Finance Magnates recently interviewed 26 Degrees’ Group CCO, James Alexander, to learn about the demand for Pairs CFDs.
“The Japanese market specifically has shown a keen interest and is a strategic focus for us.”
A cake box with 26 Degrees branding at the rebranding launch party, Photo: 26 Degrees
“Currently, over 20% of our global brokerage client base is either offering or in the process of releasing Pairs CFDs,” said 26 Degrees’ Group Chief Commercial Officer, James Alexander, to Finance Magnates following his company’s recent launch of Gold Pairs CFDs. He added: “That’s a significant number, and we expect it to become even more prominent in 2025 and beyond.”
“We Expect to See Demand Continue to Grow”
Alexander compared the demand for these instruments to the roll-out of Equity CFDs via API in 2017 and 2018. “Back then, very few broker clients offered Equity CFDs; now, the vast majority of major brokers have some form of Equity CFD offering,” he said. “In our opinion, Pairs CFDs will be no different.”
James Alexander, 26 Degrees’ Group Chief Commercial Officer
26 Degrees, previously known as Invast Global, launched Pairs CFDs last July, enabling the trading of index vs. index, commodity vs. commodity, or equity vs. equity, similar to forex pairs. Although the concept of such an instrument was not new, it was the first company to launch it.
“Interest since we launched Pairs CFDs has been strong, and we expect demand to keep growing as more brokers understand the simplicity of Pairs and bring this unique product to market for their own clients,” Alexander commented.
“Any initial hesitation around the introduction of Pairs as a new product quickly fades once the simplicity, benefits, and implementation process are clearly laid out—a process we’ve already guided many brokers through,” he added.
“The US 100 vs Japan 225 Has Been the Most Popular”
According to 26 Degrees, these new products provide traders with a simpler and more efficient trading experience than traditional instruments, featuring a single price ratio between the two assets. This ratio adjusts according to changes in the assets’ prices, allowing traders to manage risk through a single trade rather than two separate positions.
Additionally, these Pairs CFDs can be structured to increase or reduce volatility, depending on the instruments' correlation. According to the company, they also offer greater margin efficiency than trading each asset separately with two positions.
Revealing the most popular Pairs, Alexander said: “Among the Indices-focused Pairs, the US 100 vs Japan 225 has been the most popular, while on the Equity CFD Pairs side, Nvidia vs Oracle has attracted the most trader interest. Given the recent volatility in both the Japanese Index and Nvidia over recent months, it is unsurprising that these two Pairs have taken the top spots.”
“Since we first began discussing Pairs CFDs with clients, we’ve seen strong interest in Gold-related pairs, which has only intensified with Gold’s recent rally,” added Alexander. “We are expecting a lot of interest in the newly released US 100 vs XAU Pair with the upcoming U.S. election, so these rankings may shift in the coming weeks.”
Notably, Gold has consistently been one of the top-traded instruments. Alexander also highlighted that his company is “seeing continued growth in Equity Index volumes globally,” and the new Gold Pairs CFDs will combine these assets.
“The Retail Market in Japan Is Expanding”
Elaborating on the geographical demand for Pairs CFDs, Alexander said: “The Japanese market specifically has shown a keen interest and is a strategic focus for us.” He added: “This is evident with the number of Pairs we offer against the Japan 225 Index and, more recently, the Japan 2000 Index in Osaka.”
“The retail market in Japan is expanding to include a much broader range of instruments and asset classes,” he continued. “Although USD/JPY remains a dominant focus for traders in Japan (much like XAU does globally), we feel that a broader diversification of available instruments is hugely beneficial for both traders and the brokers that serve them.”
“Interestingly, we’ve noticed distinct regional preferences for certain types of Pairs,” he explained. “For instance, Japanese brokers have shown a keen interest in Index CFD Pairs, brokers in APAC have shown a stronger focus on Equity CFD Pairs, and Commodity Pairs, particularly those focused on Oil, are especially popular among brokers in the MENA region.”
Meanwhile, Finance Magnates earlier reported that 26 Degrees is considering to surrender its regulatory license in Cyprus. However, it is planning to keep its Limassol office open as a supporting branch for its international activities.
“Currently, over 20% of our global brokerage client base is either offering or in the process of releasing Pairs CFDs,” said 26 Degrees’ Group Chief Commercial Officer, James Alexander, to Finance Magnates following his company’s recent launch of Gold Pairs CFDs. He added: “That’s a significant number, and we expect it to become even more prominent in 2025 and beyond.”
“We Expect to See Demand Continue to Grow”
Alexander compared the demand for these instruments to the roll-out of Equity CFDs via API in 2017 and 2018. “Back then, very few broker clients offered Equity CFDs; now, the vast majority of major brokers have some form of Equity CFD offering,” he said. “In our opinion, Pairs CFDs will be no different.”
James Alexander, 26 Degrees’ Group Chief Commercial Officer
26 Degrees, previously known as Invast Global, launched Pairs CFDs last July, enabling the trading of index vs. index, commodity vs. commodity, or equity vs. equity, similar to forex pairs. Although the concept of such an instrument was not new, it was the first company to launch it.
“Interest since we launched Pairs CFDs has been strong, and we expect demand to keep growing as more brokers understand the simplicity of Pairs and bring this unique product to market for their own clients,” Alexander commented.
“Any initial hesitation around the introduction of Pairs as a new product quickly fades once the simplicity, benefits, and implementation process are clearly laid out—a process we’ve already guided many brokers through,” he added.
“The US 100 vs Japan 225 Has Been the Most Popular”
According to 26 Degrees, these new products provide traders with a simpler and more efficient trading experience than traditional instruments, featuring a single price ratio between the two assets. This ratio adjusts according to changes in the assets’ prices, allowing traders to manage risk through a single trade rather than two separate positions.
Additionally, these Pairs CFDs can be structured to increase or reduce volatility, depending on the instruments' correlation. According to the company, they also offer greater margin efficiency than trading each asset separately with two positions.
Revealing the most popular Pairs, Alexander said: “Among the Indices-focused Pairs, the US 100 vs Japan 225 has been the most popular, while on the Equity CFD Pairs side, Nvidia vs Oracle has attracted the most trader interest. Given the recent volatility in both the Japanese Index and Nvidia over recent months, it is unsurprising that these two Pairs have taken the top spots.”
“Since we first began discussing Pairs CFDs with clients, we’ve seen strong interest in Gold-related pairs, which has only intensified with Gold’s recent rally,” added Alexander. “We are expecting a lot of interest in the newly released US 100 vs XAU Pair with the upcoming U.S. election, so these rankings may shift in the coming weeks.”
Notably, Gold has consistently been one of the top-traded instruments. Alexander also highlighted that his company is “seeing continued growth in Equity Index volumes globally,” and the new Gold Pairs CFDs will combine these assets.
“The Retail Market in Japan Is Expanding”
Elaborating on the geographical demand for Pairs CFDs, Alexander said: “The Japanese market specifically has shown a keen interest and is a strategic focus for us.” He added: “This is evident with the number of Pairs we offer against the Japan 225 Index and, more recently, the Japan 2000 Index in Osaka.”
“The retail market in Japan is expanding to include a much broader range of instruments and asset classes,” he continued. “Although USD/JPY remains a dominant focus for traders in Japan (much like XAU does globally), we feel that a broader diversification of available instruments is hugely beneficial for both traders and the brokers that serve them.”
“Interestingly, we’ve noticed distinct regional preferences for certain types of Pairs,” he explained. “For instance, Japanese brokers have shown a keen interest in Index CFD Pairs, brokers in APAC have shown a stronger focus on Equity CFD Pairs, and Commodity Pairs, particularly those focused on Oil, are especially popular among brokers in the MENA region.”
Meanwhile, Finance Magnates earlier reported that 26 Degrees is considering to surrender its regulatory license in Cyprus. However, it is planning to keep its Limassol office open as a supporting branch for its international activities.
Arnab is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He entered the industry covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates and later expanded his reach to forex as well. He is passionate about the changing regulatory landscape on financial markets and keenly follows the disruptions in the industry with new-age technologies.
SIX Stretches Trading Day to Nearly 14 Hours for Derivatives
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
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🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official