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.
Aussies on CMC Invest Traded Local Stocks Six Times More Than US-Listed Ones
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
