US prediction market operator Kalshi and Brazilian brokerage XP Inc. have partnered to distribute event-based contracts tied to Brazilian economic developments, launching one of the first regulated prediction market products outside the US. Under the arrangement, XP will manage local distribution, client relationships, and regulatory interactions in Brazil, while Kalshi will provide the trading technology, market design, and risk-management tools behind the event contracts.Prediction market platform Kalshi is expanding outside the US for the first time, partnering with Brazil’s XP to list event contracts https://t.co/Q6IBbLaRMz— Bloomberg (@business) March 9, 2026Initially, the contracts will be available to Kalshi’s US investors and to a limited group of XP clients who hold international accounts. The products will be listed through XP’s US brokerage arm, allowing the firms to operate within existing regulatory frameworks. Kalshi co-founder Luana Lopes Lara declared the alliance a strategic milestone for the company’s international ambitions. “It makes sense for us to go through these international partners,” Lopes Lara said. “They already have the customers and the brand.”Testing Demand Through Local Distribution XP, Brazil’s largest brokerage by client base, has been expanding its product range beyond traditional equity trading. The partnership gives the firm access to event contracts linked to economic and political outcomes. Lucas Rabechini, head of financial products at XP, said the payoff structures resemble derivative products that many of the firm’s clients already use. Kalshi executives have long targeted Brazil as a prime expansion zone, drawn by its deep pool of active retail investors and intense appetite for macro-driven trades. A Market Taking Shape The collaboration comes as Brazilian financial institutions and regulators are beginning to examine the role of prediction markets in the country’s capital markets. Brazil’s securities regulator, the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM), has recently authorised the exchange operator B3 to explore prediction markets structured as derivatives rather than gambling products. That approach mirrors the framework used in the United States, where Kalshi operates as a CFTC-regulated exchange offering event-based contracts.For Kalshi, the XP partnership represents an early attempt to distribute its contracts outside the United States while remaining within existing regulatory structures. Both the US and Brazil are exploring ways to place outcome-based contracts within traditional financial market frameworks rather than treating them as gambling products. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Prediction markets spent the past year trying to prove they belong in finance. This week, they were forced to prove they can survive the real world. War, insider trading allegations, lawsuits, exchange settlement disputes, and new institutional infrastructure all landed within days of each other. The result looked less like a growth story and more like a stress test. What Moved Prediction Markets This Week Geopolitics Hits the Order Book The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered one of the largest bursts of activity that prediction markets have seen. On Polymarket, more than $500 million was traded on contracts tied to possible U.S. military action. Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps identified several new accounts that made roughly $1 million betting on a strike just hours before explosions in Tehran. That doesn’t prove insider trading as war speculation had been circulating for weeks, but the pattern looked uncomfortably familiar. Prediction markets move quickly, and in moments like this, they can also reward participants who act on information before it becomes public. Active geopolitics markets on Polymarket illustrate how quickly real-world events become tradable contracts. Two Platforms, Two Very Different Outcomes The same event produced two very different outcomes depending on the platform. On Polymarket, contracts tied to the situation resolved normally once the outcome became clear. On Kalshi, trading was halted, and the market was settled at the last traded price before the news broke. he reason lies in regulation. Kalshi operates as a federally regulated exchange overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Under U.S. commodity law, contracts cannot allow traders to profit directly from death or assassination. Because of that rule, Kalshi includes a “death carveout” in certain markets and cannot settle them to a full “Yes” payout when the outcome involves a death. The exchange reimbursed trading fees and covered trader losses, absorbing the cost itself. Still, the decision drew criticism and triggered a legal review from a U.S. law firm. The episode illustrates a broader point: prediction markets may look similar on the surface, but regulated exchanges and crypto-native platforms operate under very different rulebooks. Exchanges and Brokers Keep Building Despite the volatility, infrastructure expansion continues. Retail futures brokerage NinjaTrader launched NinjaTrader Connect, a B2B platform that enables brokers and fintechs to plug into futures and prediction markets via a single API. The move mirrors similar efforts by technology providers racing to supply brokers with ready-made event-contract infrastructure. At the same time, Eurex confirmed it has been researching prediction markets internally for several years, while U.S. exchanges such as CME Group, Cboe Global Markets, and Nasdaq are developing their own event-style contracts. The message is increasingly clear: prediction markets are no longer an isolated niche. They are becoming another design problem for exchange infrastructure. Quote of the Week Last Friday, a handful of people made big, unusual $100,000+ bets on Polymarket - that the U.S. would strike Iran the next day.The Iran War is fueling a new kind of corruption: White House officials secretly profiting off war.It's disgusting. We need to ban it. pic.twitter.com/qs0aEzqemD— Chris Murphy ? (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 4, 2026Murphy’s post on X captures the political backlash building around prediction markets. As wagers on geopolitical events grow larger, lawmakers are increasingly framing the issue not as financial innovation but as a potential corruption risk. For the industry, that shift matters. Once politicians start talking about banning something, the debate quickly moves from market design to regulation. Number of the Week $500,000,000. That’s roughly how much traders wagered on Polymarket contracts tied to potential U.S. military action against Iran. Prediction markets aggregate information quickly. But when the underlying event is war, that speed also raises uncomfortable questions about information flow, ethics, and regulation. The Friction of the Week Regulators are watching more closely — particularly when it comes to insider trading. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently renewed its warnings after two enforcement cases involving Kalshi revealed that traders were using privileged information tied to elections and media production. Now the issue is moving into Congress. A new bill introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley and Amy Klobuchar would bar the president, vice president, and members of Congress from trading event contracts, citing concerns that public officials could profit from non-public information. Violations could carry fines of $10,000 or more. The proposal follows controversial bets around geopolitical events, including the ouster of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and U.S. strikes on Iran, which brought prediction markets into the political spotlight. In other words, the question is no longer just whether traders have an edge — but whether policymakers might have one too. Bottom Line This week clarified the trajectory of prediction markets. The industry is moving forward on two tracks at once: exchanges and brokers building infrastructure, regulators and courts defining the limits. Geopolitical events simply accelerated the process. Prediction markets are designed to price uncertainty. But when real-world shocks arrive — war, political change, insider information — the market itself becomes part of the story. And the real test is whether the markets built to trade those events can handle them. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

CMC Markets has begun using blockchain technology to transfer cash and settle payments instantly through a collaboration with Kinexys Digital Payments, part of J.P.Morgan’s blockchain business unit. The system is live following successful testing and allows near real-time settlement through a network of Blockchain Deposit Accounts.The move follows J.P.Morgan’s launch of JPMCoin last year, a blockchain-based deposit token for institutional clients. The token enables transactions to settle in seconds, 24/7, rather than during traditional banking hours, and is issued on the public blockchain Base via Kinexys infrastructure.Blockchain Enables Faster Cross-Border Fund TransfersLord Peter Cruddas, Founder and CEO of CMC Markets, said the company is seeing “enhanced capital efficiency and operational flexibility” from the collaboration.The solution allows institutions to move funds across currencies and regions instantly, reducing settlement risk, operational friction, and costs while maintaining security levels similar to traditional payment rails. The initiative supports CMC’s strategy to enhance its global technology infrastructure and improve capital efficiency across international operations.Zack Chestnut, Global Head of Business Development for Kinexys Digital Payments, said the team is working with clients to “unlock the power of 24/7/365 on chain settlement and programmable payments.”JPMorgan Bridges Private Network with Public BlockchainThe CMC Markets rollout follows broader Kinexys activity at JPMorgan. In May last year, the bank completed its first blockchain transaction connecting private and public networks. The deal involved tokenized U.S. Treasuries, with funds moved on Kinexys to settle treasuries listed on a public blockchain run by Ondo Finance. Chainlink was used to link the private and public systems. Previously, JPMorgan’s blockchain work was limited to internal networks, with earlier trials, such as a 2024 pilot with Siemens, remaining experimental. Tokenized treasuries are blockchain-based versions of money market funds providing exposure to government debt. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Canadian securities regulators have dismantled more than 7,500 fraudulent investment and cryptocurrency websites as part of a coordinated national campaign to combat online financial crime. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) said the enforcement action took place between June 5, 2025, and February 12, 2026, involving 7,586 deactivated scam platforms tied to more than 13,000 URLs.Coordinated Effort Against Online FraudThe operation, announced during Fraud Prevention Month, reflects an expanded push to disrupt fraudulent activity targeting Canadian investors.Last year, Canada's national police closed unregistered platform TradeOgre and recovered more than CAD 56 million in digital assets, in what it was described as the largest crypto seizure in Canadian history. The Eastern Region’s Money Laundering Investigative Team began investigating the exchange in June 2024 after a Europol tip and later found that TradeOgre was not registered with FINTRAC and did not verify client identities.“Online investment scams continue to pose a serious risk to Canadians, and we are using a full range of regulatory and enforcement tools, including advanced technological capabilities, to proactively identify and disrupt fraudulent websites,” said Stan Magidson, Chair of the CSA and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission.You may also like: Australia’s Fraud-Intel Network Exposes $60M in Scams as Account Takeovers Rise 47%The CSA said its members have strengthened cooperation with law enforcement and industry partners to identify scams faster and prevent investor losses. The regulator urged the public to check the registration of investment advisors and platforms using the CSA’s National Registration Search tool before investing.Ongoing Investor ProtectionStatistics on deactivated websites will be included in the CSA’s Year in Review report starting in 2026. Investors who suspect fraud are encouraged to contact their local securities regulator.Miles away from individual enforcement actions, Singapore is the worst hit by cyber‑enabled fraud, with scam cases jumping 61% over two years, according to recent findings by the Financial Action Task Force. The global watchdog now treats cyber‑enabled fraud as one of the most widespread profit‑driven crimes worldwide and a core driver of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks, as rapid digitalization, new payment rails and virtual assets enable criminals to move illicit funds across borders at scale.FATF notes that 156 jurisdictions, or roughly 90% of those it assessed, now classify fraud as a major money laundering threat. National data underscores how quickly the threat has escalated: alongside Singapore’s spike, fraud now accounts for more than 40% of all recorded crime in the United Kingdom. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Kraken has received approval for a Federal Reserve master account, allowing its banking unit, Kraken Financial, to access the Fed’s core payment systems directly. The move makes it the first U.S. digital asset bank to operate on the same payment rails as traditional financial institutions.The approval comes as Kraken has filed a confidential draft registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering. The filing follows an $800 million funding round that valued the company at $20 billion, including a $200 million investment from Citadel Securities and contributions from Jane Street and DRW Venture Capital.Kraken Rolls Out Fed-Connected Banking PlatformKraken Financial’s Fed account follows more than five years of regulatory engagement with U.S. and Wyoming authorities. It enables the bank to connect directly to Fedwire without relying on intermediary banks. This is expected to streamline fiat transfers for institutional clients and reduce operational complexity.Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Payward and Kraken, said the account allows the bank to “settle directly on Fedwire, reduce dependency on correspondent banks, and integrate regulated fiat liquidity directly into digital asset markets.” He added that it positions Kraken Financial as a directly connected participant in the U.S. banking system, rather than a peripheral one, supporting more efficient operations for institutional clients.Kraken Financial plans a phased rollout, initially focusing on institutional client activity at Kraken. The capabilities will be gradually integrated into Payward’s broader platform in coordination with regulators.Bank Maintains Compliance While Scaling OperationsAs a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution, Kraken Financial operates on a full-reserve basis. The bank maintains liquid assets equal to or exceeding 100% of client fiat deposits. JUST IN: Bitcoin exchange Kraken becomes first crypto bank to receive a Federal Reserve master account ?This makes Kraken the first digital asset bank in U.S. history to gain direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure ? pic.twitter.com/ip579ywQzA— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) March 4, 2026It will continue to work with the Federal Reserve and Wyoming regulators as it expands its payment capabilities.Payward, Inc., which powers Kraken, operates a unified infrastructure platform supporting multiple products across asset classes. Its system combines a global liquidity pool, a unified risk and margin engine, a central collateral and settlement system, and a compliance and licensing framework. The structure is designed to allow the company to scale while maintaining regulatory and operational standards. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Plaintiff law firm Lieff Cabraser said it is investigating Kalshi over the settlement of a prediction market tied to the fate of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, raising the possibility of a class-action lawsuit against the CFTC-regulated exchange. The inquiry follows controversy around Kalshi’s “Ali Khamenei out as Supreme Leader” market, which attracted more than $50 million in trading volume.?FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 3rd, 2026 Kalshi “Khamenei Out” InvestigationPremier Plaintiff Law Firm, Lieff Cabraser has been retained to investigate Kalshi for unfair and improper practices connected to its “Ali Khamenei out as Supreme Leader” markets where consumers…— RealBenGeller (@RealBenGeller) March 3, 2026When reports of Khamenei’s death emerged on February 28, many traders holding “Yes” positions expected a full payout. Instead, Kalshi halted the market and later settled contracts based on the last traded price before the news broke. The exchange invoked a contractual “death carve-out” clause, which prevents markets from settling to “Yes” if the outcome involves a person’s death — a restriction tied to U.S. regulatory rules. Dispute Over Settlement Rules The outcome prompted criticism from some users, who said the carve-out was not sufficiently clear. Lieff Cabraser said it is examining whether the platform’s disclosures and promotion of the market could have misled traders. Kalshi says the settlement followed its published rules. In a post on X, CEO Tarek Mansour wrote that the carve-out had been included in the contract terms from the start and disclosed both on the market page and in filings with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “Traders expect us to settle the market based on the rules,” Mansour said, adding that altering the settlement after the fact would undermine trust in the exchange.On Khamenei: We don’t list markets directly tied to death. When there are markets where potential outcomes involve death, we design the rules to prevent people from profiting from death. That is what we did here. I know some of you disagree and prefer that we list these…— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) March 1, 2026 The company also said it reimbursed all trading fees and covered net losses so that no trader ended the market net-negative. According to Mansour, those reimbursements resulted in a financial loss for the firm. Regulated Markets Under Pressure The episode highlights the challenges facing regulated prediction markets that attempt to offer contracts tied to real-world events. Unlike offshore platforms such as Polymarket, which resolved its similar market to “Yes,” Kalshi operates under U.S. commodity laws that prohibit contracts allowing direct profit from death or assassination. That regulatory constraint shapes both the types of markets the platform can list and how they must be settled. The dispute has drawn attention from lawmakers as well. Some U.S. senators have previously urged regulators to examine event contracts tied to violence or geopolitical instability. For the broader prediction market sector, the case illustrates the tension between market demand for event-based contracts and the legal limits placed on regulated exchanges. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Robinhood is expanding into wealth management by launching its “Robinhood Advisor Network.” This marks a shift toward serving higher-net-worth clients through a marketplace model. Rather than building an in-house advisory unit, the company is connecting eligible users with independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). The structure signals a clear focus on affluent clients. The service will initially target Robinhood users with at least $250,000 in investable assets, while participating advisory firms must manage at least $500 million in assets under management and operate on the TradePMR platform.Building on the TradePMR Acquisition The launch builds on Robinhood’s acquisition of TradePMR, a custodian and technology provider for RIAs. Through that deal, Robinhood gained access to a network of more than 350 advisory firms overseeing over $40 billion in client assets.The concept of a referral marketplace was central to the TradePMR acquisition. In a recent post marking one year since joining Robinhood, TradePMR founder Robb Baldwin described the Advisor Network as a phased rollout designed to connect eligible investors with independent RIAs while preserving advisor autonomy. The structure suggests Robinhood is positioning the network not as an in-house advisory arm, but as a distribution layer that gives independent firms access to a large, mobile-first client base.A Broader Revenue Mix The Advisor Network reflects a gradual shift in Robinhood’s business model. Historically reliant on transactional revenue from trading activity, the firm is moving toward recurring, fee-based revenue streams tied to wealth management. The expansion also places Robinhood in closer competition with established wealth platforms such as Charles Schwab and Fidelity. By combining self-directed trading with advisory services, the company is broadening its role within clients’ financial lives. The rollout will begin with a pilot for Robinhood employees, followed by a wider launch for eligible customers in the second quarter. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Banco Santander and Mastercard have completed end-to-end payment executed by an artificial intelligence agent. The live trial involved an AI system completing a transaction within a regulated banking framework. It also tested the technology’s security and operational controls in real conditions.Transaction Tested Under Real Banking ConditionsAgentic AI in payments refers to autonomous software agents that can initiate and complete transactions on behalf of a user, under explicit controls such as spending limits, pre-set rules, and strong authentication, while being cryptographically identified as distinct actors in the payment flow.In frameworks such as Mastercard Agent Pay, these AI agents are registered and verified, receive dedicated “agentic” payment tokens instead of raw card data, and operate within tokenization.Santander and Mastercard Complete Europe’s First Live End-To-End Payment Executed by an AI Agenthttps://t.co/MIW6TZ6uEH#Payments— PaymentsNews.com (@paymentsnews) March 2, 2026According to the announcement by the two firms on Monday, the transaction took place in Santander’s controlled environment using Mastercard Agent Pay. It ran through the bank’s live payment infrastructure to confirm that an AI agent can initiate, authorize, and complete a transaction while meeting compliance and security requirements.You may also find interesting: The Robots Are Trading - But Who’s Watching Them?“Agentic payments represent a profound shift in how commerce is initiated and executed. With Mastercard Agent Pay, we are applying the same principles that have defined our network for decades, security, trust, interoperability and global scale, to a new era of AI-enabled commerce,” said Kelly Devine, the President, Europe at Mastercard.The pilot showed how AI could process payments for customers under predefined limits and permissions, maintaining transparency and consumer protection.Mastercard Advances Agentic Payment ModelMastercard’s Agent Pay system integrates AI agents directly into payment flows, allowing interaction between banks, merchants, and acquirers under visible governance structures. PayOS technology supported the orchestration of the transaction.Beyond payments, AI is now deeply embedded in trading, helping firms sift through massive data sets, automate order execution, and refine strategies at scale.Read more: AI Takes Center Stage in Brokers’ Layoff NarrativesAs these systems become more autonomous, however, brokers and traders are being pushed to confront a different set of questions: not whether AI will reshape markets, but how far that shift should go and where human oversight must draw the line. In practice, current AI tools are best understood as a co‑pilot rather than a replacement for human traders. Systems such as Capitalise.ai can automate repetitive tasks, enforce risk rules, and surface trading signals that might be hard for individuals to spot in real time. Yet these models still falter when markets are hit by sudden regime shifts, geopolitical shocks, or rare “black swan” events that fall outside their training data, leaving humans responsible for interpreting new narratives and making judgment calls when conditions break from the past. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has moved to bring robo-advisors and digital investment platforms into its licensing framework, responding to a surge in app-based trading among young and tech-savvy Kenyans. The proposed CMA's licensing requirements for 2025 aim to formalize how these firms operate and interact with investors, local media Daily Nation mentioned.While the new permits don’t rewrite the license conditions for FX and CFD brokers, they tighten the digital environment those firms operate in by putting intermediary apps and robo-advisers under direct CMA oversight.It raises the bar for how advice-like tools and portfolio-style features are framed, and force many online platforms that funnel young traders into trading platforms to meet licensing.Nairobi to License Robo-AdvisorsUnder the draft regulations, the CMA expands the definition of an investment advisor to cover digital platforms that provide automated, algorithm-driven investment advice with minimal human input.Robo-advisors use algorithms to construct and manage investment portfolios, usually at relatively low cost, and they appeal to youthful and passive investors who prefer simple digital tools.Read more: Capital.com Enters Kenya, Gains Local Licenses and Appoints CEOAdditionally, the Kenyan regulator has proposed a new license category for “intermediary service platform providers.” These are operators of digital applications that aggregate, market and distribute capital markets products and services, including many web- and mobile-based providers that currently rely on partnerships with existing licensees. Entities that already hold a CMA license will not need to obtain this intermediary service platform license for the same activities. Over-the-counter platforms will also have to obtain CMA licenses under the new framework. In addition, the 2025 Regulations outline licensing requirements for trustees and custodians.New FX licenses Widen CMA’s ReachCMA’s recent approval of Capital.com and XM as online forex brokers adds two global names to Kenya’s pool of licensed FX and CFD providers and highlighted the evolving regulations with cross-border trading platforms. Capital.com received authorization in January to operate as a Dealing Online Foreign Exchange Broker, with responsibility for onboarding clients, executing trades and offering local support under CMA rules. XM followed last month with a CMA license that allows it to serve Kenyan traders via its local domain under the regulator’s oversight. These approvals come as Kenya’s FX and CFD market continues to shift from largely offshore activity to a more formal, onshore model anchored on CMA-supervised firms.Earlier licenses for brands such as Exness, IC Markets, FP Markets and FXPesa have enabled global brokers to localize operations while meeting capital, conduct and disclosure requirements.For Kenya’s broader capital markets, the expansion of the CMA-regulated FX list aligns with parallel reforms to license digital advisory platforms and online intermediaries, aiming to bring more online trading channels under direct supervision. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Prediction markets are becoming part of everyday life. This week, brokers got another plug-and-play solution to launch event contracts, regulators dealt with insider trading, and a native prediction market platform hired an institutional executive from traditional finance. Less hype. More setup. The Tools Arrive The largest shift was on the B2B side. Prediction markets are now packaged, priced, and sold like other brokerage technologies. Leverate launched a white-label prediction markets platform for brokers. The turnkey solution requires no in-house development and lets firms add event contracts to their stack in days. The pitch to brokers is simple: add revenue. Leverate projects 15–25% more revenue from spreads, trading fees, and market creation, with attractive engagement metrics. They are not alone. Devexperts, creator of DXtrade, has launched its own infrastructure for CFD brokers and prop firms. Firms can deploy a standalone event-trading platform or integrate modular components into existing systems.This trend aligns with a new KPMG white paper that frames prediction markets as a strategic issue for brokers rather than just an experiment. The report says banks, brokers, and asset managers must decide to integrate event contracts into core platforms or keep them separate. That choice has structural implications. Firms could shift from structured-product margins to revenue from platform access, liquidity, and analytics tied to event-based markets. Institutions Plug In Institutional integration proceeds quietly. After partnering with Tradeweb Markets, Kalshi is expanding its reach into mainstream distribution. DriveWealth plans to add Kalshi event contracts to its API-first brokerage infrastructure, enabling retail traders to access them alongside stocks and ETFs. Kalshi hired Andy Ross, former head of prime brokerage at Standard Chartered and former CurveGlobal CEO, to lead its institutional business. Adding a derivatives veteran signals higher ambitions. As prediction markets resemble standard trading venues, they need more liquidity, infrastructure, and talent with institutional expertise. Volumes support this move. Kalshi processed about $23.8 billion in 2025 volume; the sector saw a record $702 million in daily trading this year. Growth is real.As of February 22, @Kalshi’s Monthly Notional Volume stands at approximately $8.1B, averaging around $370M per day. If this pace holds, @Kalshi is on track to close February with roughly $10.4B in Notional Volume. pic.twitter.com/vgTpFelQZz— KalshiData (@kalshidata) February 24, 2026Regulators Watch Closely The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued an advisory reminding traders and exchanges that insider trading, fraud, wash trades, and manipulation remain under federal oversight. The reminder followed two KalshiEX cases: a political candidate traded contracts tied to his campaign, and a YouTube editor traded on contracts linked to a channel with privileged content knowledge.Today, we are releasing information about two insider cases we recently closed.Thank you @robertjdenault and team for leading the investigation and working with law enforcement. https://t.co/TcdmzeZw6P— Tarek Mansour (@mansourtarek_) February 25, 2026Both cases led to fines and suspensions. Kalshi enforced internal discipline, but the CFTC clarified that federal authorities retain full prosecutorial powers over registered exchanges. Regulatory questions remain on product classification. Some event contracts resemble binary options, which are banned in Europe since 2018 due to gambling concerns. For brokers, this distinction matters. Technology providers offer tools, but cannot remove jurisdictional risk. The regulatory environment is not hostile, but it is watchful. Bottom Line This week was about building, integrating, and regulating infrastructure. White-label platforms are ready for brokers. Institutional channels are opening. Regulators are reinforcing oversight. Advisory firms are framing event contracts as a strategic choice. Prediction markets are moving from idea to implementation. For brokers and fintechs, the least predictable outcome may be that they become standard infrastructure. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

A LinkedIn post circulating online claims that Wise has begun blocking payroll payments sent by Coinbase to employees holding Wise accounts in the UK. The post states that the action has disrupted employees’ finances and describes it as “anti-competitive.” It also notes that Coinbase is an authorised electronic money institution under UK law and argues that it should not face payment restrictions.Finance Magnates has contacted both companies for comment. The claims could not be independently verified. As of publication, Wise has not issued a statement, while Coinbase confirmed that the LinkedIn post can be cited but provided no further comment.Policy Allows Crypto-Related RestrictionsWise’s publicly available Acceptable Use Policy states that the company does not allow customers to use its services to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies directly. The policy also notes that the firm may reject or return payments involving crypto businesses, depending on internal compliance and risk assessments.Wise is authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an electronic money institution. Coinbase’s UK entity is also registered with the FCA under the Money Laundering Regulations.While Wise’s policy restricts certain crypto-related transactions, it does not explicitly state that salary payments from regulated crypto firms are automatically blocked. Individual decisions may depend on transaction details and internal controls.Wider UK Banking FrictionThe claims come amid broader tensions between crypto firms and UK banks and payment providers. Several banks in the UK have introduced limits or blocks on transfers to crypto exchanges in recent years, citing fraud risks and compliance obligations. Industry bodies have argued that such measures create operational challenges for regulated firms and undermine the UK’s ambition to become a digital asset hub.Government officials have previously called for a balanced approach that supports innovation while maintaining financial stability and consumer protection. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Finance Magnates has launched Finance Magnates Academy (FM Academy), a training platform built for individual fintech professionals, regulated firms, and HR teams. The platform offers online lessons, structured learning paths, and verified digital certificates. The core focus is to help certified professionals and regulated businesses plan, complete, and prove CySEC CPD and annual compliance training.FM Academy is designed for regulated investment firms, brokerages, payment institutions, fintech companies, and CySEC-certified professionals. Backed by Finance Magnates, the Academy is positioned as a regulatory competence solution for regulated firms and professionals, rather than a general online education platform.Finance Magnates Academy is now available at academy.financemagnates.com.Built for real compliance needs, not one-off learningFor many professionals, annual renewal can mean last-minute pressure and fragmented CPD purchases. For firms, the challenge is bigger: annual AML training for all employees, ongoing competence for certified staff, and clear proof of training completion.FM Academy addresses these needs with a structured and trackable learning model that supports CySEC CPD planning and delivery, alongside corporate compliance training that can scale across teams.Learning paths, certificates, and verificationFM Academy is built around structured lessons, complete with interactive elements such as progress checkpoints, quizzes, and graded challenges. Learners can complete lessons at their own pace with no time limit.To earn a certificate, learners must complete all courses and graded assessments. Certificates are digital and can be downloaded or printed.What FM Academy offersFM Academy provides:CySEC CPD learning aligned to professional needsAnnual AML and risk training for teamsStructured corporate compliance learning for multi-user accessDigital certification with verification and shareable certificatesSelf-paced learning built around real market practiceIn-person training options for companies and groupsOngoing industry courses are added over time to keep content current and support long-term learning“Regulated firms and certified professionals need a partner that understands their industry,” said Neophytos Papageorgiou, CEO at Finance Magnates. “At Finance Magnates, we understand what industry professionals actually deal with. FM Academy gives firms a clear and repeatable way to complete and document CySEC CPD and other compliance training, with proper verification and real tracking. We are starting with CySEC requirements and will gradually expand into other regulatory frameworks as we grow.”“We will keep updating and adding industry-focused courses so the content stays updated and relevant. The Academy will reflect the realities of the market and the regulatory environment. At the same time, we are expanding into foundational courses for professionals who are new to the sector or looking to enter it, structured induction training for firms onboarding new employees, and specialised subjects such as marketing within the financial services industry.”How to access FM AcademyFinance Magnates Academy is now live at academy.financemagnates.com, with options for individual learners and firms looking to train teams.Visit academy.financemagnates.com to explore learning paths, CySEC CPD options, verified certificates, and corporate training solutions.About Finance Magnates AcademyFinance Magnates Academy (FM Academy) is a structured fintech compliance and professional training platform for regulated firms, certified professionals, HR teams, and universities. It offers online lessons, verified digital certificates, structured learning paths, and in-person training, with a focus on CySEC CPD and ongoing competence needs.[#highlighted-links#] This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Cyber‑enabled fraud has turned into one of the most widespread profit‑driven crimes worldwide, prompting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to sharpen its focus on how digitalization reshapes money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks. The inter‑governmental body’s latest paper warns that rapid advances in technology, new payment rails and virtual assets now enable criminals to operate across borders at scale, while straining existing anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorist financing (AML/CFT) controls.Fraud Escalates with Digital AdoptionFATF notes that 156 jurisdictions, equal to 90% of those it assessed, now list fraud as a major money laundering threat. The paper cites national data showing both the speed and breadth of the rise: Singapore recorded a 61% increase in cyber‑enabled scam cases over two years, while fraud accounts for more than 40% of all crime in the United Kingdom.Some countries estimate that up to 15% of adults have fallen victim to successful cyber‑enabled fraud attempts, underscoring the scale of financial and social harm.Continue reading: How $107M Crypto Scheme Allegedly Hid Behind College Fees in South KoreaThe report links this surge to rapid digital adoption during and after the COVID‑19 pandemic, which pushed financial and non‑financial services online and opened new channels for abuse.FATF describes cyber‑enabled fraud as increasingly driven by sophisticated social engineering, with criminals exploiting digital platforms, instant payment systems and emerging tools such as AI and AI‑generated deepfakes to run scams remotely and at mass scale.Cross-Border Payment Channels According to the paper, virtual assets and faster cross‑border payment channels complicate enforcement if mitigation measures remain weak. Fraudsters can request payment in virtual assets or quickly convert fiat proceeds, often before authorities or obliged institutions can detect and freeze funds. FATF also highlights the role of transnational organized crime groups operating “scam centers”, which often sit within wider criminal ecosystems that include professional money launderers, human trafficking, drugs and other serious offences.Meanwhile, a recent separate report showed that Australian banks detected over $60 million worth of suspected fraud in the third quarter of 2025, according to BioCatch Trust Australia. The real-time intelligence-sharing network analyzed more than 180 million payments valued at over $330 billion during the period.Banks observed mixed trends in scam activity throughout 2025, with phone and purchase scams remaining the most widespread. Social-engineering fraud slightly declined early in the year, likely due to seasonal factors, while investment scams dropped overall but mainly among younger customers. In contrast, scams targeting people aged 56 and above increased by 18%.The use of Remote Access Tools fell by roughly 20% compared to 2024, indicating that fraudsters are shifting toward more scalable social-engineering tactics. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Russia has launched a criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov for allegedly “abetting terrorist activities”, sharpening its confrontation with the popular messaging app and its billionaire creator. According to state-linked media, there are fresh restrictions on Telegram’s services in Russia and an official push to move users to a state-backed alternative.Russia Opens Terror Case Against DurovTwo newspapers with close ties to the Kremlin, Rossiiskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda, reported that Russia’s FSB security service is investigating Durov in connection with terrorism-related offences. The articles, citing FSB materials, allege that Telegram has become a tool for western and Ukrainian intelligence services.According to these reports, Russian authorities claim that Telegram was used in 13 alleged Ukrainian attempts to assassinate senior Russian military officers. They also link the app to tens of thousands of other incidents since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, including bombings, arson attacks on military recruitment centers and murders.The reports further accuse Telegram of cooperating with western government requests while ignoring Russian demands and say Ukraine allegedly used Telegram data for attacks on Russia.Related: Telegram’s Global Ambitions Hit a Wall as $500 Million in Bonds Freeze in RussiaThe investigation comes as Russia tightens controls on internet platforms. Authorities have restricted some Telegram functions, citing the company’s refusal to store user data on Russian territory and to remove content on demand. Regulators have also limited voice and video calls on Telegram and introduced measures that slow its traffic.At the same time, Moscow is promoting Max, a state-run messaging app presented as a domestic alternative. Officials appear to be steering users toward Max as they increase pressure on Telegram, which has more than 105 million monthly users in Russia, according to the Financial Times. Probe in France deepens pressure on DurovFrench authorities placed Pavel Durov under formal investigation in 2024 after arresting him on suspicion that Telegram failed to prevent and assist in tackling serious criminal activity on the platform, including drug trafficking, fraud and other organised crime offences. Judges indicted him on multiple counts such as complicity in managing an online platform that enables illicit transactions and refusal to cooperate with lawful interception requests, then released him under judicial supervision with conditions that included a 5 million euro bond, twice-weekly reporting to police and a ban on leaving France.The case did not close but his restrictions gradually eased: in 2025 an investigating judge allowed him to leave France temporarily, and by November 2025 authorities lifted his travel ban entirely and removed the obligation to report regularly to police.Besides that, regulated forex brokers in Russia stopped providing customer support through Telegram after a new federal law last year. The laws banned financial institutions and government bodies from using foreign messaging platforms for communication. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Paysafe has integrated its acquiring services into Spreedly’s open payments platform, reflecting brokers’ growing use of payment orchestration models. The partnership makes Paysafe a selectable acquirer on Spreedly’s payments orchestration platform, which links merchants to over 140 payment gateways. Brokers Adopt Multi-Acquirer Payment InfrastructureThis integration lets brokers rely less on a single payment service provider. Instead they can use orchestration platforms like Spreedly for flexible payment stacks. Through a payment routing system, brokers can distribute transactions across different acquirers. If one provider records higher decline rates in a specific region, traffic can be redirected to another. Using multiple acquirers can also reduce the operational impact of outages or processing disruptions.Similar models are emerging in key brokerage hubs such as Cyprus, where Finera recently launched as a payment orchestration platform targeting financial services firms.For brokers already connected to Spreedly, adding Paysafe does not require a separate integration, which helps accelerate deployment and reduce operational friction.A New Distribution Channel for Paysafe This integration lets Paysafe reach Spreedly’s merchant network, which includes forex, trading, and iGaming businesses. Paysafe has experience in these sectors, and joining the orchestration layer gives brokers another regulated acquiring option. Paysafe’s first focus is card payments. Next, it plans to add Skrill, Neteller, and PaysafeCard, so brokers using Spreedly can access more payment methods in one place. This partnership shows that brokerage payment infrastructure is becoming modular. Brokers now use orchestration layers for redundancy, flexibility, and more geographic reach. Acquirers on these platforms access merchants who prefer aggregated integrations over direct setup. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Bridge, the stablecoin platform owned by payments firm Stripe, was awarded a conditional approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to organize a federally chartered national trust bank. The move would place Bridge under direct federal oversight for its stablecoin and digital asset services at a time when US policymakers still debate how to regulate digital dollars.Once fully approved, the charter will allow Bridge to offer businesses custody of digital assets, issue and manage stablecoins, and oversee the reserves backing those tokens. What the OCC Charter Would Allow Bridge to DoThe company presents fully reserved and transparently managed stablecoins as infrastructure for faster global settlement, treasury operations, cross-border payments and tokenized asset markets.Bridge says its compliance framework already aligns with the federal GENIUS Act, the stablecoin law signed in July 2025. It argues that a national trust bank charter will give customers a clearer regulatory structure and support large-scale use of stablecoins within the US financial system. The single federal charter would also let Bridge operate nationwide without relying on multiple state-level licenses. Bridge is part of a broader group of digital asset firms seeking similar treatment from the OCC.Continue reading: Stripe Strikes Biggest Ever Crypto Deal: TechCrunch Founder Confirms Bridge AcquisitionIn December, the regulator conditionally approved BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets and Paxos to convert their state trust companies into national trusts, and granted preliminary national trust bank charters to Circle and Ripple.A Growing List of OCC-Approved Crypto TrustsOCC records show that Bridge applied for its charter in October and received conditional approval on 12 February. Stripe acquired Bridge in 2025 in a deal worth about 1.1 billion dollars to help support stablecoin-based payments across its network. The expansion of crypto-focused national trust banks has drawn resistance from parts of the traditional banking sector. In a recent letter, the American Bankers Association urged the OCC to slow approvals for such charters, warning that companies could use them to avoid stricter oversight while rules under the GENIUS Act remain unsettled. The decision on Bridge comes as US lawmakers in the Senate advance broader digital asset market structure legislation. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

eToro Group (NASDAQ: ETOR) delivered what Wall Street wanted on Tuesday: a record full year, a buyback expansion, and a confident pitch about the future. The market rewarded it with a more than 20% surge in the stock, which closed at $33.07, the highest level in over a month.Look at the headline numbers and the enthusiasm makes sense. Net contribution for the full year rose 10% to $868 million, net income climbed 12% to $216 million, and the company ended 2025 with $1.3 billion in cash on the balance sheet.As FinanceMagnates.com reported when the results landed, full-year GAAP net income rose 12% to $216 million while the share buyback program was increased by $100 million. CEO Yoni Assia called it "a defining year" for the company, pointing to the May NASDAQ IPO, accelerating product launches, and expanding global reach as evidence of durable momentum.But strip away the full-year framing and the picture that emerges is considerably more complicated. And the company's own data, including the supplemental KPI disclosures, tells much of that story.eToro’s Assets Hit a Wall in the Second HalfThe single most striking data point in the entire earnings package is one eToro does not headline. Assets Under Administration (AUA) fell from $20.8 billion at the end of the third quarter to $18.5 billion at the close of Q4, a decline of $2.3 billion, or roughly 11%. The company's press release frames that as "11% year-over-year growth," which is technically accurate. It does not mention that AUA was growing 76% year-over-year just one quarter earlier, a period when, as previously reported, eToro's Q3 net income rose 48% annually even as sequential momentum stalled.The AUA trajectory through 2025 was a clean ramp: $14.8 billion, $17.5 billion, $20.8 billion, and then a reversal. Q4 broke that trend decisively, and January has not reversed it. Monthly KPI data released alongside Tuesday's results showed AUA essentially flat at $18.4 billion, up just 2% year-over-year. In October 2025, the most recent comparable data point, AUA growth was running at 73% year-over-year.That deceleration from 73% to 2% in a matter of months is the number analysts following this stock closely should be circling.The Numbers Behind the HeadlinesSource: eToro Group Ltd. SEC filings (Form 6-K), Q1-Q4 2025Crypto Contribution Collapses, Q4 Spread Turns NegativeThe AUA trend points directly at crypto. In Q4, net trading contribution from crypto fell 72% year-over-year to $26 million, and that number requires careful reading. Beneath the net figure, gross revenue from crypto assets in Q4 was $3.59 billion against a cost of $3.64 billion, meaning the base spread business generated a net loss of approximately $44 million before derivatives. A $73.8 million gain on crypto derivatives pulled the combined crypto line into positive territory for the quarter, but the underlying spot economics were underwater.For the full year, eToro processed approximately $13 billion in crypto volume and generated a net spread of just $43 million, a margin of roughly 0.33%. The company made more from crypto derivatives in 2025 ($124 million) than from buying and selling crypto itself. In 2024, those ratios were nearly reversed. This is part of a broader trend that has weighed on crypto-exposed platforms across the board: as FinanceMagnates.com reported in early February, both eToro and Robinhood shares faced extended losing streaks as the cryptocurrency downturn pressured revenue outlooks across firms that derive significant income from digital asset trading.January's numbers confirm the pressure has not eased. Crypto trades on the platform totaled 4 million for the month, down 50% year-over-year. The average amount invested per crypto trade fell 34% to $182.January 2026 KPIs: Two Very Different StoriesSource: eToro January 2026 Monthly KPI ReleaseEquities and Gold Pick Up the SlackMeanwhile, capital markets trades, equities, commodities, and currencies, surged to 74 million in January, up 55% year-over-year, with the average invested amount up 8%. The platform's non-crypto business is growing fast. Its crypto business is shrinking. That divergence is not lost on management, and it shapes much of how Assia talks about the business. "We've seen people write off crypto," he told investors on Tuesday's earnings call. "We've kept building." His broader argument is that eToro's multi-asset model is precisely what allows it to absorb these cycles, and the Q4 data gives him some evidence to work with. Net trading contribution from equities, commodities, and currencies rose 43% year-over-year to $116 million in the fourth quarter, driven partly by a surge in commodities activity. This is broadly consistent with a wider shift in retail investor behavior: a recent eToro study found that nearly 8 in 10 retail investors now invest monthly, with allocations to equities and cash declining as investors seek broader asset exposure.On the call, Assia described something he called a convergence among the platform's users: crypto-native customers rotating into commodities as volatility shifted asset classes.Marketing Ramp Signals a Growth GapDuring the earnings call, eToro also revealed its plans to boost sales and marketing spending, and CFO Meron Shani explicitly said it could go higher if ROI supports it."We plan to increase from 21%, scaling gradually to 25% of net contribution," Shani said on the call, adding the company expects this to drive "double-digit" funded account growth through the year.That announcement comes after Q4 saw the lowest marketing spend of any quarter in 2025 at $47 million, 21% below the same period a year earlier, while funded account additions in Q4 were also the slowest of the year at just 80,000 net new accounts. Simultaneously, Assia disclosed that eToro carried out a headcount reduction roughly a month ago, framing it as an AI-efficiency initiative. "AI means we can move 10 times faster," he said on the call. "We're building the eToro super app 100% with AI."It seems the company is cutting internal costs while ramping external spend to re-accelerate user growth. It is a rational response to a slowing organic environment.M&A Pipeline Opens UpResponding to a direct question from UBS analyst Alex Cra, Assia confirmed for the first time that eToro has been in active discussions with acquisition targets since the IPO. "We do expect to see several M&A deals in 2026," he said. "We have been in active discussions with several target companies over the last six months since the IPO." He pointed to two areas of focus: the crypto space, both in the US and globally, and the brokerage and wealth management space. The CFO added that eToro has access to both its cash pile and a revolving credit facility to pursue "sizable deals."Similar plans were already outlined last year in a Bloomberg interview with Ronen Assia, one of eToro's co-founders. The most recent acquisition dates back to 2024, when the company expanded into Australia by taking over the local investing app Spaceship for $55 million.The Market Priced the HeadlineNone of this makes Tuesday's 20% share rally irrational. Full-year records, a strong balance sheet, buyback expansion, a resilient equities business, and an M&A pipeline are genuinely positive signals for a company less than a year into its public life.Notably, the crypto exchange Gemini, which went public around the same time, simultaneously began pulling back and retreating to its core business, a move eToro has now capitalized on by taking over a portion of its customers.The 2024 cohort already shows a 1.88x return on marketing investment; the 2020 cohort has returned 5.6x. These are the numbers of a business with real retention and long-term user value.But the market priced the headline. The AUA trajectory, the January crypto data, the diluted EPS decline, and the marketing ramp required to sustain growth are the questions that the headline doesn't answer. For investors in ETOR at $33, those are the numbers worth watching in the quarters ahead. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

eToro reported its first full-year results since becoming a publicly listed company, posting net contribution of $868 million, up 10% year over year. GAAP net income climbed 12% to $216 million amid growth in stocks, derivatives and savings products.Adjusted EBITDA rose to $317 million, while crypto income declined from 2024 levels due to lower retail trading volumes and reduced market volatility. Following the announcement, shares jumped about 10% in early trading as investors welcomed the results and earnings growth despite the crypto slowdown.Crypto, Stocks, ISA Expansion Drive GrowthLast year, eToro expanded access to 25 stock exchanges and grew its crypto offering to over 150 assets. The company also launched stock margin trading, expanded derivatives, and grew UK ISA and Australian savings products.About the expansion, CEO Yoni Assia said, “We became a publicly traded company and significantly advanced the build-out of our global financial super-app.” He added that the company is expanding AI-powered tools and 24/7 access to select assets.In the fourth quarter, net contribution fell 10% to $227 million, while GAAP net income rose 16% to $69 million. Funded accounts grew 9% to 3.81 million, and assets under administration reached $18.5 billion.According to CFO Meron Shani, “(the) fourth quarter results reflect the strength and resilience of our multi-asset business model.”Share Buyback Program Increased $100MeToro also increased eToro Money accounts and transaction volumes as part of its neo-banking expansion. Partnerships were launched with BWT Alpine Formula 1 and Gemini Space Station Inc to expand brand reach and migrate customers onto the platform.The company increased its share repurchase program by $100 million, bringing total remaining authorization to $150 million, including a planned accelerated buyback of $50 million.Brokerage Workforce Reductions Follow Industry TrendAlongside its expansion and buyback program, eToro is reducing approximately 7% of its global workforce. Assia said the move is intended to “ensure we are correctly sized to meet our business needs and support our long-term growth strategy.” The reduction could affect over 100 employees, though details on roles or locations have not been disclosed. Workforce reductions are not uncommon in the brokerage sector. In recent years, other operators including IG Group, CMC Markets, and FXCM/Tradu have also reduced staff, sometimes citing technology or automation as factors. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The all-in-one financial app Maya joins a growing list of Southeast Asian fintechs looking past their home markets for capital. The timing and size of the offering could still change as the company gauges market conditions, according to Bloomberg.The fintech operates a full-service digital banking platform where users can buy stocks and cryptocurrencies, earn interest on savings, send payments, and manage debit and credit cards. According to the most recent annual report, Maya's digital bank served 5.4 million customers and disbursed 68 billion pesos ($1.2 billion) in loans during 2024.Rough Waters for New ListingsMaya's IPO plans come at a difficult moment for companies trying to go public. Several firms have pulled or downsized their US listings in recent weeks after investors pushed back on valuations. Wall Street broker Clear Street postponed its IPO in mid-February after slashing its fundraising target by 65 percent, citing market conditions. Blackstone-backed Liftoff Mobile similarly delayed its New York listing following a selloff in software stocks.Brazilian fintech Agibank managed to complete its US debut this month, but only after cutting both its deal size and price range by more than half. The stock promptly fell 15 percent from its offer price.Goldman Sachs analysts expect the number of IPOs to double to 120 this year, but warned that volatility and valuation scrutiny remain significant headwinds. Companies with exposure to fintech and crypto face additional skepticism. even those that made it to market have struggled, with trading platform eToro down roughly 60 percent since its Wall Street debut nearly a year ago.Regional Rivals Taking Different RoutesMaya isn't the only Philippine fintech weighing its options. GCash, its main competitor in the digital payments space, postponed a planned Manila IPO to the second half of 2026. The country's securities regulator has proposed relaxing free-float requirements to attract larger companies to the local exchange, which has underperformed regional benchmarks.The MSCI Philippines Index gained just over 12 percent in the past year, trailing the broader MSCI AC Asia Pacific Index. That performance gap has pushed some Filipino companies to consider overseas listings. Fast food chain Jollibee Foods said it plans to list its international business in the United States, while other Southeast Asian firms are eyeing Hong Kong for share sales.From Payments to Full-Service BankingMaya started as PayMaya, a mobile wallet for QR code payments and money transfers. The company has since built out a regulated digital bank that offers savings accounts with interest rates reaching 15 percent annually, instant loans of up to 250,000 pesos for consumers and 2 million pesos for small businesses, and investment products including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside mutual funds.The company is backed by Philippine telecom giant PLDT and a roster of international investors including KKR, Tencent, and the World Bank's International Finance Corporation.The platform uses transaction data and AI-driven credit scoring to approve loans without traditional collateral requirements, a model that has resonated in a country where formal banking penetration remains low. About 70 percent of Maya's customers live outside Metro Manila, where the company has seen particularly strong growth in lending and savings activity. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will regulate the buy now, pay later (BNPL) industry from 15 July 2026. The regulation follows months of consultation, during which the regulator took input from industry players.Companies Have to “Thrive”, but Customers Must Be Protected“We want the Buy Now Pay Later sector to thrive,” said Sarah Pritchard, Deputy Chief Executive at the FCA. “It provides an important source of credit to many.“But crucially, no one should be lent to if they are unable to repay, because that could worsen their financial situation. Now Parliament has given us the powers, we are putting in place proportionate protections for the 11 million people who use it.”BNPL platforms allow consumers to purchase goods and services immediately while spreading payments over a set period, often with no interest if payments are made on time. These services are increasingly popular in e-commerce, offering flexibility and convenience.According to the FCA, its goal with the regulations is to “reduce the risks of harm to consumers”.[#highlighted-links#] A Temporary Regime to Be Followed by Full LicensingUnder the incoming regulations, BNPL companies, technically known as Deferred Payment Credit (DPC) firms, will need to apply for the temporary permission regime (TPR) while the regulator evaluates their applications.However, these firms must have been carrying out BNPL activities on 15 July 2025, when the regulator began its regulatory process by launching the consultation paper. These firms need to confirm their intention to register after 15 May but no later than two weeks before the regulation day.For companies that are not willing to enter the TPR, the regulator has asked them to stop any BNPL activities that would fall under the regulations.“Firms that are not authorised or do not have a temporary permission will continue to be able to service DPC agreements that were taken out before regulation day,” the regulator noted. “Those agreements will remain exempt.”Earlier, the FCA’s counterpart in Australia also required a credit licence for such BNPL companies. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.