Job cuts at IronFX have emerged as the newest signal of strain throughout the web buying and selling business. The dealer laid off round 150 workers, or about 10% of its roughly 1,500‑robust workforce, with sources citing “effectivity” amid the AI wave as the primary driver.
The layoffs comply with earlier reductions at different brokers, together with Tradu/FXCM and eToro, and are available as IronFX continues to function with a Cyprus Funding Agency license, a British Virgin Islands offshore license and authorization from the UK Monetary Conduct Authority.
eToro’s crypto growth plan
In the meantime, eToro CEO Yoni Assia mentioned the fintech large is in a
robust place to develop its crypto providing and has launched prediction markets inside its new non-custodial crypto pockets.
Chatting with Finance Magnates in Limassol, Assia famous that
the function was designed to remain separate from customers’ important investments. He
added that eToro is at present working with Polymarket and holding discussions
with Kalshi as the corporate explores alternatives within the fast-emerging
prediction markets sector.
The CEO of eToro simply revealed how they profited $50 million by integrating Bitcoin into their treasury technique.
Crypto is right here to remain, it’s a brand new type of international capital market. pic.twitter.com/eGEwTbltTe
— Kashif Raza (@simplykashif) May 16, 2025
Assia emphasised that prediction markets stay within the early
phases of growth and it’s nonetheless unclear how a lot curiosity eToro customers
will present in them.
Warfare exposes insider dangers in prediction markets
Within the wild west of prediction markets, the Iran warfare has
drawn sharp consideration to the rising threat of insider buying and selling.
Following the US
strike on Iran in late February, customers reportedly wagered lots of of tens of millions
of {dollars} on outcomes starting from the timing of assaults to a possible
nuclear detonation.
Information analytics agency Bubblemaps recognized a number of suspected
insiders who allegedly guess over 1,000,000 {dollars} on the timing of the strike,
whereas different analysts famous buying and selling patterns that mirrored insider habits
round occasions involving Iran’s management.
CFTC guidelines for prediction market
Prediction markets are certainly gaining mainstream consideration, however new
regulatory indicators recommend the principles are tightening. CFTC issued new steering for platforms
all in favour of launching prediction markets, outlining requirements that resemble a
compliance check.
The advisory requires platforms to reveal that their
occasion contracts can resist market manipulation and insider buying and selling earlier than being
authorized for buying and selling in the USA.
On the similar time, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig mentioned the company doesn’t intend to resolve which merchandise individuals are allowed to commerce and
will keep away from making coverage by way of enforcement actions.
As an alternative, he informed an viewers on the FIA World Cleared
Markets Convention in Florida that the CFTC plans to maneuver away from “regulating
by way of enforcement” and step again from enforcement-driven policymaking.
Are prediction markets the following prop buying and selling?
Prediction markets are additionally rising as a possible different
for retail merchants as regulators tighten oversight of simulated proprietary buying and selling. Authorities within the U.S., Canada, and Europe have begun scrutinizing
prop buying and selling corporations that rely extra on problem charges than actual buying and selling exercise.
Retail prop buying and selling vs. prediction markets
Many of those corporations function in regulatory grey areas, typically
utilizing simulated accounts reasonably than executing dwell trades. Current enforcement
instances and platform shutdowns have accelerated the business’s seek for new
fashions.
XTB provides kill change to dam hackers
Away from prediction markets, XTB launched an emergency lock function that permits purchasers to freeze all exercise on their account with a single faucet if they think unauthorized entry. When activated, the lock halts buying and selling in all devices, blocks withdrawals from all foreign money accounts, and disables all eWallet transactions, the corporate mentioned.
To revive entry, customers should first change their password after which go a facial recognition examine to substantiate they’re the official account holder.
XTB CEO Omar Arnaout mentioned the function is designed to provide purchasers a quick method to regain management of their accounts amid rising digital and cybersecurity threats.
Over half of Singapore CFD merchants use one platform
As Singapore’s CFD market returns to development, suppliers are below strain to make sure their customer support meets the expectations of each new and current purchasers. Companies must deal with inquiries, onboarding, and assist effectively to retain merchants in a extra aggressive atmosphere.
In accordance with Funding Traits affiliate analysis director Lorenzo Vignati, the main focus in Singapore has shifted from growth to engagement, with brokers now concentrating on reactivating merchants who beforehand stopped buying and selling.
He famous that brokers can not afford missteps with returning purchasers as a result of first impressions are essential when these merchants come again to the market.
World foreign exchange brokers goal Japan
Japan stays one of many world’s key retail international alternate markets, combining excessive buying and selling volumes with a big and energetic base of retail merchants. The nation has greater than 1.5 million retail FX merchants and over 3 million energetic buying and selling accounts, producing round $400 billion in day by day FX turnover, placing it alongside London, New York, and Singapore as a significant FX hub.
A notable function of Japan’s market is the dominance of home brokers in retail buying and selling. Main native corporations reminiscent of GMO Click on Securities, SBI FX Commerce, Rakuten Securities, DMM FX, and Monex Group have constructed in depth retail buying and selling ecosystems, supported by established platforms and sizable buyer bases.
Revolut wins full UK financial institution licence
Revolut has acquired approval from the Prudential Regulation Authority to launch its UK financial institution, concluding a prolonged regulatory course of. The license will enable the corporate to develop its providers for round 13 million prospects in its dwelling market by way of its new entity, Revolut Financial institution UK Ltd.
We’re now formally a completely licensed financial institution within the UK.
As a financial institution, we’ll quickly supply accounts protected by the Monetary Providers Compensation Scheme (FSCS) as much as £120,000 per individual on eligible deposits.
It additionally means we’ll be capable to launch extra banking options sooner or later… pic.twitter.com/fH7K2TQLDd
— Revolut (@Revolut) March 11, 2026
With this authorization, Revolut can function as a completely licensed financial institution within the UK and supply deposit accounts coated by the Monetary Providers Compensation Scheme. It now joins different main fintechs which have obtained full banking licenses, together with UK-based Monzo and Starling and Germany’s N26.
Govt Strikes of the week: Traze, Tarurex
Lastly, within the government strikes, Naeem Afzal has joined Traze, the sister CFDs dealer model of ZFX below Zeal Group, as Regional Gross sales Director, based mostly within the United Arab Emirates.
He brings almost 20 years of expertise in institutional and retail gross sales, most lately serving as Regional Gross sales Director at GO Markets.
Additionally this week, CFD dealer Taurex reappointed Matthew Wright as a Non-Govt Director, nearly three years after he left for Exinity, bringing again an government who beforehand led the agency throughout its Zenfinex section.
Job cuts at IronFX have emerged as the newest signal of strain throughout the web buying and selling business. The dealer laid off round 150 workers, or about 10% of its roughly 1,500‑robust workforce, with sources citing “effectivity” amid the AI wave as the primary driver.
The layoffs comply with earlier reductions at different brokers, together with Tradu/FXCM and eToro, and are available as IronFX continues to function with a Cyprus Funding Agency license, a British Virgin Islands offshore license and authorization from the UK Monetary Conduct Authority.
eToro’s crypto growth plan
In the meantime, eToro CEO Yoni Assia mentioned the fintech large is in a
robust place to develop its crypto providing and has launched prediction markets inside its new non-custodial crypto pockets.
Chatting with Finance Magnates in Limassol, Assia famous that
the function was designed to remain separate from customers’ important investments. He
added that eToro is at present working with Polymarket and holding discussions
with Kalshi as the corporate explores alternatives within the fast-emerging
prediction markets sector.
The CEO of eToro simply revealed how they profited $50 million by integrating Bitcoin into their treasury technique.
Crypto is right here to remain, it’s a brand new type of international capital market. pic.twitter.com/eGEwTbltTe
— Kashif Raza (@simplykashif) May 16, 2025
Assia emphasised that prediction markets stay within the early
phases of growth and it’s nonetheless unclear how a lot curiosity eToro customers
will present in them.
Warfare exposes insider dangers in prediction markets
Within the wild west of prediction markets, the Iran warfare has
drawn sharp consideration to the rising threat of insider buying and selling.
Following the US
strike on Iran in late February, customers reportedly wagered lots of of tens of millions
of {dollars} on outcomes starting from the timing of assaults to a possible
nuclear detonation.
Information analytics agency Bubblemaps recognized a number of suspected
insiders who allegedly guess over 1,000,000 {dollars} on the timing of the strike,
whereas different analysts famous buying and selling patterns that mirrored insider habits
round occasions involving Iran’s management.
CFTC guidelines for prediction market
Prediction markets are certainly gaining mainstream consideration, however new
regulatory indicators recommend the principles are tightening. CFTC issued new steering for platforms
all in favour of launching prediction markets, outlining requirements that resemble a
compliance check.
The advisory requires platforms to reveal that their
occasion contracts can resist market manipulation and insider buying and selling earlier than being
authorized for buying and selling in the USA.
On the similar time, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig mentioned the company doesn’t intend to resolve which merchandise individuals are allowed to commerce and
will keep away from making coverage by way of enforcement actions.
As an alternative, he informed an viewers on the FIA World Cleared
Markets Convention in Florida that the CFTC plans to maneuver away from “regulating
by way of enforcement” and step again from enforcement-driven policymaking.
Are prediction markets the following prop buying and selling?
Prediction markets are additionally rising as a possible different
for retail merchants as regulators tighten oversight of simulated proprietary buying and selling. Authorities within the U.S., Canada, and Europe have begun scrutinizing
prop buying and selling corporations that rely extra on problem charges than actual buying and selling exercise.
Retail prop buying and selling vs. prediction markets
Many of those corporations function in regulatory grey areas, typically
utilizing simulated accounts reasonably than executing dwell trades. Current enforcement
instances and platform shutdowns have accelerated the business’s seek for new
fashions.
XTB provides kill change to dam hackers
Away from prediction markets, XTB launched an emergency lock function that permits purchasers to freeze all exercise on their account with a single faucet if they think unauthorized entry. When activated, the lock halts buying and selling in all devices, blocks withdrawals from all foreign money accounts, and disables all eWallet transactions, the corporate mentioned.
To revive entry, customers should first change their password after which go a facial recognition examine to substantiate they’re the official account holder.
XTB CEO Omar Arnaout mentioned the function is designed to provide purchasers a quick method to regain management of their accounts amid rising digital and cybersecurity threats.
Over half of Singapore CFD merchants use one platform
As Singapore’s CFD market returns to development, suppliers are below strain to make sure their customer support meets the expectations of each new and current purchasers. Companies must deal with inquiries, onboarding, and assist effectively to retain merchants in a extra aggressive atmosphere.
In accordance with Funding Traits affiliate analysis director Lorenzo Vignati, the main focus in Singapore has shifted from growth to engagement, with brokers now concentrating on reactivating merchants who beforehand stopped buying and selling.
He famous that brokers can not afford missteps with returning purchasers as a result of first impressions are essential when these merchants come again to the market.
World foreign exchange brokers goal Japan
Japan stays one of many world’s key retail international alternate markets, combining excessive buying and selling volumes with a big and energetic base of retail merchants. The nation has greater than 1.5 million retail FX merchants and over 3 million energetic buying and selling accounts, producing round $400 billion in day by day FX turnover, placing it alongside London, New York, and Singapore as a significant FX hub.
A notable function of Japan’s market is the dominance of home brokers in retail buying and selling. Main native corporations reminiscent of GMO Click on Securities, SBI FX Commerce, Rakuten Securities, DMM FX, and Monex Group have constructed in depth retail buying and selling ecosystems, supported by established platforms and sizable buyer bases.
Revolut wins full UK financial institution licence
Revolut has acquired approval from the Prudential Regulation Authority to launch its UK financial institution, concluding a prolonged regulatory course of. The license will enable the corporate to develop its providers for round 13 million prospects in its dwelling market by way of its new entity, Revolut Financial institution UK Ltd.
We’re now formally a completely licensed financial institution within the UK.
As a financial institution, we’ll quickly supply accounts protected by the Monetary Providers Compensation Scheme (FSCS) as much as £120,000 per individual on eligible deposits.
It additionally means we’ll be capable to launch extra banking options sooner or later… pic.twitter.com/fH7K2TQLDd
— Revolut (@Revolut) March 11, 2026
With this authorization, Revolut can function as a completely licensed financial institution within the UK and supply deposit accounts coated by the Monetary Providers Compensation Scheme. It now joins different main fintechs which have obtained full banking licenses, together with UK-based Monzo and Starling and Germany’s N26.
Govt Strikes of the week: Traze, Tarurex
Lastly, within the government strikes, Naeem Afzal has joined Traze, the sister CFDs dealer model of ZFX below Zeal Group, as Regional Gross sales Director, based mostly within the United Arab Emirates.
He brings almost 20 years of expertise in institutional and retail gross sales, most lately serving as Regional Gross sales Director at GO Markets.
Additionally this week, CFD dealer Taurex reappointed Matthew Wright as a Non-Govt Director, nearly three years after he left for Exinity, bringing again an government who beforehand led the agency throughout its Zenfinex section.
