The self-regulatory body recently onboarded Blueberry Funded as its inaugural member.
It aims to resolve disputes between prop firms, traders, and tech vendors.
None of the financial market regulators is regulating the prop trading industry. However, a self-regulatory association has emerged, whose logo looks very similar to that of the UK regulator, except it is The Prop Association (TPA) and not the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Trying to Copy the Regulator?
Despite the resemblance of the logo design, TPA has no association with the FCA, rather its a private association. Its authenticity received a boost as Blueberry Funded, the prop arm of forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) broker Blueberry Markets, joined it as an inaugural Founding Member Firm.
“We’ve chosen to join the Prop Association because we believe the industry is at a critical inflection point,” said Marcus Fetherston, Blueberry Funded’s General Manager. “With increasing uncertainty around future regulation and diminishing trust among traders due to bad actors, it’s essential to proactively support a unified body that can represent firms and provide clarity, structure, and accountability.”
Fetherston also joined The Prop Association as the first executive member of the TPA Members Council.
Marcus Fetherston, Blueberry Funded’s General Manager (photo: LinkedIn)
According to the TPA website, Blueberry Funded is its only prop firm member so far.
TPA was launched last October, offering services like external dispute resolution and platform certification services, among others. It aims to offer dispute resolution services to prop firms, traders, and even tech providers. Its primary goal is to bring transparency to an industry that “has long faced challenges related to opaque practices, inconsistent standards, and a lack of accountability.”
"The association’s role as an external dispute resolution provider gives traders a fair and transparent avenue to have their concerns heard — something that’s been sorely lacking," added Fetherston.
A screenshot of The Prop Association website
The self-regulatory model of TPA for dispute resolution is not unique to the retail trading industry. The Financial Commission offers similar services to forex and CFDs brokers, and has dozens of members. However, the reach of The Financial Commission does not extend to the prop industry.
Meanwhile, regulators are also evaluating the prospects of the prop trading industry, the participants of which cannot be legally categorised as financial services providers. FinanceMagnates.com reported earlier that the pan-European regulator, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), ran an initial check on prop trading firms and also discussed possible regulations for the industry. The Czech National Bank also pointed out that some of the prop trading platforms might be “subject to the MiFID regulatory framework.”
Meanwhile, several regulators have warned against the practice of prop trading, while some even compared the services to “video games.”
None of the financial market regulators is regulating the prop trading industry. However, a self-regulatory association has emerged, whose logo looks very similar to that of the UK regulator, except it is The Prop Association (TPA) and not the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Trying to Copy the Regulator?
Despite the resemblance of the logo design, TPA has no association with the FCA, rather its a private association. Its authenticity received a boost as Blueberry Funded, the prop arm of forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) broker Blueberry Markets, joined it as an inaugural Founding Member Firm.
“We’ve chosen to join the Prop Association because we believe the industry is at a critical inflection point,” said Marcus Fetherston, Blueberry Funded’s General Manager. “With increasing uncertainty around future regulation and diminishing trust among traders due to bad actors, it’s essential to proactively support a unified body that can represent firms and provide clarity, structure, and accountability.”
Fetherston also joined The Prop Association as the first executive member of the TPA Members Council.
Marcus Fetherston, Blueberry Funded’s General Manager (photo: LinkedIn)
According to the TPA website, Blueberry Funded is its only prop firm member so far.
TPA was launched last October, offering services like external dispute resolution and platform certification services, among others. It aims to offer dispute resolution services to prop firms, traders, and even tech providers. Its primary goal is to bring transparency to an industry that “has long faced challenges related to opaque practices, inconsistent standards, and a lack of accountability.”
"The association’s role as an external dispute resolution provider gives traders a fair and transparent avenue to have their concerns heard — something that’s been sorely lacking," added Fetherston.
A screenshot of The Prop Association website
The self-regulatory model of TPA for dispute resolution is not unique to the retail trading industry. The Financial Commission offers similar services to forex and CFDs brokers, and has dozens of members. However, the reach of The Financial Commission does not extend to the prop industry.
Meanwhile, regulators are also evaluating the prospects of the prop trading industry, the participants of which cannot be legally categorised as financial services providers. FinanceMagnates.com reported earlier that the pan-European regulator, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), ran an initial check on prop trading firms and also discussed possible regulations for the industry. The Czech National Bank also pointed out that some of the prop trading platforms might be “subject to the MiFID regulatory framework.”
Meanwhile, several regulators have warned against the practice of prop trading, while some even compared the services to “video games.”
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.
73% of Young Investors Say Traditional Wealth Building Is Broken – Here’s How They Trade Instead
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
