The European Union is preparing to impose a blanket ban on all cryptocurrency-related activities involving Russia in an attempt to ramp up sanctions on the country, the Financial Times reported. The goal appears to be to limit Russian purchases of goods used in the war in Ukraine.A Blanket Ban to Prevent LeaksAccording to a document seen by the publication, the proposal came from the European Commission, which suggested a blanket ban rather than picking off and banning copycat entities spun off from sanctioned firms.“In order to ensure that sanctions achieve their intended effect, [the EU] prohibits engagement with any crypto asset service provider, or the use of any platform allowing the transfer and exchange of crypto assets, that is established in Russia,” the document cited by the publication noted.Earlier, the United States sanctioned and cracked down on the Russian crypto exchange Garantex, which was the country’s largest at the time. Another Russian platform to face Western sanctions is the A7 payment platform and its associated rouble-backed stablecoin, A7A5.Despite the sanctions, the stablecoin’s aggregate transaction volume crossed $100 billion, according to Elliptic. Meanwhile, the publication highlighted that A7 is offering cash access to Russian tourists abroad through its hubs in Dubai and Istanbul. It is also offering payment instruments to businesses, including transactions in China.[#highlighted-links#] Sanctions Are in Place, and So Is the WarThe EU and the US began imposing sanctions on Russia-linked entities soon after Moscow sent troops across Ukraine’s borders in early 2022.However, imposing new measures by the 27-member European bloc requires unanimous support, and the document shows that three members have raised doubts about the blanket crypto ban.Europe is also considering the possibility of imposing a ban on certain dual-use goods to Kyrgyzstan, as companies there have sold prohibited goods, including machine tools and electronics used in weapons and drones, to sanctioned Russian entities.“Imports of common high-priority items from the EU to Kyrgyzstan have grown almost 800 per cent since the war began, while exports from the country to Russia are 1,200 per cent higher,” the document added. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

CME Group plans to introduce cash-settled Single Stock futures this summer, offering futures exposure to more than 50 major U.S. companies including Alphabet, Meta, NVIDIA and Tesla. The launch remains subject to the completion of regulatory reviews and processes.New Contracts on Over 50 U.S. StocksThe new futures will reference individual stocks drawn from key U.S. equity benchmarks such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100 and Russell 1000. CME Group will list the contracts on its marketplace, and they will be subject to the company’s existing rules.All of the products will be financially settled, so traders will not receive or deliver the underlying shares at expiration. The structure will allow market participants to trade price moves in single stocks using futures margining rather than paying the full cash value of the shares.You may also like: CME-FanDuel New Prediction App Lets Users Wager on S&P 500, Oil and Sports ResultsSeveral other major derivatives exchange already list single stock futures or very similar contracts. Notably, Eurex has a long‑standing single stock futures segment, offering hundreds of contracts on individual equities from Europe, the U.S. and Canada. In Asia, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing lists stock futures on individual Hong Kong‑listed companies.Access the leading U.S. stocks with the power of futures. Introducing Single Stock futures, coming this summer.Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/ggrNzY0oIJ pic.twitter.com/LVFdJNcjyE— CME Group (@CMEGroup) February 10, 2026"These contracts will provide a simpler, more cost-effective way to take a view on a stock, while allowing market participants to gain exposure to, or hedge potential price movements, without buying shares outright," commented Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group. Launch Follows Rising Equity Derivatives ActivityCME Group’s decision follows strong demand for equity derivatives from both institutional and retail clients in recent years. In 2025, equity futures and options at the group recorded average daily volume of 7.4 million contracts and open interest of 9.8 million contracts.Meanwhile, CME Group introduced a new margin calculation system for precious metals futures early this year, shifting from fixed dollar amounts to percentage-based requirements after gold and silver hit record highs. The previous dollar-based system had become cumbersome as precious metals surged, forcing repeated manual adjustments to keep pace with sharp price movements. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

A federal judge has sentenced former SafeMoon US LLC CEO Braden Karony to 100 months in prison over a multi-million dollar fraud tied to the SafeMoon token. He must forfeit about 7.5 million dollars, with restitution to be decided later, and a jury also ordered the forfeiture of two residential properties.Sentence and Prosecutors’ StatementsThe U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York imposed the sentence after a three-week trial that ended in May 2025, where a federal jury convicted Karony of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.Prosecutors said Karony and his associates misled investors about how SafeMoon’s token tax and liquidity pools operated and then diverted funds for personal use.U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said Karony lied to investors “from all walks of life” and defrauded thousands of victims to buy mansions, sports cars, and custom trucks. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle Jr. said Karony stole more than 9 million dollars in digital assets from his company.SafeMoon CEO gets 100 months in prison for multi-million-dollar crypto fraud. Ordered to forfeit $7.5M after defrauding investors.https://t.co/TPuizDabFnThis case was investigated by #IRSCI NY Field Office, @NewYorkFBI, @HSINewYork, & @SECGov.#FollowTheMoney #WhatWeDoCounts pic.twitter.com/wi1Yb58NA3— IRS Criminal Investigation (@IRS_CI) February 10, 2026“Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a federal jury convicted Braden John Karony on all counts of a three-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering,” the DOJ said on Tuesday. “The charges arose from the defendant’s and his co-conspirators’ roles in defrauding investors in a decentralized finance digital asset called ‘SafeMoon,’ issued by their company SafeMoon LLC.”SafeMoon Mechanics and Alleged MisconductEarlier, SafeMoon filed for bankruptcy in the Utah Bankruptcy Court, reporting assets between $10 million and $50 million and debts ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The filing highlighted the company’s strained financial condition and came shortly after the arrests of its top executives.Read more: SafeMoon’s Former CEO Faces Fraud Charges as DOJ Maintains CaseProsecutors said insiders, including Karony, retained access to those pools, diverted millions of dollars’ worth of tokens, and traded SafeMoon for their own benefit, sometimes near price peaks. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Interactive Brokers has introduced small-sized “nano” contracts and perpetual-style futures, aiming to give eligible clients a more flexible access to crypto trading.Interactive Brokers Launches Nano Bitcoin and EtherIB added nano Bitcoin and nano Ether futures from Coinbase Derivatives to its trading platform. According to the firm, the contracts come in two types: ones with monthly expirations and perpetual-style contracts that behave like long-running futures tied closely to spot prices. Besides that, trading runs 24/7.The broker already connects clients to more than 170 markets worldwide from a single platform. Now, users can trade these new crypto futures alongside stocks, options, bonds, and other products in one place.Read more: StoneX Taps Coinbase for Offering Nano Crypto ContractsThe new offering uses nano contracts, which are much smaller than standard futures. Each nano Bitcoin contract represents 0.01 BTC, while each nano Ether contract represents 0.10 ETH. This smaller size aims to reduce the cash needed to open and manage positions and helps traders fine-tune their exposure.“Perpetual-style crypto futures have become popular with traders because they provide long-dated exposure and greater flexibility,” commented Milan Galik, the CEO of Interactive Brokers.Smaller Contracts Lower the Barrier to EntryInteractive Brokers is also offering perpetual-style crypto futures as part of the launch. These contracts are designed to track the spot prices of Bitcoin and Ether more closely over time. They run as long-dated futures, which means traders do not need to roll into a new contract every month as often happens with traditional futures.Similarly, StoneX Financial, a subsidiary of StoneX Group, expanded its cryptocurrency trading services by offering clients access to the full range of contracts available on Coinbase Derivatives Exchange in 2023. The company announced that the offering will be cleared by Nodal Clear.Besides StoneX and Interactive Brokers, several other futures brokers and platforms offer nano Bitcoin futures tied to Coinbase Derivatives’ BIT contract, including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Ironbeam, EdgeClear, Optimus Futures, and Stage 5 Trading, all of which are listed by Coinbase as “leading broker intermediaries” for nano Bitcoin futures access. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The iFX EXPO Dubai opens its 2026 edition today (Tuesday) with a Welcome Party at Bla Bla Dubai (Beach Club), offering participants an evening of networking ahead of the main conference agenda.iFX EXPO Dubai Opens with Welcome PartyThe event ran from 19:30 to 23:00 local time and featured pop-up bars, a live BBQ grill, and entertainment. The beachfront venue provided an informal setting for industry professionals to reconnect and hold preliminary discussions before the exhibition and conference sessions began.The three-day event, running from 10 to 12 February, is scheduled to include panel discussions, keynote speeches, award ceremonies, and structured networking activities.Among the highlights, the UF AWARDS MEA 2026 will be held on 11 February in the Traders Arena, recognizing brands in the online trading and fintech sectors.Following the second day of sessions, the official launch party, titled “A Night with Dealing,” will take place at Iris Dubai, offering further networking opportunities.The Welcome Party is sponsored by Match2Pay, a crypto payment platform from Match Trader, exhibiting at iFX EXPO Dubai.iFX EXPO Unites Brokers and Fintech FirmsiFX EXPO is an event series focused on the online trading industry, bringing together brokers, technology providers, liquidity firms, affiliates, and other market participants. The expo provides a platform for business development, partnerships, and industry dialogue. Organizers report that the 2024 editions attracted more than 17,500 participants, over 500 exhibitors, and 340 speakers from more than 130 countries.The Dubai edition will continue with additional conference sessions and industry events through 12 February. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Blockchain.com has obtained regulatory registration in the UK, nearly four years after it withdrew an earlier application to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The move brings the London-based crypto firm back under UK oversight as the country prepares tighter rules for digital assets.FCA Registration GrantedThe FCA added Blockchain.com to its register of licensed crypto companies under the trading name “BC Operations.” The registration allows the company to carry out certain crypto-related activities in the UK, as long as it complies with money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations.By operating as a registered crypto asset business under the FCA, we are doubling down on our commitment to security and transparency. This solidifies our UK operations in preparation for the next generation of financial innovation, including:✅Offering digital asset custody…— Blockchain.com (@blockchain) February 10, 2026“Securing this registration today puts us under active oversight immediately. Instead of waiting for legislation, Blockchain.com is now operating under the same rigorous standards as traditional finance and banks in the UK,” the crypto firm mentioned.Related: Crypto Firms Must Apply for FCA Authorisation Starting September This YearBlockchain.com operates as a cryptocurrency exchange and wallet provider. The firm is headquartered in London, making the UK approval a key step for its local operations.Blockchain.com previously sought FCA licensing but chose to withdraw its application in March 2022. At that time, the company had not received approval before an impending regulatory deadline. After the withdrawal, Blockchain.com pivoted to its registered business in Lithuania to continue its activities under a different regulatory base.Compliance and Scope of ApprovalUnder its current registration, Blockchain.com must follow UK rules related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. In a post on X, the company said it now operates under the same rigorous standards as traditional finance and banks in the UK.The FCA plans to introduce a broader crypto licensing framework from October next year. That future regime is expected to go beyond financial crime checks and move towards fuller regulation of crypto services.Blockchain.com’s current registration places it within the existing UK system ahead of those changes, providing a clearer regulatory footing as new rules come into force.Earlier, the FCA set out new requirements for companies looking to engage in regulated crypto asset activities, with applications expected to open in September. Firms will need to obtain authorization under the Financial Services and Markets Act before the new regulatory framework takes effect in October 2027. To prepare for the transition, the FCA launched a public consultation to evaluate how existing handbook rules should apply to crypto firms. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Silver is trading at $81.50 on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, down just 2% after a stunning two-day recovery that saw the white metal gain 10% Friday and 7% Monday. Despite the minor pullback, silver remains up 15% year-to-date after surviving extreme volatility that included a 26% single-day crash on January 30 and a 20% drop last week. Bank of America's head of metals research Michael Widmer maintains his extraordinary $309 silver price prediction for 2026, representing a potential 279% gain from current levels, based on historical gold-to-silver ratio compression.In this article, I am answering the question of why silver is going up today, analyzing the XAG/USD chart and checking the newest silver price forecasts.Follow me on X for more silver market analysis: @ChmielDkSilver's Crypto-Like Volatility: From $122 to $75 to $82Silver's recent price action has exhibited volatility "closer to that of crypto altcoins than precious metals markets," as extreme swings have whipsawed traders in both directions.The timeline of chaos:January 29: Silver hit an all-time high of $121.88 per ounceJanuary 30: Crashed 26% in a single session following Kevin Warsh's Fed Chair nominationLast week: Another 20% single-day drop tested trader nervesFebruary 6: Bottomed at $75 per ounce (Indian markets: ₹2.75 lakh/kg)Friday, Feb 7: Explosive 10% recovery rallyMonday, Feb 9: Additional 7% gain, adding ₹15,000/kg in IndiaTuesday, Feb 10: Minor 2% profit-taking to $81.30-$81.60 rangeDespite the roller coaster, silver has staged a remarkable two-day rally."The rapid stabilization around $75-$82 indicates that silver has completed its backtest from speculative frenzy to its industrial value bottom," notes Jiayi Li, a global market researcher. Trade sentiment has shifted from panic to "neutral-to-bullish," with traders looking to "buy the dip around $77-$78, aiming for a move back to $93 if the US Dollar weakens".From my technical analysis perspective, silver has successfully returned above the 50-day exponential moving average and the $81 resistance zone marked by year-end 2025 highs. This creates a "huge open path" toward testing resistance at $94 per ounce (mid-January peaks), then the psychological $100 level, and ultimately the $117-120 all-time high zone.Bank of America's Explosive $309 Silver Price ForecastBank of America's Michael Widmer has issued one of the most extraordinary precious metals forecasts in history, projecting silver could reach between $135 and $309 per ounce in 2026 based on historical gold-to-silver ratio compression."Bank of America has laid out a breathtaking metals forecast for 2026. Their headline call isn't just bullish, it's historic," according to analysis of Widmer's projection. The forecast represents potential gains of 65% to 279% from current levels around $81.50.The rationale hinges on the gold-to-silver ratio reverting to historical extremes. Using the 2011 ratio low of 32:1 yields a target of approximately $135, while applying the 1980 extreme of 14:1 (during the Hunt Brothers silver squeeze) produces the $309 scenario. With gold currently trading near $5,000, these ratio compressions would require silver to dramatically outperform the yellow metal.However, Widmer himself acknowledges uncertainty, noting that "the price could cap at $309" rather than guaranteeing such levels. His nuanced assessment suggests "silver could still outperform gold this year" even if the extreme target isn't reached.It's "quite ironic that it was Donald Trump's acerbic and loud 'America First' economic policies, coupled with tariffs to and fro, that triggered the rally in the precious metals in the first place," notes Pathikrit Bose in his analysis. "Now, that has come full circle, with Trump's appointment of Warsh as Fed Chair marking the demise of the same rally."Yet even after the violent correction, the March 2026 silver futures contract (SIH26) remains up more than 25% year-to-date, demonstrating the underlying strength of the bull market.SLV ETF's Extraordinary $33 Billion SurgeThe iShares Silver Trust (SLV), the largest silver ETF with $46.2 billion in assets under management and daily volume of 175.5 million shares, tells the story of retail and institutional enthusiasm.Performance has been nothing short of spectacular:YTD 2026: +26%Past year: +180%AUM growth: $13.4 billion (start of 2025) → $38 billion (year-end) → $46.2 billion (current)Monthly inflows 2025: Average of $2.02 billion per monthvs S&P 500: Outperformed by wide margin in 2025The Put/Call Premium ratio for March futures stands at 0.92, revealing that while "more money is still in calls," the fact that the ratio is so close to 1.0 shows "the cost of protection is rising rapidly". Bears are now "paying nearly as much for puts as bulls are for calls," suggesting heightened caution despite the bullish positioning.This represents a dramatic shift from the euphoria that pushed silver to $122 in January. The market has transitioned from pure speculation to a more balanced risk assessment while maintaining constructive long-term positioning.Why Silver Is Going Up?Supply Deficit CrisisFifth consecutive year of structural supply deficit, with cumulative shortfall reaching 820 million ouncesFresnillo cut 2026 production targets to 42-46.5 million ounces (from 45-51 million), despite silver prices doubling7-15 year lead time required to open new mines prevents rapid production increasesProduction stagnating or declining, providing a significant price floor despite Fed hawkishnessPhysical market remains tight as miners cannot accelerate output to meet demandIndustrial Demand DriversElectric vehicles require nearly twice as much silver as conventional carsSolar energy expansion accelerating due to AI infrastructure buildout and renewable mandatesConsumer electronics (smartphones, IoT devices) increase per-unit silver content as complexity growsDefense applications supported by geopolitical tensions and military modernizationSilver's status as best electrical conductor (surpassing copper and gold) makes it irreplaceable in high-growth sectorsIndustrial consumption provides price-insensitive baseline support, unlike volatile investment demandHow High Can Silver Go? $94 Next, Then $100, $140, $180From my technical analysis perspective, silver's recovery above key levels opens a clear path to substantially higher prices.Current Position: $81.50 Silver has successfully reclaimed the 50-day EMA and the $81 resistance zone defined by year-end 2025 highs. This represents a critical psychological and technical victory after spending days below this threshold.Immediate Resistance Path:$94: Mid-January peaks—breaking this level confirms the correction is complete and opens a "huge path" higher$100: Psychological round number that will attract significant media attention$117-120: 2026 all-time high zone tested in late JanuaryIf ATH Breaks - Fibonacci Extensions Activate: If we use Fibonacci extensions based on the current trend, my analysis shows:$140: 100% Fibonacci extension (71% upside from $82)$180: 161.8% Fibonacci extension (120% upside from $82)This means silver could rally over 100% from current levels,though this remains "modest compared to Bank of America's $309 forecast which implies 279% gains.Critical Support Levels:$70: Stopped the late 2025 correction and recent January/February crashes—very important support$55: October 2025 highs coinciding with the 200-day EMA—this is the bear market invalidation levelGeopolitical Tensions Provide Safe-Haven CushionMaksymilian Bączkowski, a trader and analyst, observes that "the market doesn't lack geopolitical tensions acting as an additional safety cushion for precious metals."He notes that US-Iran talks, increased military presence in the region, and the absence of clear de-escalation signals mean "capital cautiously but consistently seeks shelter." This safe-haven demand provides a floor beneath precious metals prices even as the Federal Reserve maintains hawkish rhetoric.On silver specifically, Bączkowski emphasizes it "remains extremely volatile after historical highs and attracts speculative capital." This dual nature, both safe haven and speculative vehicle, explains silver's tendency to exhibit price swings that dwarf those of gold.He adds that "platinum and palladium move more calmly, remaining in gold's shadow," while "gold is dealing the cards today" with $5,000 serving as "a new reference zone from which the next wave of volatility may begin."FAQ, Silver Price AnalysisWhy is silver surging today?Silver recovered to $81.50 on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, after gaining 10% Friday and 7% Monday following a brutal correction that saw the metal crash from $121.88 (Jan 29 ATH) to $75 (Feb 6 low). How high can silver go in 2026?Bank of America's Michael Widmer projects silver could reach between $135 and $309 per ounce based on historical gold-to-silver ratio compression, with the extreme $309 target representing 279% upside from current $81.50. The forecast uses the 2011 ratio low (32:1) for the $135 target and the 1980 Hunt Brothers extreme (14:1) for $309.What is silver price prediction?Bank of America head of metals research Michael Widmer forecasts silver could reach $135 to $309 per ounce in 2026, though he notes "the price could cap at $309" rather than guaranteeing such levels. Should I buy silver now?Yes, you should consider. Silver at $81.50 sits 33% below its January 29 ATH of $121.88 but remains up 15% YTD and 148% year-over-year despite extreme volatility. Technical support exists at $70 (held multiple tests) and $55 (Oct highs + 200 EMA), while resistance sits at $94, $100, then $117-120 (ATH zone). This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Jimmy Donaldson, the world’s largest YouTuber by subscriber count, known as MrBeast, has acquired Step, a U.S.-based financial services app for teens and young adults. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Step will operate under Donaldson’s company, Beast Industries.Step Partners with MrBeast for TeensStep, founded in 2018 by fintech veterans CJ MacDonald and Alexey Kalinichenko, offers an all-in-one money app that allows young users to save, spend, send money, invest, and build credit. While it is not a bank, Step partners with Evolve Bank & Trust for regulated banking services and provides a Step Visa Card with no monthly fees. The platform is backed by Stripe and investors including Coatue, Collaborative Fund, Crosslink Capital, and General Catalyst.“Nobody taught me about investing, building credit, or managing money when I was growing up,” MrBeast said in a video to his audience. “That’s exactly why we’re joining forces with Step. I want to give millions of young people the financial foundation I never had.”JUST IN: World's biggest YouTuber MrBeast acquires banking app 'Step.' pic.twitter.com/atVpM6fIz9— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) February 9, 2026Step Acquisition Expands Beast Industries ReachStep has over 7 million users, and its technology and in-house fintech team complement Beast Industries’ global digital audience of more than 450 million subscribers, 5 billion monthly views, and philanthropic initiatives. Analysts note that the acquisition pairs regulated banking infrastructure with MrBeast’s unparalleled reach, giving the company a “zero-cost” distribution model that could challenge traditional neobanks and retail banks.Beast Industries has been fundraising over the past year, including a recent $200 million investment from Bitmine Immersion Technologies, chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee. The acquisition also aligns with Donaldson’s broader ventures, including Feastables (snacks), Beast Philanthropy, and Beast Games, a reality competition series on Amazon Prime Video.Jeff Housenbold, CEO of Beast Industries, said in a statement: “This acquisition positions us to meet our audiences where they are, with practical, technology-driven solutions that can transform their financial futures for the better.” This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

If you’re searching for the best CRM for a forex broker, you’re usually not buying a “CRM” in the classic sense. You’re buying a brokerage operations platform that sits between your website funnels and your trading infrastructure, handling lead to client conversion, KYC/AML, deposits/withdrawals ops, IB/affiliate logic, and reporting while syncing data with MT4/MT5 (or other platforms).This 2026 comparison focuses on three broker-focused options that are commonly positioned for exactly those needs:AltimaCRM: positioned around communications centralization (VoIP + messaging + email) and KYC/AML automation, with compliance-oriented messaging like audit trails and standards references.FXBO: positioned as a scalable forex CRM/back office with a large integrations footprint (the platform mentions hundreds of integrations and payment providers, plus trading-platform connectivity).Syntellicore Dynamic Works: positioned as a CRM + back-office stack paired with a Trader’s Room, multi-tier IB/affiliate system, MT4/MT5 integration, and a branded mobile app. Why Forex Brokers Depend on CRMs in 2026Forex brokers don’t use CRMs just to store contacts. In 2026, a broker CRM is typically the operations hub that connects acquisition, onboarding, compliance, payments, trading-platform data, and IB/affiliate management in one place.The main reasons brokers rely on CRMsFaster onboarding + compliance control: CRMs standardize KYC/AML workflows, reduce manual steps, and keep audit-ready records.Trading-platform visibility: Brokers need MT4/MT5 (and often other) integrations so sales/retention and ops can act on real account and trading activity, not guesses.Payments operations: Deposits/withdrawals tracking, approvals, and exception handling are part of day-to-day brokerage workflows, so CRMs/back offices help manage this at scale.IB/affiliate growth: Partner acquisition requires multi-tier structures, tracking, and commission logic that broker CRMs are built to support.Execution and reporting: Brokers need one system to coordinate teams (sales, retention, compliance, finance) and measure funnels like lead to verified to funded and to active.The Top Three CRMs for Forex Brokers in 2026AltimaCRMAltimaCRM positions itself as a broker-specific forex CRM designed to reduce tool sprawl by combining lead/client management, communications, and compliance-first onboarding in one workflow. It promotes a unified comms layer (VoIP/telephony plus chat, SMS, and email), including an integrated VoIP product (AltimaVoIP) aimed at sales/support operations, and highlights omnichannel communication capabilities used by broker dealing/sales teams.On the compliance side, AltimaCRM emphasizes AI-powered KYC/AML verification, audit trails, and compliance-alignment messaging, and it lists native integrations with KYC providers such as Shufti Pro, Sumsub, and Oz Liveness. It also positions payment/PSP integrations as part of the operational workflow, tying funding flows to real-time verification and screening to reduce friction and risk during onboarding and deposits.FXBOFXBO positions itself as a fully customizable forex CRM + back-office suite built around modular products such as a Back Office (CRM), a fully branded Client Area (Trader’s Cabinet), Partner/IB Area, and an integrated Service Desk for ticketing and support workflows. It also lists add-ons/products including a mobile app and a Prop Trading CRM as part of its broader product stack.As a multibrand CRM enables brokers to manage multiple brands and operations from a single, unified interface.The provider highlights 250+ clients, 370+ integrations, and 340+ payment providers, and organizes its ecosystem around the core broker tech stack, trading platform integrations (e.g., MT4/MT5/cTrader), PSPs, plus other operational connectors brokers typically need.Syntellicore Dynamic WorksSyntellicore is positioned by Dynamic Works as a Forex CRM + Back Office suite bundled with a Trader’s Room and built for multi-brand, multi-jurisdiction brokerage operations, with heavy emphasis on onboarding and automation. The provider highlights integrations with major trading platforms such as MT4/MT5, cTrader, MatchTrader, and VertexFX, plus connectivity with 100+ payment service providers for funding flows. It also promotes real-time KYC/AML automation using AI-based verification (including questionnaires and scoring) and communication integrations like telephony/VoIP, WhatsApp, SMS, and live chat to keep client interactions tracked inside the system. Comparison Table: Best CRMs for Forex Brokers in 2026ConclusionIn 2026, “best” broker CRMs are the ones that match your operating model and remove friction in the three areas that decide growth: onboarding and compliance, funding operations, and retention/IB execution. That’s why FXBO, AltimaCRM, and Syntellicore are positioned less as simple CRMs and more as CRM + back-office ecosystems.How to Choose a CRM for a Forex Brokerage in 2026Picking a Forex CRM is essentially picking your brokerage operating system. The “best” option depends on what you need to run daily: onboarding and compliance, funding ops, partner growth, and retention execution.Step 1: Match the CRM to your brokerage stageUse this to set priorities before you compare providers.Launch broker or small team (Prioritize): fast onboarding, clean KYC flow, simple funding ops, basic reporting, low operational friction.Growth broker with sales and retention desks (Prioritize): lead routing, pipelines, omnichannel comms, automation, segmentation, retention reporting.Multi-brand or multi-jurisdiction operation (Prioritize): permissioning, audit logs, entity separation, standardized workflows, scalable reporting, integration reliability.If a CRM is “powerful” but doesn’t match your stage, you’ll pay for complexity you won’t use.Step 2: Evaluate using the 6 broker-critical pillarsThis is what makes a broker CRM different from generic CRMs. For each pillar, don’t accept feature claims. Ask the provider to show the workflow end-to-end.1) Onboarding and complianceWhat good looks likeConfigurable KYC steps, document requests, approvals, re-checksAudit trail and role-based permissions for compliance vs salesHow to testRun a full new client onboarding in the demo and ask the provider to show the audit log of every action.2) Funding operations and PSP workflowWhat good looks likeDeposit and withdrawal statuses, failure handling, approvals, visibility for financePSP coverage that matches your regions and currenciesHow to testAsk them to demo three cases: successful deposit, failed deposit, withdrawal request with approvals.3) Trading platform data in the CRMWhat good looks likeClient record shows account status, balances, activity, and reporting based on platform dataClear sync logic and update frequencyHow to testAsk them to open a real client timeline view and show how trading activity changes what your retention desk sees.4) IB and affiliate managementWhat good looks likeMulti-tier structures, attribution rules, commission logic, partner reporting that reduces disputesHow to testCreate an IB, attach a client, show commission calculation and partner-facing reporting.5) Sales and retention executionWhat good looks likeLead routing, pipelines, task queues, reminders, segmentationCommunication history attached to the client recordHow to testAsk them to show an agent workspace: one client profile with calls/messages, notes, next actions, and automation triggers.FAQsWhat is a Forex broker CRM?A Forex broker CRM is typically a CRM + back-office operations platform, not a simple contact manager. It’s used to run the client lifecycle end to end, lead-to-client conversion, KYC/AML, deposits/withdrawals workflows, IB/affiliate management, and reporting, often connected to MT4/MT5 (or other platforms).Which CRM is “best” for Forex brokers in 2026?There isn’t one universal “best.” The best CRM is the one that matches your operating model:AltimaCRM: best fit when your priority is communications centralization + compliance-first onboarding.FXBO: best fit when you need a modular all-in-one stack with a heavy emphasis on integrations + PSP coverage.Syntellicore (Dynamic Works): best fit when you want a Trader’s Room-led setup, multi-tier IB/affiliate, and multi-brand/multi-jurisdiction readiness.Do these CRMs integrate with MT4 and MT5?Based on how they are positioned in your draft, yes:FXBO is positioned with MT4/MT5 connectivity (and also cTrader).Syntellicore is positioned with MT4/MT5 (plus cTrader, MatchTrader, VertexFX).AltimaCRM is positioned more around operations + comms + compliance.What’s the difference between a “Client Area” and a “Trader’s Room”?They’re often used interchangeably. In practice:A Client Area / Trader’s Cabinet is the client-facing portal for onboarding steps, funding, documents, and account actions.A Trader’s Room usually implies a broader client portal experience tied tightly to onboarding + engagement.Do they support deposits/withdrawals operations and PSP integrations?Yes, all three are positioned around payments operations, but with different emphasis:FXBO highlights large PSP coverage (and states the ability to add integrations when needed).Syntellicore Dynamic Works highlights connectivity with 100+ PSPs.AltimaCRM positions PSP integrations tied to verification/screening workflows to reduce friction and risk..Do they support IB and affiliate programs?Yes, IB/affiliate management is a core reason brokers adopt these systems:FXBO highlights a Partner/IB Area for campaigns, tracking, and commission visibility.Syntellicore highlights a multi-tier IB/affiliate system.AltimaCRM is positioned with a multi-tier IB platform (and additional modules in your draft).Do these CRMs work for prop firms too?Based on your draft positioning:FXBO lists a Prop Trading CRM.AltimaCRM is also positioned with Prop CRM capability. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.

What market leaders keep repeating, even when the headlines changeIf you listen closely to how long-time industry operators talk today — not on stage, not in press releases, but in real conversations — a pattern starts to emerge.They’re not warning about crashes.They’re not predicting the end of retail trading.And they’re not particularly excited about shiny features for their own sake.What they keep coming back to is something quieter:The industry isn’t falling apart — it’s becoming less forgiving.And that changes how everything else works.Growth Didn’t Make Things Easier. It Made Them Tighter.One idea comes up again and again when people who build liquidity, infrastructure, and broker technology talk about the last few years: growth didn’t simplify the business — it compressed it.More flow didn’t spread risk evenly.It concentrated pressure.Liquidity became deeper, but also more conditional.Technology became faster, but also more sensitive to timing.Clients became more numerous, but less predictable as a group.This is why experienced operators rarely talk about “more trades” as a win by itself anymore. What matters is how those trades interact with infrastructure — not just pricing, but routing, hedging logic, session effects, and operational timing.In simple terms: growth raised the cost of being slightly wrong.Execution Is No Longer a Feature — It’s an EnvironmentAnother shift that’s easy to miss if you only read headlines: execution is no longer discussed as a single capability.It used to sound like this: “We execute well.”Now it sounds more like this: “Our execution behaves predictably under stress.”That difference is subtle, but important.People who’ve watched multiple market cycles know that the hardest problems rarely come from dramatic moves. They come from small structural mismatches that repeat quietly.Trades are correct. Prices are correct. Reports look clean.But decisions arrive a bit late. Rules fire slightly out of context. Exposure normalizes slower than expected.Nothing breaks. And yet P&L slowly erodes.Liquidity Is Abundant — Until It Isn’tLiquidity didn’t disappear. It evolved.This is something you hear consistently from people who work closest to liquidity and execution infrastructure: liquidity today is conditional. It reacts to behaviour, not just market direction.Flow quality matters more than raw volume. Consistency matters more than speed. Predictability matters more than size.From a broker’s point of view, this creates a quiet challenge. You’re no longer managing “good liquidity versus bad liquidity.” You’re managing states — moments where liquidity behaves one way, then subtly switches.Those switches don’t trigger alarms. They show up later, as:slightly worse fills in certain sessions,hedges landing a bit off,exposure that looks neutral… until it isn’t.That’s why seasoned teams don’t talk about “finding better LPs” as a universal fix. They talk about seeing behaviour early enough to adapt.Regulation Didn’t Kill Innovation — It Redirected ItAnother recurring observation from people who’ve built through multiple regulatory cycles: regulation didn’t slow the industry. It forced it to grow up.Every major regulatory wave narrowed freedom in one place — and pushed innovation somewhere else.Marketing became more constrained. Leverage was capped. Disclosures multiplied.So innovation moved inward.Into operations. Into controls. Into decision logic. Into auditability and resilience.That’s why modern broker technology discussions sound less flashy and more practical. The questions aren’t “what can we add?” anymore. They’re “what can we control — consistently, explainably, and at scale?”Automation Isn’t About Speed AnymoreThere’s also been a quiet shift in how automation is understood by people who’ve lived with its consequences.Early automation was about speed: faster execution, faster onboarding, faster reports.Today, automation is about removing hesitation.About making sure responses don’t depend on who is on shift. About turning “we usually do this” into “this always happens.” About ensuring policies are applied the same way, every time.That’s why experienced teams care less about clever algorithms and more about rules, triggers, reversibility, and logs. Automation isn’t impressive when it’s smart. It’s impressive when it’s boring — and correct.The Quiet Fear Nobody Puts on SlidesThere’s one concern that keeps surfacing off-stage, never on slides.It sounds something like this: “What if everything looks fine — and we still don’t see the problem forming?”That’s the modern anxiety.Not missing a crash. Not failing a margin call. Not blowing up overnight.But slowly drifting into a position where losses only make sense in hindsight.That’s why the focus has shifted away from predictions and toward reaction time.How quickly can we notice something forming? How quickly can we constrain it? How quickly can we explain what happened — internally and externally?Where This Leaves Brokers TodayStrip away buzzwords and forecasts, and the message from people who’ve been here longest is surprisingly consistent:The industry is more stable than it looks.It’s also less tolerant of sloppy control.Advantage comes from structure, not bravado.And competition is no longer on spreads — it’s on how systems behave under normal conditions.The brokers who do well aren’t always the boldest. They’re the ones who build reflexes instead of reactions, and visibility instead of assumptions.Final ThoughtThe industry doesn’t collapse when it’s weak. It reshapes itself when it gets tight.Right now, it’s tightening — quietly, structurally, without drama.That’s exactly when control matters most.We work with brokers who face these exact questions every day: timing issues, control gaps, operational friction that doesn’t show up in reports until it’s already costly. There’s no universal setup that works for everyone, which is why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all answers.If you want to talk through your specific setup, your specific risks, and the constraints you’re dealing with, just reach out. We take the time to understand whether your technical needs and our technology are actually a good match. That’s usually why our clients stay — not because problems magically disappear, but because they’re solved in a way that fits how their business really works. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

ACCM, a contracts-for-difference (CFD) broker that recently inked a sponsorship deal with a MotoGP team, revealed that it ended January with a trading volume of $285 billion, marking a record after an almost 33.5 per cent increase month on month and a 102.8 per cent rise year on year. Now, the broker plans to expand into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Europe within the next two years, FinanceMagnates.com has learned.The broker also added 5,748 new accounts last month, pushing the total number of active traders on the platform to around 70,000.[#highlighted-links#] Gold Shines for TradersThe record trading volume came as brokers across the industry witnessed a significant jump in gold trading demand amid the yellow metal’s aggressive rally. ACCM also confirmed that gold trading accounted for over 67 per cent of its total January volume, while silver trading made up 4.26 per cent.Although the gold rally accelerated last month before a Friday dip, it has been climbing for almost six months.ACCM revealed that almost 80 per cent of its increased trading volume over the past two months came from gold and silver, with gold contributing the majority share.The broker’s CEO, Tien Ching, also acknowledged traders’ shift towards commodities from other asset classes: “Especially amid current geopolitical tensions and global trade conditions, coupled with the perception that US interest rates are still heading downward, we are seeing more traders move into opportunities in both gold and silver over the past months, driven by FOMO."“Overall, this is in line with the market’s outlook for metals to maintain strong upward momentum, albeit with high price volatility in the short term.”Although the gold rally pushed trading volume higher across the brokerage industry, B-book-heavy firms faced a critical challenge amid the continued rally last month. Many brokers tightened their trading conditions, primarily by limiting leverage and increasing margin requirements.Read more: Volatile Gold Makes Brokers' Risks No Longer Around P&L, but About Balance-Sheet Protection“I am of the view that the current market conditions pose significant challenges for most brokers,” Ching added. “Even STP brokers are advised to pay close attention to trade position management and risk control.”Another Broker Eyeing MENAACCM holds regulatory licences in Australia and South Africa, but most of its business is conducted under offshore licences in Seychelles and Vanuatu. According to Similarweb data, most of the brokerage’s website traffic comes from Vietnam and Thailand.Its latest multi-year sponsorship deal with the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team also signals its intention to promote the brand globally.Meanwhile, the broker’s expansion plans also appear strategic. It is targeting MENA at a time when dozens of other brokers have established operations in Dubai over the past few years. Traders in the region are widely viewed as highly attractive.Europe, however, remains an interesting jurisdiction, as several established players have exited the retail market there. Despite this, new entrants continue to emerge.Interestingly, despite the growing popularity of the UAE, almost 23 per cent of open roles among the top 50 CFD brokers are based in Cyprus, while only 6 per cent are located in the UAE. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Tools for Brokers, an international technology provider, has partnered with broker Alchemy Markets. As part of the agreement, Alchemy Markets has integrated TFB’s Trade Processor liquidity bridge into its infrastructure.Alongside the integration, Alchemy Markets, which rebranded last year, introduced a new logo and a redesigned website. It also outlined an expanded strategic direction for its financial services offering.The regulated multi-asset brokerage also launched a Copy Trading mobile application. The platform connects retail traders with experienced investors. It allows users to replicate trading strategies and enables experienced traders to offer their strategies to others.Broker Automates Liquidity and Risk ProcessesThe integration enables direct liquidity distribution to end clients. It also includes Broker Business Intelligence for automated risk management, real-time regulatory reporting, and connectivity through FIX API. According to the companies, liquidity is routed directly to clients, while risk management processes operate in the background. Operational workflows are also automated under the system.Bobby Winters, Group COO at Alchemy Markets, said the partnership aligns with the company’s technology strategy. He stated that “the integration provides a powerful liquidity bridge and advanced analytics” while maintaining client interfaces. He also noted that “the speed, transparency, and automation that TFB delivers will significantly enhance our clients' trading experience.”TFB Offers Technology Solutions for BrokersAlexey Kutsenko, CEO of Tools for Brokers, said the companies are combining their expertise. He stated that the collaboration offers “high-speed execution, robust liquidity solutions, and advanced risk management and analytics.”TFB provides technology solutions to retail brokers, hedge funds, and proprietary trading firms. Its product suite, known as the TFB Ecosystem, includes the Trade Processor liquidity gateway, the PAMM module for MT4 and MT5, and the TFB Toolbox. The Trade Processor bridge includes Broker Business Intelligence features focused on risk management and data analytics. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

A new breed of federally regulated prediction markets is siphoning off a growing share of betting activity around the Super Bowl, a shift that has weighed on the shares of incumbent gambling giants such as FanDuel and DraftKings. While traditional sportsbooks are still expected to see a slight increase in total wagers for the championship game, analysts now project that prediction markets such as Kalshi will capture around 80% of all year-on-year growth in wagering activity for the event, attracting an estimated $630 million in bets. This shift highlights what analysts describe as a successful “regulatory flank”. Prediction markets have positioned themselves as federally regulated prediction markets operating under Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversight, rather than as gambling platforms subject to state-by-state licensing. This allows them to operate in states where traditional online sports betting remains illegal, including large markets such as California and Texas.The Market ReactedShares of FanDuel-owner Flutter Entertainment have entered an eight-week slide, the longest in more than two decades, while DraftKings is trading near its lowest levels since 2023. Wall Street analysts have cut consensus fourth-quarter earnings estimates for Flutter and DraftKings by 49% and 29%, respectively, over the past three months. “A big piece of why we think Super Bowl handle will be down [for traditional sportsbooks] is that prediction markets are taking a bite out of that,” Jordan Bender, a senior equity analyst at Citizens JMP, told Bloomberg. Until early 2025, the CFTC had signalled that sports-related contracts were off-limits. Following the 2024 election and a shift toward a lighter-touch regulatory approach, Kalshi began offering contracts linked to the Super Bowl. The CFTC did not intervene. Since then, sports-related contracts have come to account for more than 90% of Kalshi’s trading volume. Incumbent Operators RespondedBoth DraftKings and FanDuel have launched their own prediction market applications to compete in states where their core sports betting products remain restricted. However, early adoption has favoured first movers. In January, Kalshi’s app was downloaded 1.9 million times, compared with fewer than 100,000 combined downloads for the new prediction market apps from DraftKings and FanDuel, according to Sensor Tower data. While some gambling executives argue that these platforms primarily attract less profitable “sharp” bettors, usage data suggests meaningful overlap. Around 10% of DraftKings users were also active on Kalshi in January. The competitive and regulatory landscape continues to evolve. DraftKings has announced a partnership with prediction market platform Crypto.com to expand its range of contracts, while state gaming regulators are challenging the legality of sports-related event contracts in court, raising the prospect of a Supreme Court review. For now, the new CFTC chair has indicated that sports contracts will be allowed to proceed. For the broader financial and fintech industries, the Super Bowl of 2026 offers a clear strategic lesson. Prediction markets did not displace incumbents by competing within the same regulatory framework, but by operating under a different one. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

Finance Magnates’ Q4 2025 Intelligence Report highlights a steady rise for ATFX, which recorded USD 817.4 billion in MT4/MT5 trading volume in Q4, contributing to a remarkable total exceeding USD 3.17 trillion for 2025. This performance builds on strong trading activity in the first three quarters, reflecting ATFX’s expanding client base, diversified product offerings, and robust results across key asset classes including stocks, indices, precious metals, and currency pairs.Over the course of the year, ATFX experienced increasing client participation and higher trading volumes, fuelled by growing engagement from both retail and professional traders. Consistent account activity and sustained market momentum reflected the company’s ability to attract quality clients.Precious metals and currency pairs achieved notable growth, reflecting robust demand in these sectors. Industry recognition, including awards like Best Global Forex Broker 2025 at Forex Expo Dubai and Broker of the Year 2025 at the FinanceFeeds Awards, alongside multiple regional and international accolades, further affirms ATFX’s leadership and credibility on the global stage.Looking ahead, ATFX aims to build on this momentum by launching AI-driven trading tools, enhancing fintech integration, and investing in infrastructure improvements to deliver institutional-grade solutions and long-term value for traders worldwide.About ATFXATFX is a leading global fintech broker with a local presence in 24 locations and holds 9 licenses from regulatory authorities, including the UK's FCA, Australia's ASIC, Cyprus' CySEC, the UAE's SCA, Hong Kong's SFC, South Africa's FSCA, Mauritius' FSC, Seychelles' FSA, and Cambodia's SERC. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, innovative technology, and strict regulatory compliance, ATFX delivers exceptional trading experiences to clients worldwide.For further information on ATFX, please visit ATFX website https://www.atfx.com. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Quant Technology Group today announced the general availability of QuantSentry, a next-generation risk management platform purpose-built for proprietary trading firms of all sizes, from early-stage operators to global market leaders. QuantSentry replaces manual oversight and fragmented legacy tooling with an automated, AI-native risk engine designed to detect coordinated trading abuse, enforce risk rules in real time, and protect firm capital as operations grow.Modern prop firms operate in a risk environment that legacy systems were never built to handle. As firms grow from hundreds to thousands of active accounts, enforcement becomes inconsistent, latency increases, and investigations turn into manual firefighting, which creates payout leakage and margin erosion. QuantSentry closes this gap with an adaptive, cloud-native architecture that preserves millisecond-level precision as account load scales, helping firms protect margins and reduce operational drag.“Legacy risk tooling was never designed for the scale and complexity of modern prop firm operations,” said Akash Thakrar, Head of Corporate Development at Quant Technology Group. “QuantSentry applies network-based analysis to enforce risk rules consistently as firms grow.”QuantSentry delivers immediate operational and financial impact by improving payout accuracy, identifying abusive trading behavior before fraudulent payouts are released, and reducing investigation time through intelligent alerting. By automating detection and audit, firms can operate leaner risk teams without compromising control, compliance, or growth.QuantSentry is available immediately across four tiers. Starter, Growth, Scale, and Enterprise - supporting firms at every stage of their lifecycle. The platform integrates seamlessly with major trading platforms and bridges, enabling rapid deployment without operational disruption. Core CapabilitiesAdaptive Risk Infrastructure - An AI-native, cloud-based platform that automatically adjusts as firms grow, delivering consistent, low-latency risk enforcement from early-stage operations to thousands of active accounts.AI-Driven Abuse Detection - Advanced network analysis and machine learning models that identify coordinated trading abuse, including copy trading, hedging schemes, and multi-accounting, before payouts occur.Intelligent Investigations & Audit Readiness - Risk-based alert prioritization with full trade context and a complete audit trail, enabling faster investigations, defensible decisions, and regulator-ready reporting. PDF Evidence Kits can be generated to assist firms in enforcing Terms of Service.For more information, users can visit http://www.quantsentry.com/About Quant Technology GroupQuant Technology Group is a fintech development firm specializing in high-performance trading and risk infrastructure. By combining deep market expertise with advanced cloud engineering, the company delivers mission-critical systems that enable proprietary trading firms and financial institutions to operate securely, efficiently, and at any scale. Its flagship risk platform, QuantSentry, serves as a core risk engine for modern proprietary trading operations. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

PU Prime has become the latest contracts for differences (CFDs) broker to gain a licence in Dubai and, like most others, has opted for an introducing broker-equivalent Category 5 licence.UAE Is the Next Hub for BrokersAccording to the register of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), which was recently renamed from the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA), the licence will allow the broker to introduce and promote products offered by other offshore entities.However, the Cat 5 licence does not allow firms to hold client assets or execute trades locally. They must redirect UAE-based clients to other offshore entities.Although the Cat 1 licence offers full brokerage status in the UAE, the conditions are much higher compared to the popular Cat 5 option. For instance, the Cat 1 licence requires at least AED 30 million in capital, while the requirement for Cat 5 is only AED 500,000.Category 1 licensees are also required to maintain larger operating teams and office setups, including more senior control functions and stronger operational infrastructure.These factors have likely pushed XM, Exinity, VT Markets, Eightcap, EC Markets, Pepperstone, Taurex, and many others to secure the Cat 5 licence in the UAE. However, some brokers are willing to bear the higher cost. Plus500, XTB, Deriv, and RoboMarkets are among the well-known firms that have secured Category 1 licences. There are also newer Dubai-based entrants that have chosen the full brokerage route.[#highlighted-links#] PU Prime’s Expansion PlanFounded in 2015, PU Prime primarily operates under offshore licences, including those in Mauritius and Seychelles. It also holds a licence from the regulator in South Africa and obtained one from the Australian watchdog last year by acquiring the Australian business of Admirals.PU Prime’s entry into the UAE also shows that brokers see the region as attractive.While detailed local data are limited, several brokers have pointed to rising demand in the region.Capital.com reported that 52 per cent of its H1 2025 trading volume came from the Middle East, compared with 15 per cent from Europe. The broker had 35,000 MENA traders, compared with 61,400 in Europe. In addition, 71.7 per cent of Capital.com’s $804.1 billion trading volume in MENA was generated by UAE-based traders.CFI Financial, another Middle East-focused CFD broker, handled a record $2.07 trillion in trading volume during the fourth quarter of 2025. By comparison, the broker’s total trading volume for the whole of 2024 was $2.79 trillion. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Mid-caps are increasingly on the radar of institutional investors in Singapore and with listing activity set to rise again this year, opportunities for diversification will also increase.Institutional interest in Singapore’s small- and mid-cap segment has strengthened meaningfully over the past year.The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s equity market development programme has been a major catalyst, directing capital to strategies with a significant allocation to locally listed equities - particularly those outside the large-cap universe.The equity market development programme was launched in February 2025 with a S$5 billion investment to bolster the local fund management ecosystem, deploying $3.95 billion across two batches of appointed asset managers, with a third allocation expected in the second quarter of this year.In addition, tax exemptions were introduced for fund managers investing substantially in Singapore-listed equities, while adjustments to the Global Investor Programme targeting Singapore-based single family offices were made to encourage capital inflows.The grant for the equity market Singapore scheme, enhanced by S$50 million from the Financial Sector Development Fund, now includes research coverage on pre-IPO companies and mid- to small-cap enterprises.According to Yain Wang, AEW managing director and chief investment officer for Asia Pacific, these initiatives have helped to broaden market liquidity and improve price discovery for smaller companies.“With S$3.95 billion already allocated to nine asset managers, momentum is building and many investors now view small and mid-cap companies as a key theme for 2026 as liquidity improves and structural reforms take hold,” she says.Value Unlock and Market SupportComplementary initiatives such as the Value Unlock programme further support this segment of the market by strengthening corporate engagement and transparency.Value Unlock is a strategic initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Exchange that helps listed companies realise their full valuation potential by encouraging them to think beyond ‘business as usual’, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement and communicate actionable strategies that create sustainable shareholder value.Singapore Exchange wants to attract more companies from China and Southeast Asia to list in the city-state to increase momentum in IPOs https://t.co/cY7hvuKr5K— Bloomberg (@business) February 5, 2026IPO Activity Rebounds StronglyAccording to PwC’s latest equity capital markets watch report, after a decline over the past three years, Singapore’s IPO activities experienced a strong rebound in 2025 with 12 IPO deals.Deloitte’s Southeast Asia IPO capital market report 2025 notes that the real estate sector saw two key listings in Singapore, with assets for data centre and accommodation purposes. While the consumer sector accounted for the highest number of public offerings last year, it was real estate that fuelled the massive increase in funds raised – S$2 billion compared to just S$34 million in 2024.According to the report, these listings reflect a broader regional shift toward niche asset classes. Investors are drawn to these sectors for their resilience and growth potential.IPO activity in Singapore is expected to progress in its recovery this year, supported by regulatory and market reforms and specifically measures implemented by the equities market review group.The more accommodative interest rate environment has supported the return of REIT listings on the Singapore Exchange, and healthcare and technology companies are also expected to pursue listings on the SGX. Investors will remain selective, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals, well-prepared offerings and decent valuations.Dual Listing and Structural ReformsWang agrees that the universe of listed companies in Singapore is expected to increase further and that structural reforms will also influence listing activity.“The MAS-SGX proposal for a dual-listing bridge with Nasdaq, aimed at attracting high-growth Asian companies, could draw more issuers to Singapore from mid-2026 onward,” she says. “Combined with the Value Unlock programme, these efforts should support a modest but steady expansion of SGX’s issuer base. The real estate sector, in particular, is at an interesting inflection point. Alternative-living platforms are already active with additional vehicles and potential listings in the pipeline.”ETF Flows and Pipeline GrowthShawn Ang, portfolio manager of the Fullerton Singapore Value-Up Fund, also refers to increased engagement with Singapore’s emerging mid-cap segment from institutional investors, noting that flows into Singapore securities picked up in 2025 with overall ETF fund flows reaching their highest level since 2021.Ang (who co-manages the fund with Michelle Sim) says that since its inception the firm has received a number of reverse enquiries about the fund and its strategies, both locally and across the region.“In terms of listings, Singapore’s IPO pipeline has been picking up,” he says. “SGX recorded 15 IPOs in 2025 - up significantly from 2024 – and as of the first week of January 2026 more than 30 companies have begun preparing for listings across the Mainboard and Catalist [which has no quantitative entry criteria].”????Hong Kong & Singapore to be biggest winners as global capital flows shift to #Asia:HK & SG are best choices for global investors seeking to diversify their portfolios amid geopolitical risks.DBS CEO Tan Su Shan via @SCMPNews. #WealthManagement https://t.co/j34B1J9Kz1— Urs Bolt ???? (@UrsBolt) February 9, 2026Ang shares the view that initiatives such as the SGX-Nasdaq dual listing bridge, which will allow companies to list on both bourses concurrently with a single set of offering documents, can help to sustain a healthy IPO pipeline by attracting high-quality growth companies.“SGX has also been proactive in its outreach for IPOs from Chinese companies, especially those pursuing a China + 1 strategy and looking at expansion to Singapore,” he says. “This allows us to continue to grow our pipeline of listings and is a trend that benefits the fund in terms of broadening the investable universe and opening up more opportunities for investment in quality stocks.”Strong Fundamentals Attract InstitutionsAccording to Robert St Clair, head of investment strategy at Fullerton Fund Management, institutional investors may turn to domestic assets due to Singapore’s strong economic fundamentals.“The economy expanded by 4.8% in 2025, more than the Government’s forecast of 4%, marking its best performance since 2021’s bounce back from the pandemic-induced recession,” he observes. “Supported by strong productivity, external demand and trade momentum, Singapore is a valuable anchor in this disruptive realpolitik environment.”Singapore’s AAA sovereign rating, stable currency, strong rule of law and fiscal soundness continue to make local assets highly attractive to institutional investors seeking safe, predictable returns - especially against a backdrop of volatile global geopolitics and rising scrutiny on fiscal sustainability across developed markets, says Wang.“Investor appetite has remained robust across sectors, supported by sound market fundamentals and lower financing costs,” Wang concludes. “These characteristics reinforce Singapore’s status as a regional safe haven and strengthen the case for sustained institutional overweighting to domestic assets.” This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

IC Markets, a leading global forex and CFD provider, will participate in iFX Expo Dubai 2026 as an Elite Sponsor, reinforcing its continued investment in technology, partnerships, and long-term growth across global markets. With nearly two decades of experience serving traders worldwide, IC Markets will use the event to highlight its institutional-grade infrastructure, deep liquidity offering, and expanding suite of trading solutions designed to support both retail and professional market participants. As part of the official agenda, Jason Hughes, General Manager at IC Markets, will speak on “Margin Optimisation: Leverage That Works for You,” a session focused on responsible leverage models, capital efficiency, and risk-aligned margin methodologies that support sustainable trading environments. Throughout the event, IC Markets will be available at Booth 3, where the team will meet with partners and industry peers to discuss platform technology, integrations, and evolving market requirements. Commenting on the company’s participation, Tony Philip, Chief Marketing Officer of IC Markets, said: “Our presence at iFX Expo Dubai reflects IC Markets’ ongoing commitment to building robust, transparent trading environments supported by institutional-grade technology. We look forward to engaging with partners and contributing to meaningful conversations around the future of global trading.”About IC MarketsFounded in 2007, IC Markets is a globally recognised CFD broker offering access to FX, indices, commodities, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Known for its institutional-grade infrastructure and trader-focused approach, IC Markets serves clients across multiple regions worldwide. Find out more about IC Markets icmarkets.com/global This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Freedom Holding Corp. (https://www.freedomholdingcorp.com/)(Nasdaq: FRHC), a diversified financial services and technology group, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2025, reflecting growth in assets and shareholders’ equity, strong operating cash flow generation, and continued expansion of its customer base across core business segments.The holding company’s total assets at the end of the third quarter amounted to $12.38 billion, which is 25% higher than at the end of the previous fiscal year - $9.91 billion. The growth in assets was driven by the expansion of the company’s own investment portfolio and an increase in client balances in brokerage accounts.Key Financial HighlightsFor the nine months ending 31 December 2025, operating cash flow reached $1.73 billionTotal shareholders’ equity rose to $1.40 billion, up from $1.21 billion at the end of the prior fiscal year.Net income for the 3Q FY2026 was $76.2 million.Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $1.25 for the quarter and $2.38 for the nine-month period.Cash flow and liquidityDuring the nine-month period, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $1.73 billion. This was driven primarily by growth in customer funds held in brokerage accounts, as well as a reduction in margin-related balances.As of 31 December 2025, cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash stood at $3.51 billion, compared to $1.64 billion at the start of the financial year.Revenue and operating performanceTotal revenue for the three months ending 31 December 2025 amounted to $628.6 million, driven by interest income, brokerage and commission revenues, and insurance premiums. Revenue for the nine-month period totaled $1.69 billion. This diversified revenue mix reflects continued customer activity across the brokerage, banking, and insurance segments, providing stability in the face of fluctuating market conditions.Customer Growth and Business DevelopmentFreedom Holding Corp. continued to scale its platform during the reporting period. The number of banking customers increased from 2.5 million to 4.5 million over nine months, while the brokerage customer base grew by more than 20%. Growth was supported by expanded digital offerings and continued development of the company’s financial and non-financial ecosystem.The company demonstrated the effectiveness of its diversified business model across financial, insurance, and technology segments.“We continue to develop our digital ecosystem by integrating traditional brokerage and banking with everyday consumer services. This ecosystem supports a wide range of use cases, from daily purchases such as groceries and tickets to transactions involving complex investment instruments. The strategy we adopted several years ago - to build a trusted operating environment rather than a simple marketplace - is delivering results. More than 7 million customers now use our platform. Our SuperApp is the most downloaded application in Kazakhstan, with plans for expansion into additional markets. Global technology leaders, including NVIDIA, Amazon, and Microsoft, are participating in our projects,” said Timur Turlov, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp.About Freedom Holding Corp.Freedom Holding Corp. provides financial services in 21 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. The Company’s principal executive office is located in New York City. In Kazakhstan, Freedom is actively developing its financial and digital ecosystem, which includes Freedom Bank, Freedom Broker, the insurance companies Freedom Life and Freedom insurance, as well as a lifestyle segment that features Arbuz.kz, Freedom Ticketon, and Aviata. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the U.S. technology exchange NASDAQ, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and the Astana International Exchange (AIX) under the ticker symbol FRHC. Freedom Holding Corp. is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the common stock is included in Russell 3000 Index. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has assembled more than 20 federal and state agencies for a coordinated push against relationship investment scams, timing the campaign around Valentine's Day when scammers traditionally intensify their operations.CFTC Rallies Federal Partners to Combat $10 Billion Romance Scam IndustryThe fraud, which criminals call "pig butchering," drained an estimated $10 billion from Americans in the past year. The CFTC's Office of Customer Education and Outreach is coordinating the national "DatingOrDefrauding?" social media campaign, which runs through Saturday."Foreign criminals are exploiting dating apps, social media, messaging platforms, and artificial intelligence to steal money from American citizens," CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said. "Keep your friends and family safe by warning them about this scam and encouraging them to keep their crypto assets safe by using trusted and secure software systems and U.S.-regulated intermediaries."Losses Jump 66% as Criminal Networks IndustrializeThe financial damage from these scams has accelerated sharply. Americans lost $10 billion dollars to Southeast Asia-based operations, representing a 66% increase year-over-year. Worldwide losses likely exceed $75 billion, according to industry estimates.Pig butchering scam revenues grew nearly 40% in 2024, while deposits into these fraudulent schemes jumped 210%. Individual U.S. victims reported average losses exceeding $150,000 in cases linked to scam service providers.The criminal operations are heavily concentrated in Southeast Asia. Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar generated $43.8 billion in scam revenue, with between 100,000-150,000 forced workers exploited in Cambodian scam centers alone. Approximately 305,000 scammers operate across the three countries.Scammers increasingly use AI-generated messages and move victims from platforms like WhatsApp to encrypted apps like Telegram, making detection more difficult for both victims and law enforcement.Federal Coalition Spans 13 AgenciesThe campaign includes the Department of Justice Criminal Division, FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. State regulators from Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Virgin Islands are also participating, along with self-regulatory organizations FINRA and the National Futures Association.The CFTC is simultaneously working with the International Organization of Securities Commissions on a global initiative. The Valentine's week campaign builds on a similar effort conducted in October 2025, when 16 jurisdictions across five continents carried out coordinated educational outreach.The SEC launched its own campaign in April 2025 highlighting "pig butchering" and other relationship-based investment scams, creating videos and educational resources about the fraud.How the Scam WorksThe fraud relies on dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, and even random "wrong number" text messages to identify targets. Scammers use fake profiles, images, videos, and AI-generated voices to appear trustworthy and professional.After establishing frequent contact and building emotional connections over weeks or months, the scammers claim to earn significant profits trading crypto assets, precious metals, or foreign currency. They offer to help victims do the same.Victims are directed to fraudulent trading platforms controlled by organized criminal networks. The platforms show fake profits initially to encourage larger deposits, but victims can never withdraw their money.Warning signs include an online friend or romantic interest who cannot meet in person, moves conversations to encrypted messaging apps, claims expertise in crypto trading, or offers to help invest money.Coinbase warned about these scams in 2022, noting that scammers use dating apps to build trust before directing victims to fraudulent investment platforms. The exchange adds addresses associated with scams to its products' blocklists.Enforcement Division Refocuses on Fraud PreventionThe CFTC announced a major reorganization of its Division of Enforcement on February 4, 2025, with a renewed focus on fraud prevention. Acting Chairman Caroline Pham simplified the Division's task forces into two primary teams: the Complex Fraud Task Force and the Retail Fraud and General Enforcement Task Force, which focuses on fraud affecting retail investors.On September 4, 2025, the CFTC completed its "enforcement sprint" by issuing six orders that simultaneously filed and settled material compliance violations against 10 firms, imposing 8.325 million dollars in total penalties.Under Chairman Selig's leadership, which began in 2026, the CFTC has prioritized fraud prevention over technical compliance violations. The agency now emphasizes guidance over enforcement actions and focuses on willful misconduct rather than inadvertent compliance issues.The regulator released updated guidance on self-reporting, cooperation, and remediation on February 25, 2025, and announced updates to its procedural rules and investigative guidelines on December 1, 2025, aiming to improve transparency and due process. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.