XTB strengthened its Middle East presence with a new Dubai office, while CMC Markets expanded to Bermuda after securing the regional regulatory license.
Meanwhile, Italy's financial space is changing, with new trends in the country's population shifting towards trading and investing.
Revolut is targeting young traders with a new crypto app, taking on Binance and Coinbase
Notably, the Israeli-based fintech giant also plans to introduce new services, including securities lending, to “expand existing recurring revenue sources.” If everything goes according to plan, it will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ETOR.”
The latest SEC filing revealed that eToro is not badly off financially after all. By the end of 2024, it collected a total commission of $931 million, a yearly rise of 45.6%. Its net income jumped to $192 million in 2024, compared to $15.3 million in 2023 and a loss of $21 million in 2022.
Founded in 1995, Mehta Equities offers brokerage services for futures, options, and cash equities, portfolio management, investment banking, and custodian services. It holds memberships with major Indian exchanges, including the National Stock Exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange, and Multi Commodity Exchange.
“Dubai’s financial ecosystem is one of the most attractive in the world, and this regulatory approval allows us to reach out to the vast client base within the UAE, backed by full compliance with UAE regulations,” said the CEO of ICM.com, Shoaib Abedi, who further pointed out that the new license is part of the broker’s “global expansion strategy.”
Are Brokers and Prop Firms “Trading Trust”?
Away from the search for new opportunities, this week, we continued with our weeks-long series of Trustpilot saga and the review war rooms. Traders are increasingly valuing peer reviews over polished marketing, and firms are now under pressure to maintain strong ratings and swiftly address criticism.
Many firms have gone as far as assigning dedicated teams to respond to complaints and protect their public image—all while flaunting their Trustpilot Score, or TrustScore, as a signal of trustworthiness.
"Dealing with our Trustpilot profile became ridiculously time and resource-consuming," admitted one broker, "but we don't really have a choice."
Is Italy the Next CFD Hotspot?
Change is in the air for Italy’s financial sector, with investors showing a new appetite for risk. Italy’s financial landscape is buzzing. In a country of roughly 59 million people long known for its traditionally risk-averse investors, a visible transformation is underway in the trading and investment scene.
Italy is not particularly prominent among the most prominent global financial markets compared to Asia, North America, or even other European nations.
Nevertheless, over the last few years, the habits and trends of the Italian population towards trading and investing have been changing, showing clear signs of strength and growth, which could shape the Italian CFD industry over the coming decades.
Even as Italy experiences a quiet financial revolution, new research suggests that retail investors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are playing a growing role in global capital markets, fighting the “dumb money” myth. The analysis by eToro has challenged the notion that individual investors are prone to impulsive and emotionally driven trading decisions.
More Companies Are Expanding Their Crypto Offerings
After launching a dedicated crypto trading platform for UK users last year, Revolut has expanded the offering with a new trading app, Revolut X. The move has positioned the fintech giant as a direct competitor to major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase. Revolut X, initially available to UK retail traders, offers over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
At the same time, Interactive Brokers added four new cryptocurrencies to its trading platform: Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Ripple (XRP), and Dogecoin (DOGE). The company's clients can now trade eight cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
The competition for crypto offerings extends beyond the financial sector. GameStop is also betting on Bitcoin to level up its balance sheet. Besides, GameStop has been angling toward a broader tech transformation for a while. It previously dipped its toes into NFTs and hired e-commerce veterans from Amazon and Chewy.
Robinhood Targets Traditional Banks
As everyone scrambles for a piece of the fintech space, Robinhood is reaching out to the traditional banking space. The cmpany, which disrupted the brokerage industry with its commission-free model, will roll out “checking and savings accounts with premium benefits” later this year, but only for its “Gold” subscribers, who pay a $5 monthly or $50 annual subscription fee.
“You get these incredible products, you get really high interest rates,” Deepak Rao, Vice President and General Manager of Robinhood Money, told Bloomberg in an interview. “Why don’t we do that but give it to everybody?”
klarna IPO Buzz
Bringing our news roundup to an end, With Klarna’s IPO on the horizon and a major DoorDash deal in its pocket, the BNPL leader is stirring hope for more fintech listings, including Ebury. Klarna, the Swedish Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) giant, has long been a disruptor in the payments industry, offering flexible installment plans to consumers who’d rather stretch their spending than face the harsh reality of credit card debt.
Notably, the Israeli-based fintech giant also plans to introduce new services, including securities lending, to “expand existing recurring revenue sources.” If everything goes according to plan, it will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ETOR.”
The latest SEC filing revealed that eToro is not badly off financially after all. By the end of 2024, it collected a total commission of $931 million, a yearly rise of 45.6%. Its net income jumped to $192 million in 2024, compared to $15.3 million in 2023 and a loss of $21 million in 2022.
Founded in 1995, Mehta Equities offers brokerage services for futures, options, and cash equities, portfolio management, investment banking, and custodian services. It holds memberships with major Indian exchanges, including the National Stock Exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange, and Multi Commodity Exchange.
“Dubai’s financial ecosystem is one of the most attractive in the world, and this regulatory approval allows us to reach out to the vast client base within the UAE, backed by full compliance with UAE regulations,” said the CEO of ICM.com, Shoaib Abedi, who further pointed out that the new license is part of the broker’s “global expansion strategy.”
Are Brokers and Prop Firms “Trading Trust”?
Away from the search for new opportunities, this week, we continued with our weeks-long series of Trustpilot saga and the review war rooms. Traders are increasingly valuing peer reviews over polished marketing, and firms are now under pressure to maintain strong ratings and swiftly address criticism.
Many firms have gone as far as assigning dedicated teams to respond to complaints and protect their public image—all while flaunting their Trustpilot Score, or TrustScore, as a signal of trustworthiness.
"Dealing with our Trustpilot profile became ridiculously time and resource-consuming," admitted one broker, "but we don't really have a choice."
Is Italy the Next CFD Hotspot?
Change is in the air for Italy’s financial sector, with investors showing a new appetite for risk. Italy’s financial landscape is buzzing. In a country of roughly 59 million people long known for its traditionally risk-averse investors, a visible transformation is underway in the trading and investment scene.
Italy is not particularly prominent among the most prominent global financial markets compared to Asia, North America, or even other European nations.
Nevertheless, over the last few years, the habits and trends of the Italian population towards trading and investing have been changing, showing clear signs of strength and growth, which could shape the Italian CFD industry over the coming decades.
Even as Italy experiences a quiet financial revolution, new research suggests that retail investors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are playing a growing role in global capital markets, fighting the “dumb money” myth. The analysis by eToro has challenged the notion that individual investors are prone to impulsive and emotionally driven trading decisions.
More Companies Are Expanding Their Crypto Offerings
After launching a dedicated crypto trading platform for UK users last year, Revolut has expanded the offering with a new trading app, Revolut X. The move has positioned the fintech giant as a direct competitor to major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase. Revolut X, initially available to UK retail traders, offers over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
At the same time, Interactive Brokers added four new cryptocurrencies to its trading platform: Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Ripple (XRP), and Dogecoin (DOGE). The company's clients can now trade eight cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
The competition for crypto offerings extends beyond the financial sector. GameStop is also betting on Bitcoin to level up its balance sheet. Besides, GameStop has been angling toward a broader tech transformation for a while. It previously dipped its toes into NFTs and hired e-commerce veterans from Amazon and Chewy.
Robinhood Targets Traditional Banks
As everyone scrambles for a piece of the fintech space, Robinhood is reaching out to the traditional banking space. The cmpany, which disrupted the brokerage industry with its commission-free model, will roll out “checking and savings accounts with premium benefits” later this year, but only for its “Gold” subscribers, who pay a $5 monthly or $50 annual subscription fee.
“You get these incredible products, you get really high interest rates,” Deepak Rao, Vice President and General Manager of Robinhood Money, told Bloomberg in an interview. “Why don’t we do that but give it to everybody?”
klarna IPO Buzz
Bringing our news roundup to an end, With Klarna’s IPO on the horizon and a major DoorDash deal in its pocket, the BNPL leader is stirring hope for more fintech listings, including Ebury. Klarna, the Swedish Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) giant, has long been a disruptor in the payments industry, offering flexible installment plans to consumers who’d rather stretch their spending than face the harsh reality of credit card debt.
With CFD Brokers Showing Interest in Futures, NinjaTrader Extends Access for EU Retail Traders
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | 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
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
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
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.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
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.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
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.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
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.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
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
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
👍 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
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