Finance Magnates sat down to talk with Mr Tzah Druker, the head of the Israeli Trading Arena Association, which represents the industry in its dealings with the regulator, to hear how he expects the process to continue. Showcasing the state of despair, this is how he described his role: “My job is to make sure there will be companies left in the market after the regulations will come into effect.”
Tzah Druker will take part in the panel "Financial Regulation in Israel – Where Next?" at the Finance Magnates Tel Aviv Conference, June 29th 2016. To join the new world of online trading, fintech and marketing register now.
Big Hurdles
Druker says that due to the way the ISA chooses to interpret capital requirements, brokers will find it very hard to comply, and out of the 21 firms that started the licensing process (see chart at the bottom of the article) only a handful will remain at the end.
“Companies that expected to raise funds after they get the license discovered that will not happen as the ISA demands they have all the capital before the regulating process ends – without knowing if they will get the license or not. Especially some of the companies that were operating before the regulations won’t be able to gather all the funds and will become distressed. For this reason, we can expect that soon the ISA will announce that these companies will not get licensed.
At the moment, after three binary companies are no longer in the processes, the case of UTrade, and three other companies that withdrew their applications, so only 14 companies are left. About another four to six companies are in a process of wrapping up their operations – looking to be bought out or just shut down.
Not all companies will be able to clear the regulatory hurdles erected by the ISA. For example, companies that have clients abroad will need to let the ISA know how much funds they hold in order to set their capital requirements (above the minimum) and not all will be able to bridge that gap. I expect that in the end only around five companies will remain.”
He said that this will hurt clients’ safety, and not just the firms. “When coming to regulate a new market it is not familiar with the ISA might want to limit the amount of players in the field so that there will only be a few big firms it can easily deal with. However, in this case it will cause the amount of clients to shrink too – so that the firms remaining will not be stable and might depend on a few high net worth clients.”
Unfair Handicaps
However, Druker said: “What will determine the size of the market is not how many companies will stay in operation, but what will the companies be able to offer.” Here he is referring to the ISA’s crippling limitations on CFDs.
The Israeli regulator has issued specific demands on calculating CFDs and displaying the information in a way that no other regulator in the world has. In order to offer non-expiring CFDs, they must be based on a weighted average of futures contracts and not a specific one that can be followed. By demanding that CFDs follow a single transparent contract, the ISA is making sure that Israeli brokers will need to operate in a way that is different to all other brokers – and this has costs.
This all leads to what Druker sees as the worst effect of the new regulations – making the Israeli brokers non-competitive. Israeli citizens are free to trade with foreign brokers and the ISA will not do anything to stop this despite putting handicaps on local operators.
After the licenses are finally given, a trader will face this question: should he choose an Israeli broker offering piece of mind with the knowledge that he can turn to the ISA in case of a problem, or should he choose a broker licensed by the FCA or CySEC that offers many more CFDs and currency pairs, as well as the lower costs that go with not having to comply with the Israeli regulations? According to Druker, enough companies think that the choice will not be favorable to the Israeli license holders.
No More Options
Regarding the banning of binary options, Druker thinks that it will achieve the opposite of the intended goal: “The Israeli public came to the ISA and asked it to regulate the binary options market so that traders will be safer. What happened is that the ISA said we can’t effectively regulate this market. As a result, Israeli traders will become less safe - they will have to turn to offshore brokers, as regulated brokers in Cyprus or the UK might reject them because they don’t have an Israeli license but unregulated firms will welcome them.”
He explains that the Israeli binary options firms decided not to fight this decision because it is not worth the effort. It’s a very small market for international firms, and Israelis are considered to be very demanding clients in terms of support which costs manpower, and it was not worth the trouble.
The full list of applicants for the Israeli License. Source: Finance Magnates
Finance Magnates sat down to talk with Mr Tzah Druker, the head of the Israeli Trading Arena Association, which represents the industry in its dealings with the regulator, to hear how he expects the process to continue. Showcasing the state of despair, this is how he described his role: “My job is to make sure there will be companies left in the market after the regulations will come into effect.”
Tzah Druker will take part in the panel "Financial Regulation in Israel – Where Next?" at the Finance Magnates Tel Aviv Conference, June 29th 2016. To join the new world of online trading, fintech and marketing register now.
Big Hurdles
Druker says that due to the way the ISA chooses to interpret capital requirements, brokers will find it very hard to comply, and out of the 21 firms that started the licensing process (see chart at the bottom of the article) only a handful will remain at the end.
“Companies that expected to raise funds after they get the license discovered that will not happen as the ISA demands they have all the capital before the regulating process ends – without knowing if they will get the license or not. Especially some of the companies that were operating before the regulations won’t be able to gather all the funds and will become distressed. For this reason, we can expect that soon the ISA will announce that these companies will not get licensed.
At the moment, after three binary companies are no longer in the processes, the case of UTrade, and three other companies that withdrew their applications, so only 14 companies are left. About another four to six companies are in a process of wrapping up their operations – looking to be bought out or just shut down.
Not all companies will be able to clear the regulatory hurdles erected by the ISA. For example, companies that have clients abroad will need to let the ISA know how much funds they hold in order to set their capital requirements (above the minimum) and not all will be able to bridge that gap. I expect that in the end only around five companies will remain.”
He said that this will hurt clients’ safety, and not just the firms. “When coming to regulate a new market it is not familiar with the ISA might want to limit the amount of players in the field so that there will only be a few big firms it can easily deal with. However, in this case it will cause the amount of clients to shrink too – so that the firms remaining will not be stable and might depend on a few high net worth clients.”
Unfair Handicaps
However, Druker said: “What will determine the size of the market is not how many companies will stay in operation, but what will the companies be able to offer.” Here he is referring to the ISA’s crippling limitations on CFDs.
The Israeli regulator has issued specific demands on calculating CFDs and displaying the information in a way that no other regulator in the world has. In order to offer non-expiring CFDs, they must be based on a weighted average of futures contracts and not a specific one that can be followed. By demanding that CFDs follow a single transparent contract, the ISA is making sure that Israeli brokers will need to operate in a way that is different to all other brokers – and this has costs.
This all leads to what Druker sees as the worst effect of the new regulations – making the Israeli brokers non-competitive. Israeli citizens are free to trade with foreign brokers and the ISA will not do anything to stop this despite putting handicaps on local operators.
After the licenses are finally given, a trader will face this question: should he choose an Israeli broker offering piece of mind with the knowledge that he can turn to the ISA in case of a problem, or should he choose a broker licensed by the FCA or CySEC that offers many more CFDs and currency pairs, as well as the lower costs that go with not having to comply with the Israeli regulations? According to Druker, enough companies think that the choice will not be favorable to the Israeli license holders.
No More Options
Regarding the banning of binary options, Druker thinks that it will achieve the opposite of the intended goal: “The Israeli public came to the ISA and asked it to regulate the binary options market so that traders will be safer. What happened is that the ISA said we can’t effectively regulate this market. As a result, Israeli traders will become less safe - they will have to turn to offshore brokers, as regulated brokers in Cyprus or the UK might reject them because they don’t have an Israeli license but unregulated firms will welcome them.”
He explains that the Israeli binary options firms decided not to fight this decision because it is not worth the effort. It’s a very small market for international firms, and Israelis are considered to be very demanding clients in terms of support which costs manpower, and it was not worth the trouble.
The full list of applicants for the Israeli License. Source: Finance Magnates
Retail Trading & Prop Firms in 2025: Five Defining Trends - And One Prediction for 2026
Featured Videos
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
