iFX EXPO International 2026 returns to Limassol, 16-18 June, and for the global brokerage industry, it remains the single most important event on the calendar.Whether operating as an online trading or crypto firm, a prop trading company, a bullion dealer, a stockbroker, or a traditional broker, the challenges facing the industry in 2026 are real, complex, and accelerating. Regulatory pressure is tightening across jurisdictions. Liquidity costs are rising. Client acquisition is more competitive than ever. Technology cycles are shortening. And finding the right partners takes time that many brokerages simply don't have.iFX EXPO International brings these challenges, solutions, and decision-makers together under one roof in just two days.The challenges are known. The solutions are here.High market volatility continues to place pressure on execution infrastructure across asset classes, from forex and commodities to crypto and equities. Meanwhile, prop firms face evolving compliance environments, and crypto brokers are navigating both regulatory uncertainty and shifting client expectations around platform quality and transparency.These are not abstract problems. They are daily operational realities, and iFX EXPO brings together the firms with the tools to address them.Who attendees will meet and what they’ll findThe expo floor brings brokerages into direct contact with liquidity providers, technology vendors, payment processors, Introducing Brokers (IBs), and affiliate networks, the full ecosystem, under one roof. Exhibitors confirmed for 2026 include names spanning trading infrastructure, RegTech, and fintech payments, such as B2Broker, Plus500, MetaQuotes, and more, giving attendees a practical shortlist of vetted solutions to evaluate in real time.Two dedicated conference stages run throughout the event, featuring topics such as “Fiat vs Stablecoins vs Bitcoin” and “When Crypto Platforms Trade Wall Street,” led by market leaders, regulators, and sector specialists. For brokerages tracking regulatory shifts or exploring new asset classes, this is practical market intelligence that would otherwise take weeks to source independently. Beyond the sessions, the structured networking environment, lounges, hosted meetings, and evening functions provide a more natural environment for meaningful business connections and long-term partnerships to develop.Register for free and unlock the full experienceA registered pass grants access to the full exhibition floor, both conference stages, networking lounges, and official social events. Attendees can also use the app to explore exhibitors more efficiently. For decision-makers at brokerages of any type, this is direct exposure to the solutions, partners, and insights that drive growth. Register now to secure a place at iFX EXPO International 2026.Stay connectedFollow iFX EXPO on social media for speaker announcements, exhibitor previews, and event updates in the lead-up to June. The full programme is taking shape, and the most relevant details for each brokerage category will be announced in the coming weeks. For brokers looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market, iFX EXPO International 2026 remains one of the industry’s key meeting points. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Bryn Newell has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne-headquartered broker Eightcap. According to his LinkedIn profile, he took over the role at the beginning of 2026. The broker’s UK CEO, Ollie Rosewell, announced his departure from the company after about eight months in the role.A New CEO Takes OverThe appointment of Bryn Newell came only months after the departure of Alex Howard, who served as Eightcap CEO from early 2023 until about September last year. It remains unclear whether someone else took charge after Howard’s departure before Newell took over.Newell joined Eightcap in mid-2021 as its Chief Technology Officer. He was later the broker’s Chief Information Officer before becoming CEO. He has extensive experience in the banking industry. He started his career at National Australia Bank, where he spent 14 years before leaving as Head of Technology.Who Will Head the UK Operations Now?Rosewell’s departure also came after he spent almost seven years with the broker. He joined the broker’s UK unit in mid-2019 as Chief Marketing Officer and later became regional CEO, serving as Commercial Director in between.He is a marketer and led the marketing division of several brokerage brands, including now-closed ETX Capital, later known as OvalX, AFX Group, and London Capital Group. He also spent several years at IG in several marketing-related roles.It remains unclear, however, who will replace Rosewell as Eightcap’s UK CEO. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

For the next forty-eight hours, Cape Town will become the operational heart of African fintech. The Finance Magnates Africa Summit (FMAS:26) has arrived for its fourth stint in South Africa’s financial capital, bringing a heavy-hitting delegation of 2,800 attendees and 500 global brands.In a year defined by market whiplash and regulatory pivots, this isn't just a networking exercise; it is a pulse check for a continent that is entering a new phase of retail and institutional trading.The Weight of the RoomThe scale of FMAS:26 reflects Africa’s transition from a frontier curiosity to a mandatory fixture on the global financial map. The event has secured more than 50 speakers who represent the full spectrum of the industry, from the digital asset giants to the traditional banking guard. Attendees can expect a programme that moves beyond generalities, focusing instead on the friction points of 2026: liquidity, local regulation, and the survival of the fittest in an increasingly crowded brokerage space.Stress Testing the Business ModelA major theme of the summit is the sheer resilience required to operate in the current climate. We will hear from the people at the helm, including representatives from Lebowa Capital, Webull Securities South Africa, TD Markets and Tickmill Group. These leaders are expected to share how they have recalibrated their operations in the face of 2026’s volatility. This operational focus naturally leads into the regulatory conversation, where experts will dissect the FSCA’s latest moves to tighten the screws on financial education and affiliate conduct.Infrastructure for the Next DecadeBeyond the immediate trades, the summit is set to interrogate the "plumbing" of African finance. While the macro panels will handle the immediate market noise, other sessions will look at the structural fixes. This includes a deep dive into how blockchain and stablecoins are being used to solve the region's settlement delays, with insights from VALR, BVNK, and the UK Department for Business and Trade.This technological thread continues into Day 2, where the conversation evolves into the role of autonomous agents and AI in closing the infrastructure gap.A New Breed of ParticipantFinally, expect a significant focus on the changing face of the African trader. The rise of "prop trading" has become a lightning rod for debate, and FMAS:26 will address this head-on with contributions from WeFunded and For Traders. Whether it is the move toward funded accounts or the dash for "safe haven" assets like gold, the summit will provide a clear-eyed view of what the African market actually looks like in 2026, and where the smart money is heading next.This interrogation of market timing will also teach attendees how to "trade the news" in an era of information saturation. It is a programme designed to take attendees from the macro-economic clouds right down to the individual tick of a trade. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

The proprietary trading industry experienced a severe structural shift. Historically, the market was flooded with standalone prop firms offering massive simulated capital entirely backed by opaque internal logic. Many of these firms relied heavily on clients failing hidden drawdown limits to generate revenue, resulting in massive industry wide collapses when payout requests spiked. Entering 2026, professional retail traders demand absolute transparency. To achieve this, the entire industry shifted heavily toward models directly operated by transparent, heavily regulated legacy brokers.In this overview, we dissect the core operational and transparency metrics of three deeply integrated broker backed proprietary evaluation programs: Hola Prime, Axi Select, and OANDA Prop Trading. We examine their payout structures, evaluation costs, and specific market bridging configurations.Risk Warning: Participating in proprietary trading evaluations carries inherent risk to your upfront capital. Ensure you fully understand the strict rules regarding scaling, trailing drawdowns, and maximum daily loss limits before committing capital to a challenge.Framework for EvaluationEvaluating "transparency" in the modern proprietary market requires stripping away marketing metrics and focusing strictly on internal structural logic. We evaluated Hola Prime, Axi Select, and OANDA based on their operational clarity.First, we examined drawdown mathematics. Opaque prop firms frequently hide trailing drawdown logic that mathematically guarantees failure during rapid market swings. We exclusively reviewed networks operating with highly transparent or completely static drawdown calculations.Second, we evaluated liquidity bridging. Standalone prop firms operate simulated demo accounts isolated completely from the market. We evaluated whether these three specific firms utilize their robust external broker connections to mirror successful trades directly into live institutional liquidity.Finally, we analyzed fee structure transparency. We verified upfront evaluation costs, recurring desk fees, and exact profit split ratios to ensure total mathematical clarity.Quick Technical OverviewHola Prime FeaturesHola Prime structurally bridges the gap between traditional retail brokerage matching and modern scaled proprietary investing. The firm built massive traction recently precisely by focusing on operational transparency, eliminating the complex hidden rules that typically plague third party challenge ecosystems.Evaluation SimplicityHola Prime operates highly streamlined scaling programs. Users select between single phase or dual phase scaling accounts. The transparency originates directly from the elimination of hidden trailing drawdown mechanics. Accounts feature clearly defined static daily pause limits and total matrix loss parameters mapped dynamically within the user dashboard.If a user hits a daily drawdown limit, the platform immediately locks execution to protect the account from full termination, a massive protective layer entirely missing from standard standalone prop operations.Broker Ecosystem IntegrationTransparency significantly increases when the proprietary network is inextricably linked to raw institutional data. Hola Prime operates within a deeply integrated hybrid broker environment. Traders are not subjected to manipulated synthetic pricing feeds designed to hunt stop losses. They operate directly on the identical low latency ECN streams provided to standard funded retail executing clients.Payout and ScalingThe payout structure is mathematically explicit. Successful execution and scaling allow traders to command up to $500,000 in simulated external funding natively. Profit distributions scale quickly from an initial baseline of 80 percent up heavily to 95 percent strictly based on consistent algorithmic milestones documented completely openly on their public facing portal.Pros & ConsAxi Select FeaturesAxi essentially disrupted the entire foundation of the prop firm model. As an incredibly established tier one retail broker holding absolute legacy licenses across the FCA and ASIC, Axi entered the capital allocation market by entirely removing the structural revenue engine of standard prop firms: evaluation fees.The Edge Score ModelAxi Select actively refuses to charge testing fees. The transparency of this network lies purely in its algorithmic approach to mathematical analysis. Retail traders open standard retail execution accounts with Axi. From there, the broker heavily monitors the live fundamental trading activity.The broker utilizes a transparent internal metric labeled the Edge Score, calculating daily risk profiles, win variance, and drawdown mechanics. If the retail trader mathematically proves they can generate risk adjusted alpha, Axi systematically automatically injects up to $1,000,000 in actual external corporate capital directly into that user's specific infrastructure.Eliminating the Conflict of InterestStandard prop firms inherently hope massive percentages of clients blindly fail evaluations so the firm can collect the upfront challenge fees natively. Axi Select completely operates inversely. Because the broker injects its own literal corporate funds rather than simulated data, the broker requires the retail trader to succeed. This mathematically guarantees execution latency and spread transparency will remain flawless, preventing engineered slippage.Pros & ConsOANDA Prop Trading FeaturesOANDA operates as one of the preeminent giants of the global retail landscape, renowned specifically for its intensely rigorous regulatory footing within the domestic United States (CFTC) alongside global legacy hubs securely under the FCA. The launch of OANDA Prop Trading injected massive amounts of absolute institutional validity into an otherwise decentralized niche market correctly.Institutional Legacy BridgingThe distinct transparency of OANDA Prop Trading relies almost entirely on its legacy footprint. Retail traders utilize identical proprietary technology, charting bridges, and macro environmental data streams that multi million dollar institutional OANDA clients access daily. Bypassing unverified third party software ensures the prop trading matching engine operates with total zero pip visibility and perfect institutional execution parity.Challenge ArchitectureOANDA provides highly specific phase oriented challenges. The rules are documented with extreme legal precision, directly reflecting the exact operational transparency demanded by highly regulated financial entities. The initial start cost rests firmly around $249 for standard high capital evaluations.Pricing thresholds and maximum allocation grids explicitly cap around $500,000 natively. Critically, OANDA utilizes specific static risk logic to process evaluation grading, absolutely rejecting the usage of highly toxic relative trailing drawdowns that typically guarantee account failure strictly through temporary massive volatility spikes.Pros & ConsSummary of Prop Firm TransparencyTransparency strictly exists when evaluation dynamics are definitively matched against proven execution structures.Hola Prime simplifies the prop space heavily, removing toxic trailing drawdowns and protecting users natively via integrated daily loss locking technologies securely tied to a raw ECN footprint.Axi completely revolutionizes the market natively, abandoning evaluation fees entirely to organically calculate risk parameters using live corporate Edge Score programming.OANDA lends massive legacy validation to capital allocation structurally, leveraging deep tier one regulation and pure institutional liquidity feeds directly into completely clear evaluation rulesets.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy are broker-backed prop firms more secure than standalone prop firms?Standalone prop firms frequently run unregulated B-book operations completely detached from real financial markets, surviving purely on the statistical reality that over 90 percent of clients fail the evaluation phase. They are unvetted operations. Broker backed networks like Axi and OANDA are subject to strict financial compliance rules natively, requiring physical daily auditing spanning capital reserves, liquidity integration, and public payout structures safely.What is a relative trailing drawdown?A relative trailing drawdown is a highly controversial prop firm rule where the maximum allowable loss parameter strictly follows the absolute highest water mark of an account during open trades. If you generate $5,000 in open floating profit but let the trade retrace, the hidden trailing parameter instantly fails your account even if you successfully closed the trade in profit. Highly transparent firms like Hola Prime aggressively avoid this rule automatically.Does Axi Select really cost zero dollars to evaluate?Yes. Entering the Axi Select program costs strictly $0 structurally. The system evaluates the mathematical Edge Score generated natively within a standard retail execution account physically operating live capital, completely removing the massive third party evaluation payments associated with standard simulation challenges.Are prop firm payouts guaranteed?Legitimate broker backed proprietary networks legally guarantee successful profit split distribution strictly governed by their internal compliance and regulatory banking networks. However, payout requests directly demand that traders flawlessly adhered strictly to every single parameter (no hard scaling violations) explicitly listed during the original challenge phases reliably.Disclaimer: Proprietary capital trading structurally carries a highly volatile risk profile. Engaging heavily in paid evaluation cycles can result in complete capital loss. CFD margin mechanics apply heavily against deployed risk environments. You should carefully consider whether you fully understand evaluation structures, drawdown logic, and overall structural risk tolerance. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

XTB has extended its options offering to France, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, less than two months after launching the product in Germany and Spain, even as customers in its home market of Poland remain locked out pending regulatory approval.The Warsaw-listed broker now offers American-style options on 110 U.S.-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds across seven European markets, the firm said yesterday (Monday). Cyprus, Germany and Spain went live earlier this year, with the four new countries added in the latest wave.Four Markets Added After XTB’s April Push Into Germany and SpainThe latest rollout follows through on a commitment from XTB CEO Omar Arnaout, who said in April that the broker would "continue expanding options to additional European markets in the coming months" after the Germany and Spain launch sent the company's shares to record territory.The Cyprus debut in January was a first run under CySEC supervision with a limited product set.XTB said the options product is paired with TradingView-powered charts on its xStation platform, giving traders configurable charts, indicators and order placement directly from the chart interface. The web version of TradingView is only switched on in markets where options have launched, the company said.The contract design mirrors the earlier rollouts. Clients can buy options, including same-day-expiry contracts on select underlyings, but cannot write them. The buy-only structure caps revenue but limits downside risk for retail traders who may be new to derivatives.France Becomes the Most Notable AdditionOf the four new markets, France stands out. XTB has been pouring marketing money into the country since launching tax-advantaged PEA accounts there in April 2025, targeting more than 7 million existing French long-term investment accounts in a market where fewer than 30,000 retail clients actively trade CFDs.The push has accelerated this year. XTB's French client base grew 50% year-over-year by the end of 2025, and in March the firm signed a sponsorship deal with Paris La Défense Arena, its biggest brand spend in the country to date.[#highlighted-links#] Options give the broker another product to market into that audience alongside stocks, ETFs and the PEA wrapper.The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Portugal are core legacy markets where XTB has piloted most of its non-CFD product launches over the past three years, including fractional shares, ETF investment plans and a multi-currency mobile wallet.Rivals Race to Lock In European Retail Options DemandXTB is moving into a segment already crowded with larger and longer-established players. Interactive Brokers and Saxo Bank have offered full options books to European clients for years, while IG Group last year opened a UK waiting list for options under its tastytrade brand and more recently extended vanilla options to Japanese corporate accounts. U.S. platforms like Robinhood and tastytrade continue to set the retail benchmark.Beyond options, German neobroker Trade Republic, which entered Poland in late 2025, has built its European challenge around bonds, ETFs and private equity access for retail rather than derivatives, while Robinhood has pushed venture funds and crypto products on the continent. Poland Still Waiting as Home Market Lags RolloutPolish clients, who account for the largest share of XTB's customer base, still cannot trade options. The company is waiting for sign-off from Poland's financial regulator, KNF, before adding the product domestically. Board member Filip Kaczmarzyk first flagged the buy-only design in October 2025 as a deliberate first step the broker would expand over time.XTB's plans for spot cryptocurrency trading in Poland remain similarly stuck, contingent on pending MiCA-related legislation in the country.Options Push Lands After Record First QuarterThe expansion comes as XTB rides a run of unusually strong results. The broker reported Q1 2026 net profit of PLN 535 million, up 176% year-over-year, on operating income of PLN 1.09 billion. The company crossed 1 million Polish accounts earlier this month and launched a PLN 10.66 million share buyback.XTB shares were trading near PLN 110 on Monday, shy below the all-time highs reached in early April when the Germany and Spain launch was first announced. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Equiti Group's Jordan unit has agreed a three-year sponsorship with the Jordan Tennis Federation, becoming the federation's Official Partner from May 2026 through April 2029, the broker said today (Tuesday).The deal hands Equiti Jordan naming rights to the federation's Junior Tennis Initiative, the development pipeline for school-age players. It covers both tennis and padel programs at the national and international level. Financial terms were not disclosed.Localized Sports Deals Stay Core to Equiti's Marketing MixThe tennis tie-up follows a pattern Equiti has settled into over the past year. The Jordan Securities Commission-licensed broker is part of a group with entities in the UK, UAE, Cyprus, Kenya and elsewhere.In June 2025, the firm took naming rights to Dubai's Youth Football League, rebranding the competition as the Equiti Youth Football League. The group also serves as sleeve sponsor of Abu Dhabi football club Al Wahda.Lutfi Shahin, Managing Director of Equiti Group Limited (Jordan), said the partnership would "invest in the next generation of Jordanian athletic talent," according to a statement.[#highlighted-links#] The broker did not detail the cash value of the agreement, the breakdown of program spend or the value attached to the naming rights.Equiti has also been busy on the product side, bringing in TraderEvolution as a platform provider in December 2025 and entering an introducing arrangement with Bursa+ earlier this month.Khaled J. Naffa', President of the Jordan Tennis Federation, called the agreement "an investment in the future of Jordanian sport," according to the statement. He said the support would help Jordanian players reach higher levels of competition and access international tournaments.Tennis Sponsorships Remain a Familiar Pit Stop for CFD BrokersFederation-level tennis deals sit on the smaller end of a sponsorship category brokers have worked for more than a decade. Rival CFD provider CFI Financial Group signed on as premium sponsor of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in 2022, placing its branding alongside players including Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud.Other brokers have leaned on individual star endorsements rather than federations. TMGM signed German player Alexander Zverev ahead of the 2021 Australian Open, where it also held the title of official sponsor. Czech prop trading firm Fintokei brought on Japanese pro Yoshihito Nishioka as a global ambassador in 2024, while 24option contracted Boris Becker as early as 2015. XM has long used Rafael Nadal as a brand face.Rather than buying broadcast exposure through a tour event or a top-20 player, Equiti is backing a national governing body and a youth pipeline in a market where it already holds a local license.That mirrors a path CFI took years ago in Jordan. The broker has sponsored the Jordanian basketball federation since 2021 and in 2023 lent its name to the country's premier knockout football tournament, which now runs as the CFI Jordan Cup.Jordan's CFD Market Grows More CrowdedThe sponsorship lands in a Jordanian market that has become more competitive. Equiti was the first retail brokerage to secure a Jordan Securities Commission license in roughly a decade when it received approval in 2018. CFI Jordan was operating around the same time through its own JSC license.The landscape shifted again in October 2025, when Exness opened its first MENA office in Amman after obtaining a JSC permit. INGOT Brokers also lists Jordan among its regulated jurisdictions. The market remains small relative to the UAE, but the JSC license is one of the few onshore retail trading permits available in the Levant.The Jordan tennis deal joins the broker's founding partnership of Dubai Basketball, signed last September ahead of the club's EuroLeague debut, in a sponsorship lineup that now spans three sports across two countries. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

OKX has hired former Bybit and Crypto.com executive Maxim Orlov to lead its CIS operations as the exchange expands its institutional and VIP coverage in the region. OKX appears focused on higher-value traders and institutional relationships in the CIS region, where local coverage and client networks remain important. Before joining OKX, Orlov spent four years at Bybit managing high-value client operations across Western Europe, the CIS, and Latin America. His experience across traditional banking and crypto spans more than 15 years.Building a Regional VIP Team Industry-wide, VIP tiers often generate higher margins despite lower trading volumes. OKX’s VIP tier starts at $100,000 in balance or trading volume. The exchange revised its fee structure in March 2026 as competition for institutional flow intensified among large exchanges including Bybit and Binance. OKX is already building out the team. A Senior VIP Relationship Manager role for the CIS region is currently open, with Orlov listed as the hiring manager. The role requires native Russian fluency and regular travel across the CIS region for in-person client meetings. The approach relies heavily on local relationships and direct client coverage rather than remote account management.Why the CIS Market Matters The CIS crypto market remains active and increasingly regulated. Kyrgyzstan processed $11.3 billion in exchange volume during the first seven months of 2025 and now licenses 13 exchanges and 169 operators, according to the country’s Ministry of Economy. Russia ranked first in European crypto adoption in 2025, according to Chainalysis, driven partly by demand for alternative payment channels amid sanctions. The market combines significant liquidity with fragmented access and varying regulatory requirements. OKX holds a MiCA license (secured in 2025) and a Payment Institution license in Europe, giving the exchange regulated status that may appeal to institutional clients in the CIS region. “My focus has always been the same: high-value client relationships, growing trading and deposit volumes, and building teams that actually deliver,” Orlov said in his announcement. The hire suggests OKX is willing to invest in local VIP coverage and regional expansion rather than manage the CIS market remotely. The company is pairing that approach with European regulatory licenses and a broader regional hiring push. How quickly the strategy translates into market share will become clearer as the CIS team expands through 2026. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

In the online trading industry, few words are used more often, and understood less consistently, than “fairness.”A trader who has lost money may feel that fairness means being reimbursed. A broker facing an allegation may feel that fairness means being protected from reputational damage when the facts support its position. A regulator may define fairness by reference to licensing rules, capital requirements, reporting obligations, or enforcement standards. A court may define it by legal liability.At the Financial Commission, fairness means something different: a transparent, structured, evidence-based process that gives both sides the opportunity to be heard. That distinction matters. It is also where much of the misunderstanding about the role of our dispute resolution forum begins.We are not here to take sidesOne of the most common misconceptions I hear from FX/CFD brokers about the Financial Commission is that we exist to “protect traders” in a one-sided sense. Another misconception, usually from the other side of the table, is that because our members are brokerages, we must exist to blindly protect brokers, stamping membership certificates to offer credibility.Both assumptions miss the point.The Financial Commission was created as an independent external dispute resolution forum for cases where traders and broker members cannot resolve a complaint directly. We are not a government regulator, and we do not pretend to be one. We do not replace national regulatory authorities, courts, or law enforcement. We also do not act as an insurance policy against normal trading losses.Our role is narrower, but very important: to provide a fair, efficient, and informed process for reviewing disputes in the Forex and CFD industry.That process protects traders because it gives them access to an independent channel outside the broker’s internal complaint desk, oftentimes helping to educate novice traders in risk management, bonus policies and alleviate anxiety over delayed money withdrawals. It protects brokers because it ensures that complaints are reviewed according to evidence and rules, rather than emotion, social media pressure, or assumptions about how markets work, and more importantly according to the current evolution of trader behaviors, both good and ill intentioned that have an impact on revenue and public credibility.In other words, our role is not to decide who is more sympathetic. Our role is to determine what happened, what can be proven, which rules apply, and whether a remedy is justified.Fairness is a methodology, not a sloganIn retail trading, disputes often begin with frustration. A withdrawal is delayed. A position is closed. The price looks wrong. A bonus term is misunderstood. A platform event is interpreted as manipulation. A trader sees an outcome that feels unfair and naturally wants someone independent to look at it.But a feeling of unfairness and a finding of unfair conduct are not the same thing.This is why methodology matters.Before a case can move forward, a trader must first give the broker an opportunity to resolve the issue through its internal dispute resolution process. This step is sometimes overlooked by people who think dispute resolution should begin immediately with a third party. In practice, it is essential. Many disputes are resolved faster when both sides communicate clearly, exchange information, and identify whether the issue was caused by a misunderstanding, a documentation gap, a technical error, or a genuine failure in service.If the matter remains unresolved, the Financial Commission reviews the complaint within a defined framework. Jurisdiction matters. Evidence matters. Timing matters. The broker’s terms and conditions matter. Trading logs, pricing data, communication records, platform history, withdrawal records, and risk disclosures all matter.That may sound procedural. It is. But procedure is what turns a dispute from a shouting match into a reviewable case.The methodology of fairness requires discipline. It requires asking the same questions even when one side is louder, more emotional, or more commercially powerful than the other. It requires understanding how trading actually works, including execution, liquidity, volatility, leverage, margin, order types, platform settings, and client agreements. It also requires acknowledging that not every poor outcome is misconduct, and not every broker explanation is sufficient.Protecting traders means giving them a real voiceThe Forex and CFD industry is global, fast-moving, and complex. Traders often interact with brokers across borders, in different languages, under different regulatory regimes, and with products that can be difficult to understand even for experienced market participants.For a retail trader, this can feel intimidating. When a problem arises, the trader may not know whom to contact, what evidence to provide, how to frame the complaint, or whether the broker’s response is reasonable.This is where external dispute resolution provides real value.A trader who files a complaint with the Financial Commission receives access to a process that is free for clients of member firms and designed to examine the matter independently. The trader is not required to have the resources of a large institution. The complaint is not dismissed simply because the trader lacks legal sophistication. The trader has a channel to present facts, documents, and concerns in a structured way.That is protection.But meaningful protection does not mean automatic compensation. It means the trader’s complaint is taken seriously, reviewed professionally, and measured against the available evidence.When a trader is right, a fair process should recognize that. When a trader is wrong, outside the rules, or unable to support the claim, a fair process must also be willing to say so.Fairness loses its meaning if it only moves in one direction.Protecting brokers is also part of market integrityBroker’s decision makers are often surprised when I say that the Financial Commission also protects their business. They should not be.A market cannot be fair if legitimate firms have no protection against unfounded allegations. In today’s environment, a complaint can become public within minutes. A trader can post screenshots, accusations, edited timelines, or incomplete facts on forums and social media long before a broker has had a chance to investigate or respond.This does not mean the trader is acting in bad faith. Often, the trader is simply upset and looking for help. But from the broker’s perspective, the reputational impact can be immediate and significant.A neutral dispute resolution process gives brokers a proper forum to respond. It allows them to submit records, explain technical details, clarify contractual terms, and show whether their actions were consistent with their obligations. This is especially important in an industry where many disputes involve execution quality, pricing, slippage, bonus terms, withdrawals, chargebacks, account verification, and risk controls — areas where the facts are not always visible to the client at first glance.Protecting brokers from unfair claims is not anti-trader. It is pro-fairness.If good brokers are not given a credible way to defend themselves, the industry becomes more vulnerable to rumor, reputational attacks, and complaint inflation. That does not help traders. It makes the market less transparent and less trustworthy.Why neutral outcomes are often misunderstoodOne reason FC is sometimes misunderstood is that neutrality can be disappointing.If a trader expects FC to act as an advocate, a decision in favor of the broker may feel like betrayal. If a broker expects membership to shield it from scrutiny, a decision in favor of the trader may feel like punishment. If the public expects every complaint to produce a dramatic finding, a case closed for lack of jurisdiction or insufficient evidence may seem unsatisfying.But neutral dispute resolution is not designed to satisfy every expectation. It is designed to produce reasoned outcomes.Some complaints fall outside our jurisdiction. Some are better directed to a regulator, court, bank, payment provider, or law enforcement agency. Some involve non-member firms. Some relate to trading losses that are part of the risks the client accepted. Some involve clear broker errors. Some reveal communication failures that could have been avoided. Some expose deeper process weaknesses.Each category requires a different response.That is why a transparent methodology is more important than a headline result. The question is not, “Did the trader win?” or “Did the broker win?” The better question is, “Was the complaint reviewed properly, independently, and consistently?”The industry needs more fairness infrastructure, not lessThe Forex industry has matured significantly over the past decade, but its challenges have not disappeared. Cross-border onboarding, fragmented regulation, digital marketing, high market volatility, and the growth of online communities have all changed the way disputes arise and spread.In this environment, fairness cannot be left to vague promises. It needs infrastructure.Internal broker procedures are part of that infrastructure. Regulation is part of it. Courts and law enforcement are part of it. Education is part of it. Independent external dispute resolution is also part of it.The Financial Commission occupies a practical space within this ecosystem. We do not claim to solve every problem in the industry. We do not claim to regulate every broker. We do not claim that every complaint belongs before us. What we do claim is that when a complaint falls within our framework, it deserves a professional process that respects both the trader’s right to be heard and the broker’s right to respond.That is the balance many people miss.Fairness is not softness. It is not public relations. It is not automatic reimbursement. It is not broker protectionism. It is not trader advocacy detached from facts.Fairness is a methodIt is the discipline of asking the right questions, applying the same standards, reviewing the available evidence, and reaching a decision that can be explained.For traders, this means they are not alone when a legitimate dispute arises. For brokers, it means they are not left defenseless against every accusation. For the industry, it means a stronger foundation for trust.And in a market where trust is difficult to build and easy to lose, that methodology is not optional. It is essential.The article was written by Nikolai Isayev, Chief Operating Officer, Financial Commission. This article was written by Sylwester Majewski at www.financemagnates.com.

CFD broker STARTRADER has added 39 US-listed stocks and ETFs to its platform, covering several investment themes accessible to retail traders. The expansion cuts across sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy, digital assets, and space, reflecting areas that continue to attract strong institutional capital flows.Focus on AI and Supporting InfrastructureThe newly added instruments include companies linked to artificial intelligence development and deployment. These cover areas such as chip architecture, software infrastructure, and data center ecosystems, which support growing demand for large-scale computing.According to Monday's update, the addition also includes semiconductor and optical technology firms that play a role in chip production and data transmission. These companies form part of the broader supply chain required to sustain AI systems and high-performance computing.Related: STARTRADER Opens 24/5 Trading on US Stocks as CFD Brokers Race to Keep Markets OpenAt the same time, the broker added assets tied to energy production and grid infrastructure. The inclusion reflects rising electricity demand linked to data centers and AI-related workloads. The selection also includes exposure to uranium and other energy sources associated with long-term power generation.Our universe just expanded. Access a broader range of instruments linked to themes such as AI, space, and emerging market sectors. Explore more, diversify and start trading at STARTRADER. ??????? ???? ??????? ? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???… pic.twitter.com/q1rcnTU5TN— STARTRADER (@STARTRADER_int) May 25, 2026Expansion Into Space and Digital AssetsThe rollout includes companies operating in the space sector. These firms focus on satellite communications and low-Earth orbit infrastructure, areas that have seen increased investment in recent years. STARTRADER also expanded its offering in digital assets through companies involved in crypto infrastructure and blockchain operations. Additionally, the broker introduced several exchange-traded funds tracking regional markets, including Japan, South Korea, Brazil, India, and China. The list also includes a leveraged technology ETF and a US Treasury bond ETF, offering broader market exposure and diversification.Trading Volumes Jump in Q1Early this year STARTRADER introduced 24/5 trading on 20 of the most actively traded US stocks, allowing clients to trade beyond standard exchange hours. The instruments appear under a “.24H” label within a dedicated group on its platform. The move places the broker alongside others such as Pepperstone, IG, BlackBull Markets, and Deriv, which have also expanded into round-the-clock weekday trading in recent years. Similar access already exists on platforms including Robinhood, Webull, and Charles Schwab, reflecting a broader industry shift.This expansion has boosted STARTRADER’s trading activity, with the broker reporting $3.145 trillion in volume for the first quarter of 2026. The figure marks a 340% increase compared to the same period last year and a 56.7% rise from the previous quarter. On a monthly basis, the broker processed roughly $1 trillion in trading volume during the three-month period, although it did not disclose a breakdown by asset class, region, or platform. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

After a two-year hiatus, Kirill Chernikov has returned to Spotware Systems to retake the mantle of Chief of Staff. It is, by his own admission, a homecoming. “I'm back where a big part of my fintech story was written. I'm returning to Spotware Systems and the cTrader ecosystem, resuming where my last chapter there concluded,” he posted on LinkedIn.During his interim away from the cTrader ecosystem, Chernikov spent a year as CEO of Markets CRM, a CRM platform dedicated to the specific needs of CFD and FX brokers. “I couldn't be more proud of what we've built together,” he said, citing a “strong, talented team” and a foundation of “core product features and services that genuinely move the needle for brokers.”Spotware Has Had a Busy 2026His return comes at a moment of strategic restlessness for the Cypriot fintech.The recent launch of cBridge, a flat-priced liquidity bridge that claims to slash costs by 80% for high-volume brokers, is a direct challenge to the traditional model of volume-based billing. Ilia Iarovitcyn, Spotware’s CEO, speaking to Finance Magnates, suggested that the old model was an economic mismatch with the reality of bridge infrastructure, but “pricing alone does not redefine the category. Brokers still need cross-platform flexibility, clear control over routing and risk, and an interface that dealing teams can use effectively under pressure.”In another move, the fintech has opened its platform to AI agents, releasing MCP servers. In practise, a trader could ask Gemini, Claude, Openclaw and so on to place orders, manage positions, pull prices, and run analysis via natural-language prompts. They are not alone in this AI arms race; Trader Evolution shipped an MCP server in January, eToro created Agent Portfolios and XBTFX offers one by default. How this shift will change this industry’s traditional distribution layer remains to be seen. This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

A price moves before the news breaks. Anyone who has traded long enough knows this. It is not always fundamentals or technicals. Often, it is sentiment, the collective mood of thousands of traders acting on fear, optimism, or confusion, that shifts a market first.Reading that mood accurately is one of the hardest parts of trading. OneRoyal's partnership with Acuity Trading is designed to make it easier.Why sentiment mattersMarkets are not purely rational. A central bank decision, a geopolitical headline, or even an unexpected earnings figure does not just move prices because of its economic content. It moves prices because of how traders react to it. That reaction is sentiment.Sentiment shapes short-term price direction across every major asset class, from forex pairs and commodities to indices and crypto. Traders who understand the prevailing mood in a market hold a meaningful edge over those who rely solely on charts or economic calendars.The challenge is that sentiment is difficult to measure. It exists across news wires, social feeds, analyst commentary, and order flow, scattered across thousands of data points that no individual trader has time to process manually.The data problemThere is no shortage of market information. If anything, traders face the opposite problem: too much of it. Financial news runs around the clock. Analysts publish conflicting views. Price alerts pile up. In this environment, identifying what actually matters for a specific trade becomes a task in itself.This is the gap Acuity's tools were built to address. Rather than adding more data to the stack, they filter and interpret it, surfacing the signals most likely to influence the markets a trader is watching.OneRoyal integrates three core Acuity tools into its platform: Action News, Asset IQ, and Daily Intel. Each one targets a different layer of the information problem.Breaking it down: The three toolsAction News is a real-time news feed driven by AI. It scans thousands of sources continuously and flags the stories most relevant to market-moving events. Instead of scrolling through a general news feed, traders see the headlines that matter for the instruments they follow. During high-impact economic releases or geopolitical developments, this becomes particularly useful. Markets react fast. Having a filtered, relevant feed in the same platform where trades are placed reduces the time between insight and action.Asset IQ provides sentiment scores across a wide range of instruments. The tool scans thousands of markets and aggregates data into a clear directional reading, showing whether sentiment for a given asset is trending bullish, bearish, or mixed. A trader watching EUR/USD, for example, sees not just the price but also a real-time read on how the broader market is positioned and the feeling toward that pair. This context adds a layer of information that pure price analysis does not provide.Daily Intel brings this together in a structured daily briefing. It delivers a curated overview of the key themes, data releases, and sentiment shifts expected to influence markets during the session. For traders who want a starting point before the open, it provides a focused summary without requiring them to pull information from multiple external sources.Sentiment during high-impact eventsThe value of sentiment data grows significantly around major economic events. Interest rate decisions, non-farm payrolls, inflation announcements, and political developments all create sharp, fast-moving reactions in financial markets. In these moments, understanding how the market is interpreting an event in real time is often more useful than the event itself.Consider a scenario where the Federal Reserve holds rates steady but signals a more cautious outlook. The raw data, no rate change, may read as neutral. But sentiment shifts immediately as traders reprice expectations for future cuts. A tool that captures that shift in real time gives traders a clearer basis for their next decision.Action News and Asset IQ are built for exactly this kind of environment. They aggregate and interpret market reaction as events unfold, providing a snapshot of collective positioning rather than requiring traders to piece it together themselves.Who benefits the mostSentiment analysis is not a tool exclusively for experienced traders. Newer traders often struggle not because they lack strategy, but because they lack context. Seeing that sentiment for a particular instrument is overwhelmingly bearish while its technical setup signals a buy prompts a sharper question: why the divergence? That question leads to better analysis.For experienced traders, the tools offer efficiency. Faster access to relevant information, pre-filtered and organised by relevance. This means less time spent on research and more time spent evaluating opportunities.OneRoyal clients across both groups access the full Acuity suite through the platform, without additional subscriptions or third-party integrations.A clearer picture before the tradeTrading decisions are made on incomplete information. That is unavoidable. But the quality of the information available before a trade is placed directly influences the quality of the decision.OneRoyal's integration of Acuity's sentiment tools addresses a specific and persistent gap in how most traders access market data. The tools do not predict outcomes. What they do is give traders a clearer picture of how markets are positioned, what news is driving sentiment, and where the weight of collective opinion currently sits.In markets where timing and context shape results, that clarity has a direct and measurable value. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Bursa+ has entered into a strategic introducing arrangement with Equiti Group, a global fintech provider, marking an important step in expanding access to financial services across the MENA region. Equiti Group remains the regulated service provider and the sole contracting party in relation to all financial services offered to clients. Strengthening Access Through Structured Collaboration This arrangement reflects a shared focus on improving how clients access regulated financial services within a clearly defined and compliant framework. By connecting clients to established providers such as Equiti Group, Bursa+ contributes to: Expanding access to global financial markets Supporting client onboarding through regulated entities Enhancing transparency in how financial services are introduced and delivered All client onboarding, account opening, and contractual relationships are conducted directly with Equiti Group. Bursa+ does not provide financial services, does not act as a contracting party, and does not offer investment advice or recommendations. A Signal of Growing Industry Alignment The collaboration highlights a broader trend within the financial services sector toward partnerships that emphasize clarity of roles, regulatory alignment, and scalable access to established providers. Engagements of this nature are typically driven by long-term strategic considerations, reflecting confidence in structured, compliant frameworks that enable growth while maintaining clear separation of responsibilities. About Equiti Group Equiti Group is a global leader in advanced trading technology, payment software, virtual assets, asset management and physical commodity solutions. With a presence across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, the Group is licensed in major financial jurisdictions including the UK, UAE and Cyprus. The Group delivers a best-in-class financial experience to clients across retail, professional, and institutional segments.About Bursa+ Bursa+ is a broker-agnostic social trading infrastructure developed by Equitick, enabling brokers to integrate copy trading capabilities while empowering professional traders to monetize their strategies across multiple brokers. Disclaimer This announcement is for corporate information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or a recommendation. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Welcome to the essential guide for the Finance Magnates Awards 2026. This annual awards event is the financial industry's most credible honor, celebrating excellence and innovation across online trading and fintech. The awards are uniquely inclusive, recognizing outstanding performance by brokerages (B2C) and fintech providers (B2B) on a global, regional, and national level. The FM Awards utilize a transparent, dual validation process: recognition is determined by a combination of 50% community voting with 50% expert panel evaluation, ensuring every winner has earned the attention and respect of both the market and seasoned industry experts. This guide provides all the necessary details on categories, key dates, and how to maximize the value of this unparalleled recognition.Article Contents1. About the FM Awards2. Categories & Eligibility3. Key Dates & Nomination Process4. Exposure & Brand Visibility5. The Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner6. The Value of Winning7. FM Awards 2025 Video Highlights8. Practical Questions1. About the FM Awards1.1. What are the Finance Magnates Awards?The Finance Magnates Awards are the financial industry's annual recognition awards, celebrating excellence and innovation across online trading and fintech. Since Finance Magnates was founded in 2009 as the leading source for financial news, events, analysis, and research, the awards have grown into one of the most credible and widely respected honours in the sector. They recognise outstanding performance by brokerages (B2C) and fintech providers (B2B) on a global, regional, and national level.1.2. How long have the Awards been running?Finance Magnates has been at the heart of the global financial ecosystem since 2009. The Awards are now in their third edition (2026), building on the successful 2024 and 2025 editions.1.3. Who organises the Awards?The Awards are organised by Finance Magnates, the publisher behind financemagnates.com, one of the world's most-read B2B financial media platforms. 1.4. Why do the Finance Magnates Awards matter?In an industry where trust shapes every business decision, recognition from Finance Magnates carries real weight. Winning, or even being nominated, signals to clients, partners, investors, and competitors that your brand has earned the attention and respect of both the market and seasoned industry experts. The Awards combine 50% community voting with 50% expert panel evaluation, ensuring recognition reflects real-world relevance and genuine excellence, not closed-door decisions.1.5. Are the Awards only for large, established companies?No. The Awards feature National, Regional, and Global categories, meaning a fast-growing local broker or an emerging fintech solution can compete on an equal footing within its own market tier. The process is designed to be inclusive and to surface the best performers at every level of the market, from nationally focused brands to globally operating giants.2. Categories & Eligibility2.1 What categories can I enter?There are two main groups of categories, B2B & B2C - each of them this 3 sub-categories:Each brand will be evaluated and recognised in the Award Category where it receives the most votes, ensuring you are always showcased in the most relevant context for your business.2.2. My company operates in both B2C and B2B, which should I enter?Each brand participates in at least two categories, selected to best match its business type and industry role. During the nomination process, the Finance Magnates team will work with you to identify the most appropriate categories.If your brand works with both retail and institutional clients, we encourage you to be nominated across both groups.2.3. What is the difference between Global, Regional, and National B2C categories?2.4. Who is eligible to be nominated?Any brokerage or fintech company operating in online trading, payments, or related financial services sectors may be nominated. Brands from all geographies are welcome. Submitting a nomination form is the first step; a member of the Finance Magnates team will then contact you to confirm eligibility and discuss the formal nomination process.2.5. Can I nominate a company other than my own?Yes. The Awards operate on an open-call basis; any industry professional, peer, or company can propose a brand for nomination. This peer-recognition element adds credibility to the process. If you nominate another company, the Finance Magnates team will reach out to that company directly to take the nomination forward.3. Key Dates & Nomination Process3.1. What are the key dates for 2026?3.2. How does the nomination process work, step by step?Step 1: Visit awards.financemagnates.com and navigate to the Nominations section.Step 2: Select your group: B2C (Broker) or B2B (Fintech).Step 3: For B2C, choose between Global, Regional, or National categories. For B2B, choose from Institutional Trading, Services for Brokers, or Tech for Brokers.Step 4: Complete the nomination form with accurate details about your brand and key strengths.Step 5: Submit your nomination before the deadline (11 September 2026).Step 6: A member of the Finance Magnates team will contact you with further details, including communication campaign packages available to your category.Step 7: Confirm your official nomination and join the official shortlist.Important: Submitting the nomination form is the first step in the process, it does not automatically confirm your official nomination. Official confirmation comes after speaking with the Finance Magnates awards team.3.3. How are the winners decided?Winners are determined through a transparent two-part scoring system:Community Voting (50%): Finance professionals and traders cast votes via Finance Magnates channels (B2B categories) and InvestingLive channels (B2C categories). This ensures the industry's perspective plays a direct role in determining winners.Expert Panel (50%): A carefully selected panel of senior industry figures independently evaluates nominees. Judges represent fintech innovators, leading brokerages, and respected voices in financial services. Their evaluation ensures that every winner is recognised not just for popularity, but for genuine excellence.This dual structure means that winning reflects both market relevance and professional validation, the most meaningful combination of endorsements in the industry.3.4. Who are the judges?Judges are senior industry professionals recruited for their expertise and independence. Past judges have included figures from the London Stock Exchange Group, FXStreet, FinanceFeeds, investingLive, and Finance Magnates leadership.3.5. How does community voting work in practice?Once nominations are confirmed, an official voting period opens (September–October). During this window, eligible voters, industry professionals for B2B categories and traders/clients for B2C categories, can cast their votes via the Finance Magnates and investingLive platforms. Each brand can only win one award, whichever category receives the highest combined score from community votes and judge evaluation.3.6. Is there a cost to participate?Participation in the Awards includes a communication campaign fee, which funds the extensive promotional activities carried out on behalf of nominees across Finance Magnates' global channels throughout the awards process. The exact fee depends on your category and the exposure package selected. Full details are shared after your initial nomination is submitted and reviewed by the team.4. Exposure & Brand Visibility4.1. What exposure do nominees receive?The Finance Magnates Awards are designed to be a months-long brand visibility campaign, not just a single awards night. Every confirmed nominee benefits from promotional activity across Finance Magnates' global media ecosystem throughout three phases:PRE-AWARDSOfficial announcement of your nomination across Finance Magnates channelsFeatures in nominee reveal articles published on financemagnates.comInclusion in social media posts reaching an international professional audiencePR articles showcasing your company's achievements and innovations (selected categories)Integration into voting campaigns that reach traders, brokers, fintech leaders, and decision-makers worldwideDURING THE AWARDSActive inclusion in community voting campaignsOngoing social media spotlights during the voting windowPriority access and recognition at the Gala DinnerNetworking exposure alongside the industry's top decision-makersPOST-AWARDS (WINNERS)Dedicated winner announcement articles celebrating your achievement (selected categories)Exclusive social media posts confirming your win (selected categories)Global press coverage distributed across Finance Magnates' media platformsEvergreen content placements ensuring sustained long-term visibility (selected categories)Logo featured on the official FM Awards winner website for six months (see the 2025 winners)Listing in the Finance Magnates Directory (selected categories)4.2. What media opportunities are available to nominees and winners?Depending on the award category, additional exclusive media formats may include: Video Testimonials: Short-form video content allowing your brand to share insights and success stories. These videos continue to engage audiences long after the awards night (selected categories).Video Review (up to 10 minutes): A dedicated, in-depth company video added to an evergreen article about the winners, providing continuous long-term exposure and SEO value (selected categories).Finance Magnates Directory: Winners in selected categories are listed in the Finance Magnates Directory, a trusted reference used by potential clients and partners when evaluating providers (selected categories).Awards Website Logo Placement: Your brand logo is displayed on the official Finance Magnates Awards website for a period of 1 year following the ceremony.4.3. How big is the Finance Magnates audience?Finance Magnates is one of the world's most-read B2B financial media platforms, serving a global community of brokers, fintech executives, institutional investors, payment providers, and retail traders. Its editorial, events, and social channels reach hundreds of thousands of industry professionals globally. investingLive extends the B2C reach further, connecting nominees with the broader retail trading community.4.4. Can I use my nomination or win in my own marketing?Absolutely, and this is one of the most valuable aspects of being nominated or winning. A Finance Magnates Award acts as a trusted, third-party endorsement. For B2C brokerages, it signals to traders that they are choosing a recognised, peer-validated provider. For B2B fintech companies, it demonstrates to partner brokers and institutions that your solutions meet the highest industry standards. You can promote your participation or winner badge on your website, in email campaigns, on social media, in sales materials, and at events.4.5. How long do the exposure benefits last?For nominees, exposure begins as soon as the official nomination is confirmed and continues through the voting phase until the Gala Dinner and beyond. For winners, many benefits are evergreen, particularly the video review content, the Directory listing, and the website logo placement. This means your recognition keeps working for your brand for months after the awards ceremony, not just the night itself.5. The Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner5.1. Where and when is the Gala Dinner?The 2026 Finance Magnates Awards Gala Dinner will take place on Friday, 6 November 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus. The 2025 edition was held at the stunning Carob Mill venue in Limassol, a landmark setting that brought together global industry leaders for the evening.5.2. What is the format of the evening?The Gala Dinner is a glamorous, invite-only event for VIP guests. The evening typically features a formal dinner, entertainment, the live awards ceremony where winners are announced for the first time, trophy presentations, and dedicated networking time with the industry's top names. The atmosphere blends professional prestige with celebration, an evening that nominees and winners consistently describe as a highlight of the industry calendar.5.3. Who attends the Gala Dinner?The evening brings together the senior leadership of the financial industry: CEOs, founders, C-suite executives, and key decision-makers from leading brokerages, fintech innovators, institutional trading firms, liquidity providers, technology vendors, payment companies, and media organisations. Past events have drawn attendance from across the online trading, payments, and crypto sectors — making the Gala an unmatched networking environment.5.4. How are nominees recognised at the Gala?All confirmed nominees receive priority access and on-site recognition at the Gala Dinner. Winners receive a physical trophy presented on stage during the live awards ceremony. The combination of being in the room, surrounded by peers, clients, and competitors, when your category is called, creates a memorable, high-visibility moment that candidates consistently cite as one of the most impactful elements of the Awards.5.5. Do I need to attend to win?Winners can win regardless of whether they attend. However, attending the Gala Dinner is strongly recommended. The ceremony is the moment when your win is announced publicly for the first time, the trophy is presented in person, and the attention of hundreds of senior industry figures is focused on your brand. The networking opportunities available in the room are also a unique and significant benefit of attendance.6.The Value of Winning6.1 What does winning a Finance Magnates Award actually mean for my business?A Finance Magnates Award is a seal of credibility validated by both the market and industry experts. The tangible business benefits include:6.2. Is being nominated (without winning) still valuable?Being shortlisted as a nominee means your brand is publicly positioned among the leading companies in your category. You receive the full pre-awards promotional campaign, social media spotlights, PR articles, and Gala Dinner access. Many companies use the 'Nominated for Finance Magnates Awards' status actively in their marketing and sales outreach throughout the year. In a competitive industry, peer recognition at any level is a meaningful differentiator.6.3. How does this compare to other industry awards?The Finance Magnates Awards stand apart because of their transparent, dual-validation scoring process (50% community, 50% expert panel), the credibility and global reach of the Finance Magnates and InvestingLive media platforms, and the direct connection between the award and an active, engaged readership of industry professionals and traders. Unlike closed-panel awards or pay-to-win programmes, the community voting element ensures the results have genuine market legitimacy.7. FM Awards 2025 Video HighlightsTo see the impact and celebration first-hand, watch the Finance Magnates Awards 2025 official highlights. 8.Practical QuestionsQ: I submitted the nomination form, what happens next?After submitting the form on awards.financemagnates.com, a member of the Finance Magnates awards team will contact you directly. They will confirm whether your submission qualifies for the official shortlist and share full details of the communication campaign packages available for your category. This is the conversation where you choose your exposure level and formalise your participation.Q: Is there a deadline for nominations?Yes. For 2026, the nomination deadline is 11 September 2026. No entries will be accepted after this date. The Finance Magnates team advises submitting early so there is time to discuss category selection and campaign packages before the deadline.Q: Can I be in more than one category?Each brand is assessed and recognised in the category where it receives the highest combined score. However, brands can and do participate across multiple categories where relevant to their business. This is discussed and agreed upon during the nomination confirmation process with the Finance Magnates team.Q: When are the nominees publicly announced?Confirmed nominees are announced in multiple waves on the Finance Magnates website and social media channels throughout the nomination phase. Each announcement generates its own PR coverage and social amplification, meaning early confirmation of your nomination benefits from more rounds of promotional exposure.Q: When and how are the winners announced?Winners are announced live at the Gala Dinner on 6 November 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus. Immediately following the ceremony, winners are published on the Finance Magnates website and distributed across the group's global media channels. This simultaneous online and in-person announcement maximises the reach and impact of the win.Q: How do I contact the awards team?? Email: awards@financemagnates.com? Website: awards.financemagnates.comTo get started, visit the nominations page and submit your interest.A member of our team will be in touch with your full information pack. This article was written by Dora Christofi at www.financemagnates.com.

New membership program recognizes funded traders who have achieved consistent payouts, introducing exclusive benefits, higher capital access and a public Wall of Fame.Hola Prime, the rapidly growing prop trading firm known for its industry-first 1-Hour Payout model, today announced the launch of Prime Circle, the prop trading industry’s first invite-only members’ club built exclusively for traders who have received five verified payouts from a single prop firm.Prime Circle introduces a new benchmark in prop trading - one based not on passing a challenge or receiving a first withdrawal, but on sustained payout consistency between the trader and the firm. Membership is automatically unlocked once a trader receives five verified payouts from Hola Prime, with no application process, loyalty tiers or subscription fees.The launch comes as Hola Prime continues to position itself around payout transparency and trader accountability. Earlier this year, the firm completed an independent payout performance review conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, which found that 98.35% of withdrawal requests were processed within one hour, with zero payout denials recorded across all evaluation programs during the review period.“Most firms in this industry talk about the trader as if the trader is the variable and the firm is the constant,” said Somesh Kapuria, Founder and CEO of Hola Prime. “We’ve never believed that. The trader is the one showing up every day with discipline, consistency and risk management. The real question is whether the firm can consistently deliver for that trader over time. Prime Circle is built around that relationship and the trust that gets established after five successful payouts.”Prime Circle members receive a range of exclusive benefits, including:An increased capital ceiling from $500,000 to $2,000,000 in simulated capitalAccess to the Hola Prime Black Card and exclusive Prime Circle privilegesA 20% discount on all Hola Prime challenges and direct accounts for six monthsTwo free account resets, within 6 months of entryA free platform change at the funded stagePermanent recognition on the Hola Prime Wall of FameAccording to Hola Prime, every trader featured inside Prime Circle has received five or more payouts processed on time and without denial. The launch also coincides with the introduction of a public Wall of Fame showcasing traders who have crossed the five-payout milestone with the firm.The company says the initiative is part of a broader effort to bring greater transparency and accountability to prop trading. Alongside its independently reviewed payout performance, Hola Prime currently operates a live public payout dashboard and conducts on-camera payout processing for additional visibility into its payout infrastructure.“The prop trading industry has historically struggled with trader trust around payouts and long-term reliability,” Kapuria added. “Prime Circle is our statement that long-term trader success should be recognized and rewarded. We want traders to keep winning with us for the fifth payout, the fiftieth payout and every one in between.”The launch of Prime Circle follows continued growth for Hola Prime across LATAM, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. The firm recently surpassed 1,000 verified Trustpilot reviews while maintaining an Excellent rating, further reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing firms in the global prop trading sector.Prime Circle is now live and accessible to all eligible Hola Prime traders who have achieved five verified payouts.About Hola PrimeHola Prime https://www.holaprime.com/ is a global prop-trading firm whose payout performance was independently reviewed by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP across a five-month engagement covering all in-scope transactions from October 2025 to March 2026. The firm operates a live public payout dashboard, conducts on-camera payout processing, and with the launch of Prime Circle is the first prop firm in the world to publish a named Wall of Fame of traders who have received five or more verified payouts from a single firm. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

In the online trading industry, Trustpilot has long held a unique influence over brand reputation and customer trust. For years, brokers prominently displayed their ratings on landing pages, treating “Top Rated on Trustpilot” as one of the strongest credibility signals available. In a highly competitive market where trust is notoriously difficult to build, a strong review score became a powerful differentiator. At the same time, the industry has long been aware of a less visible reality: review systems can be manipulated. Fake reviews, paid ratings, and aggressive tactics aimed at generating positive feedback gradually became widespread across the sector.The Rise of AI Now, the rapid development of AI is changing the landscape once again. Artificial intelligence has made it remarkably easy to generate highly realistic reviews at scale. In response, review platforms are facing growing pressure to clean up their ecosystems. Trustpilot, in particular, has recently tightened its moderation and enforcement policies, taking a much stricter approach toward suspicious activity and guideline violations. This raises a broader question for the trading industry: do Trustpilot scores still reflect genuine customer satisfaction, or do they increasingly reflect which firms have the most sophisticated reputation management operations?The Problem With Online Reviews It is important to understand that a “Breach of Guidelines” warning on Trustpilot can refer to a wide range of issues. According to the platform’s policies, fake reviews, incentivised reviews, and biased review collection practices are all considered violations. At the same time, Trustpilot has become the dominant review platform for industries such as online trading and fintech. For many users, checking Trustpilot is one of the first steps before opening an account or depositing funds. As a result, many companies have become heavily dependent on the platform, not only in terms of complying with its moderation policies, but also through paid tools and subscription services used for review collection and reputation management. You can read the full analysis on the FM Intelligence Portal. This article was written by Sylwester Majewski at www.financemagnates.com.

ATFX announces the appointment of Dany Mawas as CEO Africa, reinforcing its continued commitment to strengthening its presence and operations across the African continent. Following strong regional growth driven by the collaboration between ATFX Connect and L7 Prime under Dany’s leadership as CEO & Co-Founder, ATFX has expanded its institutional presence across Africa through localised execution, liquidity distribution, White Label infrastructure, payment orchestration solutions, and strategic partnerships tailored to regional market needs.Under the new leadership structure, ATFX aims to further strengthen both its B2C and B2B operations across Africa, combining global institutional infrastructure with deeper local market expertise and execution capabilities.Commenting on the appointment, Siju Daniel, Chief Commercial Officer of ATFX, said:“Over recent quarters, the collaboration between L7 Prime and ATFX Connect generated significant momentum across Africa. What stood out most was Dany’s leadership, his understanding of the market, and his ability to execute with speed and precision. This appointment reflects our confidence in his vision and long-term commitment to the region.”This momentum has been further reinforced through the continued alignment between ATFX Connect and L7 Prime, which has enabled the combination of institutional-grade infrastructure with strong local execution across key African markets.Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director of ATFX Connect Global, added:“Africa is one of the most dynamic growth regions for our business. Through our collaboration with L7 Prime, we successfully combined institutional-grade infrastructure with strong local execution. Dany and his team consistently demonstrated the ability to build scalable solutions adapted to the realities of African markets.”Speaking on his appointment, Dany Mawas said:“This appointment represents both an honour and a continuation of the work we have been building together for many years. Africa requires local leadership supported by global infrastructure, and that is exactly what we aim to strengthen further. The opportunity ahead across both B2C and B2B segments is significant, and we are only getting started.”With its continued dedication to expanding its market reach and strengthening engagement across key African markets, ATFX believes Africa will remain one of the most important global growth regions over the coming decade, with the new leadership structure positioning the organisation closer to regional markets than ever before.About ATFXATFX is a globally recognized, multi-award-winning Forex and CFD broker that allows traders to access global financial markets, including forex, commodities, indices, and shares. Founded in 2017, the company caters to both retail and institutional clients (ATFX Connect) with high-speed trade execution, excellent trading conditions, and comprehensive educational resources. ATFX operates through various entities regulated by top-tier authorities, including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and the FSCA (South Africa).About ATFX ConnectATFX Connect is a trading name of AT Global Markets (UK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the FCA), AT Global Markets (Australia) Pty Limited (authorised and regulated by ASIC), and AT Global Financial Services (HK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the SFC). Connect is the Institutional arm of the wider ATFX Group.ATFX Connect offers Institutional and Professional traders an extensive range of services for both Agency PB and Margin accounts, provides bespoke aggregated liquidity in Spot FX, NDFs, indices, Commodities and Precious metals to a wide range of institutional clients from hedge funds, Tier 1 and regional banks, high net worth investors, asset managers, family offices and other brokers. ATFX Connect's liquidity pool is constructed from Tier 1 banks and non-bank providers that it has partnered with, trading in both sweepable and full amount forms. Agency PB Clients can connect via direct FIX API, external technology solutions or via our own trading platform. For margin clients, ATFX Connect provides market access via the group's MT4/MT5 platform and provides a bridge solution for those who wish to connect via FIX API. For further information on ATFX Connect, please visit ATFX Connect website https://www.atfxconnect.comAbout L7 PrimeL7 Prime is a global fintech infrastructure and brokerage solutions provider offering White Label technology, institutional liquidity, payment orchestration, advanced risk management, compliance infrastructure, and trading solutions for brokers, asset managers, fintechs, and prop firms worldwide. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The contemporary institutional trading landscape is currently defined by a unique paradox: unprecedented volatility in traditional safe havens like gold, coupled with the rapid institutionalisation of digital assets. For professional traders and brokers, the challenge is no longer just about accessing these markets, but about finding an ecosystem that bridges the gap between them without compromising on security, liquidity or operational efficiency. LMAX Global is addressing this shift by integrating institutional-grade infrastructure with a diverse product suite, headlined by the innovative Kiosk, a solution designed to make digital asset payments and collateral management simple and secure. Kiosk: redefining digital asset integrationAt the heart of a modern brokerage’s evolution is the ability to handle digital assets as seamlessly as fiat currencies. Kiosk serves as a turnkey solution that allows brokers to accept digital asset payments via a bespoke deposit page. This is not merely a payment gateway but a comprehensive management layer that solves the primary headaches of crypto-connectivity. Within this framework, funds are held securely in managed, VASP-compliant individual wallets, ensuring that security remains paramount throughout the custody layer. Unlike traditional systems where settlement can delay market entry, Kiosk ensures collateral is instantly available to trade across the broker’s entire product range. Through effortless API integration with existing CRMs and operational systems, brokers can access cross-asset services via one secure, scalable connection. For the professional trader, this means a frictionless experience where digital asset withdrawals can be initiated without the need for separate, often cumbersome, wallet software. Furthermore, the system enables instant conversion between fiat and digital assets, allowing for a truly hybrid treasury approach managed through a single portal. The gold standard: capitalising on market volatilityWhile digital assets represent the new frontier, gold remains the bedrock of institutional portfolios, particularly in periods of high volatility. However, the modern gold market demands more than just basic spot access. LMAX Global has expanded its suite of gold solutions to provide 24/7 coverage across multiple product types and liquidity pools. The ecosystem offers a full shelf of gold products to avoid pricing fragmentation, including standard spot gold priced against the US dollar as the benchmark instrument. To improve execution efficiency, gold crosses are priced directly against AUD, EUR and offshore CNH (XAU/CNH), removing the necessity for a USD cross-rate leg. For those requiring granular risk management, the suite includes Gold 3DP (quoted to three decimal places) and Gold Mini contracts, which draw from the same institutional liquidity pool as the standard contracts. Additionally, GAU/USD and GAU/CNH provide kilogram-denominated settlement, aligning with the unit conventions of Asian wholesale and physical bullion markets. Cross-asset innovation and 24/7 continuityA standout innovation in the current climate is the Bitcoin Gold (XBT/XAU) cross-asset CFD. This single, institutionally priced instrument allows brokers to offer exposure to the relationship between the world’s two most discussed stores of value within a single ticket, eliminating the need for multi-leg execution or complex crypto-wallet infrastructure. This product supports relative value and diversification strategies across crypto and precious metals, backed by firm liquidity and efficient margining. Because market volatility does not adhere to a traditional schedule, LMAX Global also provides 24/7 gold perpetual futures. These perpetuals deliver continuous exposure with no expiry and no roll-over costs, enabling clients to manage risk during periods when traditional venues are closed. They are specifically designed to manage weekend gap risk with precision and provide capital-efficient hedging for existing spot or CFD exposure. An ecosystem built for institutionsThe true value of the LMAX Global offering lies in the institutional-grade liquidity and proprietary technology that powers it. Our infrastructure ensures that professional traders can execute strategies with precision across spot FX, digital assets, CFDs and perpetual futures. The integration of Kiosk into this ecosystem completes the circle, allowing a broker to manage digital asset and fiat collateral in a single portal while utilising treasury tools to auto-manage collateral across all assets. In an era where the lines between traditional and digital finance are blurring, LMAX Global provides the infrastructure, products and liquidity to ensure institutional players remain agile and resilient across the entire global trading landscape. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) retail brokerage sector is undergoing massive localized infrastructure upgrades. Moving into 2026, standard white label operations are actively being purged out of the region by heavy domestic regulatory enforcement across the GCC. Institutional and retail traders inside the region now explicitly require native technological innovation. Success here is mandated by bridging Gulf sovereign equities seamlessly with global liquidity, hosting servers physically inside Dubai or Abu Dhabi to slash latency, and structurally encoding Islamic compliant trading models without hidden spread markups.In this overview, we analyze three massive financial pillars dominating execution innovation strictly across the MENA landscape: OneRoyal, Equiti Group, and ADSS. We evaluate how their distinct domestic footprint perfectly meshes global Prime liquidity into highly customized regional interfaces.Risk Warning: Trading Contracts for Difference carries a high risk to your capital. You can lose more than your initial deposit. Make sure you fully understand the mechanics of margin trading and the risks before you open a live account.Framework for EvaluationEvaluating technological advancement inside the specific MENA landscape requires looking past standard global marketing parameters. We reviewed OneRoyal, Equiti Group, and ADSS strictly based on their localized structural capabilities.First, we mapped regional regulatory compliance integration. Innovation in the Gulf requires adhering tightly to local mandates like the SCA in the UAE or the CMA. We verified how these brokers leverage tier one Arab regulators to build localized payment gateways.Second, we evaluated institutional pipeline architecture. Institutional traders based in MENA require zero latency raw API connectivity rather than standard proprietary browser interfaces. We examined how these firms pipe pure Prime liquidity downstream into retail architecture.Finally, we analyzed ecosystem localization. A highly innovative MENA broker must provide organically built Arabic charting analysis and structurally integrated Islamic (swap free) accounts that mathematically avoid penalizing algorithmic execution.Quick Technical OverviewOneRoyal FeaturesOneRoyal has established a strong presence in the MENA region by combining competitive trading conditions with technology-focused trading solutions designed for regional and international traders. The broker continues to grow its footprint across the Middle East by offering swap-free Islamic accounts, competitive spreads, multilingual support, and flexible account structures that align with the needs of traders. Regulation and ComplianceOneRoyal operates under multiple international regulatory frameworks, supporting its global client base across different regions, including MENA and Europe. The broker is licensed and regulated by authorities including the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC). It also maintains international registration structures for its wider global operations.OneRoyal submits aggressively to international tier one auditing, maintaining complete internal retail capital separation structurally.Technology and Trading InnovationInnovation remains a key part of OneRoyal’s offering, particularly through its focus on platform enhancements and trader-focused technology. The broker provides AI-powered trading tools designed to support market analysis and trading efficiency. It also offers the MT4 Accelerator, which enhances the MetaTrader experience with additional functionality and execution tools.For traders across the MENA region looking for alternative trading approaches, OneRoyal offers Copy Trading solutions and PAMM account services. These allow clients to follow experienced traders or participate in managed trading strategies. Combined with support for algorithmic trading through MT4 and MT5, the broker continues to position itself as a technology-focused trading provider.Trading Infrastructure and Market AccessOneRoyal provides multi-asset market access on forex, commodities, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs through trading environments built for both active retail and professional traders. The broker focuses on fast execution speeds, competitive spreads, and stable trading conditions on desktop and mobile platforms.Its infrastructure also supports high-volume and algorithmic trading strategies, making it suitable for traders using Expert Advisors (EAs) and automated systems within the MetaTrader ecosystem. Combined with swap-free account availability and flexible account structures, OneRoyal continues to strengthen its appeal among traders across the MENA region.Pros & ConsEquiti Group FeaturesEquiti Group commands arguably the largest physical local footprint of any broker operating inside the MENA sector today. Rather than operating purely from international offshore hubs, Equiti aggressively establishes deep domestic localized hubs directly natively inside the Gulf, dramatically elevating execution trust.Regulation and Domestic GCC ComplianceEquiti Group specifically innovates by executing flawlessly inside incredibly difficult operating jurisdictions. The broker holds legacy licenses physically inside Jordan via the Jordan Securities Commission (JSC), natively inside the UAE governed by the strict Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), and heavily operates in Europe mapping strictly to the FCA in London. This localized approach allows Equiti to structure physically domestic payment gateways directly bridging to major regional Islamic banks.Physical Server and API LatencyOperating domestically rather than purely offshore allows Equiti to aggressively optimize latency logic. By placing data servers physically adjacent to Gulf matching engines, Equiti drops server ping responses to absolute minimums perfectly matched for regional professional scalpers.Equiti extensively innovates via API connectivity. They allow institutional syndicates operating inside Dubai and Saudi Arabia natively to bypass standard platform interfaces entirely, plugging their own custom execution frameworks strictly into the Equiti FIX API pricing networks for pure raw data connectivity.Deep Swap Free EngineeringWhile most brokers offer standard Islamic accounts by simply turning off overnight rollover interest fees and manually hacking the spread wider manually, Equiti innovated specific execution matrices. They mathematically designed swap free algorithmic structures that flawlessly process millions in halal compliant volume automatically without financially punishing the execution spread in retaliation.Pros & ConsADSS FeaturesBased explicitly in Abu Dhabi, ADSS is a monumental presence in the MENA trading sector. ADSS differentiates itself entirely by leaning aggressively into its massive sovereign wealth integration, providing one of the most incredibly capitalized retail structures operating on earth natively.Regulation and Sovereign StatusADSS is structurally mandated directly by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) natively inside the UAE, alongside strict secondary international oversight from the FCA in London. The trust and operational security generated by ADSS is practically unmatched globally due to their direct integration and deep origins operating alongside Abu Dhabi sovereign capital logic natively.Proprietary Arabic TechnologyWhile both OneRoyal and Equiti Group prioritize raw B2B MetaTrader pipeline architecture structurally, ADSS aggressively innovated the specific regional interface. Noting that MetaTrader natively struggles with clean Arabic localization workflows, ADSS physically built the ADSS Trading Platform from the ground up natively.This proprietary platform is inherently engineered to perform flawlessly cleanly across right to left Arabic typography mapping without breaking technical analysis tools perfectly. It runs massively dense mobile operations natively optimizing Gulf equity CFDs next to standard global fundamental pairings in a singularly sleek operating ecosystem.Regional Equity AccessInnovation specifically requires accessing domestic flow organically. ADSS systematically connects global traders instantly into core Middle Eastern equity markets cleanly, an incredibly rare structural integration globally that bypasses standard synthetic offshore charting delays.Pros & ConsSummary of MENA Innovation LogicBrokers operating accurately inside the MENA sector push completely distinct innovation envelopes globally.OneRoyal strictly innovates the pipeline architecture, piping massive offshore and deeply secure institutional Prime pricing networks explicitly into retail MT4 algorithms flawlessly.Equiti Group innovates through strict domestic physical localization, securing highly complex SCA and JSC compliance and physically deploying data engines directly into the Gulf to obliterate latency.ADSS targets the sheer proprietary visual environment, leaning exactly onto massive sovereign backing to develop flawless natively mapped Arabic execution terminals perfectly capturing Gulf equities.Frequently Asked QuestionsAre these brokers fully compliant natively with Islamic Finance?Yes. All three brokers explicitly offer Swap Free accounts mapped entirely for Islamic compliance. More importantly, because they are heavily integrated within the MENA operational zone inherently, their specific systemic backend algorithms do not automatically punish these swap free accounts with massive unseen execution spread widening unlike typical offshore global brokers.What is the SCA and why is it important specifically?The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) specifically regulates financial markets operating organically within the United Arab Emirates natively. A broker securing physical SCA clearance strictly represents that they have passed incredibly intense local transparency protocols. Securing operations natively within the UAE allows the broker to implement much faster structural banking logic organically to major Middle Eastern banks cleanly.What is a FIX API execution network?A FIX (Financial Information eXchange) API execution protocol natively allows sophisticated institutional hedge funds or highly funded syndicated traders to bypass standard visual brokers completely. They literally use coding languages organically to plug automated execution systems specifically directly into the broker's base tier matching engine, eliminating latency inherently and dropping processing times significantly.Does OneRoyal charge specific data fees natively?Standard operational trading accounts utilizing MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 architectures running pure ECN flow do not carry platform usage costs typically. OneRoyal operates cleanly off basic commission generation structurally.Are these proprietary apps better than MetaTrader basically?Proprietary applications uniquely developed like the ADSS system typically offer massively superior UI graphics and strictly superior logic handling native Arabic text flows formatting perfectly compared to the heavily rigid architecture of MetaQuotes. However, MetaTrader flawlessly retains its utter dominance globally specifically for running complex automated algorithmic Expert Advisors securely.Disclaimer: CFDs are highly complex instruments and come with a significant risk of losing money rapidly due to the mechanics of financial margin. You should carefully consider whether you fully understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Always align your personal trading decisions with your current financial situation, available capital, and overall risk tolerance. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

Empire FX has named Linda Nkatha Muriuki as its new Head of Sales, the company said today (Monday), the second senior hire the Capital Markets Authority-licensed broker has pulled from Pepperstone in less than a week.Muriuki joins from Pepperstone, where she handled major client accounts and supported the broker's regional commercial efforts, according to Empire FX. She reports to Sahil Patel, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Empire FX hired from Pepperstone's Africa business last Thursday.A Second Pull From Pepperstone's Africa BenchPatel spent more than six years building Pepperstone's African operation, leading the firm's Kenya entity from 2020 and ending his tenure as head of Africa. His move to Empire FX was framed by the company last week as the opening step of a broader push to scale globally from its Nairobi base.Muriuki's arrival makes the pattern harder to dismiss as coincidence. Both hires come from the same competitor, both have direct exposure to the African market, and both now anchor Empire FX's commercial leadership.Patel said Muriuki "brings a deep understanding of client behaviour, particularly in the African markets," where trust and local relevance shape decision-making, according to a company statement. He pointed to her ability to "combine relationship-driven sales with a strategic, data-led approach" as central to the hire.Pepperstone broker holds licenses in the UK, Germany, Cyprus, Kenya, the Bahamas and the UAE, and also recently lost its UK chief executive Iain Rogers to crypto exchange OKX, where he now runs EMEA compliance.What Muriuki Will Run at Empire FXMuriuki will lead Empire FX's global sales function, with a stated focus on Africa and other priority regions, the company said. Her remit covers client acquisition, conversion and retention as the broker tries to scale beyond its Kenyan base.Pepperstone has been one of Kenya's longer-running licensed brokers, operating locally since 2020. Muriuki said in a statement that her focus would be on "building deeper client relationships, improving conversion strategies" and delivering a consistent experience across customer touchpoints. Competition for Kenyan Traders Picks Up PaceEmpire FX operates in one of the more contested licensed forex markets in Africa. Kenya's Capital Markets Authority introduced its framework in 2017, and the country now hosts more than 100,000 active retail traders, drawing international brokers to compete for both clients and licensed talent.The licensed pool has grown quickly. Capital.com entered with local approvals in January 2026, followed by XM, while FP Markets picked up its license in 2025 and IC Markets in 2024. They sit alongside Pepperstone, Exness, Equiti's FXPesa unit, Scope Markets and INGOT Africa.The result is a market where commercial leaders with local relationships and customer data have become more valuable to brokers than the platform sitting underneath them. Empire FX appears to be betting that two Pepperstone veterans can deliver both.Africa Becomes the Hiring BattlegroundThe Empire FX hires fit a broader pattern across retail brokers, where European and Australian volumes have flattened and firms are competing for executives who know how to acquire customers in emerging markets. Exness opened a Cape Town office last year as part of an Africa push. Equiti's FXPesa continues to operate as one of the few homegrown Kenyan brands with scale, while South African regulation has drawn brokers including Doo Group toward local branding strategies. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The Australian financial market watchdog has warned against growing fraud involving fake crypto trading platforms, which scammers are promoting in messaging app groups and forums.Targeting Young InvestorsTargeting crypto investors also appears to be highly statistical: MoneySmart research found that 23 per cent of Aussies aged 18 to 28 own crypto assets, of whom two-thirds (66 per cent) have a short-term or speculative approach to managing their crypto investments. Moreover, 29 per cent of the 1,127 surveyed individuals conduct short-term trading based on social media influencers.Warned today (Monday), the scam tactics are well-known and have been used globally for years to lure victims. However, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) warning shows that Aussies are still falling victim to such scams.The regulator explained that scammers initially target victims through social media ads and posts offering trading tips. These fraudsters then invite victims to messaging groups, baiting them with stock tips from impersonated “well-known figures”.These scammers then make investment recommendations through fake crypto trading platforms. The regulator explained that these platform screens may show profits and trades, but all the data is fake.Victims are also pressured to pay “unlock fees” if they submit withdrawal requests, deepening their losses further. Meanwhile, all the victims’ funds go straight to scammers’ accounts rather than into any investment platform.Do Not Click on AdsThe MoneySmart survey also found that 72 per cent of Gen Z Aussies see social media ads about crypto, and 41 per cent of them have even been contacted by someone about investing in crypto.The targets of such scams are often victims of pump-and-dump schemes who are approached by scammers offering services to recover their money. In reality, however, they lose even more money.Such “recovery scams” are also widespread worldwide, and ASIC counterparts have issued multiple warnings against them.The Aussie watchdog even took down nearly 12,000 investment scam and phishing websites by 2025. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.