The answer is far from settled. Instead, what has emerged is a fragmented and increasingly confrontational landscape in which federal regulators, state gambling authorities, courts, and lawmakers are all asserting competing claims to authority. A Regulatory Loophole or a New Asset Class? Prediction markets operate by allowing users to buy “yes” or “no” contracts on future events, with prices reflecting perceived probabilities. A contract trading at $0.70 implies a 70% chance of an outcome. In theory, this aligns closely with financial derivatives, particularly binary options or swaps. This framing is central to the argument advanced by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates derivatives markets in the U.S. The CFTC’s position is that these event contracts fall squarely within its jurisdiction under the Commodity Exchange Act. In 2026, the agency even initiated formal rulemaking to establish a clearer framework for such products, signalling an intention to legitimize and structure the sector rather than eliminate it. From this perspective, prediction markets are not gambling; they are information markets. They aggregate dispersed knowledge and produce probabilistic forecasts that can be valuable for businesses, policymakers, and investors. The State-Level Backlash State regulators see things very differently. Across the U.S., gambling is regulated at the state level, with tightly controlled licensing regimes, taxation structures, and consumer protections. The expansion of sports betting following the 2018 repeal of PASPA created a highly lucrative but heavily regulated ecosystem. Prediction markets, however, appear to bypass this system entirely. States argue that when a platform offers contracts on sports outcomes, something that reportedly accounts for the vast majority of trading volume it is effectively operating as an unlicensed sportsbook. This has triggered aggressive enforcement actions. Arizona has filed criminal charges against a prediction market operator, explicitly accusing it of running an illegal gambling business. Meanwhile, multiple states have issued cease-and-desist orders, and at least 20 lawsuits have been filed nationwide, reflecting the scale of the conflict. The tension escalated further in April 2026 when the federal government sued several states (including Illinois and Arizona) arguing that their attempts to regulate prediction markets unlawfully interfere with federal authority. Courts: A Patchwork of Contradictions The judiciary has done little to resolve the issue if anything, it has deepened the uncertainty. Some courts have sided with prediction market operators and the CFTC. In one notable appellate ruling, judges affirmed that federal law grants the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over these markets, effectively blocking state-level intervention. Other rulings, however, have gone the opposite direction, finding that state gambling laws can coexist with federal commodities regulation and apply to prediction markets. The result is a patchwork legal environment in which the same product may be legal in one jurisdiction and prohibited in another. This fragmentation is widely seen as unsustainable and is increasingly likely to require resolution either by Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court. The CFTC Argument: Innovation and Information Efficiency Supporters of prediction markets, including many within the CFTC, argue that these platforms represent a valuable financial innovation. First, they emphasize the informational benefits. Prediction markets have historically demonstrated strong forecasting accuracy, often outperforming traditional polling or expert analysis. By putting money behind beliefs, they incentivise participants to reveal genuine expectations rather than opinions. Second, proponents argue that regulating these markets at the federal level ensures consistency and avoids the inefficiencies of a state-by-state patchwork. A unified regulatory framework could foster innovation while maintaining oversight. Third, there is a broader philosophical argument: that individuals should be free to trade on information, just as they do in financial markets. If one can speculate on oil prices or interest rates, why not on election outcomes or economic indicators? Finally, the CFTC has shown willingness to impose safeguards. It has pursued enforcement actions related to fraud and misuse of information and is exploring rules to restrict contracts deemed contrary to the public interest. The Counterargument: Gambling in Disguise Critics, including state regulators, tribal gaming operators, and some lawmakers, see prediction markets as a regulatory end-run around established gambling laws. Their concerns fall into several categories: 1. Consumer Protection State-regulated gambling markets include strict rules on age verification, responsible gambling measures, and advertising standards. Prediction markets, particularly those operating in legal grey areas, may not offer equivalent protections. 2. Taxation and Economic Impact States derive significant revenue from licensed gambling. Prediction markets, by operating outside this system, threaten to erode that tax base. This is especially sensitive for tribal gaming, which generates tens of billions annually and funds essential services. 3. Market Integrity and Manipulation Critics argue that prediction markets are vulnerable to insider trading and manipulation, particularly when contracts are based on non-public or sensitive information. Recent controversies involving large, well-timed bets on geopolitical events have amplified these concerns. 4. Ethical Boundaries Perhaps most controversially, some platforms have allowed betting on outcomes such as wars, political instability, or even deaths. This raises profound ethical questions about the commodification of human suffering and the potential for perverse incentives. A Broader Power Struggle At its core, the prediction market debate is not just about gambling or finance, it is about regulatory authority. The CFTC’s claim of exclusive jurisdiction represents a significant expansion of federal power into an area traditionally controlled by states. For state regulators, this is not merely a legal issue but a challenge to their sovereignty and economic interests. The federal government’s recent lawsuits against states underscore the stakes. If courts ultimately side with the CFTC, prediction markets could operate nationwide under a single regulatory regime, fundamentally reshaping the gambling landscape. If states prevail, these platforms may be forced into the same licensing and compliance structures as sportsbooks or be banned outright in many jurisdictions. The Gambling Industry Is Hurting The rapid emergence of prediction markets is creating tangible pressure on the traditional gambling industry, and the impact is increasingly visible across product, regulatory, and commercial dimensions. Many USA Operators are not openly disclosing the fact but are alomost certainly losing new players to prediction markets, before Prediction Markets, the new player who was inexperienced in betting would sign up and start their online betting journey, with the hope to get better over time. The issue is online betting can be complex to understand, the binary world of Prediction Markets are super simple and as such are likely (as yet unproven buy logic dictates it as does the huge amount of sign up to PM’s) to be now the first choice for these future regular bettors, this is a massive loss to the OSB (online sports betting) space as much of their profit comes from these new players learning the ropes. But the pain points don’t stop there…. At a product level, prediction markets offer a fundamentally different value proposition. Platforms like Kalshi allow users to trade on outcomes framed as financial contracts rather than place bets against a bookmaker. This removes the embedded margin (“vig”) that sportsbooks rely on. For sophisticated users, the ability to buy and sell positions dynamically (similar to trading equities) creates a more efficient and transparent pricing environment. In contrast, traditional operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel still operate largely on fixed-odds models, making them less competitive for price-sensitive or analytically driven bettors. Regulation is another key pressure point. Prediction markets are regulated at the federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing them to potentially bypass the fragmented, state-by-state licensing regime that governs sports betting. This creates a structural advantage: while sportsbooks must secure expensive licenses in each state, prediction market platforms can scale more efficiently under a single regulatory framework. The result is an uneven playing field that threatens the long-term economics of state-regulated operators. Commercially, this dynamic is beginning to erode margins. Prediction markets often charge lower fees and allow peer-to-peer liquidity, reducing the need for costly risk management and promotional spend. Traditional operators, by contrast, are locked in aggressive customer acquisition cycles, offering bonuses and promotions that compress profitability. As more users experiment with prediction markets, especially for non-sports events like politics or macroeconomic indicators, sportsbooks risk losing both engagement and wallet share. Prediction markets position themselves as tools for “information discovery” rather than gambling, attracting a broader and potentially more affluent audience. This reframing distances them from the stigma still associated with betting, further challenging incumbents. Taken together, prediction markets are not just a new competitor; they represent a structural shift that exposes inefficiencies in the traditional gambling model, forcing the industry to adapt or risk gradual erosion. What Happens Next? Several developments suggest that the issue is approaching a tipping point. First, the CFTC’s ongoing rulemaking process could provide much-needed clarity on what types of event contracts are permissible. Second, Congress is beginning to engage, with proposed legislation aimed at either restricting or formalizing prediction markets. Third, the growing number of conflicting court rulings increases the likelihood of a Supreme Court intervention to settle the jurisdictional dispute once and for all. There is a very difficult argument for the USA State Regulators to make with stopping Prediction Markets doing Sports Betting, chiefly, the state regulators cannot just pick and choose what they want to be allowed in the federally regulated CFTC market, that is just not possible and the trading market is much much bigger than the Gambling market. Prediction markets sit at the intersection of finance, technology, and gambling and they are exposing the limitations of existing regulatory frameworks. To supporters, they represent a powerful new tool for information discovery and financial innovation. To critics, they are little more than unregulated gambling platforms exploiting a legal loophole. Both sides have valid arguments. The CFTC’s approach offers consistency and encourages innovation, but risks underestimating the social and economic role of state-regulated gambling systems. State regulators, meanwhile, provide robust consumer protections and accountability, but may be ill-equipped to govern a borderless, digital market. Ultimately, the future of prediction markets in the U.S. will depend on whether policymakers can reconcile these competing visions or whether the courts will impose a resolution. Either way, the outcome will have profound implications not just for gambling, but for the broader question of how emerging digital markets are regulated in a federal system.The post CFTC Regulated Prediction Markets, A Death Blow To Online Betting first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Broadridge Financial Solutions has reported a surge in activity on its Distributed Ledger Repo platform, with the financial technology firm processing an average of $354 billion in daily repo transactions during March.  The rise brings total monthly volumes to nearly $8 trillion and representing a 392 percent increase compared with the same month a year earlier. The figures underline the accelerating institutional adoption of tokenised settlement infrastructure, with Broadridge’s DLR platform now established as the world’s largest for settling tokenised real assets.  The company said the growth reflects both an expanding participant base and a broadening range of use cases for distributed ledger technology within capital markets. “As use cases, participants, and volumes expand, DLR is playing a leading role in the future of repo and capital markets,” stated Horacio Barakat, Global Head of Digital Innovation at Broadridge. “Broadridge is committed to extending its capabilities across digital trading, collateral, and settlement ecosystems to reduce operational friction and improve margins for participants.”The post Broadridge Distributed Ledger Repo Volume Surges 392% in March first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

CME Group reported record international average daily volume of 11.4 million contracts in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 30 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025.  All-time highs were achieved across every major region and asset class outside the United States. The strong performance was led by interest rate products, which reached a record international average daily volume of 5.7 million contracts, also up 30 percent year-on-year.  For the first time, quarterly records were simultaneously achieved across metals, up 116 percent, energy, up 62 percent, agricultural products, up 16 percent, equity index, up 11 percent, and foreign exchange, up 1 percent. Regionally, Europe, the Middle East and Africa delivered a record 8.4 million contracts per day, up 29 percent, with records across all asset classes.  Asia Pacific average daily volume reached an all-time high of 2.6 million contracts, up 33 percent, driven particularly by metals, which surged 204 percent, and energy, up 101 percent. Latin America and Canada also set quarterly records of 224,000 and 219,000 contracts per day, respectively. Globally, CME Group recorded a record average daily volume of 36.2 million contracts in the first quarter, up 22 percent over Q1 2025, with simultaneous records across all major product categories for the first time. Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer at CME Group, attributed the surge to clients turning to the exchange to manage risk in real time across all asset classes and time zones.The post CME Group Posts Record International Volume in Q1 2026 first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management has launched the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, an exchange-traded product listed on NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT, making it the first US bank-affiliated asset manager to offer a cryptocurrency ETP. The product seeks to track the performance of bitcoin as measured by the CoinDesk Bitcoin Benchmark 4PM NY Settlement Rate, which aggregates executed trade flow from major bitcoin spot exchanges.  MSBT carries a unitary delegated sponsor fee of 0.14 percent, which the firm said is currently the lowest among bitcoin ETPs. Coinbase and BNY have been appointed to provide digital asset custody services, with BNY also serving as administrator, transfer agent and accounting provider. Ben Huneke, Head of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, commented: ““We are proud to introduce MSBT to the marketplace and believe this new ETP aligns with long-term trends in financial innovation and serves to strengthen the range of investments we provide investors.” Amy Oldenburg, Head of Digital Asset Strategy at Morgan Stanley, described MSBT as part of a firmwide approach to building digital asset capabilities grounded in traditional governance and market infrastructure. The launch builds on a series of digital asset initiatives at Morgan Stanley, including the appointment of dedicated leadership to guide firmwide strategy and ongoing efforts to expand institutional capabilities across custody, trading and product development.The post Morgan Stanley Becomes First US Bank-Affiliated Manager to Launch Bitcoin ETP first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Circle has announced the launch of CPN Managed Payments, a fully managed stablecoin settlement platform.  According to the company’s release, the platform enables payment service providers, fintechs, banks, and enterprises to access regulated digital dollar payments without directly holding or managing digital assets. “CPN Managed Payments abstracts digital asset complexity, enabling partners to interact solely in fiat while Circle manages the entire digital asset lifecycle, including USDC minting and burning, payment orchestration, compliance controls, and blockchain infrastructure,” the company stated. Furthermore, they said institutions can use the platform to settle cross-border transactions, accept stablecoins, power high-volume payouts and reduce foreign exchange costs and settlement friction, all operating under Circle’s existing regulatory licences. Circle’s USDC stablecoin has supported more than $70 trillion in cumulative on-chain settlement, with on-chain transaction volume approaching $12 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025.  Despite the scale, the company acknowledges that many financial institutions face significant barriers to adoption, including custody requirements, licensing complexity and operational risk.  Circle added that the CPN Managed Payments platform launches with support from a number of global financial institutions, including Thunes and Worldline. Nikhil Chandhok, Circle’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, stated: “By combining issuance, liquidity, compliance, and programmable infrastructure into a unified solution, we are enabling financial institutions to embed stablecoin settlement into their existing payment stacks with enterprise-grade reliability and operational readiness.”The post Circle Launches Managed Payments Platform first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Investment technology provider Huddlestock has partnered with global capital markets software developer Devexperts to launch a white-label Investment-as-a-Service application for the European market.  The application is said to be designed to reduce time-to-market for firms seeking to offer regulated investment products across the continent. The companies said the solution combines Devexperts’ DXtrade multi-asset trading platform with Huddlestock’s regulatory infrastructure, delivering an end-to-end platform covering custody, brokerage, KYC, payments and reporting.  The app reportedly provides three front-end modes, including a simplified interface for entry-level users, an advanced mode for experienced investors, and a bring-your-own-frontend option for clients with existing interfaces. A key feature of the offering is Huddlestock’s BaFin-regulated setup in Germany, which provides partners with access to a liability umbrella model, enabling them to offer regulated investment services without obtaining their own financial licence.  Through European passporting, clients can then scale across multiple jurisdictions following what the company describes as a “Germany-first, Europe-scale” approach. The solution has been developed as a component of Germany-based GIGA Broker’s Investment-as-a-Service offering and will be deployed as part of that firm’s forthcoming launch.  It is also intended to serve fintechs, embedded finance providers, media platforms, insurers and international firms seeking an efficient entry point into the European market.The post Huddlestock and Devexperts Launch White-Label IaaS App first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

DB Investing said Wednesday that it has signed a service provider agreement with MBME Pay, enabling retail investors across the UAE to fund their trading accounts through MBME Pay’s extensive kiosk network.  The move makes DB Investing the first regulated online broker in the region to integrate the payment infrastructure directly into its client funding ecosystem. Under the arrangement, clients can select MBME Pay as a deposit option within the DB Investing app, generate a transaction reference and complete the payment at any of MBME Pay’s more than 4,000 locations across the UAE, spanning residential complexes, hospitals, government offices, supermarkets and shopping centres. Funds are then reflected in the client’s trading account. The Firm explained that the partnership is designed to serve a segment of the UAE’s retail investor community that has historically faced barriers to market participation.  These include expatriate workers who primarily transact in cash and investors who prefer physical payment channels over traditional banking.  Gennaro Lanza, Chief Executive of DB Investing, believes the partnership removes one of the final barriers for a new generation of investors, adding that cash should never be an obstacle to wealth building. Abdelhadi Mohamed, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive of MBME Group, described the collaboration as extending the kiosk network into a new use case by connecting more people to global financial markets. The integration supports DB Investing’s Vision 2027 strategy, which targets a position among the top ten global investment firms.The post DB Investing Partners with MBME Pay to Offer Cash Deposits via UAE Kiosk Network first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Spotware launches cTrader Leads – a new programme designed to support brokers in attracting prospective traders free of charge through cTrader products and improve conversions to live trading via personalised onboarding mechanics. For brokers, attracting new traders is becoming increasingly expensive. Average cost per lead is rising to around $50 in the forex industry. By the time a trader completes their first deposit and starts live trading, total acquisition costs can climb as high as $800. That is pushing brokers to look for more cost-effective ways to attract new clients and convert demand into active trading. Benefits for brokers cTrader Leads creates a built-in acquisition channel across key cTrader products. Through cTrader Store and cross-broker cTrader apps, brokers can reach people who are already exploring trading. With more than 11 million traders worldwide using cTrader, the programme gives brokers a stable and scalable source of new potential clients. In addition, as the traffic comes through active product-related journeys, it ensures stronger intent and greater conversion potential. cTrader Leads gives brokers a stronger IB acquisition channel by keeping Store-driven leads tied to the IB’s preferred broker. This helps increase qualified referrals and creates more opportunities to attract prospective clients through the existing IB flow. As the programme continues to develop, Spotware will keep extending it with new lead sources across cTrader products. For brokers, this means broader exposure to prospective traders and a steadily expanding flow of potential clients. Brokers list In cTrader Store and the cross-broker cTrader apps, traders are regularly invited to start trading and explore a list of trusted cTrader brokers. As only reputable brokers are listed in cTrader’s scam-resistant environment, Store presence also helps brokers build trust with prospective traders. Once they choose a broker, they are redirected to the broker’s website to register and continue onboarding. Brokers may integrate Store-driven lead flows into their CRM, which can further improve conversion and create a smoother path to first deposit and live trading. Featured placement in the broker listing has shown strong value in raising broker visibility. It is based on transparent, merit-driven criteria, including trading volume in the user’s region, conversion from registration to first trade, quality of integration and overall brand strength. Lists are also adapted to each user’s country, keeping broker presence relevant. Crucially, cTrader supports newly onboarded brokers with added exposure to help them gain early traction. The conversion path looks as follows: cTrader Store OR cross-broker cTrader app  → Broker list → Client registration → Live trade. *The broker list is shown only to users who do not already have an account with any broker. Additionally, cTrader Leads integrates smoothly into the existing IB flow, keeping potential referrals within the partner’s funnel and driving attribution to their preferred broker. Once an IB sets a referral link in their settings, future referrals attracted by high-performing Store products will see only the relevant brokers in the featured and recommended lists. This increases the pool of potential traders for a specific broker and enhances client acquisition by combining IB efforts with appealing Store products for lead generation. Overall, rather than spending more on cold campaigns, brokers can effectively attract traders who are already interested in cTrader Store products, creating a targeted and cost-effective path to live trading. Personalised onboarding mechanics In the cross-broker cTrader app, the client journey may also start with a non-broker demo account, giving traders an opportunity to explore the platform. From there, cTrader Leads supports the move towards live trading through a range of personalised onboarding mechanics across the user journey, including in-app prompts. These help guide traders to the broker’s client area to complete registration, make their first deposit and start live trading. Here is an example of how the flow works using in-app ribbons as one of targeted mechanics: Cross-broker cTrader app → Demo account → Open live accounts ribbons → Client registration → Deposit ribbons → Live trade. With cTrader Leads, brokers gain early access to prospective clients at the very start of their journey: traders are guided towards registration and live trading, while the client funnel remains fully protected. Ilia Iarovitcyn, CEO of Spotware Systems, commented: “Helping brokers grow is one of our core priorities. That means creating more effective and scalable routes to client acquisition. cTrader Leads is our answer to that – it provides brokers with prospective traders and improves conversion, all at no additional cost. This is part of our broader commitment to strengthening our offering for brokers and supporting their business from multiple angles.” About cTrader cTrader is a premium trading platform launched in 2010, built on Traders First principles, serving over 11 million traders of all experience levels as well as 300+ brokers and prop firms. With advanced native charting, built-in social trading and free cloud execution for trading bots, cTrader delivers an excellent trading experience with best-in-class trader support. cTrader Store is a central hub for traders, offering thousands of bots, indicators, copy strategies, prop challenges and plugins. For brokers and prop firms, cTrader Store increases visibility among prospective traders through dedicated Brokers, Props and Prop Challenges sections, driving up to 10,000 daily visits. As an Open Trading Platform, cTrader supports brokers and prop firms with 100+ third-party integrations via APIs and plugins.The post Spotware launches cTrader Leads – a new programme providing free leads to brokers first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Seven major Swiss financial institutions have joined forces to launch a sandbox environment for testing a Swiss franc stablecoin. UBS, PostFinance, Sygnum, Raiffeisen, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise and Swiss Stablecoin AG are participating in the initiative, which will test selected use cases for a CHF stablecoin in a controlled live environment throughout 2026. The technical infrastructure for issuing the stablecoin will be provided by Swiss Stablecoin AG. The partners noted that whilst stablecoins, which are digital assets typically pegged one-to-one to a national currency, are gaining international significance, there is currently no regulated Swiss franc stablecoin with broad application in Switzerland.  The sandbox is aiming to address that gap by generating practical insights and building institutional capability in handling digital payment methods. The companies said this will be done under realistic but carefully safeguarded conditions, including a limited participant pool and defined transaction limits. The initiative’s goals include supporting the development of a Swiss digital money ecosystem, improving payment process efficiency and delivering tangible benefits for clients.  The sandbox is also open to other banks, companies and institutions wishing to contribute to the development of a CHF stablecoin.The post Seven Swiss Financial Institutions Launch CHF Stablecoin Sandbox first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

GTN, the global fintech firm, revealed on Wednesday that it has appointed Salim Sebbata as Chief Commercial Officer for Europe.  Sebbata is taked with scaling the company’s commercial partnerships and market presence across the region. Sebbata has more than 30 years of financial services experience, having held senior positions at Capital.com, BUX Financial Services, Merrill Lynch, E*TRADE and CMC Markets across Europe, the United Kingdom and the Middle East.  Most recently, he served as Head of Corporate Development at Capital.com, where he led acquisition strategy and new market entry across multiple regions.  At BUX, he was Chief Executive of the UK business and Global Managing Director for Derivatives, overseeing expansion into six new European countries. In his new role, Sebbata will lead GTN’s commercial strategy and partner development across Europe, working alongside the firm’s product, regulatory and technology teams to bring its infrastructure to brokers, banks, asset managers and fintechs. Christopher Gregory, GTN’s Chief Executive for Europe, said Sebbata “brings exactly the commercial depth and broker network we need to accelerate our growth across the region.”The post GTN Names Salim Sebbata as Chief Commercial Officer for Europe first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

On Tuesday, Paysafe unveiled Pay with Crypto, a new cryptocurrency payment method for iGaming operators and daily fantasy sports brands in the United States.  The service was developed in partnership with MoonPay, a crypto payments and stablecoin infrastructure provider. The solution allows players to fund their accounts using stablecoins such as USD Coin or major cryptocurrencies, with deposits instantly converted into US dollars to enable play. Transactions can be completed by connecting a crypto or custodial wallet, or via QR code using a mobile phone, with MoonPay’s Commerce Checkouts technology underpinning the process. Paysafe said the launch responds to significant consumer demand, citing figures suggesting approximately 70.4 million American adults own cryptocurrency, alongside its own research indicating 83 percent of US players have an appetite for crypto payment options.  The company added that operators also benefit from flexible settlement options, choosing between near-instant stablecoin settlement or conversion into US dollars or other fiat currencies via MoonPay’s Virtual Accounts. The product is available to operators through a single integration of the Paysafe Gateway, which already supports card payments, the Skrill digital wallet, eCash, Pay by Bank and more than 30 local payment methods. Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, stated: “Galvanized by the growing popularity of stablecoins, cryptocurrency is evolving in the U.S. from an investment asset into a unit of value for payments, and we’re seeing this shift gather pace in the country’s iGaming market.” MoonPay founder and Chief Executive Ivan Soto-Wright said the collaboration brings crypto payment functionality to more users through trusted, regulated platforms.The post Paysafe Launches Crypto Payment Solution for US iGaming Market first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Bloomberg Indices has expanded its commodity index capabilities with the launch of the Bloomberg Global Commodity Singles Indices, known as BCOM Global Singles. The product is said to offer investors targeted exposure to individual commodity futures beyond the 25 components of the flagship Bloomberg Commodity Index. The new indices track the performance of holding and rolling long positions in individual futures contracts across a broad range of commodity sectors, including energy, industrial and precious metals, grains, soft commodities and livestock.  Crucially, the expansion introduces regionally significant and non-US dollar-denominated futures, reflecting the growing importance of regional market dynamics in global commodity investing. “Investors are increasingly seeking more precise and flexible ways to access commodities within diversified portfolios,” said Jigna Gibb, Head of Commodities and Crypto Index Products at Bloomberg Index Services Limited. “The BCOM Global Singles extend our capabilities by offering targeted exposure to individual commodities across regions and currencies, helping investors navigate evolving market dynamics.”  The indices are designed to capture themes including supply chain realignments, geopolitical developments, and demand shifts linked to energy transition and food security. The new indices are accessible to Bloomberg Terminal users via the index search function.The post Bloomberg Launches Global Commodity Singles Indices first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Swiss financial data and market infrastructure provider SIX said Wednesday that it has launched an integration with Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud.  The company explained that the move enables mutual customers to access, combine and analyse regulatory and reference data from SIX directly within their Snowflake environment. The collaboration is said to be designed to reduce operational complexity for financial institutions by eliminating manual data inputs and replacing them with native, zero-copy access to SIX’s datasets within clients’ existing cloud infrastructure.  The integration also reportedly unlocks end-of-day market data for valuations and supports faster analytical insights across risk, compliance, product development and investment functions. SIX noted that the move is also partly a response to growing cross-jurisdictional tax and reporting obligations, including compliance with the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework.  Laurent Lefèvre, Head of Customer Interfaces for Financial Information at SIX, commented: “By bringing SIX data directly into the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, clients can accelerate innovation while focusing on insights and efficiency rather than managing data pipelines. Through this integrated intelligence network, we are empowering investors to make faster, data-led financial decisions.”  Dan Waters, Vice President of EMEA Partners and Alliances at Snowflake, described the integration as a reflection of both companies’ commitment to data-driven decision-making within financial services.The post SIX, Snowflake Integrate to Deliver Financial Data Directly Within Cloud Environment first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Webull said Tuesday that it has terminated its standby equity purchase agreement with investment firm Yorkville.  The move brings to a close a financing arrangement that allowed the online brokerage to issue up to $1 billion in Class A Ordinary Shares. The notice of termination was delivered to Yorkville on 1 April 2026 and took effect on 6 April.  Webull confirmed that at the time of termination, there were no outstanding advance notices, no shares pending issuance, and no amounts owed by either party, representing a clean exit from the agreement. Although the facility theoretically permitted up to $1 billion in share issuances, Webull made considerably more modest use of it.  The company issued and sold 11.5 million Class A Ordinary Shares to Yorkville, raising proceeds of $173.2 million.  No shares had been issued under the agreement since September 2025, suggesting the facility had effectively been dormant for several months prior to its formal termination. Webull, a digital investment platform, is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker BULL and offers investment services in 14 markets across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.The post Webull Terminates Standby Equity Purchase Agreement first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

There has been an impressive reaction to the news that the US and Iran will engage in a two-week ceasefire. Stocks are jumping, bond yields are sharply lower, and the oil price is plunging, with Brent crude down nearly 13%. Details of the 11th-hour agreement between Iran and the US include the US and Israel ending strikes on Iran in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. This is critical to boosting oil and gas supplies around the world, and explains the scale of the move in energy prices, with Brent seeing a two-standard-deviation move from the mean in a matter of hours. The deal buys time for a longer-lasting peace to be negotiated. World leaders are reportedly meeting in the Gulf today to discuss diplomatic efforts to ensure the ceasefire holds, suggesting international hope that this could mark the beginning of the end of the conflict. However, risks remain. Iran’s 10-point plan for peace reportedly includes a demand for Washington to accept its uranium enrichment programme, which is likely to be a major sticking point given that Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the aim of the conflict was to eradicate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Brooks notes that the market is warmly welcoming the deal, and the plunge in oil prices shows investors are willing to trade on hope that the Strait will reopen. That said, Brent remains above $90 per barrel, still well above its 12-month average of around $81. For the oil price drop to be sustained, insurers and shipping operators need to be comfortable that the risk of passing through the Strait has decreased. Over 800 tankers are currently stuck there, and movement in the coming days will be key. The market moves across asset classes have been striking. European stocks are surging, with the Eurostoxx index up 5% and the FTSE 100 higher by 3%, though UK gains are being held back by weakness in oil majors. US futures point to a 2.6% gain for the S&P 500 and a 3% rally in the Nasdaq, suggesting US underperformance relative to international peers could continue even during the recovery. In Asia, the Nikkei rose more than 5%, while the Dubai Stock Exchange jumped over 6% for its best session since 2020. The dollar is the weakest currency in the G10 space, with GBP/USD up more than 1%, EUR/USD higher by 0.85%, and USD/JPY down 0.8%. Sterling is now eking out a gain against the dollar since the onset of the war, though the Aussie, kiwi, yen, and Swiss franc still have ground to make up if the ceasefire holds. Bond yields are plunging around the world. French 10-year yields are down 22 basis points, Italian yields lower by 27 basis points, and UK gilt yields down around 20 basis points across the curve. The sharp drop in oil has led to a massive repricing of interest rate expectations, with just over one Bank of England hike now priced in, down from nearly four at the peak of the conflict. Brooks notes that if the ceasefire leads to a lasting peace, rate cut expectations could start to return for the BoE in coming months. Overall, market enthusiasm for the ceasefire is strong, but this remains a news-driven market. If the ceasefire breaks down or ships fail to move through the Strait of Hormuz, sentiment could shift quickly. This original analysis was provided by  Kathleen Brooks, Research Director XTBThe post The mighty reversal: US-Iran truce triggers massive market moves first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

ClearToken, the digital financial market infrastructure provider, has appointed Fernando Cerezetti as Chief Risk Officer of its subsidiary ClearToken CCP Limited. Cerezetti will lead the development and oversight of the CCP’s risk management framework as ClearToken CCP Limited progresses its application with the Bank of England to become an authorised Central Counterparty. He brings over two decades of specialist experience to the role. Most recently, he served for more than five years as Head of Model Risk Management, Data and Governance at ICE Clear Europe, part of Intercontinental Exchange. Prior to that, he spent three years as a Risk Advisor in the Bank of England’s Risk, Research and CCP Policy Division, and earlier worked as a Quant Associate Director for B3, the Brazilian exchange formerly known as BM & FBOVESPA. Cerezetti also spent over seven years as Chair of the Risk Committee of the European Association of CCP Clearing Houses (EACH) and as a member of the Consultative Working Group for the ESMA CCP Policy Committee. He holds a PhD in Statistics and is a PhD candidate in Financial Economics at King’s College London. Benjamin Santos-Stephens, CEO of ClearToken, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome someone of Fernando’s experience and knowledge to ClearToken, to add even further to the team of all-stars we are building here. To attract people of Fernando’s calibre to the company is a great endorsement of our vision to deliver a future-proofed, regulated financial market infrastructure that can deliver on the promises of digital assets and tokenisation, and pave the way for large scale institutional adoption.” The hire follows a series of senior appointments at ClearToken, including Mark Williamson as Chief Commercial Officer and Chris Smith as Chief Operating Officer. In Q4 2025, ClearToken secured FCA authorisation for its ClearToken Depository Limited subsidiary, selected Nasdaq as its technology partner, and launched CT Settle, its delivery-versus-payment settlement platform. The firm also recently announced plans to launch three Daml-based platforms on the Canton Network for regulated tokenisation, payments, and settlement.The post ClearToken appoints Fernando Cerezetti as Chief Risk Officer first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Beeks Financial Cloud Group announced on Tuesday the signing of a five-year Proximity Cloud contract with a large foreign exchange broker.  The deal is worth £2.1 million in total, with the Scottish financial infrastructure provider continuing to build commercial momentum. The broker has been a Private Cloud customer of Beeks since September 2025. It is now expanding its use of the company’s infrastructure by migrating to Proximity Cloud, utilising it across multiple locations.. Revenue recognition from the contract is expected to begin within the current financial year. Proximity Cloud is designed to meet the demanding latency and reliability requirements of institutional trading firms, offering dedicated infrastructure within Beeks’ network of financial exchange proximity locations.  “This latest win highlights both the strength of our offering and the significant expansion potential across our growing customer base of major financial institutions. We continue to see strong momentum across the business and remain focused on converting our considerable and growing pipeline,” said Gordon McArthur, Chief Executive of Beeks.The post Beeks Financial Cloud Secures Proximity Cloud Contract with FX Broker first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) announced on Tuesday a partnership with BNY, joining the American custodian’s correspondent banking network.  The company also gains access to BNY’s Fixed Income Brokerage platform in a move designed to deepen the Bahrain-based digital bank’s integration of traditional and crypto finance. Through the correspondent banking arrangement, SGB noted that it adds BNY as a leading US dollar clearing provider, strengthening its ability to support real-time, around-the-clock settlement for global corporate clients.  The partnership is expected to complement SGB’s existing infrastructure, which already includes an integration with J.P. Morgan’s Wire 365 service for 24/7 USD settlement and clearing via SGB Net, the bank’s proprietary settlement network. The addition of BNY’s Fixed Income Brokerage platform extends SGB’s product offering further, enabling the trading of money market funds and US Treasury bills.  This provides the bank’s crypto-native clients with a regulated avenue to allocate capital from digital assets into traditional fixed income instruments, including US government securities. SGB, which is fully licensed and backed by Whampoa Group and Mumtalakat, described the partnership as the latest step in its strategy to build a compliant banking infrastructure that bridges digital and traditional currencies.  BNY will serve as an institutional vault and trading hub within that framework, allowing client funds to be invested into secure assets.The post Singapore Gulf Bank Joins BNY’s Correspondent Banking Network first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Cboe Global Markets has revealed a wave of trading volume records in March and across the first quarter of 2026, with standout performances spanning its US options, European equities and global foreign exchange businesses. In US options, Cboe’s proprietary index options set both monthly and quarterly average daily volume records, reaching 6.9 million and 6.1 million contracts, respectively.  S&P 500 Index options drove much of that activity, with a monthly average daily volume of 5.4 million contracts, which was also a record, whilst zero-days-to-expiry SPX contracts hit a monthly high of 3.2 million contracts.  VIX options delivered their second-best quarter on record, averaging 994 thousand contracts per day. Cboe’s trading floor also saw record activity in March, with overall open outcry average daily volume reaching 2.2 million contracts and SPX open outcry hitting 937 thousand contracts. In European equities, Cboe Europe set a record quarterly average daily notional value of €17.3 billion, surpassed by a new monthly record of €18.6 billion in March.  Cboe Periodic Auctions and the Cboe Closing Cross post-trade service each registered multiple records during the period. Global FX activity showed Cboe FX Spot average daily notional value reaching an all-time high of $74.5 billion in March, up 42.9 percent year-on-year. The Swap Execution Facility also posted its highest-ever monthly average daily volume, more than doubling compared with March 2025. Cboe also issued preliminary revenue per contract guidance for the first quarter of 2026, with total options net capture projected at $0.342 per contract, up from $0.317 in December 2025.The post Cboe Posts Records Across Options, Equities and FX in March first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.

Nasdaq on Monday released a statement responding to its move to offer the Nasdaq-100 Index to new, select partners for exchange-traded fund products in the U.S. The move is aimed at broadening investor access to one of the world’s most closely followed large-cap equity benchmarks. The index currently underpins a wide range of investment products globally, spanning ETFs, mutual funds, derivatives, structured notes and insurance vehicles.  Nasdaq said the expansion is intended to be additive to the existing ecosystem, improving efficiency, liquidity and availability of benchmark-linked exposure across markets and product types. The firm added that existing licence agreements remain unaffected by the new filings. The decision reflects growing global demand for Nasdaq-100 exposure, with the exchange operator stating its intention to extend international reach and deepen institutional access by partnering with a select group of firms in key markets. Nasdaq was keen to emphasise that the move does not diminish its relationship with Invesco, the longstanding licensee behind the widely held QQQ family of funds.  The company said it remains committed to supporting the Invesco QQQ Innovation Suite, describing it as a cornerstone of the Nasdaq-100 ecosystem. Licensing terms for the new ETFs are consistent with those applied to QQQ. On Monday, it was reported that BlackRock has filed a preliminary prospectus for an exchange-traded fund that would track the Nasdaq 100 Index.The post Nasdaq Issues Statement Responding to Nasdaq-100 Index-Linked Product Filings first appeared on LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis.