The number of active UK leverage traders declined by 3.5% in 2025, down from 173K.
Dormancy rates among previously active traders fell to a five-year low, according to Investment Trends’ 2025 report.
The number of active UK leverage traders has declined
slightly, but overall engagement is rising. According to Investment Trends’
2025 UK Leverage Trading Report, the number of traders dropped to 167,000, down
from 173,000 a year earlier. However, dormancy rates fell to their lowest level
in five years.
“We’re seeing a pivot toward a smaller but more engaged
segment of traders who thrive in volatile conditions,” said Lorenzo Vignati,
Associate Research Director at Investment Trends.
The data suggest that although fewer people are trading,
those who remain are more committed. Higher market volatility appears to be
driving this shift. Traders are more focused, with many showing increased
resilience and selectiveness in their approach.
Lorenzo Vignati, Associate Research Director at Investment Trends
“Traders are no longer judging value purely on cost,” said
Vignati. “They’re rewarding platforms that innovate, those that empower sharper
decisions through better tools, seamless experiences and features tailored to
how they actually trade.”
The report also notes that trader satisfaction has reached a
seven-year high. This follows a period where trading platforms introduced new
features, including enhanced charting tools, extended trading hours, and
tailored client support.
These changes have helped some providers strengthen
their position in a competitive market.
Core Trader Group Remains Stable
The table shows a clear shift in the UK leverage trading
landscape from 2020 to 2025. Total trader numbers peaked at 275,000 in 2021
before declining to 167,000 in 2025.
While the number of new and returning traders has steadily
fallen, the core group of previously active traders who continued trading has
remained stable at 124,000 over the past two years. Dormancy among previously
active traders has also decreased, reaching a five-year low of 49,000 in 2025.
This suggests a leaner but more consistent trader base, shaped by changing
market conditions and reduced churn.
AI Adoption Rises Among UK Traders
Platforms that focus on usability, decision-making support,
and flexibility are gaining more trader relationships. Price, once a key
deciding factor, is no longer the sole measure of value for many traders.
The report highlights a growing role for artificial
intelligence. One in four UK leverage traders now use AI tools for market
analysis and education. These traders show higher trading frequency and
confidence, suggesting that AI is influencing behaviour in uncertain markets.
The number of active UK leverage traders has declined
slightly, but overall engagement is rising. According to Investment Trends’
2025 UK Leverage Trading Report, the number of traders dropped to 167,000, down
from 173,000 a year earlier. However, dormancy rates fell to their lowest level
in five years.
“We’re seeing a pivot toward a smaller but more engaged
segment of traders who thrive in volatile conditions,” said Lorenzo Vignati,
Associate Research Director at Investment Trends.
The data suggest that although fewer people are trading,
those who remain are more committed. Higher market volatility appears to be
driving this shift. Traders are more focused, with many showing increased
resilience and selectiveness in their approach.
Lorenzo Vignati, Associate Research Director at Investment Trends
“Traders are no longer judging value purely on cost,” said
Vignati. “They’re rewarding platforms that innovate, those that empower sharper
decisions through better tools, seamless experiences and features tailored to
how they actually trade.”
The report also notes that trader satisfaction has reached a
seven-year high. This follows a period where trading platforms introduced new
features, including enhanced charting tools, extended trading hours, and
tailored client support.
These changes have helped some providers strengthen
their position in a competitive market.
Core Trader Group Remains Stable
The table shows a clear shift in the UK leverage trading
landscape from 2020 to 2025. Total trader numbers peaked at 275,000 in 2021
before declining to 167,000 in 2025.
While the number of new and returning traders has steadily
fallen, the core group of previously active traders who continued trading has
remained stable at 124,000 over the past two years. Dormancy among previously
active traders has also decreased, reaching a five-year low of 49,000 in 2025.
This suggests a leaner but more consistent trader base, shaped by changing
market conditions and reduced churn.
AI Adoption Rises Among UK Traders
Platforms that focus on usability, decision-making support,
and flexibility are gaining more trader relationships. Price, once a key
deciding factor, is no longer the sole measure of value for many traders.
The report highlights a growing role for artificial
intelligence. One in four UK leverage traders now use AI tools for market
analysis and education. These traders show higher trading frequency and
confidence, suggesting that AI is influencing behaviour in uncertain markets.
Prop Firms and Brokers Form a Perfect Synergy: One Offers Access, the Other Capital
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
