Also in the headlines, Germany's leveraged trading market jumped 3% to 63,000 active CFD and forex traders.
Meanwhile, in our weekly review, we delved deeper into the Trustpilot fake reviews saga and why it’s far from over.
eToro, Source: Shutterstock
Ripple acquired Hidden Road
First things first: Ripple Labs, the crypto firm best known for its longstanding legal tussle with the SEC, is bringing crypto closer to the traditional financial space.
The company acquired Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the digital assets sector. This acquisition makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker.
“We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption—the US market is effectively open for the first time due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end, and the market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance,” said Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple.
Prime brokers play a key role in financial markets, including the growing crypto sector, by offering a full range of services such as trading, custody, and lending to major institutions like hedge funds, banks, and private equity firms.
Meanwhile, fraudsters are no longer confined just to the digital space. They have gone a step further, even using bank accounts to steal from unsuspecting users.
According to the (real) Exante, the victim transferred the funds to the scammers via that JPMorgan Chase account. Although it remains unknown how they opened the JPMorgan Chase account, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become a tool for many fraudsters.
Trustpilot fake review saga
Away from scammers and to the questionable Trustpilot fake reviews and why it is not ending any time soon. FX consultant Anya Aratovskaya delved into this development, which is making waves in the industry, noting how review platforms like Trustpilot sit on a double-edged business model.
There are two sides to the coin: one is the users leaving reviews (aka angry customers or incentivized fans), and the other is the companies being reviewed and paying for visibility.
Trustpilot needs to appear fair and neutral to users while keeping paying companies happy. This includes retention metrics, upsells, sales targets, and more.
Trump tariffs jolt financial markets
Slightly more than a week ago, Trump announced sweeping tariffs, and the volatility the global markets are facing is unprecedented. One company bearing the brunt is eToro.
eToro, headquartered in Israel, filed its F-1 prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week as it prepares to list its shares on Nasdaq under the ticker ETOR.
Some, however, experienced technical glitches as tariffs pushed the S&P 500 to yearly lows. The German online brokers Trade Republic and ING experienced technical difficulties during this week’s market plunge when both platforms experienced delays due to extraordinary trading volumes.
Interestingly, a section of the market seems to be reaping big despite the chaos: Derivatives. A study by Crisil Coalition Greenwich suggested an increase in derivatives trading activity as investors reposition their portfolios to better withstand volatility.
The boost in Germany's leveraged trading market
Germany's leveraged trading market has reversed course, growing 3% to reach 63,000 active CFD and forex traders in the 12 months to February 2025, according to a new report from market research firm Investment Trends.
Lorenzo Vignati, Associate Research Director at Investment Trends
“This marks an important turning point for Germany's CFD/FX market,” said Lorenzo Vignati, Associate Research Director at Investment Trends. “The market has weathered a difficult period of contraction, but we're now seeing signs of sustainable recovery.”
But in the neighboring Italy, things are quite different. Despite often being portrayed in Hollywood movies as risk-takers who live on the edge, in the financial markets, the average Italian investor would likely give up investing altogether rather than build a portfolio riskier than a default-free bond.
Colmex Pro reached €200,000 settlement with CySEC
On the regulatory front, Colmex Pro reached a €200,000 settlement with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) over possible regulatory violations spanning a two-year period.
Nicos Vassiliou, the CEO of Colmex Pro, told financemagnates.com that the agreement "does not constitute an admission of any wrongdoing" and relates to "a historical compliance review" covering a past period.
The settlement addressed potential breaches of the Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law of 2017 and European Union Regulation No. 600/2014, following a supervisory review conducted by CySEC.
Ripple acquired Hidden Road
First things first: Ripple Labs, the crypto firm best known for its longstanding legal tussle with the SEC, is bringing crypto closer to the traditional financial space.
The company acquired Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the digital assets sector. This acquisition makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker.
“We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption—the US market is effectively open for the first time due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end, and the market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance,” said Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple.
Prime brokers play a key role in financial markets, including the growing crypto sector, by offering a full range of services such as trading, custody, and lending to major institutions like hedge funds, banks, and private equity firms.
Meanwhile, fraudsters are no longer confined just to the digital space. They have gone a step further, even using bank accounts to steal from unsuspecting users.
According to the (real) Exante, the victim transferred the funds to the scammers via that JPMorgan Chase account. Although it remains unknown how they opened the JPMorgan Chase account, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become a tool for many fraudsters.
Trustpilot fake review saga
Away from scammers and to the questionable Trustpilot fake reviews and why it is not ending any time soon. FX consultant Anya Aratovskaya delved into this development, which is making waves in the industry, noting how review platforms like Trustpilot sit on a double-edged business model.
There are two sides to the coin: one is the users leaving reviews (aka angry customers or incentivized fans), and the other is the companies being reviewed and paying for visibility.
Trustpilot needs to appear fair and neutral to users while keeping paying companies happy. This includes retention metrics, upsells, sales targets, and more.
Trump tariffs jolt financial markets
Slightly more than a week ago, Trump announced sweeping tariffs, and the volatility the global markets are facing is unprecedented. One company bearing the brunt is eToro.
eToro, headquartered in Israel, filed its F-1 prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week as it prepares to list its shares on Nasdaq under the ticker ETOR.
Some, however, experienced technical glitches as tariffs pushed the S&P 500 to yearly lows. The German online brokers Trade Republic and ING experienced technical difficulties during this week’s market plunge when both platforms experienced delays due to extraordinary trading volumes.
Interestingly, a section of the market seems to be reaping big despite the chaos: Derivatives. A study by Crisil Coalition Greenwich suggested an increase in derivatives trading activity as investors reposition their portfolios to better withstand volatility.
The boost in Germany's leveraged trading market
Germany's leveraged trading market has reversed course, growing 3% to reach 63,000 active CFD and forex traders in the 12 months to February 2025, according to a new report from market research firm Investment Trends.
Lorenzo Vignati, Associate Research Director at Investment Trends
“This marks an important turning point for Germany's CFD/FX market,” said Lorenzo Vignati, Associate Research Director at Investment Trends. “The market has weathered a difficult period of contraction, but we're now seeing signs of sustainable recovery.”
But in the neighboring Italy, things are quite different. Despite often being portrayed in Hollywood movies as risk-takers who live on the edge, in the financial markets, the average Italian investor would likely give up investing altogether rather than build a portfolio riskier than a default-free bond.
Colmex Pro reached €200,000 settlement with CySEC
On the regulatory front, Colmex Pro reached a €200,000 settlement with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) over possible regulatory violations spanning a two-year period.
Nicos Vassiliou, the CEO of Colmex Pro, told financemagnates.com that the agreement "does not constitute an admission of any wrongdoing" and relates to "a historical compliance review" covering a past period.
The settlement addressed potential breaches of the Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law of 2017 and European Union Regulation No. 600/2014, following a supervisory review conducted by CySEC.
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
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Vitalii Bulynin Talks About Versus Trade, New Pairs, and Big Plans
Vitalii Bulynin Talks About Versus Trade, New Pairs, and Big Plans
In this interview, Versus Trade Co-Founder Vitalii Bulynin explains how the company got its license fast, why its trading pairs are fresh and fun, and what the team will build next.
He also discusses the most active pairs, the IB and MIB plans, and hiring needs for new markets.
Watch the whole talk to learn more about how Versus Trade works and where it is heading.
#financemagnates #VersusTrade #TradingPairs #BTCvsGold #goldtrading #innovation
In this interview, Versus Trade Co-Founder Vitalii Bulynin explains how the company got its license fast, why its trading pairs are fresh and fun, and what the team will build next.
He also discusses the most active pairs, the IB and MIB plans, and hiring needs for new markets.
Watch the whole talk to learn more about how Versus Trade works and where it is heading.
#financemagnates #VersusTrade #TradingPairs #BTCvsGold #goldtrading #innovation
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
