For others, however, Bitcoin’s tenth anniversary is a reminder of how little has been accomplished. “The most significant event of 2018 is what did not happen,” said Alex Mashinsky, CEO of Celsius, to Finance Magnates. “We did not get the biggest wave of adoption which was supposed to take us to new highs. After 10 years during which Bitcoin overpowered every downturn to new highs, we are facing the abyss with more naysayers than ever betting big against BTC.”
The Evolution of Bitcoin from Anarcho-Capitalist Dreams to Institutional Ambiguity
How did we get to this point? “One has to think of Bitcoin as a 4 leg relay race in which we had the first slow round 2008-2011 represented by the Anarchists who wanted to blow up the world, and now count less than 5% of total wallets that dominated the demand and were true HODLers,” Mashinsky said.
Alex Mashinsky.
“They passed the baton to the Libertarians who wanted to save the world with BTC and now amount to about 30% of all wallets. They supercharged the growth of BTC between 2012-2016 and successfully passed the Baton to the Speculators who came from the FiAT (sic) land to the Crypto land seeking riches. They now count for over 60% of all wallets and are responsible for getting us to all-time highs in 2018.”
I think it's called market cleansing... #bitcoincrash started 2013, riding the hype with not enough plans for the drop. Completly understandable. Who could have known? Except someone being in the market since 2013... https://t.co/t6lZbi4XuQ
These three groups have led us to where we are today: “they tried to pass the baton to the fourth and largest “professional” racer, the global institutions, who were supposed to take us from here to infinity and beyond,” Mashinsky said. However, “The institutions dropped the Baton and refused to complete the rally which caused the market for BTC to drop by over 70%.”
2018: The Year of the Crash
Darius Eghdami.
“You can’t read a story over the last month without it becoming painfully obvious that 2018 wasn’t a great year for the cryptocurrency market,” said Darius Eghdami, CEO of FansUnite.com, in an email to Finance Magnates. “And it’s hard to look at the marketplace without seeing the crash as the most defining moment of the year.”
But one has to beg the question--which crash?
The first (and perhaps most significant) crash came at the beginning of the year. At the end of 2018, the markets were higher than they had ever been; the world watched as Bitcoin climbed from $5,000 to $15,000 to $20,000.
Then, just as soon as it had risen, the price of BTC came crashing down. By early February, the price of Bitcoin sank as low as $6,200.
While the exact cause of the year’s first big crash is unknown, there is some indication that rumors of an exchange ban in South Korea may have triggered a massive sell-off wave. Once the rumors caused a small initial drop in the price, the hundreds of thousands of speculative investors that had just entered the market jumped ship, causing the price to drop further. The further the price dropped, the more people sold off, and so on and so forth.
Thus, the year started with a thud. And while a number of analysts thought that this was nothing more than a bump in the road, the crash that brought in the year set the tone for what would be a grueling 12 months of crashes and slides for BTC.
The Denial of the Winklevoss’ Second Proposal for a Bitcoin ETF Brought Forth Another Mini-Bubble... and a Mini-Pop
Indeed, BTC was all the rage at the end of 2017, but the public once again began to view it as nothing more than a hobby for tech and finance nerds.
In July, however, Bitcoin came crashing back into headlines with the news that a decision on what would have been the first-ever Bitcoin ETF (exchange-traded fund) was imminent. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Bitcoin billionaires and creators of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, had submitted a second attempt at an application to establish a Bitcoin ETF.
Upward movement in the price of BTC during the weeks preceding the scheduled decision on the ETF seemed to indicate that the public believed that the application had a good chance of getting approved. However, the denial of the application sunk the price right back to where it had been several weeks before, and the decline that would ensue over the remainder of the year began.
David Siemer
While the price movements around the ETF decision were certainly significant from an investment point of view, the denial of the application also had important implications for the perception of Bitcoin in the eyes of the public and the eyes of the law.
Much of this has to do with the reasons behind the denial. “Speaking at Consensus: Invest, SEC chairman Jay Clayton cited market manipulation as one of the key factors that has stymied progress on a Bitcoin ETF,” David Siemer, CEO of Genesis, told Finance Magnates.
Kyle Asman, partner at BX3 Capital.
But the possibility of a Bitcoin ETF isn’t completely out of the cards in the future. Siemer also pointed out that the possibility of a Bitcoin ETF in the future may also be influencing the price of Bitcoin. “As the old adage goes: Buy the rumor, sell the news…” Rumor of an ETF has certainly been priced into Bitcoin, and as efforts from key players like the CBOE and VanEck continue to face headwinds, the market price has likely incorporated a lower probability of a Bitcoin ETF in the short-term.”
?SEC: “All ETF proposals are denied until further notice.”
?Crypto Twitter: “I notice you didn’t deny the VanEck one...”
?SEC: “Price manipulation is a major concern and exchanges need to do more.”
?Crypto Twitter: “So you’re saying there’s a chance!”#Bitcoin#BTC$BTCpic.twitter.com/gOAp0flEq0
— Jacob Canfield ?I Love Crypto YouTube Channel (@ILoveCrypt0) August 23, 2018
Kyle Asman, co-founder of BX3 Capital, echoed Siemer in a statement to Finance Magnates: “the initial denial of an ETF had a downward effect on the price. After the initial denial I think it has been priced into the market that we wouldn’t see an approval in 2018.”
The decision on the VanEck ETF application is scheduled for early 2019, but some doubts have been cast that the SEC will have made any decision by then.
In essentially every BTC ETF denial, the SEC has specifically cited risk of "fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices". The SEC's mandate is to protect investors from these risks
The battle between which protocol would be the “real” Bitcoin Cash took the cryptosphere by storm in late November. A hot battle of egos led to a raging “hash war” that some analysts argue led to the final big crash in the price of Bitcoin this year (unless--God forbid--another one happens in the next two weeks.)
It went something like this: two protocols to update the Bitcoin Cash network were proposed by two opposing parties, led respectively by Bitcoin ABC (the group of developers responsible for the creation of Bitcoin Cash in the first place and Craig S. Wright (the self-proclaimed creator of Bitcoin).
As each side pushed to make their protocol dominant, both reportedly “rented” hash power to make their protocol more powerful. Hash power is the computing power that’s used to power a blockchain network.
Where did this rented hash power come from? You guessed it--the Bitcoin network. As more and more hash power was taken away from the Bitcoin network, the network became slower and slower, and more difficult to use. Naturally, it was used less--and the decreased transactional volume led to a significant price crash. For the first time in over a year, Bitcoin sunk below $4000.
What kind of social repercussions did this latest crash have on the way that Bitcoin is used? If nothing else, it was a reminder of the nature of the beast. “The Bitcoin Cash Crash came after a period of remarkable stability for Bitcoin,” said Steve Eliscu. “It points out that even as the technology has matured, the value that people place on cryptocurrency is still highly unpredictable.”
What Does the Future Hodl?
After such a hard year, does Bitcoin stand a chance? Does any cryptocurrency stand a chance?
Darius Eghdami said that the massive price decline of 2018 was nothing more than a natural part of a new industry: the “firm believers in cryptocurrencies, including such luminaries as Mark Cuban and Steve Wozniak, and are certain that when there is a true value or utility of the coin, a strong development team behind the project and applications of blockchain technology that actually make sense, cryptocurrencies are going to play a huge role in the future of commerce.”
“As we saw during the .com bubble, the strong currencies will survive as the world continues to move towards a digital world."
Believe it or not, this year was Bitcoin’s 10th birthday. (Feel old yet?)
For others, however, Bitcoin’s tenth anniversary is a reminder of how little has been accomplished. “The most significant event of 2018 is what did not happen,” said Alex Mashinsky, CEO of Celsius, to Finance Magnates. “We did not get the biggest wave of adoption which was supposed to take us to new highs. After 10 years during which Bitcoin overpowered every downturn to new highs, we are facing the abyss with more naysayers than ever betting big against BTC.”
The Evolution of Bitcoin from Anarcho-Capitalist Dreams to Institutional Ambiguity
How did we get to this point? “One has to think of Bitcoin as a 4 leg relay race in which we had the first slow round 2008-2011 represented by the Anarchists who wanted to blow up the world, and now count less than 5% of total wallets that dominated the demand and were true HODLers,” Mashinsky said.
Alex Mashinsky.
“They passed the baton to the Libertarians who wanted to save the world with BTC and now amount to about 30% of all wallets. They supercharged the growth of BTC between 2012-2016 and successfully passed the Baton to the Speculators who came from the FiAT (sic) land to the Crypto land seeking riches. They now count for over 60% of all wallets and are responsible for getting us to all-time highs in 2018.”
I think it's called market cleansing... #bitcoincrash started 2013, riding the hype with not enough plans for the drop. Completly understandable. Who could have known? Except someone being in the market since 2013... https://t.co/t6lZbi4XuQ
These three groups have led us to where we are today: “they tried to pass the baton to the fourth and largest “professional” racer, the global institutions, who were supposed to take us from here to infinity and beyond,” Mashinsky said. However, “The institutions dropped the Baton and refused to complete the rally which caused the market for BTC to drop by over 70%.”
2018: The Year of the Crash
Darius Eghdami.
“You can’t read a story over the last month without it becoming painfully obvious that 2018 wasn’t a great year for the cryptocurrency market,” said Darius Eghdami, CEO of FansUnite.com, in an email to Finance Magnates. “And it’s hard to look at the marketplace without seeing the crash as the most defining moment of the year.”
But one has to beg the question--which crash?
The first (and perhaps most significant) crash came at the beginning of the year. At the end of 2018, the markets were higher than they had ever been; the world watched as Bitcoin climbed from $5,000 to $15,000 to $20,000.
Then, just as soon as it had risen, the price of BTC came crashing down. By early February, the price of Bitcoin sank as low as $6,200.
While the exact cause of the year’s first big crash is unknown, there is some indication that rumors of an exchange ban in South Korea may have triggered a massive sell-off wave. Once the rumors caused a small initial drop in the price, the hundreds of thousands of speculative investors that had just entered the market jumped ship, causing the price to drop further. The further the price dropped, the more people sold off, and so on and so forth.
Thus, the year started with a thud. And while a number of analysts thought that this was nothing more than a bump in the road, the crash that brought in the year set the tone for what would be a grueling 12 months of crashes and slides for BTC.
The Denial of the Winklevoss’ Second Proposal for a Bitcoin ETF Brought Forth Another Mini-Bubble... and a Mini-Pop
Indeed, BTC was all the rage at the end of 2017, but the public once again began to view it as nothing more than a hobby for tech and finance nerds.
In July, however, Bitcoin came crashing back into headlines with the news that a decision on what would have been the first-ever Bitcoin ETF (exchange-traded fund) was imminent. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Bitcoin billionaires and creators of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, had submitted a second attempt at an application to establish a Bitcoin ETF.
Upward movement in the price of BTC during the weeks preceding the scheduled decision on the ETF seemed to indicate that the public believed that the application had a good chance of getting approved. However, the denial of the application sunk the price right back to where it had been several weeks before, and the decline that would ensue over the remainder of the year began.
David Siemer
While the price movements around the ETF decision were certainly significant from an investment point of view, the denial of the application also had important implications for the perception of Bitcoin in the eyes of the public and the eyes of the law.
Much of this has to do with the reasons behind the denial. “Speaking at Consensus: Invest, SEC chairman Jay Clayton cited market manipulation as one of the key factors that has stymied progress on a Bitcoin ETF,” David Siemer, CEO of Genesis, told Finance Magnates.
Kyle Asman, partner at BX3 Capital.
But the possibility of a Bitcoin ETF isn’t completely out of the cards in the future. Siemer also pointed out that the possibility of a Bitcoin ETF in the future may also be influencing the price of Bitcoin. “As the old adage goes: Buy the rumor, sell the news…” Rumor of an ETF has certainly been priced into Bitcoin, and as efforts from key players like the CBOE and VanEck continue to face headwinds, the market price has likely incorporated a lower probability of a Bitcoin ETF in the short-term.”
?SEC: “All ETF proposals are denied until further notice.”
?Crypto Twitter: “I notice you didn’t deny the VanEck one...”
?SEC: “Price manipulation is a major concern and exchanges need to do more.”
?Crypto Twitter: “So you’re saying there’s a chance!”#Bitcoin#BTC$BTCpic.twitter.com/gOAp0flEq0
— Jacob Canfield ?I Love Crypto YouTube Channel (@ILoveCrypt0) August 23, 2018
Kyle Asman, co-founder of BX3 Capital, echoed Siemer in a statement to Finance Magnates: “the initial denial of an ETF had a downward effect on the price. After the initial denial I think it has been priced into the market that we wouldn’t see an approval in 2018.”
The decision on the VanEck ETF application is scheduled for early 2019, but some doubts have been cast that the SEC will have made any decision by then.
In essentially every BTC ETF denial, the SEC has specifically cited risk of "fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices". The SEC's mandate is to protect investors from these risks
The battle between which protocol would be the “real” Bitcoin Cash took the cryptosphere by storm in late November. A hot battle of egos led to a raging “hash war” that some analysts argue led to the final big crash in the price of Bitcoin this year (unless--God forbid--another one happens in the next two weeks.)
It went something like this: two protocols to update the Bitcoin Cash network were proposed by two opposing parties, led respectively by Bitcoin ABC (the group of developers responsible for the creation of Bitcoin Cash in the first place and Craig S. Wright (the self-proclaimed creator of Bitcoin).
As each side pushed to make their protocol dominant, both reportedly “rented” hash power to make their protocol more powerful. Hash power is the computing power that’s used to power a blockchain network.
Where did this rented hash power come from? You guessed it--the Bitcoin network. As more and more hash power was taken away from the Bitcoin network, the network became slower and slower, and more difficult to use. Naturally, it was used less--and the decreased transactional volume led to a significant price crash. For the first time in over a year, Bitcoin sunk below $4000.
What kind of social repercussions did this latest crash have on the way that Bitcoin is used? If nothing else, it was a reminder of the nature of the beast. “The Bitcoin Cash Crash came after a period of remarkable stability for Bitcoin,” said Steve Eliscu. “It points out that even as the technology has matured, the value that people place on cryptocurrency is still highly unpredictable.”
What Does the Future Hodl?
After such a hard year, does Bitcoin stand a chance? Does any cryptocurrency stand a chance?
Darius Eghdami said that the massive price decline of 2018 was nothing more than a natural part of a new industry: the “firm believers in cryptocurrencies, including such luminaries as Mark Cuban and Steve Wozniak, and are certain that when there is a true value or utility of the coin, a strong development team behind the project and applications of blockchain technology that actually make sense, cryptocurrencies are going to play a huge role in the future of commerce.”
“As we saw during the .com bubble, the strong currencies will survive as the world continues to move towards a digital world."
Rachel is a self-taught crypto geek and a passionate writer. She believes in the power that the written word has to educate, connect and empower individuals to make positive and powerful financial choices. She is the Podcast Host and a Cryptocurrency Editor at Finance Magnates.
FX Veteran Ilies Larbi's Crypto Exchange Ouinex to Go Live Today
Featured Videos
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
