Elsewhere, CFI registered a record $1.12 trillion trading volume, while NAGA reported preliminary figures for the financial year 2024, aligning with its expectations.
Additionally, the CFTC targeted Crypto.com and Robinhood for Super Bowl trades, while authorities in Israel have warned against binary options.
FTMO Acquires OANDA
We're in the second month of 2025, and the FX landscape is already undergoing a seismic shift. Proprietary trading powerhouse FTMO acquired retail brokerage giant OANDA, a rare move in an industry where such acquisitions are far from the norm.
Since 1996, OANDA has been considered one of the leaders and pioneers in online trading, including CFDs. In 2018, it was acquired by CVC Capital Partners, a fund managing nearly $200 billion.
What was once one of the top three brokerage firms worldwide was reportedly weakened by the fund’s management. Coupled with rising competition, this resulted in the firm’s gradual decline. Industry experts now view the takeover as a sign of broader developments ahead as the emerging prop trading space continues to evolve.
Last year, reports emerged that OANDA was a potential acquisition target. The firm, a prominent brand in the forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) brokerage space, was put up for sale by its owner, CVC Capital Partners, an Amsterdam-listed buyout firm. It offered trading services in foreign exchange, equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
Interestingly, FTMO had substantial cash before the acquisition. At the end of 2023, the prop trading giant reportedly had over CZK 1.94 billion (over USD 81.5 million) in cash, an increase of about 275 percent compared to the previous year. Earlier, Finance Magnates reported that the prop trading giant generated almost CZK 5 billion (over $213 million) in revenue in 2023, a 20 percent increase.
MetaTrader Increases Fees
Away from acquisitions, MetaQuotes Software, the dominant provider of trading platform technology, implemented a significant price increase for its flagship MetaTrader products, affecting brokers worldwide. Industry sources confirmed to Finance Magnates that the increase ranged between 20% and 25%, translating into additional thousands of dollars in monthly expenditures in the increasingly competitive contracts for differences (CFD) industry.
Notably, the company's 20–25% price hike, effective January 1, pushes the monthly cost for a comprehensive MetaTrader package to approximately more than $50,000 for brokers using both MT4 and MT5 platforms, Finance Magnates RU learned. MetaQuotes justified the increase in a client memo, citing rising operational costs and investments in service quality.
A screenshot of MetaQuotes' notice sent to its clients
CFI Posts Record $1.12 Trillion Trading Volume
In financial news, CFI Financial Group reported its highest-ever quarterly trading volume of $1.12 trillion, up from $1.03 trillion in the third quarter, as the online trading provider expanded its geographic footprint.
According to figures released this week, the Dubai-based company's second-half volume reached $2.15 trillion, a jump of more than 140% compared to the same period a year earlier. CFI also reported a 27% quarter-over-quarter increase in active clients and a 39% rise in client deposits during Q4.
NAGA Achieves Cash Break-Even
The NAGA Group AG, the provider of the all-in-one financial SuperApp NAGA, reported preliminary figures for the financial year 2024, aligning with its expectations. The company focused on completing the complex reverse merger between the former CAPEX Group and The Naga Group.
The merger was finalized in August 2024, marking the start of the integration process. This included migrating customers to a single technology platform and optimizing human resources.
“Traders Gravitate Towards Established Names, We Must Build Trust”: Ultima Markets’ Yiu
Meanwhile, Finance Magnates recently talked to Ernest Yiu, Vice President of Marketing at Ultima Markets, about the broker's plans and challenges. “One of the biggest challenges we faced as a new brand was building trust and recognition in a competitive market,” Ernest Yiu told Finance Magnates.
“Traders often gravitate towards established names out of habit, which means we had to work harder to prove our reliability, transparency, and commitment to providing exceptional service,” he added.
Binary Options Reappear in Israel
The Israel Securities Authority, which oversees the country’s financial market, has issued a public warning against a binary options trading platform, Pocket Option, which targets traders in the country.
Pocket Option’s website shows that it is operated by an entity registered in Costa Rica. It also states that it “does not provide service to residents of the EEA countries, USA, Israel, UK and Japan.” Binary options are derivatives that allow traders to speculate on whether the value of the underlying asset will go up or down within a specified time frame, ranging from a few seconds to several days.
This development forced Robinhood to suspend offering Super Bowl event contracts only a day after listing them, reportedly at the request of the commodities regulator. The CFTC's investigation centers on whether these sports-focused event contracts qualify as gaming under existing regulations
The Super Bowl isn't just a battle of football titans, in this case the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s a high-stakes advertising showdown where brands fight for visibility, influence, and cultural cachet. This year, fintech unicorn Papaya Global is entering the arena, making a bold statement with its debut Super Bowl ad.
Goodbye to Cheap Online Shopping—Trump Closes de Minimis Loophole
Lastly, in the global political scene, Trump shut down the de minimis exemption, a loophole that enabled the duty-free import of low-cost goods, driving up prices and causing delays for online shoppers. Once upon a time, online shoppers in the US reveled in the de minimis exemption—a delightful loophole allowing packages valued under $800 to skip into the U.S. without paying tariffs and be shipped directly to the customer.
This nifty rule lets retailers like Shein and Temu flood American doorsteps with affordable goodies straight from China.The loophole was originally meant to ease the burden on customs processing and allow small-scale transactions to pass through smoothly, but as e-commerce exploded, it became a massive channel for low-cost imports.
FTMO Acquires OANDA
We're in the second month of 2025, and the FX landscape is already undergoing a seismic shift. Proprietary trading powerhouse FTMO acquired retail brokerage giant OANDA, a rare move in an industry where such acquisitions are far from the norm.
Since 1996, OANDA has been considered one of the leaders and pioneers in online trading, including CFDs. In 2018, it was acquired by CVC Capital Partners, a fund managing nearly $200 billion.
What was once one of the top three brokerage firms worldwide was reportedly weakened by the fund’s management. Coupled with rising competition, this resulted in the firm’s gradual decline. Industry experts now view the takeover as a sign of broader developments ahead as the emerging prop trading space continues to evolve.
Last year, reports emerged that OANDA was a potential acquisition target. The firm, a prominent brand in the forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) brokerage space, was put up for sale by its owner, CVC Capital Partners, an Amsterdam-listed buyout firm. It offered trading services in foreign exchange, equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
Interestingly, FTMO had substantial cash before the acquisition. At the end of 2023, the prop trading giant reportedly had over CZK 1.94 billion (over USD 81.5 million) in cash, an increase of about 275 percent compared to the previous year. Earlier, Finance Magnates reported that the prop trading giant generated almost CZK 5 billion (over $213 million) in revenue in 2023, a 20 percent increase.
MetaTrader Increases Fees
Away from acquisitions, MetaQuotes Software, the dominant provider of trading platform technology, implemented a significant price increase for its flagship MetaTrader products, affecting brokers worldwide. Industry sources confirmed to Finance Magnates that the increase ranged between 20% and 25%, translating into additional thousands of dollars in monthly expenditures in the increasingly competitive contracts for differences (CFD) industry.
Notably, the company's 20–25% price hike, effective January 1, pushes the monthly cost for a comprehensive MetaTrader package to approximately more than $50,000 for brokers using both MT4 and MT5 platforms, Finance Magnates RU learned. MetaQuotes justified the increase in a client memo, citing rising operational costs and investments in service quality.
A screenshot of MetaQuotes' notice sent to its clients
CFI Posts Record $1.12 Trillion Trading Volume
In financial news, CFI Financial Group reported its highest-ever quarterly trading volume of $1.12 trillion, up from $1.03 trillion in the third quarter, as the online trading provider expanded its geographic footprint.
According to figures released this week, the Dubai-based company's second-half volume reached $2.15 trillion, a jump of more than 140% compared to the same period a year earlier. CFI also reported a 27% quarter-over-quarter increase in active clients and a 39% rise in client deposits during Q4.
NAGA Achieves Cash Break-Even
The NAGA Group AG, the provider of the all-in-one financial SuperApp NAGA, reported preliminary figures for the financial year 2024, aligning with its expectations. The company focused on completing the complex reverse merger between the former CAPEX Group and The Naga Group.
The merger was finalized in August 2024, marking the start of the integration process. This included migrating customers to a single technology platform and optimizing human resources.
“Traders Gravitate Towards Established Names, We Must Build Trust”: Ultima Markets’ Yiu
Meanwhile, Finance Magnates recently talked to Ernest Yiu, Vice President of Marketing at Ultima Markets, about the broker's plans and challenges. “One of the biggest challenges we faced as a new brand was building trust and recognition in a competitive market,” Ernest Yiu told Finance Magnates.
“Traders often gravitate towards established names out of habit, which means we had to work harder to prove our reliability, transparency, and commitment to providing exceptional service,” he added.
Binary Options Reappear in Israel
The Israel Securities Authority, which oversees the country’s financial market, has issued a public warning against a binary options trading platform, Pocket Option, which targets traders in the country.
Pocket Option’s website shows that it is operated by an entity registered in Costa Rica. It also states that it “does not provide service to residents of the EEA countries, USA, Israel, UK and Japan.” Binary options are derivatives that allow traders to speculate on whether the value of the underlying asset will go up or down within a specified time frame, ranging from a few seconds to several days.
This development forced Robinhood to suspend offering Super Bowl event contracts only a day after listing them, reportedly at the request of the commodities regulator. The CFTC's investigation centers on whether these sports-focused event contracts qualify as gaming under existing regulations
The Super Bowl isn't just a battle of football titans, in this case the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s a high-stakes advertising showdown where brands fight for visibility, influence, and cultural cachet. This year, fintech unicorn Papaya Global is entering the arena, making a bold statement with its debut Super Bowl ad.
Goodbye to Cheap Online Shopping—Trump Closes de Minimis Loophole
Lastly, in the global political scene, Trump shut down the de minimis exemption, a loophole that enabled the duty-free import of low-cost goods, driving up prices and causing delays for online shoppers. Once upon a time, online shoppers in the US reveled in the de minimis exemption—a delightful loophole allowing packages valued under $800 to skip into the U.S. without paying tariffs and be shipped directly to the customer.
This nifty rule lets retailers like Shein and Temu flood American doorsteps with affordable goodies straight from China.The loophole was originally meant to ease the burden on customs processing and allow small-scale transactions to pass through smoothly, but as e-commerce exploded, it became a massive channel for low-cost imports.
Volatile Gold Makes Brokers' Risks No Longer Around P&L, but About Balance-Sheet Protection
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
