The regulator revoked or suspended seven Cyprus investment firms' licenses due to compliance failures.
Despite increased scrutiny, Cyprus's financial sector grew in 2024, with 80 new entities authorized.
A wave of regulatory changes is set to reshape Cyprus'
financial sector in 2025 as the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
(CySEC) intensifies its supervision of investment firms, funds, and crypto
service providers.
In 2024, the regulator reportedly carried out over 850 audits,
issued €2.76 million in fines and revoked multiple operating licenses. As new
EU regulations take effect, CySEC is now doubling down on compliance efforts to
strengthen investor protection and financial stability.
CySEC Chairman Dr. George Theocharides outlined the
organization's priorities during a recent press conference, emphasizing that
"protecting investors and the further development of a healthy
market" remain central to its mission.
"In 2025 and beyond, a series of significant
regulatory changes will be implemented through European directives and
regulations, which are expected to strengthen the supervisory framework
governing investment services," Theocharides said.
New Regulatory Landscape in 2025
Several key EU regulations, including the AML Package, European Single Access Point (ESAP), EU Sustainability Framework, AIFMD II, Financial Data Access Regulation (FiDA), MiFIR Review, and EMIR Refit, are expected to reshape the financial sector in the coming year.
Additionally, the EU's Retail Investment Strategy is
set to bring new requirements for transparency and investor rights. The
regulator also highlighted the EU's Savings and Investments Union Plan as a
major driver of market transformation.
These inspections targeted a wide range of financial
firms, including Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs), Administrative Service
Providers (ASPs), fund managers, and crypto-asset service providers (CASPs).
Dr George Theocharides, Source: LinkedIn
Additionally, CySEC reviewed 510 annual compliance
reports and monitored derivatives transactions for 33 investment funds. The
regulator also reportedly investigated misleading promotional materials and
identified fake websites impersonating CySEC representatives.
As a result, it issued numerous public warnings and
worked with European authorities to address fraudulent activities.
Administrative fines in 2024 totaled €2.76 million, with Cyprus investment
firms accounting for €2.12 million of that sum.
Supervisory Actions and Compliance Crackdown
Over the past three years, CySEC has reportedly
imposed fines exceeding €7.82 million, reflecting its increasingly strict
stance on compliance failures. Seven Cyprus investment firms had their licenses
revoked or suspended, and two Reserved Alternative Investment Funds lost their
authorization.
Crypto-assets remain a priority for CySEC as the
Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) takes full effect. The regulator has
already received interest from multiple firms seeking licensing under the new
framework.
Despite the heightened scrutiny, Cyprus's financial
sector continued to expand in 2024. CySEC authorized 80 new entities, bringing
the total number of supervised firms to 834. However, the regulator also
rejected five licensing applications and saw 13 firms voluntarily withdraw
their applications.
In 2024, CySEC also enforced the Digital OperationalResilience Act (DORA), which mandates stringent cybersecurity requirements for
financial entities.
A wave of regulatory changes is set to reshape Cyprus'
financial sector in 2025 as the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
(CySEC) intensifies its supervision of investment firms, funds, and crypto
service providers.
In 2024, the regulator reportedly carried out over 850 audits,
issued €2.76 million in fines and revoked multiple operating licenses. As new
EU regulations take effect, CySEC is now doubling down on compliance efforts to
strengthen investor protection and financial stability.
CySEC Chairman Dr. George Theocharides outlined the
organization's priorities during a recent press conference, emphasizing that
"protecting investors and the further development of a healthy
market" remain central to its mission.
"In 2025 and beyond, a series of significant
regulatory changes will be implemented through European directives and
regulations, which are expected to strengthen the supervisory framework
governing investment services," Theocharides said.
New Regulatory Landscape in 2025
Several key EU regulations, including the AML Package, European Single Access Point (ESAP), EU Sustainability Framework, AIFMD II, Financial Data Access Regulation (FiDA), MiFIR Review, and EMIR Refit, are expected to reshape the financial sector in the coming year.
Additionally, the EU's Retail Investment Strategy is
set to bring new requirements for transparency and investor rights. The
regulator also highlighted the EU's Savings and Investments Union Plan as a
major driver of market transformation.
These inspections targeted a wide range of financial
firms, including Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs), Administrative Service
Providers (ASPs), fund managers, and crypto-asset service providers (CASPs).
Dr George Theocharides, Source: LinkedIn
Additionally, CySEC reviewed 510 annual compliance
reports and monitored derivatives transactions for 33 investment funds. The
regulator also reportedly investigated misleading promotional materials and
identified fake websites impersonating CySEC representatives.
As a result, it issued numerous public warnings and
worked with European authorities to address fraudulent activities.
Administrative fines in 2024 totaled €2.76 million, with Cyprus investment
firms accounting for €2.12 million of that sum.
Supervisory Actions and Compliance Crackdown
Over the past three years, CySEC has reportedly
imposed fines exceeding €7.82 million, reflecting its increasingly strict
stance on compliance failures. Seven Cyprus investment firms had their licenses
revoked or suspended, and two Reserved Alternative Investment Funds lost their
authorization.
Crypto-assets remain a priority for CySEC as the
Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) takes full effect. The regulator has
already received interest from multiple firms seeking licensing under the new
framework.
Despite the heightened scrutiny, Cyprus's financial
sector continued to expand in 2024. CySEC authorized 80 new entities, bringing
the total number of supervised firms to 834. However, the regulator also
rejected five licensing applications and saw 13 firms voluntarily withdraw
their applications.
In 2024, CySEC also enforced the Digital OperationalResilience Act (DORA), which mandates stringent cybersecurity requirements for
financial entities.
Devexperts Powers First US Options Platform for Korean Retail Market
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
