Forex Magnates reached out to Sassan Danesh, Managing Partner of Etrading Software for his perspective on FIX standardization.
Forex Magnates reached out to Sassan Danesh, managing partner of Etrading Software for his perspective on FIX standardization and the genesis of the Trading Enablement Standardization Initiative (TESI) as it relates to FX. His interview can be read in full below.
The background to this is the fragmentation of liquidity and the increasing number of FX platforms that we are seeing in the marketplace and it looks as that trend is not changing anytime soon.
Of course what this increasing fragmentation is doing is making it much more important for the sell side, that is to say liquidity providers, to be able to interact with a broader client base with much wider channels. A long time ago they might have just had a couple ECMs and so they would have just used connectivity to reach out to their respective client bases with multi-data platforms.
The reality today is that it is a much more complex market structure and that there are lots of different platforms, each innovating with slightly different models and so on. Thus we have a much greater dispersion of platforms, each specializing in some area.
2. What challenges of headwinds do you face and is there any evidence of standardized FIX measures to allay potential concerns?
The challenge we are trying to address here are less trading challenges, such as how you integrate the APIs for trading - of course most have always been based on FIX already and thus have a reasonable amount of standardization. And this has, in turn, made life a lot easier for the big sell side, to be able to manage the increase in the number of platforms.
From their perspective they have setup their FIX engines. Yes they need to customize it for each platform, but it's only a customization effort rather than starting from scratch and starting the whole connectivity from there each time a new platform comes out.
The part we are talking about here is what I call the administration of clients’ relationships through a third-party platform. There are so many different types of trading relationships that the buy side may have with the sell side.
To give you a trivial example, some buy side may want to be able to send RFQs (request for quotes), among other things. The type of trading activity might be configured or configurable based on either the type of buy side clients or the specific asset classes dealt with.
Some of the NDFs, for example, or specific types of buy side cannot go short, they can only go long, so this needs to actually be built into the permission of multi-data platforms. The Indian rupee was one of such challenges a while ago.
4. Can you explain some things that need to be administered or bridged across the buy and sell side?
There are a whole bunch of things that need to be administered across the buy and sell side. There are lots of complex rules here. What we have done at TESI is to automate all of these so there is a standard way for a sell side to reach out and interact with any buy side organization through the multitude of channels out there.
This is quite important because, critically, buy side should be treated in the same way regardless of the channel they are going through. So imagine if a buy side asks for a quote from the sell side through FXall or Bloomberg, etc.
4. What is the impetus behind TESI and how does it impact trading relationships?
TESI is all about automating the transfer of these trading relationships between the buy and sell side. Automating or standardizing this to allow the sell side on behalf of their buy-side clients to be able to "STP of enablement" this information and update this through a zero-touch on their platforms and notify the platforms of any changes in the relationship.
The entire marketplace can, critically, find this out so that the trading relationship between the buy side and sell side can be maintained and be guaranteed to be consistent regardless of the channel that the buy side is using.
Forex Magnates reached out to Sassan Danesh, managing partner of Etrading Software for his perspective on FIX standardization and the genesis of the Trading Enablement Standardization Initiative (TESI) as it relates to FX. His interview can be read in full below.
The background to this is the fragmentation of liquidity and the increasing number of FX platforms that we are seeing in the marketplace and it looks as that trend is not changing anytime soon.
Of course what this increasing fragmentation is doing is making it much more important for the sell side, that is to say liquidity providers, to be able to interact with a broader client base with much wider channels. A long time ago they might have just had a couple ECMs and so they would have just used connectivity to reach out to their respective client bases with multi-data platforms.
The reality today is that it is a much more complex market structure and that there are lots of different platforms, each innovating with slightly different models and so on. Thus we have a much greater dispersion of platforms, each specializing in some area.
2. What challenges of headwinds do you face and is there any evidence of standardized FIX measures to allay potential concerns?
The challenge we are trying to address here are less trading challenges, such as how you integrate the APIs for trading - of course most have always been based on FIX already and thus have a reasonable amount of standardization. And this has, in turn, made life a lot easier for the big sell side, to be able to manage the increase in the number of platforms.
From their perspective they have setup their FIX engines. Yes they need to customize it for each platform, but it's only a customization effort rather than starting from scratch and starting the whole connectivity from there each time a new platform comes out.
The part we are talking about here is what I call the administration of clients’ relationships through a third-party platform. There are so many different types of trading relationships that the buy side may have with the sell side.
To give you a trivial example, some buy side may want to be able to send RFQs (request for quotes), among other things. The type of trading activity might be configured or configurable based on either the type of buy side clients or the specific asset classes dealt with.
Some of the NDFs, for example, or specific types of buy side cannot go short, they can only go long, so this needs to actually be built into the permission of multi-data platforms. The Indian rupee was one of such challenges a while ago.
4. Can you explain some things that need to be administered or bridged across the buy and sell side?
There are a whole bunch of things that need to be administered across the buy and sell side. There are lots of complex rules here. What we have done at TESI is to automate all of these so there is a standard way for a sell side to reach out and interact with any buy side organization through the multitude of channels out there.
This is quite important because, critically, buy side should be treated in the same way regardless of the channel they are going through. So imagine if a buy side asks for a quote from the sell side through FXall or Bloomberg, etc.
4. What is the impetus behind TESI and how does it impact trading relationships?
TESI is all about automating the transfer of these trading relationships between the buy and sell side. Automating or standardizing this to allow the sell side on behalf of their buy-side clients to be able to "STP of enablement" this information and update this through a zero-touch on their platforms and notify the platforms of any changes in the relationship.
The entire marketplace can, critically, find this out so that the trading relationship between the buy side and sell side can be maintained and be guaranteed to be consistent regardless of the channel that the buy side is using.
Scope Markets, Match-Trade, eToro, and More: Executive Moves of the Week
Featured Videos
FM Daily Brief – 9 June 2026
FM Daily Brief – 9 June 2026
FM Daily Brief – 9 June 2026
FM Daily Brief – 9 June 2026
Today’s Tuesday, the 9th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: eToro’s customer assets climbed back above $20 billion, Prop trading model in prediction markets, and Leverate launched a new AI assistant for brokers and traders.
Today’s Tuesday, the 9th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: eToro’s customer assets climbed back above $20 billion, Prop trading model in prediction markets, and Leverate launched a new AI assistant for brokers and traders.
Today’s Tuesday, the 9th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: eToro’s customer assets climbed back above $20 billion, Prop trading model in prediction markets, and Leverate launched a new AI assistant for brokers and traders.
Today’s Tuesday, the 9th of June 2026, and these are our main stories: eToro’s customer assets climbed back above $20 billion, Prop trading model in prediction markets, and Leverate launched a new AI assistant for brokers and traders.
War Stories: Lessons from 20 Years in Markets (the pain, the pitfalls and the profits)
War Stories: Lessons from 20 Years in Markets (the pain, the pitfalls and the profits)
War Stories: Lessons from 20 Years in Markets (the pain, the pitfalls and the profits)
War Stories: Lessons from 20 Years in Markets (the pain, the pitfalls and the profits)
War Stories: Lessons from 20 Years in Markets (the pain, the pitfalls and the profits)
War Stories: Lessons from 20 Years in Markets (the pain, the pitfalls and the profits)
The trades that taught me the most aren't the ones that worked. They're the ones that didn't — or the ones I almost caught and didn't have the nerve to ride. In this session, I'll tell you about the Brexit miss, the SNB shocker that nearly handed me a 5400% return, the BoJ surprise that punched me in the gut, and a few wins along the way. Each story carries a lesson, but the lessons aren't the point. Everyone who trades long enough collects a portfolio of moments like these; what separates the people who stay in the game is what they do with them.
The trades that taught me the most aren't the ones that worked. They're the ones that didn't — or the ones I almost caught and didn't have the nerve to ride. In this session, I'll tell you about the Brexit miss, the SNB shocker that nearly handed me a 5400% return, the BoJ surprise that punched me in the gut, and a few wins along the way. Each story carries a lesson, but the lessons aren't the point. Everyone who trades long enough collects a portfolio of moments like these; what separates the people who stay in the game is what they do with them.
The trades that taught me the most aren't the ones that worked. They're the ones that didn't — or the ones I almost caught and didn't have the nerve to ride. In this session, I'll tell you about the Brexit miss, the SNB shocker that nearly handed me a 5400% return, the BoJ surprise that punched me in the gut, and a few wins along the way. Each story carries a lesson, but the lessons aren't the point. Everyone who trades long enough collects a portfolio of moments like these; what separates the people who stay in the game is what they do with them.
The trades that taught me the most aren't the ones that worked. They're the ones that didn't — or the ones I almost caught and didn't have the nerve to ride. In this session, I'll tell you about the Brexit miss, the SNB shocker that nearly handed me a 5400% return, the BoJ surprise that punched me in the gut, and a few wins along the way. Each story carries a lesson, but the lessons aren't the point. Everyone who trades long enough collects a portfolio of moments like these; what separates the people who stay in the game is what they do with them.
The trades that taught me the most aren't the ones that worked. They're the ones that didn't — or the ones I almost caught and didn't have the nerve to ride. In this session, I'll tell you about the Brexit miss, the SNB shocker that nearly handed me a 5400% return, the BoJ surprise that punched me in the gut, and a few wins along the way. Each story carries a lesson, but the lessons aren't the point. Everyone who trades long enough collects a portfolio of moments like these; what separates the people who stay in the game is what they do with them.
The trades that taught me the most aren't the ones that worked. They're the ones that didn't — or the ones I almost caught and didn't have the nerve to ride. In this session, I'll tell you about the Brexit miss, the SNB shocker that nearly handed me a 5400% return, the BoJ surprise that punched me in the gut, and a few wins along the way. Each story carries a lesson, but the lessons aren't the point. Everyone who trades long enough collects a portfolio of moments like these; what separates the people who stay in the game is what they do with them.
The Engine and the Fuel: How AI & Data Drives African Future
The Engine and the Fuel: How AI & Data Drives African Future
The Engine and the Fuel: How AI & Data Drives African Future
The Engine and the Fuel: How AI & Data Drives African Future
The Engine and the Fuel: How AI & Data Drives African Future
The Engine and the Fuel: How AI & Data Drives African Future
If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without quality, accessible data, AI cannot work well; and without the right mindset, data remains just numbers instead of insight. In this session, leading experts will explore how AI and data are democratizing opportunities for businesses and personal growth. Discover practical ways to make AI accessible today, anticipate its transformative impact on African markets, and learn actionable steps to prepare for what's next. Let's talk about:
-How AI and data drive business efficiency and innovation in trading and fintech
-AI tools to elevate trading or business strategies
-How to access and maximise the power of data and AI
-Emerging AI and data trends in Africa and their economic ripple effects
If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without quality, accessible data, AI cannot work well; and without the right mindset, data remains just numbers instead of insight. In this session, leading experts will explore how AI and data are democratizing opportunities for businesses and personal growth. Discover practical ways to make AI accessible today, anticipate its transformative impact on African markets, and learn actionable steps to prepare for what's next. Let's talk about:
-How AI and data drive business efficiency and innovation in trading and fintech
-AI tools to elevate trading or business strategies
-How to access and maximise the power of data and AI
-Emerging AI and data trends in Africa and their economic ripple effects
If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without quality, accessible data, AI cannot work well; and without the right mindset, data remains just numbers instead of insight. In this session, leading experts will explore how AI and data are democratizing opportunities for businesses and personal growth. Discover practical ways to make AI accessible today, anticipate its transformative impact on African markets, and learn actionable steps to prepare for what's next. Let's talk about:
-How AI and data drive business efficiency and innovation in trading and fintech
-AI tools to elevate trading or business strategies
-How to access and maximise the power of data and AI
-Emerging AI and data trends in Africa and their economic ripple effects
If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without quality, accessible data, AI cannot work well; and without the right mindset, data remains just numbers instead of insight. In this session, leading experts will explore how AI and data are democratizing opportunities for businesses and personal growth. Discover practical ways to make AI accessible today, anticipate its transformative impact on African markets, and learn actionable steps to prepare for what's next. Let's talk about:
-How AI and data drive business efficiency and innovation in trading and fintech
-AI tools to elevate trading or business strategies
-How to access and maximise the power of data and AI
-Emerging AI and data trends in Africa and their economic ripple effects
If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without quality, accessible data, AI cannot work well; and without the right mindset, data remains just numbers instead of insight. In this session, leading experts will explore how AI and data are democratizing opportunities for businesses and personal growth. Discover practical ways to make AI accessible today, anticipate its transformative impact on African markets, and learn actionable steps to prepare for what's next. Let's talk about:
-How AI and data drive business efficiency and innovation in trading and fintech
-AI tools to elevate trading or business strategies
-How to access and maximise the power of data and AI
-Emerging AI and data trends in Africa and their economic ripple effects
If AI is the engine, data is the fuel. Without quality, accessible data, AI cannot work well; and without the right mindset, data remains just numbers instead of insight. In this session, leading experts will explore how AI and data are democratizing opportunities for businesses and personal growth. Discover practical ways to make AI accessible today, anticipate its transformative impact on African markets, and learn actionable steps to prepare for what's next. Let's talk about:
-How AI and data drive business efficiency and innovation in trading and fintech
-AI tools to elevate trading or business strategies
-How to access and maximise the power of data and AI
-Emerging AI and data trends in Africa and their economic ripple effects
Inside My Best Trade with Jimmy Moyaha
Inside My Best Trade with Jimmy Moyaha
Inside My Best Trade with Jimmy Moyaha
Inside My Best Trade with Jimmy Moyaha
Inside My Best Trade with Jimmy Moyaha
Inside My Best Trade with Jimmy Moyaha
Most market post-mortems describe what happened to prices. Few describe what happened in the trading room while the position was open: the entry conviction, the moments that tested it, and the exit decision that closed the book.
This session brings one seasoned trader to the stage for an unfiltered account of the position that still defines how they think about markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
-A first-hand account of how a conviction trade is built, from thesis and entry through position management and exit
-Understanding of what turns a market observation into a live position, and what holds it when conditions shift
-Insight into how timing, execution quality, and market structure shaped the final result
-Perspective on what the trade revealed about edge, risk tolerance, and when to hold through a position moving against you
-Clarity on what separates a well-built trade from a well-timed one
Most market post-mortems describe what happened to prices. Few describe what happened in the trading room while the position was open: the entry conviction, the moments that tested it, and the exit decision that closed the book.
This session brings one seasoned trader to the stage for an unfiltered account of the position that still defines how they think about markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
-A first-hand account of how a conviction trade is built, from thesis and entry through position management and exit
-Understanding of what turns a market observation into a live position, and what holds it when conditions shift
-Insight into how timing, execution quality, and market structure shaped the final result
-Perspective on what the trade revealed about edge, risk tolerance, and when to hold through a position moving against you
-Clarity on what separates a well-built trade from a well-timed one
Most market post-mortems describe what happened to prices. Few describe what happened in the trading room while the position was open: the entry conviction, the moments that tested it, and the exit decision that closed the book.
This session brings one seasoned trader to the stage for an unfiltered account of the position that still defines how they think about markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
-A first-hand account of how a conviction trade is built, from thesis and entry through position management and exit
-Understanding of what turns a market observation into a live position, and what holds it when conditions shift
-Insight into how timing, execution quality, and market structure shaped the final result
-Perspective on what the trade revealed about edge, risk tolerance, and when to hold through a position moving against you
-Clarity on what separates a well-built trade from a well-timed one
Most market post-mortems describe what happened to prices. Few describe what happened in the trading room while the position was open: the entry conviction, the moments that tested it, and the exit decision that closed the book.
This session brings one seasoned trader to the stage for an unfiltered account of the position that still defines how they think about markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
-A first-hand account of how a conviction trade is built, from thesis and entry through position management and exit
-Understanding of what turns a market observation into a live position, and what holds it when conditions shift
-Insight into how timing, execution quality, and market structure shaped the final result
-Perspective on what the trade revealed about edge, risk tolerance, and when to hold through a position moving against you
-Clarity on what separates a well-built trade from a well-timed one
Most market post-mortems describe what happened to prices. Few describe what happened in the trading room while the position was open: the entry conviction, the moments that tested it, and the exit decision that closed the book.
This session brings one seasoned trader to the stage for an unfiltered account of the position that still defines how they think about markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
-A first-hand account of how a conviction trade is built, from thesis and entry through position management and exit
-Understanding of what turns a market observation into a live position, and what holds it when conditions shift
-Insight into how timing, execution quality, and market structure shaped the final result
-Perspective on what the trade revealed about edge, risk tolerance, and when to hold through a position moving against you
-Clarity on what separates a well-built trade from a well-timed one
Most market post-mortems describe what happened to prices. Few describe what happened in the trading room while the position was open: the entry conviction, the moments that tested it, and the exit decision that closed the book.
This session brings one seasoned trader to the stage for an unfiltered account of the position that still defines how they think about markets.
Attendees will walk away with:
-A first-hand account of how a conviction trade is built, from thesis and entry through position management and exit
-Understanding of what turns a market observation into a live position, and what holds it when conditions shift
-Insight into how timing, execution quality, and market structure shaped the final result
-Perspective on what the trade revealed about edge, risk tolerance, and when to hold through a position moving against you
-Clarity on what separates a well-built trade from a well-timed one
Agentic Inequality: Democratizing Financial Access Through AI & Blockchain
Agentic Inequality: Democratizing Financial Access Through AI & Blockchain
Agentic Inequality: Democratizing Financial Access Through AI & Blockchain
Agentic Inequality: Democratizing Financial Access Through AI & Blockchain
Agentic Inequality: Democratizing Financial Access Through AI & Blockchain
Agentic Inequality: Democratizing Financial Access Through AI & Blockchain
As crypto and CFD trading continue to expand across Africa, access to advanced tools and market insights remains uneven. This session explores how AI and blockchain can bridge that gap by empowering informal traders and underserved communities to participate more effectively in digital financial markets. The discussion will focus on practical applications of technology to improve accessibility, education, and investment outcomes in both formal and informal sectors.
In this discussion, we will explore:
-The role of AI in democratizing access to trading tools, insights, and strategy development
-How crypto and blockchain can enable broader participation beyond traditional financial systems
-Addressing access barriers: infrastructure, education, and affordability in underserved communities
-Opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy
As crypto and CFD trading continue to expand across Africa, access to advanced tools and market insights remains uneven. This session explores how AI and blockchain can bridge that gap by empowering informal traders and underserved communities to participate more effectively in digital financial markets. The discussion will focus on practical applications of technology to improve accessibility, education, and investment outcomes in both formal and informal sectors.
In this discussion, we will explore:
-The role of AI in democratizing access to trading tools, insights, and strategy development
-How crypto and blockchain can enable broader participation beyond traditional financial systems
-Addressing access barriers: infrastructure, education, and affordability in underserved communities
-Opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy
As crypto and CFD trading continue to expand across Africa, access to advanced tools and market insights remains uneven. This session explores how AI and blockchain can bridge that gap by empowering informal traders and underserved communities to participate more effectively in digital financial markets. The discussion will focus on practical applications of technology to improve accessibility, education, and investment outcomes in both formal and informal sectors.
In this discussion, we will explore:
-The role of AI in democratizing access to trading tools, insights, and strategy development
-How crypto and blockchain can enable broader participation beyond traditional financial systems
-Addressing access barriers: infrastructure, education, and affordability in underserved communities
-Opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy
As crypto and CFD trading continue to expand across Africa, access to advanced tools and market insights remains uneven. This session explores how AI and blockchain can bridge that gap by empowering informal traders and underserved communities to participate more effectively in digital financial markets. The discussion will focus on practical applications of technology to improve accessibility, education, and investment outcomes in both formal and informal sectors.
In this discussion, we will explore:
-The role of AI in democratizing access to trading tools, insights, and strategy development
-How crypto and blockchain can enable broader participation beyond traditional financial systems
-Addressing access barriers: infrastructure, education, and affordability in underserved communities
-Opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy
As crypto and CFD trading continue to expand across Africa, access to advanced tools and market insights remains uneven. This session explores how AI and blockchain can bridge that gap by empowering informal traders and underserved communities to participate more effectively in digital financial markets. The discussion will focus on practical applications of technology to improve accessibility, education, and investment outcomes in both formal and informal sectors.
In this discussion, we will explore:
-The role of AI in democratizing access to trading tools, insights, and strategy development
-How crypto and blockchain can enable broader participation beyond traditional financial systems
-Addressing access barriers: infrastructure, education, and affordability in underserved communities
-Opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy
As crypto and CFD trading continue to expand across Africa, access to advanced tools and market insights remains uneven. This session explores how AI and blockchain can bridge that gap by empowering informal traders and underserved communities to participate more effectively in digital financial markets. The discussion will focus on practical applications of technology to improve accessibility, education, and investment outcomes in both formal and informal sectors.
In this discussion, we will explore:
-The role of AI in democratizing access to trading tools, insights, and strategy development
-How crypto and blockchain can enable broader participation beyond traditional financial systems
-Addressing access barriers: infrastructure, education, and affordability in underserved communities
-Opportunities for brokers and platforms to tap into the informal trading economy
