Mobile trading has exploded recently with the increasing retail demand.
Entry-level brokers are still preferring third-party technologies.
Analysis
Technology is at the core of the electronic trading business. Competent trading technologies are a must for running these businesses. This trend even spawned a new breed of industry, trading technology providers and third-party platforms offering technology solutions to brokers and other trading companies.
Out of many tech needs, the one that most attracts attention is the offered trading platform. It is the one traders use every day to execute the trades. Some of the popular third-party trading platform providers are MetaQuotes, which offers the widely used MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms; Spotware Systems, offering cTrader; and Devexperts, which provides DXtrade.
MetaTrader 4 or popularly known as MT4 is a top trading platform when it comes to forex trading. Its support for automation and plugins, backed by a wide community, made it very popular among traders.
“Vendor products, such as MetaTrader and cTrader, are pretty well-known to many traders and make it easier for them to start cooperating with a broker,” Kiryl Kirychenka, the Product Manager at RoboMarkets, explained to Finance Magnates.
However, brokers always have the option to build proprietary trading platforms too. IG, CMC, Plus500 and several other big names in the trading industry are offering proprietary trading solutions to their client base. Many of them are even offering both third-party trading platforms along with their proprietary solutions.
However, building proprietary technologies need massive resources. It needs a development team, time and, of course, investment capital: the factors that do not go in favor of small brokerage platforms.
Also, starting with the development of a trading platform makes less sense as marketing products and getting clients on-board always remains the priority of brokerages.
“Cost and expertise,” are the two areas where third-party trading platform providers excel, Devexperts’ Vice President of OTC Platforms, Jon Light pointed out.
“Unless you are already a very large broker, it would not be economical to build out a propriety platform,” Light added.
Additionally, brokers agree on these factors. Kirychenka of Robomarkes, a broker that offers both third-party and proprietary trading platforms, said: “[Third-party platforms are] convenient because many partners and IBs are already advertising their ecosystems within the very same MetaTrader. Sales teams also clearly understand what MetaTrader is, and they know how to sell it.”
Limits of Third-Party Platforms
Despite the many advantages, third-party platforms have shortcomings too. They mainly target the entire industry, meaning there is very limited space for customization.
Jon Light, VP of Trading Solutions at Devexperts
“Generally you are stuck with what you get in terms of functionality, you are not in control of your own destiny. You can’t move easily into new business areas, and you can’t move quickly to client demands. They mostly can’t be customized or changed,” Light said.
Indeed, popular third-party trading usually sells licenses with their set features. They only add features with the release of iterations, which often take months or even years. Though many of these limitations can be overcome with plugins, some cannot be bypassed.
Further, a few of the new technology providers in the space are providing highly-customizable white-label trading solutions to brokers.
Kiryl Kirychenka, RoboMarkets' Product Manager
“Third-party platforms are more focused on the development of the existing product, and they are not too interested in developing new products and niche solutions,” Robomarket’s Kirychenka said. “Proprietary products are winning here because they help users to be more flexible over market challenges. Another advantage is that proprietary solutions can be developed and improved much faster and offer more opportunities.”
The Shift to Proprietary Tech
For a new or small broker, offerings with third-party technology are best. It can save both time and money. However, when the struggling period is passed and scaling becomes a priority, investing in proprietary technology seems to be a better option.
“If a broker wants to grow and expand quickly, it has to offer products and solutions that everyone in the market already has,” Kirychenka added. “At some point in the company's growth and expansion, a broker finds itself in a deadlock – it wants to create something new and runs into difficulties due to the inability of implementing new ideas into third-party platforms.”
However, a handful of small brokers are breaking this norm of the synonymous nature of proprietary technology and big brokers. Zenfinex, a forex and CFDs broker headquartered in London and now expanding internationally, is investing heavily in in-house technologies.
Nick Cooke, Founder of Zenfinex
“While MetaTrader is still the most popular platform in the industry, we believe investment into our own technology stack not only adds value to the group, it also allows us to drive our longer-term vision with a bit more control of our destiny reducing the reliance on external vendors,” Zenfinex’s Founder, Nick Cooke told Finance Magnates earlier.
Innovations and Trends
Technology is changing, and so does the finance and trading industry. Demand for retail trading has skyrocketed in recent years and boosted mobile trading significantly. Another area where the industry is growing is robo-advising for building investment portfolios, providing recommendations, and more enhanced trading.
Further, the integration of blockchain and trading in the metaverse could explode in the near future, which might bring drastic changes in the trading technology space.
“I believe many brokers will continue expanding the lists of available instruments, add stocks, and offer clients to trade them. Among other trends in 2022, I would also name the focus on mobile trading and the development of social technologies in the industry,” Kirychenka said.
Overall, the demand for third-party trading platforms will continue to be high, mostly because of the cost and ease of deployment. However, big brokers and even some oddball small ones will continue to invest in proprietary technologies to get more control over their offerings.
Technology is at the core of the electronic trading business. Competent trading technologies are a must for running these businesses. This trend even spawned a new breed of industry, trading technology providers and third-party platforms offering technology solutions to brokers and other trading companies.
Out of many tech needs, the one that most attracts attention is the offered trading platform. It is the one traders use every day to execute the trades. Some of the popular third-party trading platform providers are MetaQuotes, which offers the widely used MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader5 platforms; Spotware Systems, offering cTrader; and Devexperts, which provides DXtrade.
MetaTrader 4 or popularly known as MT4 is a top trading platform when it comes to forex trading. Its support for automation and plugins, backed by a wide community, made it very popular among traders.
“Vendor products, such as MetaTrader and cTrader, are pretty well-known to many traders and make it easier for them to start cooperating with a broker,” Kiryl Kirychenka, the Product Manager at RoboMarkets, explained to Finance Magnates.
However, brokers always have the option to build proprietary trading platforms too. IG, CMC, Plus500 and several other big names in the trading industry are offering proprietary trading solutions to their client base. Many of them are even offering both third-party trading platforms along with their proprietary solutions.
However, building proprietary technologies need massive resources. It needs a development team, time and, of course, investment capital: the factors that do not go in favor of small brokerage platforms.
Also, starting with the development of a trading platform makes less sense as marketing products and getting clients on-board always remains the priority of brokerages.
“Cost and expertise,” are the two areas where third-party trading platform providers excel, Devexperts’ Vice President of OTC Platforms, Jon Light pointed out.
“Unless you are already a very large broker, it would not be economical to build out a propriety platform,” Light added.
Additionally, brokers agree on these factors. Kirychenka of Robomarkes, a broker that offers both third-party and proprietary trading platforms, said: “[Third-party platforms are] convenient because many partners and IBs are already advertising their ecosystems within the very same MetaTrader. Sales teams also clearly understand what MetaTrader is, and they know how to sell it.”
Limits of Third-Party Platforms
Despite the many advantages, third-party platforms have shortcomings too. They mainly target the entire industry, meaning there is very limited space for customization.
Jon Light, VP of Trading Solutions at Devexperts
“Generally you are stuck with what you get in terms of functionality, you are not in control of your own destiny. You can’t move easily into new business areas, and you can’t move quickly to client demands. They mostly can’t be customized or changed,” Light said.
Indeed, popular third-party trading usually sells licenses with their set features. They only add features with the release of iterations, which often take months or even years. Though many of these limitations can be overcome with plugins, some cannot be bypassed.
Further, a few of the new technology providers in the space are providing highly-customizable white-label trading solutions to brokers.
Kiryl Kirychenka, RoboMarkets' Product Manager
“Third-party platforms are more focused on the development of the existing product, and they are not too interested in developing new products and niche solutions,” Robomarket’s Kirychenka said. “Proprietary products are winning here because they help users to be more flexible over market challenges. Another advantage is that proprietary solutions can be developed and improved much faster and offer more opportunities.”
The Shift to Proprietary Tech
For a new or small broker, offerings with third-party technology are best. It can save both time and money. However, when the struggling period is passed and scaling becomes a priority, investing in proprietary technology seems to be a better option.
“If a broker wants to grow and expand quickly, it has to offer products and solutions that everyone in the market already has,” Kirychenka added. “At some point in the company's growth and expansion, a broker finds itself in a deadlock – it wants to create something new and runs into difficulties due to the inability of implementing new ideas into third-party platforms.”
However, a handful of small brokers are breaking this norm of the synonymous nature of proprietary technology and big brokers. Zenfinex, a forex and CFDs broker headquartered in London and now expanding internationally, is investing heavily in in-house technologies.
Nick Cooke, Founder of Zenfinex
“While MetaTrader is still the most popular platform in the industry, we believe investment into our own technology stack not only adds value to the group, it also allows us to drive our longer-term vision with a bit more control of our destiny reducing the reliance on external vendors,” Zenfinex’s Founder, Nick Cooke told Finance Magnates earlier.
Innovations and Trends
Technology is changing, and so does the finance and trading industry. Demand for retail trading has skyrocketed in recent years and boosted mobile trading significantly. Another area where the industry is growing is robo-advising for building investment portfolios, providing recommendations, and more enhanced trading.
Further, the integration of blockchain and trading in the metaverse could explode in the near future, which might bring drastic changes in the trading technology space.
“I believe many brokers will continue expanding the lists of available instruments, add stocks, and offer clients to trade them. Among other trends in 2022, I would also name the focus on mobile trading and the development of social technologies in the industry,” Kirychenka said.
Overall, the demand for third-party trading platforms will continue to be high, mostly because of the cost and ease of deployment. However, big brokers and even some oddball small ones will continue to invest in proprietary technologies to get more control over their offerings.
Arnab is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He entered the industry covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates and later expanded his reach to forex as well. He is passionate about the changing regulatory landscape on financial markets and keenly follows the disruptions in the industry with new-age technologies.
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🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
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We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
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We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
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This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
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In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
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🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
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👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
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#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
