Trading 212 Taps Former Revolut Reg Expert to Lead Portugal Operations

Trading 212 has appointed Ricardo Soares as Country Manager for Portugal. He joins after an almost three-year stint at Revolut, where he served as a Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager. This marks the first time the UK-based fintech has appointed a dedicated executive to oversee the Portuguese market, where its localised YouTube channel boasts over 155,000 followers.

"I embrace this new project with great determination, prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Stay tuned!" Soares said on a LinkedIn post.

It’s worth mentioning that in September, Trading 212 updated its onboarding structure to route new Portuguese clients to its Trading 212 EU GmbH entity. Previously, most European clients outside Germany were registered under Trading 212 Markets Ltd, a separate entity regulated by CySEC in Cyprus.

Compliance Takes the Helm

Beyond his Revolut credentials, Soares is a former national securities regulator (CMVM) and central bank risk advisor. His appointment illustrates a wider trend of talent transitioning from central banks and mega-fintechs to retail trading platforms.

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It also follows a string of recent hires across European brokers, crypto exchanges, and fintech companies, where regulatory and risk experts are being brought in to lead local units. Notable examples include Crypto.com and Kraken’s MiFID entities, as well as Revolut’s crypto division.

Amid heightened EU regulatory scrutiny, including MiCA, stricter MiFID II enforcement, and local watchdog interventions, it appears that the industry is recognising that local expansion demands deep, localised compliance expertise rather than just marketing.