Interactive Brokers delivered solid third-quarter results powered by a sharp rebound in trading activity and rising interest income, signaling strong momentum among active investors despite market uncertainty.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood at London’s leading trading industry event!The brokerage reported gains across core business lines while keeping expenses under control, lifting profitability to its highest level in a year. The company posted GAAP net revenue of $1.66 billion, up from $1.37 billion in the same period last year, while adjusted net revenue reached $1.61 billion. Diluted earnings per share came in at $0.59, compared to $0.42 a year earlier. Profit before taxes rose to $1.31 billion, reflecting a stable pre-tax margin of 79%.Trading Volumes Boost Commission RevenueAccording to the company, higher trading volumes in equity markets drove a strong rebound in commission revenue. Equity trading activity surged as market conditions attracted more speculative and short-term strategies.Commission revenue increased 23% to $537 million. Stock trading volumes jumped 67%, while options activity rose 27%. Futures volume fell 7%, but the decline did not offset growth in other asset classes.Interest-based income continued to play a central role in revenue growth. Interactive Brokers reported net interest income of $967 million, up 21% from a year ago, supported by higher customer margin loans and larger credit balances. Securities lending activity also remained strong during the quarter.The firm maintained tight cost controls. General and administrative expenses dropped 59% to $62 million due to the absence of one-time legal and regulatory costs recorded last year.Read more: Interactive Brokers Daily Average Revenue Trades Surge 47%, Client Equity SoarsThe company also avoided expenses linked to the prior consolidation of its European units. However, advertising expenses increased by $10 million as Interactive Brokers continued to invest in customer acquisition. Execution and clearing fees declined 21% due to lower U.S. regulatory transaction fees and increased liquidity rebates from exchanges.Client Growth AcceleratesInteractive Brokers continued to grow its customer base worldwide, with customer accounts rising 32% to 4.13 million. The firm also saw a sharp increase in customer equity, which climbed 40% to $757.5 billion. Customer margin loans were up 39% to $77.3 billion, and customer credit balances rose 33% to $154.8 billion.Interactive Brokers has a long-standing strategy of diversifying equity across a basket of global currencies, known as its GLOBAL basket. Currency fluctuations, particularly a decline in the basket’s U.S. dollar value, reduced earnings by $33 million this quarter. The company recorded a $4 million gain in Other Income tied to the strategy, partly offset by a $37 million loss in Other Comprehensive Income. Following the strong results, the board has declared a cash dividend of $0.08 per share. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The Bank of England moved to calm industry concerns this week, emphasizing that proposed limits on stablecoin holdings and transaction sizes are only temporary.Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25The central bank aims to give the financial system time to adjust while allowing stablecoins to play a role in the UK’s multi-currency payments system. In a speech at DC Fintech Week, Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden said the central bank’s measures are designed to ensure stability rather than restrict innovation.“All of these are intended to be temporary to allow the structure of real-economy financing to adjust – and to enable the Bank to monitor adoption of stablecoins and assess the potential for rapid changes in the structure of the financial system,” she explained, noting that rapid shifts could otherwise destabilize the banking system.Industry Pushback on Proposed LimitsIndustry groups had widely criticized the initially proposed thresholds, between $13,429 and $26,858 (10,000–20,000 British pounds), arguing that such caps would signal that the UK is unfriendly to crypto businesses. Critics warned that this could drive innovation and investment overseas, slowing the adoption of digital finance solutions in the country.Breeden confirmed that the Bank of England will launch a consultation before the end of the year. “We will be consulting in the coming weeks on the details of our proposed regime for sterling stablecoins used in systemic payment systems, and we’ll be open to feedback as we finalize our rules,” she said.You may also like: Stablecoins, UK Policy Clashes, and Retail Crypto’s Rise: Could ETFs and CFDs Be Next?Proposals under discussion include higher limits for business accounts, exemptions for supermarkets and large firms, and carveouts for participants in the UK’s digital sandbox, launched in October 2024.Financial Stability Remains the PriorityThe Bank’s key concern is that a rapid shift of funds from traditional bank deposits into stablecoins could cause a sudden drop in credit for households and businesses. Breeden noted that this risk is particularly acute in the UK, where credit relies heavily on banks, unlike in the US.She stressed that central bank-backed money will continue to be pivotal in wholesale payments and asset settlements. However, she acknowledged that tokenized markets will likely see a role for regulated stablecoins and tokenized deposits in the future.The Bank of England’s approach signals a cautious yet open stance, balancing innovation with financial stability, and leaving the door open for collaboration as stablecoins continue to evolve in the UK market. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Ripple has agreed to acquire treasury management firm GTreasury in a deal valued at $1 billion, marking a major expansion of its business into corporate finance and liquidity management. The acquisition signals Ripple’s ambition to move beyond blockchain-based payments and compete in a market dominated by traditional finance software providers.Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25The companies said the deal will combine Ripple’s blockchain settlement network with GTreasury’s software, which multinational corporations use to manage cash, risk, and payments. Corporate Demand for Faster SettlementGTreasury has operated in the treasury software market for more than 40 years and serves over 1,000 corporate clients worldwide. Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to close in the coming months."For too long, money has been stuck in slow, outdated payment systems and infrastructure, causing unnecessary delays, high costs, and roadblocks to entering new markets -- problems that blockchain technologies are ideally suited to solve," commented Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO. “Ripple’s and GTreasury’s capabilities together bring the best of both worlds, so treasury and finance teams can finally put their trapped capital to work, process payments instantly, and open up new growth opportunities.”Today, Ripple is breaking into the $120T corporate treasury payments market with the $1B acquisition of GTreasury.The past few years have reminded this industry why payments, first and foremost, is THE primary use case for crypto and blockchain. Payments are where Ripple first…— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) October 16, 2025The deal comes as corporate finance teams show growing interest in digital settlement tools, stablecoins, and on-chain liquidity solutions. Ripple said it plans to offer real-time cross-border payments through GTreasury’s platform and provide treasury teams with access to new liquidity options, including tokenized assets.Other Recent Deals Including Hidden Road AcquisitionThe acquisition is Ripple’s third purchase in 2025, following deals for prime brokerage firm Hidden Road and stablecoin platform Rail. The company has been building a portfolio of services aimed at institutional financial markets, including payment networks, custody solutions, and tokenization tools.You may also like: Gemini Deepens Ripple Ties With XRP Credit Card, RLUSD Expansion Ahead of IPOGTreasury’s platform includes risk management, FX exposure tracking, compliance reporting, and connectivity to enterprise resource planning systems.Ripple said maintaining regulatory compliance will remain a priority as it integrates blockchain-based features into the platform. Ripple did not disclose whether GTreasury will continue to operate as a standalone brand after the deal closes.A few months ago, Ripple also agreed to acquire Rail, a stablecoin-focused global payments platform, for $200 million. The acquisition aims to expand Ripple’s payments infrastructure and comes amid growing demand for stablecoin-based transactions. Supported assets on the combined platform will include RLUSD and XRP, and the announcement pushed XRP prices up 4%. Rail’s platform provides virtual accounts, back-office automation, and API integration for stablecoin transactions. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Standard Chartered has deepened its partnership with cryptocurrency exchange OKX by becoming its institutional custodian in the European Economic Area.The development comes after Standard Chartered received regulatory approval in Luxembourg earlier this year to offer digital asset custody services. The move established the bank’s presence in the European Union as the region begins implementing its Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation.Join buy side heads of FX in London at fmls25Standard Chartered Partners with OKXOKX announced the launch of a collateral mirroring program with Standard Chartered in the EEA. The arrangement allows institutional clients to keep their crypto assets directly with the bank while maintaining mirrored balances on OKX for trading.The initiative builds on a pilot introduced in Dubai in April. It is intended to let institutions hold their digital assets with a globally systemically important bank while trading through the OKX platform.#OKX Partners with Standard Chartered to Bring Regulated Bank Custody to Europe! ??@OKX has announced partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, integrating the bank’s regulated digital asset custody services into OKX’s European institutional framework.This collaboration brings… pic.twitter.com/ghRwq3g5yo— Crypto Miners (@CryptoMiners_Co) October 16, 2025Bank Now Holds OKX Institutional Crypto AssetsThe program’s rollout in Europe follows OKX’s own regulatory milestone, as the exchange obtained a license in Malta under the MiCA framework earlier this year. The move highlights OKX’s focus on institutional clients across European markets.Before this partnership, most of OKX’s institutional clients stored their crypto assets on the exchange itself, while conducting fiat transactions through standard banking channels. Although third-party custodians such as Copper and Komainu were available, OKX’s internal custody solution remained the default option. With Standard Chartered’s integration, OKX’s institutional clients can now keep their assets with a regulated global bank while continuing to trade on the exchange. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Finalto is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Horowitz as Head of Liquidity for Finalto.Sam is a highly experienced FX Trader and Risk Manager, with three decades of experience in wholesale markets. He has worked across a range of institutions, including global banks, tier 1 asset management firms, fintechs, and intermediary businesses, in roles spanning trading, risk, liquidity, distribution, and technology.His previous roles include Head of FX Distribution and Liquidity Management at CMC Markets, and seven years at BBVA, where he served as Head of eFX Trading for Global Markets. Most recently, he was Head of Treasury at Y-Combinator-backed fintech RAFIKI.Horowitz said: “Finalto has a reputation for dynamism. I’m excited to join the team and work with my talented colleagues to help continue the company’s commitment to delivering liquidity solutions that respond to evolving market conditions.”Andrew Biggs, CEO of Finalto Trading, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Sam to Finalto. His appointment reflects our commitment to investing in top-tier talent to support our clients with innovative, reliable, and responsive liquidity solutions.”About FinaltoFinalto is an innovative prime brokerage that provides bespoke liquidity and fintech solutions. Our award-winning technology and expertise enable us to deliver effective, flexible service to a wide range of institutional clients globally, personalised to suit their needs. We deliver best-in-class pricing, execution and prime broker solutions across multiple assets, including CFDs on Equities, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos and rolling spot FX, Precious and Base Metals, and bespoke products such as NDFs. This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Webull has launched corporate bond trading for its U.S. users, expanding its platform beyond equities, ETFs, and options as it continues to build out a fixed-income product lineup.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood at London’s leading trading industry event!The online brokerage said customers can now buy and sell individual corporate bonds directly on its desktop and mobile applications. The introduction follows the rollout of U.S. Treasury trading earlier this year and marks the company’s latest step to diversify its investment offerings.Corporate Bonds Added With Low-Fee StructureThe broker set transaction spreads for corporate bonds at 0.10 percent, with a minimum charge of ten dollars per trade. That pricing places Webull among low-cost providers in the retail bond market, an area traditionally dominated by larger firms.The company said the new service aims to provide cost-efficient access to bonds that offer fixed interest payments and return of principal at maturity.“Corporate bonds are a key part of a diversified portfolio, and we're proud to make them more accessible,” said Anthony Denier, Group President and U.S. CEO of Webull. “Since early 2025, we've expanded our fixed income offerings to include U.S. Treasuries and fractional bond trading.”Webull’s new bond catalog includes both investment-grade and high-yield corporate securities issued in U.S. dollars. All listed bonds carry ratings from S&P and must meet internal criteria for credit quality and liquidity before appearing on the platform.Limited to US UsersThe service will remain limited to U.S.-based users during the initial phase, though Webull plans to extend availability to other markets. The addition of corporate bonds reflects broader shifts in retail investing as users balance stock exposure with instruments that generate stable income."As we expand our fixed income offerings, we’re giving retail investors the same tools and opportunities institutions have relied on for decades. With low transaction spreads and seamless execution, investors are now better equipped to diversify, preserve capital, and position their portfolios for long-term success," Denier added.Besides launching new offerings, Webull is also exploring options to geographically expand its services. The online broker recently launched its first European operation in the Netherlands, offering its trading platform to Dutch retail investors. The company established its Amsterdam base through its subsidiary, Webull Securities (Europe) B.V., which received authorization from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) in 2023.Additionally, Webull Securities Australia debuted cryptocurrency trading for local users a few months ago, expanding access to 240 digital assets just one day after Webull relaunched crypto trading on its main US platform. Australia was Webull’s third global market to offer integrated crypto trading, following earlier rollouts in Brazil and the United States. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The U.S. online trading provider Firstrade has added digital rollover technology from Capitalize to help clients transfer old 401(k) accounts into individual retirement accounts on its platform.The move addresses a growing pool of abandoned retirement savings that has nearly doubled over the past decade.Forgotten Accounts Pile Up to $2.1TAbout 31.9 million Americans have left 401(k) accounts at former employers, holding roughly $2.1 trillion in assets, according to September data from Capitalize. The average forgotten account contains $66,691, up from $56,616 two years earlier.Nearly three-quarters of savers cannot complete a rollover without assistance, based on Capitalize's research with the Center for Retention Research. The process typically requires paperwork, phone calls with multiple providers, and waits that can stretch for weeks or months."This partnership gives Firstrade clients a more streamlined, digital-first way to prepare for retirement," said John Liu, CEO of Firstrade. "By collaborating with Capitalize, we're making it easier for investors to consolidate and manage their retirement accounts in one place."The commission-free brokerage integrated Capitalize's application programming interface, allowing users to locate former employer retirement plans and initiate transfers without leaving Firstrade's website or mobile app.Growing Adoption Among BrokeragesFirstrade joins several competitors that have adopted Capitalize's rollover technology this year. Public integrated the API in March, Webull added it in February, and SoFi implemented the system in July. Robinhood also partnered with the company back in 2023 to simplify 401(k) rollovers.Capitalize's technology has processed billions of dollars in retirement transfers since 2020, according to the firmy. The platform uses data aggregation to locate old accounts and automates much of the documentation required by 401(k) plan administrators and receiving institutions."We're excited to partner with Firstrade to bring our seamless rollover experience to even more savers and investors," said Gaurav Sharma, CEO and co-founder of Capitalize. "Together, we're making it easier for people to consolidate their old retirement accounts and ensure their savings keep working for them."Fee-Free Retirement AccountsFirstrade's IRA products charge no account minimums, maintenance fees, or inactivity fees. The brokerage, founded in 1985, offers commission-free trading in stocks, exchange-traded funds, options and mutual funds, along with fixed income products.The firm recently expanded trading hours and plans additional platform enhancements. Firstrade operates as a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and Securities Investor Protection Corporation.Job mobility has accelerated the accumulation of forgotten retirement accounts. Workers who switch employers often leave behind 401(k) plans rather than rolling them into new accounts, creating administrative headaches and potential gaps in retirement planning. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

NXG Markets has appointed Anjum Sayed as its new Chief Executive Officer. Sayed will oversee global strategy and expand its commercial footprint across new and existing markets.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!She brings years of experience in trading and financial services, where she built a track record in business development, operational transformation, and team leadership. Her background in building trading infrastructure and developing client-focused strategies aligns with NXG Markets’ ambition to scale while maintaining service quality.[#highlighted-links#] Focus on Expansion and Operational EfficiencyIn her new role, Sayed will reportedly oversee the company’s growth trajectory and strengthen its presence in existing and new markets. She is expected to lead initiatives that improve operational resilience and deliver new trading capabilities. The company aims to expand beyond its current customer base and enter new regions that show rising demand for multi-asset trading platforms.Previously, Sayed worked as the Country Manager before her promotion to CEO. She joined the broker from Doo Prime, where she served as Sales Team Lead.You may also like: Rostro Taps Mason-Keaney as People Chief, Expands Scope's Pavel Spirin RoleA core part of Sayed’s mandate also includes increasing engagement with traders and institutional partners. Her leadership strategy emphasizes transparency and service delivery, areas that financial firms increasingly focus on as competition in the brokerage sector intensifies.Other Big Executive Moves In other key C-level appointments this week, Dominic Poynter was named Chief Commercial Officer at OneRoyal, where he previously served for more than a year as Head of Marketing in Limassol, Cyprus. Before joining OneRoyal, he worked as Chief Marketing Officer at HYCM in Limassol for about a year, with responsibilities that included go-to-market and digital strategies.Additionally, Soul Diomande joined the CFD broker Wisuno Group as Chief Marketing Officer. He previously worked at Taurex for more than two years, serving as Head of Affiliate Marketing for over two years before becoming Head of the Africa Region for about a year and a half, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Dominic Poynter has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer at OneRoyal. He previously served as Head of Marketing at the company, a position he held for over a year in Limassol, Cyprus.According to the firm, Poynter was involved in appointing Diego Forlan as brand ambassador and has contributed to the brand since joining, resulting in his promotion.OneRoyal Hires Poynter from HYCM, AxioryPrior to joining OneRoyal, Poynter worked as Chief Marketing Officer at HYCM in Limassol for about a year, focusing on go-to-market and digital strategies.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!He spent two years as Marketing Director at Axiory in Cyprus, leading marketing operations across international markets including Africa, MENA/GCC, and Southeast Asia. His responsibilities included budget planning, team building, overseeing Cyprus operations, and managing trading platforms.Moving from ATFX, easyMarketsPoynter also held the role of Head of Marketing at ATFX Global Markets (formerly Positiva Markets) in Limassol for two years, where he developed global marketing strategies, launched the retail brand after acquisition, and built marketing infrastructure, including websites, CRM, and affiliate programs.Earlier, he worked as Director of Marketing Operations at easyMarkets in Limassol for three years.OneRoyal Supports Student Football Event in MuscatRecently, OneRoyal sponsored the Oman Bangladeshi Students Football Tournament 2025, held at Al Amrat Football Field in Muscat. The event featured eight teams and around 80 guests. As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts in Oman, OneRoyal contributed 500 OMR to support the tournament, aiming to assist the student community and participate in local community initiatives.Financial Commission Confirms OneRoyal MembershipThe Financial Commission has approved OneRoyal as a member. Membership provides OneRoyal access to services including client complaint protection of up to €20,000 through the Commission’s Compensation Fund.The Financial Commission acts as an independent mediator between brokers and clients, offering an alternative to traditional arbitration or court processes in CFDs, forex, and cryptocurrency markets. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Gain Capital, the operator of Forex.com and City Index, has joined a series of other contracts-for-difference (CFD) brokers in securing a Category 5 licence from Dubai’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), FinanceMagnates.com understands.Join buy side heads of FX in London at FMLS25.Another Broker with a Dubai LicenceAccording to the regulatory page, the licence allows the brokerage operator to offer financial consultations and to introduce and promote financial services.Under this licence, Gain Capital can operate as a regulated introducing broker (IB) in Dubai. Although it can promote CFDs and direct clients to its non-UAE entities, the licence does not allow the firm to hold client money or to execute trades locally.However, whether Gain will promote Forex.com to traders in Dubai or its City Index brand remains unclear.FinanceMagnates.com contacted Gain Capital for details about its Dubai operations, but had not received a reply as of press time.[#highlighted-links#] StoneX owns Gain Capital, which it bought in 2020 for $236 million to enter the retail forex and CFD trading markets. The acquisition also saw a fair share of drama, as most Gain shareholders initially opposed the deal and insider-trading scandal later followed.With the acquisition, StoneX more than doubled the number of active retail accounts on its platform globally to 295,000. The platform now has over 400,000 retail accounts worldwide.Gain entered Dubai after the Forex.com brand launched services from its new Singapore base earlier this year.Is Dubai the Next CFD Brokers’ Base?Meanwhile, Dubai has become the most sought-after market for CFD brokers, most of which opt for the Category 5 licence. XM, Exinity, VT Markets, Eightcap, EC Markets and Taurex have all received the Category 5 licence from the SCA.Related: CFD Brokers Can Now Get Dubai Licenses 33% FasterHowever, a handful, such as Plus500, XTB, Deriv and RoboMarkets, have received the full Category 1 brokerage licence, which allows them to take client deposits and execute trades locally.Although the exact size of the Dubai market is unknown, figures from some brokers reveal the country's attractiveness.Capital.com revealed that 52 per cent of its H1 2025 trading volume was generated from traders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Of that, traders in the UAE alone contributed almost 72 per cent. The broker had 35,000 MENA traders compared with 61,400 in Europe, whose share of the broker’s total trading volume was only about 15 per cent. This also shows how lucrative MENA-based traders are. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Italy’s financial markets regulator, Consob, has ordered the blackout of 17 websites that illegally offered investment and crypto-asset services. Several of these sites used fake advertisements featuring deepfaked images and voices of prominent Italian politicians.The websites cloned the likenesses of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Elly Schlein, and Carlo Calenda to promote unauthorized financial services. None of the politicians had any connection to the activities.Italy Restricts Access to Fraudulent PlatformsConsob banned several online platforms that promoted unauthorized investment and crypto-asset services. The regulator said these sites advertised illegal offerings and used misleading promotional content to attract investors.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!With the latest action, the total number of websites blocked by Consob has risen to 1,443. The regulator used its expanded powers to restrict access to platforms operating without authorization to protect Italian investors from fraudulent activities.Investors Urged to Verify Providers’ AuthorizationItalian internet providers are now implementing the blocks, though Consob noted that technical delays may occur.The Authority reminded investors to act with caution when approaching online investment offers. It advised verifying that service providers are authorized and that relevant prospectuses or white papers are available before committing funds.Meanwhile, Australia’s securities regulator, ASIC, has removed over 330 fraudulent investment websites this year, a 25% increase from last year. Many of these sites used images of well-known billionaires, including Andrew Forrest, Gina Rinehart, and Anthony Pratt, to falsely promote get-rich-quick schemes and mislead potential investors.Consob Partners with Google to Block Fraud AdsConsob partnered with Google to strengthen protection against online financial fraud. The collaboration focuses on creating a digital filter that blocks ads for fraudulent investment schemes before they reach websites or social media. Announced at a conference in Rome, the initiative brought together institutional and digital leaders, including representatives from the Bank of Italy, Guardia di Finanza, and Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency. Consob emphasized that while regulators remain on the front line, cooperation with major tech platforms is essential. The partnership is seen as an initial step, with potential expansion to companies like Meta, X, and LinkedIn. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

The lending giant BBVA and SGX FX have joined forces to increase trading activity in Latin American currencies, bringing one of the region's biggest liquidity providers onto Singapore Exchange's foreign exchange platform.BBVA Teams Up With SGX FX to Boost Latin American Currency TradingBBVA will set up a distribution engine at the NY4 data center in New York, giving traders direct access to prices in major Latin American currencies. The Spanish bank, which operates retail and commercial banking businesses across Mexico and South America, handles significant volumes in regional currency pairs.The arrangement puts BBVA's pricing on SGX FX's electronic trading network, which already connects banks, asset managers and hedge funds trading Asian and global currencies. Traders using the platform can now tap into BBVA's quotes alongside other liquidity providers."Our strategic focus on LATAM underscores our goal to build robust and diversified FX markets that drive growth opportunities for all participants," Jean-Philippe Malé, CEO of SGX FX, said. "BBVA's deep expertise in this dynamic region bolsters SGX FX's ability to provide clients with efficient access to the Americas, the LATAM region, and Emerging Markets as a whole."This is another collaboration between the two institutions, following SGX FX’s move in early October to grant BBVA clients access to 24/7 crypto trading, making it the first bank in the EMEA region to offer such a service.Regional Currency Access ExpandsLatin American currencies have drawn increased attention from institutional investors looking beyond traditional major currency pairs. The Brazilian real, Mexican peso and Chilean peso rank among the most actively traded emerging market currencies, though liquidity can vary significantly depending on market conditions.SGX FX runs currency futures contracts alongside its spot foreign exchange platform. The Singapore-based exchange has been working to expand its footprint beyond Asian trading hours, adding liquidity providers in different time zones.BBVA operates in more than 25 countries and holds leading market positions in Mexico and South America. The bank's trading desks handle corporate and institutional flows in regional currencies, giving it visibility into local market dynamics.Platform Competition IntensifiesThe foreign exchange market remains fragmented across multiple electronic platforms, with banks and trading firms splitting their order flow between venues. EBS, owned by CME Group, and Refinitiv's FXall compete for market share alongside newer entrants focused on emerging market currencies.Melody Martínez Davidson, Managing Director of Institutional Sales for fixed income, currencies and commodities flow at BBVA's corporate and investment banking division, said the tie-up would help international investors access Latin American markets. "By combining our regional leadership with SGX FX's advanced distribution capabilities, we're enabling seamless connectivity between local markets and international investors," she said.SGX FX's platform includes BidFX and MaxxTrader technology for price aggregation and execution. The exchange also operates CurrencyNode, which matches buyers and sellers anonymously in over-the-counter currency trades. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Rostro Group hired Kate Mason-Keaney as its first Chief People and Organization Officer and promoted Pavel Spirin to Group Chief Growth Officer, the company said today (Thursday), as the four-year-old financial services holding firm prepares for what it calls “aggressive growth.”Rostro Group Names People Chief, Reorganizes for ExpansionThe appointments come as Rostro tries to position itself beyond traditional brokerage operations. The group owns retail broker Scope (previously Scope Markets) and has been building out businesses in digital assets, investment services, and payments. Company executives say the diversified structure helps cushion the impact when individual market segments slow down.Mason-Keaney joins from roles focused on organizational transformation at international firms. She'll work alongside Claire Thorpe, who was named Organization Development Director after holding senior HR positions at multinational corporations. The two will build out what Rostro calls its “People and Organisation” division, handling talent recruitment, employee development, and aligning company culture across the group's entities."Rostro is building something truly extraordinary, and I am honored to join as the Group steps into a new, dynamic phase," Mason-Keaney said in a statement. She said she worked with Rostro's leadership previously and was drawn to what she described as the company's focus on employee growth alongside business expansion.Spirin Takes Broader Role After Scope WorkSpirin previously drove business development at Scope and will now handle growth initiatives across all Rostro entities on a full-time basis. The company didn't specify what new markets or products it plans to target.Michael Ayres, Rostro's group CEO, said the hires reflect confidence in the company's business model even as broader financial markets face uncertainty. "Financial markets are cyclical by nature, but the strength of Rostro lies in its structure," Ayres said. "We've built a business designed for the long term."The company is targeting what it calls a "2030 growth vision" but hasn't publicly disclosed specific revenue targets or expansion timelines. It operates from Dubai and serves clients globally, though it didn't break out geographic revenue or client numbers.In August, Scope Prime, the prime brokerage and institutional liquidity division of Rostro Financial Group, expanded its cryptocurrency offering by adding 77 new digital assets to its platform. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Australia's securities regulator has warned that scammers are creating fake versions of its Moneysmart website to trick people into handing over personal details and money for bogus investment schemes.Fake Moneysmart Sites Target Australian InvestorsThe fake sites copy the look and feel of the legitimate Moneysmart.gov.au but use different web addresses. They're designed to harvest names and email addresses from people interested in learning about investing, according to an alert issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) today (Thursday).The fraudulent pages contain language meant to create pressure on potential victims. They reference economic troubles, warn about "missing out" on opportunities, and urge people to act "today." Many promise returns of thousands of dollars from initial deposits as small as $300 or $400."The legitimate Moneysmart website will never ask consumers to provide personal information with a view to promoting investment options, or contact consumers to propose or offer investment options," ASIC said in its alert.The regulator emphasized that Moneysmart will never ask people to pay money to enter an investment.Regulators Ramp Up Takedown EffortsASIC has been expanding its fight against online fraud. The agency removed 6,900 investment scam and phishing websites in the year ended June 30, according to its annual report. In August, the regulator announced it was expanding its takedown capabilities to include fraudulent social media advertisements.Since launching its website takedown program two years ago, ASIC has knocked out more than 14,000 malicious sites and continues removing an average of 130 each week.The agency has also observed an uptick in celebrity impersonation schemes. More than 330 investment scam websites using images of well-known Australians were shut down in the first half of 2025, representing a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2024.Some scammers have also been making false claims about government investment schemes, ASIC noted.What Consumers Should DoASIC advises people to verify they're visiting the correct domain, moneysmart.gov.au, before entering any personal information. The ".gov.au" suffix indicates an Australian government website.Anyone who receives investment advice from someone claiming to represent ASIC or Moneysmart should hang up, report the contact, and block the number.People who believe they've been scammed should immediately stop sending money, block contact with the scammer, and alert their bank or financial institution. They should also report the incident to Scamwatch, a government-run service that tracks fraud.Investment scams remain the biggest source of financial loss from fraud in Australia. Australians lost $945 million to investment scams in 2024, making it the leading category of scam-related losses, according to the National Anti-Scam Centre. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

IG Group (LSE: IGG) completed the sale of Small Exchange to Kraken for $100 million, exiting its U.S. derivatives venture and booking a substantial gain as the British trading platform shifts focus to other crypto markets. The deal values the CFTC-regulated futures venue at $100 million and generates a post-tax profit of £73.3 million for IG.IG Books Gain, Strengthens Capital PositionThe transaction includes $32.5 million in cash and $67.5 million in Payward stock, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken. IG said the sale increases its regulatory capital resources by £22.7 million, with equity consideration excluded from those calculations.CEO Breon Corcoran described the exit as "a significant return on the Group's acquisition of Small Exchange" while noting it "enables us to collaborate with Kraken on the distribution of new crypto products." Under the deal, IG retains a partnership agreement with Kraken that includes distributing products from the newly acquired venue, preserving some commercial ties despite the divestment.The sale comes roughly two years after IG acquired Small Exchange, though the firm has not disclosed what it originally paid for the Designated Contract Market. Small Exchange operates under direct oversight from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.Pivot to Australia and UK Markets Gains MomentumIG's decision to offload its U.S. derivatives venue arrives as the firm doubles down on crypto expansion elsewhere. In September, IG announced the acquisition of Independent Reserve, a leading Australian digital asset exchange, for A$178 million (about £87 million). That transaction, pending regulatory approvals in Australia and Singapore, is expected to close in early 2026 and will give IG a foothold in two of the Asia-Pacific region's largest crypto markets.Independent Reserve generated A$35.3 million in revenue for the 12 months ending June 2025, nearly double the prior year, and serves approximately 11,600 average monthly active customers. The platform operates in both Australia and Singapore, offering trading in 34 digital currencies to retail and institutional clients.Just last month, IG secured a cryptoasset license from the UK Financial Conduct Authority, becoming the first UK-listed company to join the regulator's cryptoasset register. The license allows IG to expand its crypto offerings in the British market, including the ability for customers to transfer crypto assets in and out of the platform and access a broader range of digital currencies.IG launched spot crypto trading in the UK in June through a partnership with Uphold, adding digital assets to a platform that already offers stocks, indices, ETFs, forex, commodities, and derivatives. With the new FCA license, current crypto customers will be migrated onto IG's own platform in the coming weeks.Related stories: IG Group’s First Spot Crypto Numbers: £0.3M Revenue, 9,700 Active Monthly TradersBuilding Infrastructure Through Zero Hash StakeEarlier in its fiscal 2026, IG participated in a funding round for Zero Hash Holdings, a market infrastructure provider for crypto, stablecoin, and tokenized assets. The investment left IG with an 8.1% stake in Zero Hash on a fully diluted basis, down from 9.3% before the latest funding round. The round was among the largest private market raises in the crypto sector in 2025 and valued Zero Hash at approximately $1 billion.IG's U.S. operation, tastytrade, has separately expanded cryptocurrency offerings to 23 coins and introduced stablecoin account funding through Zero Hash infrastructure, enabling round-the-clock funding capabilities.Kraken Eyes a Unified U.S. Trading HubWith its latest purchase, Kraken lays the foundation for a fully onshore derivatives venue designed to cover spot, futures, and margin products under a single regulatory system. The acquisition gives Kraken direct oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), positioning the exchange to offer a broader suite of exchange-listed derivatives to U.S. clients.Arjun Sethi, Kraken’s co-CEO, said the move “creates the foundation for a new generation of United States derivatives markets ... designed for scale, transparency, and efficiency.” Sethi added that operating under the CFTC license “reduces fragmentation, lowers funding latency, and brings onshore the kind of access and performance that has mostly existed offshore.”Kraken already holds regulated trading venues in the United Kingdom and the European Union and now aims to connect U.S. traders with institutional-grade infrastructure typically seen in larger global exchanges. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, October 15th, 2025, FinanceWireEdgen (https://edgen.tech), a market intelligence platform for equities and digital assets, today announced "Intelligent Portfolios", a Personalized AI Investment Assistant that runs continuous portfolio-native diagnostics, letter-grade ratings, and personalized recommendations on investor-defined lists of assets. The system produces a single, explainable, cross-asset view that updates as markets move.With this update, users will leverage a guidance model to coordinate specialist agents for technicals, fundamentals, macro, and momentum on lists of assets they own or are eyeing. These agents verify real-time context before synthesizing a one list-level brief with tables, charts, and a final letter score for each asset. The interface centers on the rest of Edgen's interfaces, including 360° Reports, News, and other agents, with per-asset sparklines, grade badges, and a Full Report action for deeper analysis.“Investors don’t need more apps or streams of data to see what's going on in markets. Bookmarking an asset is just the first step,” said Sean Tao, the CEO & Co-Founder of Edgen. “They need reasoning applied to the set of assets they actually hold or watch. Smart Portfolios maintains that diagnosis continuously and explains the next step.”Assets can be added from any section of the Edgen platform. Each list, portfolio, or portfolio becomes a live analytical surface that the system diagnoses continuously.”Portfolios (up to 30 assets per list) include Market, 360° Reports, and News views, which combine market statistics, a synthesized letter-grade assessment with rationale, and list-filtered headlines. Additional agentic interfaces are currently in development to augment list-level analysis, like local price pivots, comparisons, and more.“A multi-agent architecture sits behind the scenes,” said Holly Hao, CTO of Edgen. “Specialist agents retrieve verified inputs across stocks and crypto in parallel, and the guidance model assembles a single answer for the portfolio or watchlist.”Over time, as a user’s bookmarks evolve, Edgen begins to recognize their style, risk appetite, and curiosity arcs, as well as sector affinities, and adjusts its suggestions accordingly. The platform pivots from a passive tool to a responsive companion.Smart Portfolios is designed to be the foundation of portfolio-native reasoning across Edgen. Upcoming releases will introduce more agentic interfaces, reflecting a steady cadence of product development that deepens the intelligence layer and personalizes each investor’s basket of assets, thereby closing the intelligence gap in markets that are increasingly fast and complex.About EdgenEdgen is an AI Co-Pilot for investors, bringing stocks and crypto together into one unified intelligence layer. It addresses market data overload and information asymmetries by orchestrating hundreds of expert tools, agents, and data sources into a single interface, turning fragmentation into clear, actionable insights for investors of all backgrounds. Edgen integrates AI assistants, real-time social sentiment, and blockchain analytics to automate analyses, optimize portfolios, and identify market entry points with ease.Backed by leading investors such as Framework Ventures and North Island Ventures, Edgen’s team brings together former Wall Street quantitative traders and core Web3 protocol developers, building the cognitive infrastructure for next-generation open finance.Website: https://www.edgen.tech/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/EdgenTech Media contact: press@edgen.tech This article was written by FM Contributors at www.financemagnates.com.

Hantec Markets, which offers retail contracts for difference (CFD) trading services and also has an institutional arm, ended the third quarter of 2025 with a record trading volume of $725.5 billion. It handled about $283.1 billion in trading volume in September alone, up from $214.9 billion in August.The broker’s quarterly volume between July and September increased by 20 per cent compared to the previous quarter and was 65 per cent higher than in Q1 2025. Year-over-year, the quarterly volume jumped by 71.2 per cent.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!Brokers’ Trading Volume Defies Summer LullThe record volumes came during the summer months, when the industry usually sees a lull due to holidays worldwide. Although Hantec did not explain the reason behind the increased demand, it can be assumed that ongoing market volatility pushed the volumes higher.Hantec is not alone in seeing record volumes during the summer months. Other brokers also confirmed similar record numbers for August and September to FinanceMagnates.com.“We started the year with a clear sign of trust from clients and our long-term investment in product, people, and partnerships,” said Hantec Markets’ COO, Nader Nurmohamed. “The numbers speak for themselves, showing that it’s paying off.”According to Hantec’s website, the broker has around 200,000 traders globally.[#highlighted-links#] Hantec’s Push for Expansion beyond RetailHantec is a global broker regulated in several countries and jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and Mauritius. The UK unit ended 2024 with a profit of £72K on a revenue of £6.21 million.Recently, the broker group appointed Michael Nichols as the Chief Executive Officer of its institutional division, Hantec Prime, highlighting that he will “lead the expansion of its institutional footprint.”FinanceMagnates.com also reported that Hantec reshuffled three senior management roles through an internal promotion and two new appointments: Norayr Djerrahian was moved from Chief Strategy Officer to Chief Commercial Officer, while Tim Hughes and Vivek Mehta were appointed Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer, respectively.Meanwhile, Hantec introduced round-the-clock trading for cryptocurrency CFDs. It was also one of the first CFD brokers to launch prop trading services. This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Surveill, which has built a compliance-centric artificial intelligence (AI) system for the financial services industry, has raised about $1 million in a recently closed funding round, the company announced. The funding round was led by Simya VC, a subsidiary of 212 VC.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!Bootstrap to Securing Funds“While we initially decided to bootstrap Surveill, we quickly realised that in order to provide best-in-class service and quality in regulatory and legal compliance agents, we needed more resources to execute against our vision,” Surveill’s Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Aydin Bonabi, wrote in a LinkedIn post.Before founding Surveill, Bonabi worked in compliance for about two decades. One prominent financial services role included being FXCM’s Regulatory Counsel and interim Director of Legal and Compliance, APAC, for about four years.“With this investment, we’re focused and determined to best serve our existing clients and to expand our services to leading financial firms in the US and across the world,” he added.Bonabi will speak at the Finance Magnates London Summit next month in the panel “Negative Friction? Brokers between Tougher Demands & Regulatory Arbitration.”Firms Building Niche AIsHeadquartered in the US, Surveill offers AI-powered solutions that help financial institutions enhance compliance oversight, reduce costs, and improve regulatory responsiveness.The company claims its clients have reported up to 60 per cent time savings and as much as 60 per cent cost reduction, alongside improved risk visibility and regulatory oversight.[#highlighted-links#] Bonabi also stressed that Surveill’s AI model in its niche is “better than any existing models, including Gemini and ChatGPT,” and has a hallucination rate close to 0 per cent.“This funding accelerates our data-driven approach to advancing platform intelligence and automation while delivering faster, deeper insights for our clients,” he added. “Compliance teams are under growing pressure to do more with less and often lack the unified data needed to make informed decisions. Surveill bridges that gap.” This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Ripple has teamed up with Absa Bank to offer South Africa’s financial institutions access to institutional-grade digital asset custody. The partnership allows the bank’s customers to store cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets using Ripple’s custody technology. It comes amid a growing appetite for blockchain-based solutions in Africa’s emerging markets.Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25Partnership Brings Custody Infrastructure to AfricaAbsa becomes Ripple’s first major custody partner on the continent, leveraging the firm’s technology to offer scalable and compliant storage for digital assets.“Africa is experiencing a major shift in how value is stored and exchanged, and our partnership with Absa underscores Ripple’s commitment to unlocking the potential of digital assets on the continent,” commented Reece Merrick, Managing Director for Middle East and Africa at Ripple. “As one of the most respected and innovative banks in Africa, Absa has a strong track record of innovation and leadership, and we’re proud to support its digital asset ambitions with the most secure and compliant custody infrastructure on the market,” he shared.Regulatory clarity is gradually improving across Africa, and institutional interest in digital assets is rising. Ripple’s infrastructure aims to give banks like Absa confidence to explore blockchain-based offerings while meeting strict operational and security standards.Absa Aims to Modernize Customer OfferingsThis collaboration builds on Ripple’s earlier work in Africa, including supporting Chipper Cash with crypto-enabled payments and launching its USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD in regional markets.According to Ripple’s report, 64% of finance leaders in the Middle East and Africa believe faster payments and settlement times are the main reason to adopt blockchain currencies for cross-border flows. Ripple’s infrastructure positions it to support banks and financial institutions in storing, exchanging, and moving digital assets.Related: Ripple to Acquire Stablecoin Payments Firm Rail for $200M, XRP Jumps 4%With over a decade in the digital asset space and more than 60 regulatory licenses worldwide, Ripple continues to expand its global custody network across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and now Africa.The partnership between Ripple and Absa highlights growing institutional interest in blockchain solutions in Africa. As banks seek to modernize operations and meet customer demand for secure digital asset services, partnerships like this may pave the way for wider adoption of blockchain and crypto solutions across the continent.Africa is fast adopting blockchain technology. In the Eastern part of the continent, Kenya’s parliament approved a crypto Bill this week, marking a major step toward regulating digital currencies and virtual assets in the country. The bill outlines licensing requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and token issuers and aims to boost transparency, investor protection, and compliance standards. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

A spike in price volatility across precious metals has prompted OANDA Japan to issue formal caution to traders, warning them of unstable market conditions and the potential for sudden trading interruptions. The broker issued a public warning today (Wednesday), highlighting severe price swings in silver (XAG/USD) and signaling that trading conditions may continue to deteriorate in the days ahead.“The precious metals market, especially silver (XAGUSD), is experiencing extremely high price fluctuations, which has widened spreads and made it difficult to predict,” the broker announced.Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood at London’s leading trading industry event!OANDA Flags Market Risk in Silver TradingThe broker reported that silver CFDs have seen “much more volatile price movements than usual,” leading to unpredictable trading conditions and increased risks for leveraged positions. The sharp moves have already caused spreads to widen, meaning execution costs for traders have risen significantly.According to the notice, liquidity in the interbank market has also dropped, making it harder to open or close positions without slippage. This environment increases risk for retail traders, who may face sudden price gaps.Instability in Funding RatesOANDA Japan also warned of instability in funding rates, which are fluctuating sharply in line with market stress. As a result, margin requirements for precious metals CFDs—especially XAG/USD—may be adjusted at short notice. The broker urged traders to monitor their account balances closely to avoid forced liquidations during volatility spikes.Related: Silver Smashes Through Four-Decade Ceiling as Gold Rockets Past $4,000The firm noted that worsening conditions could force it to take protective action: "Depending on the condition of the underlying market, we may temporarily suspend trading of commodity CFDs, particularly silver (XAGUSD), to protect customer capital.""In these circumstances, we strongly encourage you to seek out reliable financial news sources and closely monitor funding rates and margin requirements for all precious metal transactions."Interestingly, Silver recently reached its highest price in approximately 40 years, surpassing $50 per ounce. This marked the first time since the 1980s that silver has traded at such elevated levels, following strong gains in gold that have also drawn attention to precious metals.Since January 2025, when silver was priced around $28.92 per ounce, the metal has gained roughly 73% in under a year. The surge has attracted investor interest, reflecting renewed focus on silver as a significant asset in the metals market.Conversely, Gold hit a record high of $4,179.48 per ounce on Tuesday, marking a nearly 60% gain year-to-date as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid rising US-China trade tensions and expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.