Traditional retail FX brokers can no longer ignore the potential of offering leveraged cryptocurrency trading. Brokers are in situations where they must offer crypto trading instruments or run the risk of losing ‘bread and butter’ FX clients to competing firms with such products.
In order to get set up quickly with crypto Liquidity , brokers can integrate with crypto exchanges or broker liquidity providers. Once the price stream is integrated to the broker’s connectivity provider it can mark up spread/commission to capture revenue and offer it as a trading instrument on its platform such as MT4.
In this article, we will assess the pros and cons of connecting to a crypto exchange versus a crypto LP for a broker that wants to offer Cryptocurrencies to their client base.
Liquidity from a Crypto Exchange
A broker can connect directly to a crypto exchange and send client trades there.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of taking this route:
Liquidity from a Broker
Brokers can go to cryptocurrency broker-LP’s that act as either a market maker themselves or use an STP model to lay trades off to the exchanges.
Here are the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of taking the broker LP route:
Overview
Here is a table that summarizes the the key differences between going to crypto exchanges versus crypto broker LPs.
Leverage
Most crypto exchanges are not leveraged. If they are, it’s through a system of borrowing that involves payment of interests, which gets pretty complex. Broker crypto LPs can offer higher leverage (as high as 20:1) by either acting as market makers or posing higher margin with crypto exchanges. This allows you to post less margin and gives your clients a more attractive offering.
Commission/costs
By working directly with an exchange there is one fewer party involved in the equation. This can sometimes reduce commissions. In most cases the exchanges will charge 20-30 basis points (0.20-0.30%) per trade per side while LPs will charge 25-50 (.25-.50%) basis points per side. A couple things to keep in in mind however are:
Broker LPs may be aggregating multiple exchanges which will reduce the spread.
Some broker LPs will no commission at all as they will generate revenue from their market making operations.
Market Depth
One single exchange typically doesn't have huge market depth, especially if you add leverage into the mix. In order to combat that, brokers may want to aggregate multiple exchanges and that requires technology that most brokers don’t have yet. Because crypto LPs typically aggregate multiple exchanges, there will be more market depth with the broker’s access to multiple venues.
Brokers may want to aggregate multiple exchanges and that requires technology that most brokers don’t have yet
API Integration
Connection and integration to crypto exchanges is not always straightforward. Their APIs are not always designed for FX brokers which can make integration challenging and time consuming. Conversely, certain crypto broker LPs are already pre-integrated into FX connectivity and bridge providers such as OneZero, PrimeXM.
This essentially makes working with them a plug and play solution for brokers. Simply do the necessary paperwork with your LP, send margin and just add the crypto LP in your OneZero or PrimeXM platform and you will have the instrument streaming into your metatrader. No integration required!
BTC/USD price chart. Source: Google Finance
Customer Service
There are very few crypto exchanges that would have a forex experienced customer service team to handle broker client issues. Brokers offering crypto pricing will have adequate forex experienced customer service, which will be easier for you to deal with.
Posting Margin
Most exchanges require you to post margin via BTC (bitcoin). They will not accept US dollars or euros to fund the margin account. Crypto broker LPs accept margin in USD, EUR or any other major currency. This will make dealing with your coverage account easier.
Safety of funds
Because of the lack of regulation in the crypto space, safety of funds is a big concern when posting margin with a crypto exchange. This issue is less of an issue when dealing a reputable LP.
Recommendation from Nekstream
Although going to crypto exchanges can be a bit more cost effective, going to a crypto broker LP has many inherent benefits and can make your life much easier, especially if you have a b2c business model.
We suggest that you aggregate multiple LPs that fit your needs. When deciding who to connect with, here are a few key parameters that you should pay attention to:
What exchanges they connect to? You ideally want them to connect to multiple major exchanges such as xBTCE, Bitfinex, Paloniex. This way they are not fully reliant on one exchange if there is an issue like downtime, hacking or shutdowns.
Aggregating multiple exchanges also provides a truer price for each crypto instrument and mitigates predatory trading. If they are only working with one exchange, do they have plans to add more in the near future?
Are they making a market or acting as an STP? At this stage you ideally want to aggregate a combination or an STP and a market maker. Crypto trading is so volatile and so new that relying solely on a market maker can be a bit risky. Ideally you want to hedge your risk with both models. We will touch upon this in a subsequent article in this series.
Do they have their own aggregator of exchanges? Connection to the exchanges and aggregating crypto liquidity is not a super straightforward process. If a company has already built the tech and established a solid connection it can be a big plus.
Company regulation and jurisdiction. Not all crypto LPs are regulated in major jurisdictions. But when sending in funds to your coverage account you want to feel comfortable that your money is safe. So if a broker LP has been around for a while and has entities that are regulated by the FCA and ASIC, it can be a plus.
Keeping all of these things in mind and going with a solid crypto broker LP can be a great way to start offering crypto trading to your client base.
Alex Nekritin is the Managing Director of Nekstream Global, a liquidity and technology consulting company helping brokers, HFT traders and money managers to find proper liquidity and tools for their ventures. Alex has over 10 years of experience in the financial space. Contact Alex at info@nekstream.com.
Traditional retail FX brokers can no longer ignore the potential of offering leveraged cryptocurrency trading. Brokers are in situations where they must offer crypto trading instruments or run the risk of losing ‘bread and butter’ FX clients to competing firms with such products.
In order to get set up quickly with crypto Liquidity , brokers can integrate with crypto exchanges or broker liquidity providers. Once the price stream is integrated to the broker’s connectivity provider it can mark up spread/commission to capture revenue and offer it as a trading instrument on its platform such as MT4.
In this article, we will assess the pros and cons of connecting to a crypto exchange versus a crypto LP for a broker that wants to offer Cryptocurrencies to their client base.
Liquidity from a Crypto Exchange
A broker can connect directly to a crypto exchange and send client trades there.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of taking this route:
Liquidity from a Broker
Brokers can go to cryptocurrency broker-LP’s that act as either a market maker themselves or use an STP model to lay trades off to the exchanges.
Here are the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of taking the broker LP route:
Overview
Here is a table that summarizes the the key differences between going to crypto exchanges versus crypto broker LPs.
Leverage
Most crypto exchanges are not leveraged. If they are, it’s through a system of borrowing that involves payment of interests, which gets pretty complex. Broker crypto LPs can offer higher leverage (as high as 20:1) by either acting as market makers or posing higher margin with crypto exchanges. This allows you to post less margin and gives your clients a more attractive offering.
Commission/costs
By working directly with an exchange there is one fewer party involved in the equation. This can sometimes reduce commissions. In most cases the exchanges will charge 20-30 basis points (0.20-0.30%) per trade per side while LPs will charge 25-50 (.25-.50%) basis points per side. A couple things to keep in in mind however are:
Broker LPs may be aggregating multiple exchanges which will reduce the spread.
Some broker LPs will no commission at all as they will generate revenue from their market making operations.
Market Depth
One single exchange typically doesn't have huge market depth, especially if you add leverage into the mix. In order to combat that, brokers may want to aggregate multiple exchanges and that requires technology that most brokers don’t have yet. Because crypto LPs typically aggregate multiple exchanges, there will be more market depth with the broker’s access to multiple venues.
Brokers may want to aggregate multiple exchanges and that requires technology that most brokers don’t have yet
API Integration
Connection and integration to crypto exchanges is not always straightforward. Their APIs are not always designed for FX brokers which can make integration challenging and time consuming. Conversely, certain crypto broker LPs are already pre-integrated into FX connectivity and bridge providers such as OneZero, PrimeXM.
This essentially makes working with them a plug and play solution for brokers. Simply do the necessary paperwork with your LP, send margin and just add the crypto LP in your OneZero or PrimeXM platform and you will have the instrument streaming into your metatrader. No integration required!
BTC/USD price chart. Source: Google Finance
Customer Service
There are very few crypto exchanges that would have a forex experienced customer service team to handle broker client issues. Brokers offering crypto pricing will have adequate forex experienced customer service, which will be easier for you to deal with.
Posting Margin
Most exchanges require you to post margin via BTC (bitcoin). They will not accept US dollars or euros to fund the margin account. Crypto broker LPs accept margin in USD, EUR or any other major currency. This will make dealing with your coverage account easier.
Safety of funds
Because of the lack of regulation in the crypto space, safety of funds is a big concern when posting margin with a crypto exchange. This issue is less of an issue when dealing a reputable LP.
Recommendation from Nekstream
Although going to crypto exchanges can be a bit more cost effective, going to a crypto broker LP has many inherent benefits and can make your life much easier, especially if you have a b2c business model.
We suggest that you aggregate multiple LPs that fit your needs. When deciding who to connect with, here are a few key parameters that you should pay attention to:
What exchanges they connect to? You ideally want them to connect to multiple major exchanges such as xBTCE, Bitfinex, Paloniex. This way they are not fully reliant on one exchange if there is an issue like downtime, hacking or shutdowns.
Aggregating multiple exchanges also provides a truer price for each crypto instrument and mitigates predatory trading. If they are only working with one exchange, do they have plans to add more in the near future?
Are they making a market or acting as an STP? At this stage you ideally want to aggregate a combination or an STP and a market maker. Crypto trading is so volatile and so new that relying solely on a market maker can be a bit risky. Ideally you want to hedge your risk with both models. We will touch upon this in a subsequent article in this series.
Do they have their own aggregator of exchanges? Connection to the exchanges and aggregating crypto liquidity is not a super straightforward process. If a company has already built the tech and established a solid connection it can be a big plus.
Company regulation and jurisdiction. Not all crypto LPs are regulated in major jurisdictions. But when sending in funds to your coverage account you want to feel comfortable that your money is safe. So if a broker LP has been around for a while and has entities that are regulated by the FCA and ASIC, it can be a plus.
Keeping all of these things in mind and going with a solid crypto broker LP can be a great way to start offering crypto trading to your client base.
Alex Nekritin is the Managing Director of Nekstream Global, a liquidity and technology consulting company helping brokers, HFT traders and money managers to find proper liquidity and tools for their ventures. Alex has over 10 years of experience in the financial space. Contact Alex at info@nekstream.com.
From “Unrealistically Good” To “Cesspool Of Gamesmanship”: How 40 Minutes Changed Minds On Prop Trading
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
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
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?
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?
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
