Weekly Snapshot: eToro Profit Jumps Nearly 50% Amid $150M Buyback; Is the UK Overreacting to Stablecoin Risks?

Saturday, 15/11/2025 | 04:00 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • FCA warned CFD firms over inconsistent charges and inadequate consumer protection.
  • In South Africa, Exness strengthened its presence with a regional hub in Cape Town.
How XTB captured 80% of new Polish brokerage accounts in October
How XTB captured 80% of new Polish brokerage accounts in October

Pepperstone decries daily battles with scam sites

What do you do when every morning brings a new clone of your company—same name, same look, same traps? For Pepperstone, this has become a daily reality.

This week, the brokerage's Group CEO, Tamas Szabo, said the company is forced to take down scam websites and fake social media accounts impersonating the firm almost every day.

Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!

Szabo criticized domain registrars for failing to curb the problem, suggesting that some may be allowing illegal activities by approving deceptive registrations.

FCA flags CFD firms

Meanwhile, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority warned Contracts for Difference providers after a review found that some firms failed to meet the standards set under the Consumer Duty. Introduced in July 2023, the duty sets higher expectations for consumer protection across financial services.

Mark Francis, FCA director of sell-side markets, said the Consumer Duty “raises the bar for consumer protection across financial services and CFD providers must meet those standards.”

Asia’s fragmented markets and the need for localization

In a continent as vast as Asia, localization is becoming key for brokers. In an interview with Finance Magnates during the iFX Expo Asia, ATFX’s Chief Commercial Officer, Siju Daniel, noted that Asia consists of very different markets, despite the company’s presence in the region.

Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director of ATFX Connect, highlighted that the group has 24 offices worldwide, with Connect operating in nine, giving the firm a strong understanding of local markets.

Daniel stressed that localization goes beyond AI-translated websites, requiring a deep understanding of market behaviors. He explained that opportunities vary across countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Exness opens regional hub in Cape Town

Still on global expansion, Exness expanded its South African footprint by opening a new office in Cape Town, which will function as the CFD broker’s regional hub. The move marked a further commitment to the market as the company grows its presence in the country.

According to the broker, the Cape Town office will serve as the central base for its operations in South Africa and the wider Sub-Saharan Africa region. Exness currently holds local regulatory licenses in both South Africa and Kenya, supporting its operations across continental Africa.

XTB captured 80% of new Polish accounts

At the same time, XTB opened 58,300 new brokerage accounts in Poland in October, representing more than half of the firm’s global client growth for the month in which it reported adding over 100,000 users worldwide.

Institution

Accounts (October 2025)

Monthly Change

Annual Change

XTB S.A.

716,221

58,318

388,876

mBank Brokerage

498,287

4,500

45,124

BM Pekao

206,805

305

1,509

ING Bank Śląski Brokerage

201,492

577

10,475

BOS Brokerage House

182,052

1,070

19,399

Others (30 firms)

575,366

6,915

28,660

Total Market

2,380,223

71,685

494,04

The strong October results brought XTB’s total number of Polish accounts to 716,200, keeping it well ahead of competitors in a month that saw 71,700 new accounts added across the market.

Why CFD brokers are rethinking funding for instant payments

Fast markets require fast funding and investment platforms are paying attention. News now moves in real time, stock prices react within seconds, and many digital-native investors no longer accept multi-day waits to transfer funds. This shift has made fast money movement a practical requirement rather than a convenience.

For investment platforms, rising competition and higher user expectations make funding delays increasingly out of step with the seamless digital experiences users expect. Instant payments also produce valuable data, giving brokers, prop firms, and trading platforms both operational insights and opportunities to enhance user experience.

eToro posts 48% annual profit jump in Q3

In numbers this week, eToro reported a 48% year-over-year increase in net income for the third quarter, but its sequential growth slowed, with net contribution rising only 2.4% from the previous quarter. The company’s shares rose 9% in premarket trading following the release of the results.

For the three months ended September 30, eToro posted a net contribution of $215 million, up from $210 million in Q2. Net income came in at $57 million, compared with $30.2 million in the previous quarter, although Q2 figures included $15 million in IPO-related costs that affected the comparison.

Interestingly, eToro CEO Yoni Assia said during the Monday’s Q3 earnings call that eToro is in talks with Kalshi and Polymarket about potentially adding event contracts to its platform.

Every prop trading design choice carries risks

In the prop trading space, David Davtyan, CEO of Arizet Labs, told FinanceMagnates.com that in prop trading, risk begins much earlier than many realize — right from the way the evaluation product is designed. “The rules, the instruments offered, and the trading experience all form part of the overall risk structure,” he explained.

He added that every design decision, from daily drawdown limits to maximum loss thresholds and moving high-water marks, introduces a corresponding risk that must be managed. Arizet Labs focuses on providing prop firms with risk management solutions and is among the few platforms offering real-time account monitoring, including equity, drawdown, and rule enforcement, all processed instantly.

UK tightens stablecoin rules

In the UK, the Bank of England is maintaining its plan to cap how much stablecoin individuals can hold, arguing that the restrictions are intended to reduce financial-stability risks from large and sudden outflows. Critics, however, say the central bank should recognise the limits of such measures when attempting to safeguard the traditional monetary system.

Alongside the proposed holding limits, UK stablecoin issuers will be required to keep 40% of the assets backing their tokens in non-interest-bearing accounts at the Bank of England.

Polymarket reopens to US users

And in the latest in the prediction markets, Polymarket begun allowing a limited group of US users to place real-money bets as it tests its American exchange ahead of a planned full reopening next month.

The soft launch marks Polymarket’s first US activity since 2022, when it exited the country after receiving a $1.4 million CFTC fine for operating without the required licenses. clearinghouse.

Why CME is teaming up with sports bettors

Still with the prediction markets, the prediction markets app is designed to attract sports bettors in states that still prohibit online wagering, while also giving users the ability to trade on financial indicators. It positions itself as a crossover product for audiences interested in both sports outcomes and market-linked events.

CME Group and FanDuel plan to debut a prediction markets platform in December, bringing together the Chicago-based derivatives exchange and North America’s largest online gambling operator. The collaboration will offer event contracts priced from one cent per trade, reflecting an effort to narrow the divide between traditional derivatives trading and sports betting.

SoftBank dumps Nvidia as AI rally wavers

Outside the industry, SoftBank sold its entire 32.1 million-share stake in Nvidia in October, generating about $5.83 billion, according to details released with its quarterly results.

The disposal aligns with reports that founder Masayoshi Son is preparing a major investment of roughly $22.5 billion in OpenAI. The company has been reshaping its balance sheet to support this strategy amid growing debate over whether AI valuations are overheating.

“Going quiet”: Warren Buffett signs off

Lastly, Warren Buffett says he will retire at the end of the year and plans to accelerate his philanthropic efforts. After decades of annual letters, media appearances, and steady leadership at Berkshire Hathaway, he has indicated he intends to step back and “go quiet.”

Buffett has long been a defining voice in U.S. investing, with his shareholder letters, television interviews, and annual meetings in Omaha shaping market sentiment and corporate culture.

His departure marks the end of an era in which his commentary and management approach played an outsized role in guiding investor expectations.

Pepperstone decries daily battles with scam sites

What do you do when every morning brings a new clone of your company—same name, same look, same traps? For Pepperstone, this has become a daily reality.

This week, the brokerage's Group CEO, Tamas Szabo, said the company is forced to take down scam websites and fake social media accounts impersonating the firm almost every day.

Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!

Szabo criticized domain registrars for failing to curb the problem, suggesting that some may be allowing illegal activities by approving deceptive registrations.

FCA flags CFD firms

Meanwhile, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority warned Contracts for Difference providers after a review found that some firms failed to meet the standards set under the Consumer Duty. Introduced in July 2023, the duty sets higher expectations for consumer protection across financial services.

Mark Francis, FCA director of sell-side markets, said the Consumer Duty “raises the bar for consumer protection across financial services and CFD providers must meet those standards.”

Asia’s fragmented markets and the need for localization

In a continent as vast as Asia, localization is becoming key for brokers. In an interview with Finance Magnates during the iFX Expo Asia, ATFX’s Chief Commercial Officer, Siju Daniel, noted that Asia consists of very different markets, despite the company’s presence in the region.

Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director of ATFX Connect, highlighted that the group has 24 offices worldwide, with Connect operating in nine, giving the firm a strong understanding of local markets.

Daniel stressed that localization goes beyond AI-translated websites, requiring a deep understanding of market behaviors. He explained that opportunities vary across countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Exness opens regional hub in Cape Town

Still on global expansion, Exness expanded its South African footprint by opening a new office in Cape Town, which will function as the CFD broker’s regional hub. The move marked a further commitment to the market as the company grows its presence in the country.

According to the broker, the Cape Town office will serve as the central base for its operations in South Africa and the wider Sub-Saharan Africa region. Exness currently holds local regulatory licenses in both South Africa and Kenya, supporting its operations across continental Africa.

XTB captured 80% of new Polish accounts

At the same time, XTB opened 58,300 new brokerage accounts in Poland in October, representing more than half of the firm’s global client growth for the month in which it reported adding over 100,000 users worldwide.

Institution

Accounts (October 2025)

Monthly Change

Annual Change

XTB S.A.

716,221

58,318

388,876

mBank Brokerage

498,287

4,500

45,124

BM Pekao

206,805

305

1,509

ING Bank Śląski Brokerage

201,492

577

10,475

BOS Brokerage House

182,052

1,070

19,399

Others (30 firms)

575,366

6,915

28,660

Total Market

2,380,223

71,685

494,04

The strong October results brought XTB’s total number of Polish accounts to 716,200, keeping it well ahead of competitors in a month that saw 71,700 new accounts added across the market.

Why CFD brokers are rethinking funding for instant payments

Fast markets require fast funding and investment platforms are paying attention. News now moves in real time, stock prices react within seconds, and many digital-native investors no longer accept multi-day waits to transfer funds. This shift has made fast money movement a practical requirement rather than a convenience.

For investment platforms, rising competition and higher user expectations make funding delays increasingly out of step with the seamless digital experiences users expect. Instant payments also produce valuable data, giving brokers, prop firms, and trading platforms both operational insights and opportunities to enhance user experience.

eToro posts 48% annual profit jump in Q3

In numbers this week, eToro reported a 48% year-over-year increase in net income for the third quarter, but its sequential growth slowed, with net contribution rising only 2.4% from the previous quarter. The company’s shares rose 9% in premarket trading following the release of the results.

For the three months ended September 30, eToro posted a net contribution of $215 million, up from $210 million in Q2. Net income came in at $57 million, compared with $30.2 million in the previous quarter, although Q2 figures included $15 million in IPO-related costs that affected the comparison.

Interestingly, eToro CEO Yoni Assia said during the Monday’s Q3 earnings call that eToro is in talks with Kalshi and Polymarket about potentially adding event contracts to its platform.

Every prop trading design choice carries risks

In the prop trading space, David Davtyan, CEO of Arizet Labs, told FinanceMagnates.com that in prop trading, risk begins much earlier than many realize — right from the way the evaluation product is designed. “The rules, the instruments offered, and the trading experience all form part of the overall risk structure,” he explained.

He added that every design decision, from daily drawdown limits to maximum loss thresholds and moving high-water marks, introduces a corresponding risk that must be managed. Arizet Labs focuses on providing prop firms with risk management solutions and is among the few platforms offering real-time account monitoring, including equity, drawdown, and rule enforcement, all processed instantly.

UK tightens stablecoin rules

In the UK, the Bank of England is maintaining its plan to cap how much stablecoin individuals can hold, arguing that the restrictions are intended to reduce financial-stability risks from large and sudden outflows. Critics, however, say the central bank should recognise the limits of such measures when attempting to safeguard the traditional monetary system.

Alongside the proposed holding limits, UK stablecoin issuers will be required to keep 40% of the assets backing their tokens in non-interest-bearing accounts at the Bank of England.

Polymarket reopens to US users

And in the latest in the prediction markets, Polymarket begun allowing a limited group of US users to place real-money bets as it tests its American exchange ahead of a planned full reopening next month.

The soft launch marks Polymarket’s first US activity since 2022, when it exited the country after receiving a $1.4 million CFTC fine for operating without the required licenses. clearinghouse.

Why CME is teaming up with sports bettors

Still with the prediction markets, the prediction markets app is designed to attract sports bettors in states that still prohibit online wagering, while also giving users the ability to trade on financial indicators. It positions itself as a crossover product for audiences interested in both sports outcomes and market-linked events.

CME Group and FanDuel plan to debut a prediction markets platform in December, bringing together the Chicago-based derivatives exchange and North America’s largest online gambling operator. The collaboration will offer event contracts priced from one cent per trade, reflecting an effort to narrow the divide between traditional derivatives trading and sports betting.

SoftBank dumps Nvidia as AI rally wavers

Outside the industry, SoftBank sold its entire 32.1 million-share stake in Nvidia in October, generating about $5.83 billion, according to details released with its quarterly results.

The disposal aligns with reports that founder Masayoshi Son is preparing a major investment of roughly $22.5 billion in OpenAI. The company has been reshaping its balance sheet to support this strategy amid growing debate over whether AI valuations are overheating.

“Going quiet”: Warren Buffett signs off

Lastly, Warren Buffett says he will retire at the end of the year and plans to accelerate his philanthropic efforts. After decades of annual letters, media appearances, and steady leadership at Berkshire Hathaway, he has indicated he intends to step back and “go quiet.”

Buffett has long been a defining voice in U.S. investing, with his shareholder letters, television interviews, and annual meetings in Omaha shaping market sentiment and corporate culture.

His departure marks the end of an era in which his commentary and management approach played an outsized role in guiding investor expectations.

About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
  • 2449 Articles
  • 50 Followers
About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.
  • 2449 Articles
  • 50 Followers

More from the Author

Retail FX

!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|} !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}