiving instructions on refunds and final payouts.Traders with active, unbreached challenge accounts can request a full refund of their challenge fee through the official Refund Form by February 28, 2026. Funded account holders can request their final payout balance via the Seacrest Dashboard by the same deadline. ? @seacrestmarkets has announced it is shutting down its prop trading business.What HappenedSeacrest Markets has announced it is shutting down its prop trading business and transitioning fully to its CFD brokerage operations. All prop trading accounts and open positions will…— Prop Firm Match (@PropFirmMatch) February 4, 2026Accounts not eligible for refunds include giveaway accounts and breached or inactive accounts. Refunds will be processed within 30 days on a first-come, first-served basis. Some payments may be made via cryptocurrency or bank wire if the original method is no longer supported.Broker-Backed Prop Platforms Gain Market TractionThe closure ends all prop trading activity at Seacrest Markets. Accounts and access will be terminated after February 6, 2026.Broker-backed prop platforms have become more common over the past year. Established brokers entering this space include OANDA, Axi, Hantec Markets, IC Markets, and ThinkMarkets.Several Prop Firms Exit MarketFinance Magnates reported earlier that between 80 and 100 proprietary trading firms closed in 2024, challenge pass rates fell, and the average trader’s investment dropped by 50%. The exits were accelerated by MetaQuotes’ decision to reduce support for prop firms, forcing consolidation and platform diversification. Amid the closures, a few dominant players have emerged, while firms acquiring brokers, like Seacrest Markets, are shifting focus toward CFD brokerage operations. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

FXCM has started migrating CFD trading accounts from the Tradu platform to its own systems. In its latest notice, the broker provided a migration opt-out form highlighting the upcoming shift, which comes amid broader restructuring efforts that recently included planned layoffs.Migration NoticeTraders who do not want their CFDs migrated must first close all open positions and withdraw any remaining funds, according to a letter sent to users. The migration will occur on March 20, after which traders will no longer be able to access their CFD trading accounts on Tradu.The move comes amid a period of restructuring and cost pressure at the group, which has already rebranded some European operations under the Stratos Markets name and announced job cuts.Read more: Exclusive: Tradu, FXCM to Cut Over 100 Jobs; CEO Cites “Advances in Agentic AI”“Coming into 2026, FXCM and Tradu have determined our strategic priorities for the company and how we best serve our clients in the new year. These prioritization decisions do have an impact on the make-up of the team,” commented CEO Brendan Callan.“We, like a lot of firms, have made significant break throughs with the use of agentic AI tools which provide an opportunity to streamline the company and improve our customer experience.”FXCM, Tradu Step Up RestructuringThe planned shift of CFD trading from Tradu to FXCM sits on top of a wider cost-cutting and restructuring cycle at the group, which already includes one of its largest recent headcount reductions and an internal review of the Tradu brand’s long-term role. It follows earlier report that the firm is preparing to cut more than 100 jobs across multiple functions and locations, as profitability pressures persist despite an improved top line in the UK entity.Public filings show FXCM UK’s client trading volumes fell 19% year-on-year to 243 billion dollars and client cash balances dropped nearly 30%, even as turnover more than doubled and the unit still booked a loss of around 2 million dollars.Recently, Tradu enabled UK traders to place spreadbets directly from their TradingView charts following an integration with the platform that enables the analysis and execution within a single workflow powered by Tradu’s infrastructure.Additionally, the platform earlier collaborated with open banking provider Salt Edge to enhance its security framework, ensure compliance with PSD2 regulations, and deliver a smoother, more secure experience for its European users. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Cyprus is tightening how its biggest financial groups share information with Europe, in a move that aims to make it easier for investors and regulators to see how these firms are operated. The change means large investment firms and asset managers in the region will have to send more of their key disclosures into a central EU database in the coming years.ΔΠ-01-2026: Δήλωση Πολιτικής σχετικά με την τροποποίηση της Οδηγίας ΟΔ 87-12 για την δημοσίευση πληροφοριών στο ESAP (διαθέσιμη στα Αγγλικά)΄https://t.co/eBwUrcIZdW— CySEC - Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (@CySEC_official) February 4, 2026CySEC amended its Financial Conglomerates Directive (DI87-12) as per Wednesday announcement to plug Cyprus into the European Single Access Point (ESAP), the EU’s new online hub for financial and sustainability information. Pushing Brokers Toward Greater TransparencyESAP aims to give anyone, from retail investors to analysts, one place to find comparable data on companies and financial institutions across the bloc.For Cyprus-based groups, this marks a shift from publishing information mainly on their own channels to contributing to a shared European platform.Read more: Cyprus Regulator's New Survey Wants to Show How Finance Fuels the Island’s EconomyUnder the policy statement published on 4 February 2026, investment firms, asset management companies and AIFMs that belong to a financial conglomerate will have to submit their annual disclosures through CySEC so they can be uploaded to ESAP. 2030 Deadline for New EU Disclosure RegimeCySEC is enthusiastic about the new regulations shaping the EU. It recently warned that it is entering a stricter supervisory phase, as the new EU Anti‑Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), MiCA, DORA and revisions to MiFID II/MiFIR and AIFMD II pick up. The watchdog sees this as an opportunity to attract only the serious players in the region.“In general, the combined implementation of the new European rules, the enhancement of transparency and investor protection, in combination with the enhanced supervisory role of the CySEC, create a stable and safe environment. In this context, the Cypriot capital market has every reason to develop further in 2026, strengthening the economy,” Chair Dr. George Theocharides said. For Cypriot groups that operate across borders, this should mean their disclosures sit alongside those of peers in other EU states, potentially making them more visible to investors who screen the EU market through ESAP.CySEC notes that the final changes follow an earlier consultation (CP-05-2025) and confirms that the proposals remain as originally consulted. Firms can contact the regulator’s Policy Department for clarification as they prepare for the new regime. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Prediction markets are drawing a new class of active traders who treat event contracts less like wagers and more like another screen on the trading desk. From geopolitics and tariffs to crypto price paths, contract prices are increasingly used as live probability signals that update as narratives shift.“You're seeing more systematic strategies, more cross-venue monitoring, and a growing need for infrastructure that lets people see and execute across markets in one place," Edward Ridgely, co-founder of Stand, told FinanceMagnates.com.His terminal is approaching $200 million in annualized trading volume after adding Kalshi alongside Polymarket, giving traders access to the two largest prediction-market venues through a single interface. Stand Adds Kalshi Integration as Platform Volume Nears $200MStand targets what it calls "pro-tail" users, traders who execute frequently and prioritize workflow over a consumer interface. The platform consolidates order books from multiple venues, adds automation features like stop orders and pegged orders, and allows batch execution across markets. Major crypto and fintech firms are already moving to capture that flow. Crypto.com recently spun out a standalone prediction markets platform after a 40x growth surge, joining Coinbase and Backpack in bundling event contracts alongside other trading products.[#highlighted-links#] “Traders are increasingly using prediction markets the way they use other markets, to price uncertainty, express views quickly, and react as information changes,” Ridgely added.For exchanges pushing deeper into traditional finance, prediction markets are the latest frontier after adding CFDs and tokenized stocks in 2025.Systematic Traders Hunt Arbitrage Across VenuesAs volumes climb, liquidity is fragmenting across multiple platforms. A recent FinanceMagnates.com feature highlighted how Wall Street quants are moving into prediction markets to hunt for arbitrage rather than place directional bets, using playbooks borrowed from equities and derivatives.That backdrop is where Stand sits. Similar themes can now be priced simultaneously across multiple platforms, opening up relative-value trades when implied probabilities diverge."What's changed is the behavior,” Stands co-founded said.Multi-Exchange Tools Target “Pro-Tail” DesksStand is one of several terminals competing for "pro-tail" users, active traders who want execution speed, automation and data, rather than a consumer-first app. The direct competitos, Verso is limited to U.S. users, while Betmoar has no Kalshi integration and often sits as a skin on top of existing Polymarket accounts."On Stand, users actually deposit funds," Ridgely told FinanceMagnates.com. That setup, he argues, allows the platform to automate trades in ways that simple account connectors cannot. "We provide pro-tail users a cadre of automations that would not be possible if we simply allowed users to connect their Polymarket or Kalshi accounts."The terminal offers stop orders, pegged orders, copy trading and batch order placement, as well as tools to manage multiple existing orders at once. Through a feature called Octobox, traders can monitor and trade up to eight markets on a single screen and receive alerts when large participants enter or exit a market. "Traders can trade up to 10x more, much faster, and in secure manner through Stand," Ridgely said.Volumes Grow, But Liquidity and Oversight LagDespite rapid growth, prediction markets still face structural constraints. Monthly volumes across major platforms have topped $13 billion, yet regulation and liquidity remain key bottlenecks. The Financial Times has warned that insider risk and thin order books remain unresolved even as more capital arrives.Platforms are betting that deeper participation will change that profile. Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour has argued that professional prediction market traders could evolve into a new job category, akin to Instagram creators or Uber drivers, as the venue targets $100 billion in annual trading volume. Stand’s move to bridge Kalshi and Polymarket is one attempt to make that activity easier to scale.For some desks, prediction markets now sit alongside traditional risk monitors. Russia–Ukraine contracts are watched next to oil inputs, while macro and policy-linked markets, including tariff outcomes, help calibrate event risk and positioning. Regulators Weigh Similarities to Binary OptionsThe regulatory picture remains uneven across jurisdictions. Some authorities compare prediction markets to binary options, which have been heavily restricted or banned after losses among retail clients. ASIC, for instance, found that 80% of retail customers lost money trading binary options, prompting tough restrictions."Regulation is critical and we need more clarity to protect users," Ridgely told FinanceMagnates.com. "However, prediction markets have been around for a long time and even before them, retail users were making trades in their communities around elections, entertainment awards, and sports events. The reality is this behavior is not new. It will be better served with regulatory oversight and clear guardrails to protect retail and prevent the bad actors."In the U.S., the policy debate is playing out case by case. Kalshi is fighting a court ban in Massachusetts that threatens its sports contracts, even as sector-wide fees hit record levels. Tennessee regulators have ordered Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com to shut down prediction market operations in the state, return customer funds and cancel all open positions by the end of January.Ridgely sees reasons for cautious optimism. "Overall, the path is clearing under the current White House administration but there's still uncertainty," he told FinanceMagnates.com. "You can see that optimism from Coinbase, Robinhood, and SIG all entering the foray. These are multi-billion dollar companies that would not jeopardize their standing if they didn't think there was a real opportunity in a regulatory compliant industry.”Stand Positions Itself Outside the U.S.To navigate the evolving rulebook, Stand operates outside the U.S. and adheres to Polymarket and Kalshi’s terms, including geo-blocking restricted regions. Ridgely said most of the terminal’s users are in Europe and Asia, where traders are looking to plug prediction contracts into broader macro and event-driven strategies.For now, prediction markets sit at an awkward intersection of finance, gambling and information markets. Infrastructure providers such as Stand are betting that, with clearer guardrails and deeper liquidity, event contracts will settle closer to the trading tools used in other markets than to retail betting apps. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

In 2025, traditional finance players — from retail brokers to major exchange operators — moved decisively into prediction markets. What was once a niche product has turned into a fast-growing part of mainstream market infrastructure. Trading volumes jumped from about $9 billion in 2024 to roughly $40 billion in 2025, according to industry research. Projections now point to annual volumes approaching $1 trillion by the end of the decade, pushing prediction markets from an experimental corner of finance into a meaningful revenue line.What Brokers Are Actually Offering Distribution-first positioning Retail platforms have focused on access and integration rather than product novelty. Robinhood set the template. Its Prediction Markets Hub, launched in March 2025, placed event contracts directly inside its core trading app. By late 2025, the product was generating roughly $100 million in annualized revenue, across 9 billion contracts, making it one of Robinhood’s fastest-growing lines.Find event contracts across economics and sports in our Prediction Markets Hub.Newest to the hub, check out tennis in the app now. pic.twitter.com/X2pz1PskdN— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) July 3, 2025By late 2025, the product was generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annualized revenue, making it one of the company’s fastest-growing business lines. The initial model relied on Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated exchange. Robinhood’s distribution power proved decisive: Kalshi’s national market share jumped from just over 3% to roughly two-thirds within months. By November 2025, Robinhood moved to capture more of the value chain by acquiring LedgerX, shifting from partner to vertically integrated operator. Products now cover outcomes ranging from central bank decisions and economic data to election results and major sports events.“Robinhood is seeing strong customer demand for prediction markets, and we’re excited to build on that momentum,” JB Mackenzie, vice president and general manager of futures and international at Robinhood, said at the time. Other retail and futures brokers, including Webull, NinjaTrader and Optimus Futures, have folded similar contracts into existing derivative terminals, treating them as another short-duration asset class. Most recently, Plus500 launched its own prediction markets offering for U.S. customers as part of Plus500 Futures, providing access to event contracts, including products from Kalshi. “Making a living betting on prediction markets just might be one of those era-defining occupations — like being a Wall Street trader in the 1980s, a dot-com founder in the 1990s or an influencer in the 2010s.”Thank you @nytimes for writing about the real force behind prediction… pic.twitter.com/cmLpUOEP4X— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) January 25, 2026Compliance-first positioning Larger players have taken a more cautious approach, focusing on regulatory structure. Interactive Brokers launched event contracts focused on economics and politics through its CFTC-regulated unit ForecastEx, deliberately avoiding sports in its public positioning. The strategy has been to build neutral infrastructure while waiting for courts and regulators to clarify jurisdictional boundaries.Why Exchanges Are Getting Involved The move is not limited to brokers. Intercontinental Exchange, owner of the NYSE, invested $2 billion in Polymarket in late 2025. CME Group partnered with FanDuel to launch FanDuel Predicts using CME’s exchange and clearing infrastructure. Meanwhile, Cboe Global Markets has announced plans for its own prediction markets platform, excluding sports to preserve institutional credibility. ICE plans to distribute Polymarket’s probability data to institutional clients, positioning prediction prices as another market signal alongside rates and equities. For exchanges, prediction markets are increasingly viewed as complementary to traditional derivatives rather than a parallel ecosystem. Why TradFi Is Entering Now Four factors explain the shift. First, revenue. Prediction markets generate frequent transactions and short holding periods. Fee yields are higher than in retail equities, where commissions have been compressed for years. Second, institutional demand. Proprietary trading firms and asset managers are testing prediction markets as forecasting tools rather than speculative products. “It’s easy to understand why exchanges, brokers and investors are intrigued,” says Jesse Forster, Head of Equity Market Structure Research at Coalition Greenwich and author of Prediction Markets: It’s All About the Data. “By tapping into the ‘wisdom of the crowd,’ prediction markets promise unique signals about the future.”Third, distribution effects. Once embedded in a broker app, prediction markets benefit from cross-pollination between asset classes. Scale comes from distribution, not standalone platforms. Fourth, regulation. In 2025–2026, the CFTC signaled a more permissive stance toward event contracts, including sports outcomes, encouraging brokers and exchanges to commit infrastructure rather than treat the space as provisional. How Brokers Defy the “Gambling” Label Brokers frame event contracts as commodities traded on federally regulated exchanges rather than bets placed with sportsbooks. Routing transactions through CFTC-licensed venues is meant to pre-empt state gambling laws. They also emphasize information value. Prediction markets are presented as tools for aggregating expectations about economic and political outcomes, not as entertainment products. At the operational level, platforms apply anti-fraud and anti-manipulation rules, monitor suspicious trading patterns and suspend accounts when insider information is suspected.Where the Argument Is VulnerableA central weakness in the “not gambling” framing is consumer protection. Prediction markets generally lack safeguards that are mandatory for licensed sportsbooks, such as age verification, responsible gaming tools and exclusion lists. State regulators argue that products with similar behavioral risks should be subject to comparable protections, regardless of how they are classified at the federal level. That gap is most visible in insider trading risk. Event outcomes are binary and time-sensitive, making non-public information especially valuable. Enforcement tends to be reactive, with platforms intervening only after suspicious trading patterns emerge. Regulators have pointed to several high-profile cases involving large, well-timed bets on political outcomes as evidence of these vulnerabilities. The regulatory argument also weakens outside the United States. In the UK, authorities have made clear that prediction markets would almost certainly fall under gambling law rather than financial regulation. British regulators view such products as functionally similar to betting exchanges — a model that has existed since the early 2000s and requires a dedicated gambling licence. That contrast underscores how dependent the current U.S. expansion is on jurisdictional interpretation. What qualifies as a federally regulated derivatives product in the United States would likely be treated as gambling in most other mature markets.What Happens Next Much depends on upcoming legal and regulatory decisions. If federal pre-emption is upheld, prediction markets could scale rapidly, with sports contracts becoming a standard broker product. If states prevail, platforms may face fragmented licensing regimes that slow growth and cut margins. The most likely outcome is a hybrid system: federal oversight paired with baseline consumer protections negotiated with states. Either way, traditional finance’s expansion into prediction markets is a calculated bet on regulation — and on the idea that probabilities, not just prices, will become a permanent feature of modern markets. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.