CMC Markets launched gray market buying and selling on SpaceX,
permitting purchasers to take lengthy or brief positions on the personal firm forward
of any potential public itemizing.
The FTSE 250-listed dealer stated the product, which makes use of
unfold bets and contracts for distinction (CFDs), will convert into normal
listed share buying and selling as soon as SpaceX goes public. Shoppers retain management
over when to shut their positions.
The rollout coincided with the same transfer by Binance, which
launched its personal SpaceX-linked product on the identical day. Binance’s SPCXUSDT
Pre-IPO perpetual futures are USDT-margined and designed to trace pricing
alerts throughout the IPO course of earlier than switching to the stay share worth after
itemizing.
#Revolut‘s CFD buying and selling characteristic providing 2x leverage simply confirmed up within the Revolut app for EU primarily based consumer. In June 2024 Revolut entered into partnership with CMC Markets for entry to numerous markets together with CFDs for its clients. pic.twitter.com/ij37GdDWgh
— Max Karpis (@maxkarpis) January 24, 2025
On the identical time, CMC Markets is specializing in the B2B section, with UK Head Chris Cheverall highlighting the dealer’s early push into the neobank area. Cheverall advised Finance Magnates that the CFD dealer recognized rising demand within the sector a number of years in the past, which led to the launch of its prime brokerage enterprise and underpinned its partnership with Revolut.
IG lifts forecast on constructive Q1 outcomes
Amid sturdy financials, IG raised its full-year income steerage and medium-term outlook its first-quarter. The FTSE 100 dealer posted natural whole income of £331.2 million, up 19% year-on-year. It was pushed by progress in OTC derivatives, an expanded crypto providing, and momentum from its lately acquired platform, Freetrade.
Internet buying and selling income reached £306.5 million, marking a 25% enhance in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months and a 17% rise from the earlier quarter. On a reported foundation, which incorporates contributions from Freetrade and Australia-based crypto change Unbiased Reserve, whole income climbed 21% to £339.9 million.
IG Group shares closed at a file 1,742 pence on Tuesday, rising practically 11% in a single session after the dealer raised its full-year income steerage and reported 19% progress in first-quarter natural income. The surge marks one of many inventory’s strongest every day features outdoors the pandemic interval and pushes its year-to-date enhance to over 30%, roughly matching its whole features for all of 2025.
Swissquote 1:10 cut up set for subsequent week
In the meantime, Swissquote confirmed that its 1:10 share cut up
will take impact in public buying and selling on 28 Could. It follows shareholder approval
earlier this month. Underneath the cut up, every current share has been divided into
ten new shares, with the share worth adjusted proportionally.
Motion of Swissquote shares within the final 5 years (Supply: Google Finance)
The cut up shares will commerce on the SIX Swiss Trade, with
the opening worth primarily based on the closing worth recorded on 27 Could 2026. As a
end result, the overall variety of Swissquote shares will enhance from 15,328,170 to
153,281,700, whereas the par worth per share will lower from CHF 0.20 to CHF
0.02.
XTB’s PLN 1B quarter pushed by Europe
Nonetheless with this week’s numbers, XTB’s full first-quarter report confirmed the headline figures launched in late April however provides an in depth regional breakdown. The dealer generated PLN 1.09 billion in working income between January and March, with PLN 780.2 million, or 71%, coming from Central and Jap Europe (CEE). Western Europe contributed PLN 232.8 million.
Different areas remained smaller contributors, with Latin America producing PLN 35.4 million, the Center East PLN 45.7 million, and Asia simply PLN 4,000. Development Concentrated in Europe Almost all year-on-year progress got here from Europe. Income from CEE rose 99% from PLN 391.7 million in the identical interval final 12 months, with Poland alone contributing PLN 568.8 million, or 52% of whole income, up from PLN 314.4 million. Western Europe additionally noticed sturdy progress, with income rising 114% from PLN 108.9 million.
Is MT4 dropping floor to rivals?
The CFD trade continued its sturdy progress into early 2026, with each buying and selling volumes and consumer numbers reaching file ranges. Month-to-month retail buying and selling volumes rose to $33.6 trillion in Q1 2026, up from $29.8 trillion within the earlier quarter and considerably increased than the $18.2 trillion recorded in the identical interval of 2024.
On the identical time, the variety of energetic retail FX/CFD accounts outdoors Japan exceeded 7.4 million, reflecting regular progress in international participation. Platform Panorama Largely Unchanged Regardless of this growth, the aggressive steadiness amongst buying and selling platforms has remained largely unchanged. Dealer information exhibits that solely 16% of retail buying and selling quantity in Q1 2026 was generated on platforms outdoors the MetaQuotes ecosystem.
That is under the latest peak of 27% recorded in Q1 2025. The information means that whereas various platforms are attracting customers, they’re rising at a slower tempo than MetaQuotes platforms, together with MT4 and MT5.
Europe seems to be weak, however is it?
In Paul Golden’s column, Europe is dealing with a variety of ongoing challenges, each at house and overseas. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has entered its fifth 12 months with no clear decision, whereas vitality costs stay affected by disruptions within the Strait of Hormuz. Political uncertainty can also be elevated, with eight of the 27 EU member states set to carry parliamentary elections this 12 months.
As well as, nations such because the UK and Germany are seeing opposition events achieve floor in nationwide polls. Focus Past Quick Dangers Regardless of these pressures, buyers are being urged to look past short-term geopolitical and macroeconomic issues and deal with the broader image. Whereas present developments spotlight instability, they don’t essentially mirror Europe’s longer-term outlook.
Futures prop agency Tradeify launches retail dealer
Within the prop buying and selling area, Tradeify launched a brand new retail brokerage because the US-based proprietary buying and selling agency expands past its core analysis enterprise. The futures prop agency has signed a clearing and know-how settlement with NinjaTrader, which was acquired by Kraken, and can depend on it for all commerce execution and dealing with of shopper funds.
The brokerage will function via Tradeify Brokerage, a registered introducing dealer with the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee and a member of the Nationwide Futures Affiliation. Underneath the settlement, NinjaTrader Clearing LLC will act because the unique futures fee service provider for Slay Markets, the brand new buying and selling platform.
US prop companies transfer inside CFTC perimeter: alternative or survival?
Prop buying and selling stays largely unregulated worldwide, however
a number of US-based companies at the moment are selecting to come back beneath the oversight of the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee (CFTC). FTMO has already moved into the
regulated area via its acquisition by OANDA, whereas latest steps by Topstep
and Tradeify spotlight a shift in priorities amongst proprietary buying and selling companies.
Once I was working in brokerages, I had massive volumes of associates and introducing brokers. Some have been refering 30+ depositing clients every single day. While I admire their enterprise at the moment of my profession, I’ve by no means used an affiliate hyperlink to register a brokerage account and…
— Josh Dentrinos – Founding father of Dealer Fights (@PropJoshD) May 15, 2026
Many prop companies have proven curiosity in acquiring brokerage
licenses, usually from offshore regulators, primarily to safe entry to broadly
used buying and selling platforms similar to MetaTrader. The push towards a US CFTC license
seems to mirror a distinct strategic motive, tied to the attractiveness of
the US retail buying and selling market and its strict regulatory surroundings.
CFTC is a “rogue company” on prediction markets
Within the prediction markets, the battle over U.S. prediction markets is intensifying, with rising deal with federal preemption and the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee’s (CFTC) authority over occasion contracts. Talking earlier than a Senate subcommittee on Wednesday, American Gaming Affiliation CEO Invoice Miller sharply criticized the regulator, calling it a “rogue company” and accusing it of undermining congressional intent by permitting monetary exchanges to supply what he described as “backdoor sports activities betting.”
On the core of the dispute is a key authorized situation: whether or not companies licensed by the CFTC as designated contract markets (DCMs) or derivatives clearing organizations can bypass state-level playing legal guidelines beneath federal preemption. This framework is already influencing enterprise technique. For instance, Sporttrade lately shut down its sportsbook operations to deal with acquiring CFTC change and clearinghouse standing, signaling a shift towards working beneath federal oversight somewhat than state-by-state regulation.
Jon Gentle warns prediction markets might have playing licenses
Prediction markets and binary choices might seem related, however they differ of their underlying references and typical construction, in keeping with Jon Gentle, Senior Director of Product Administration at Devexperts. He additionally highlighted the focus of danger in occasion contracts and famous that, in lots of jurisdictions, such merchandise usually tend to fall beneath playing or betting laws somewhat than conventional monetary market guidelines.
Whereas Kalshi and Polymarket stay the main platforms, mainstream brokers are more and more getting into the area. Plus500 has moved in as an occasion contracts clearing accomplice, and IG Group’s CEO has confirmed inside discussions on the subject, signaling rising engagement from main CFD brokerage companies.
Prediction markets are a significant buyer perception software
Interactive Brokers is positioning prediction markets as a supply of actionable intelligence somewhat than purely speculative merchandise, because it expands entry to a number of platforms and targets extra subtle buyers searching for market alerts.
Chatting with CNBC, founder and chairman Thomas Peterffy dismissed the concept that the agency’s push into the area is pushed by competitors from platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. As an alternative, he stated prediction markets are sometimes misunderstood, noting that purchasers use them to trace financial tendencies throughout areas and sectors, anticipate demand shifts, and inform their funding choices.
EU to evaluate MiCA as 80% of crypto companies vanish
Lastly, the European Fee launched a proper session to evaluate how the Markets in Crypto-Property (MiCA) regulation is functioning. This continues its apply of reviewing main frameworks after implementation. The method invitations suggestions from exchanges, issuers, and trade associations, successfully reopening debate amongst key stakeholders because the regulation takes maintain.
EURC pockets share grew greater than 6x from January 2025 to March 2026.
As adoption expands, euro-denominated stablecoin utilization is reaching a broader set of customers and purposes onchain. pic.twitter.com/VsKTZlNKuU
— Circle (@circle) May 15, 2026
This evaluate comes as MiCA’s grandfathering interval nears its July 1 deadline, with early indicators pointing to a pointy drop in market individuals. Earlier than MiCA, an estimated 1,100 to 1,300 crypto asset service suppliers (CASPs) operated throughout the EU beneath fragmented nationwide guidelines. As of Could, solely round 200 companies have secured authorization beneath the brand new unified regime, highlighting the dimensions of the compliance-driven contraction.
CMC Markets launched gray market buying and selling on SpaceX,
permitting purchasers to take lengthy or brief positions on the personal firm forward
of any potential public itemizing.
The FTSE 250-listed dealer stated the product, which makes use of
unfold bets and contracts for distinction (CFDs), will convert into normal
listed share buying and selling as soon as SpaceX goes public. Shoppers retain management
over when to shut their positions.
The rollout coincided with the same transfer by Binance, which
launched its personal SpaceX-linked product on the identical day. Binance’s SPCXUSDT
Pre-IPO perpetual futures are USDT-margined and designed to trace pricing
alerts throughout the IPO course of earlier than switching to the stay share worth after
itemizing.
#Revolut‘s CFD buying and selling characteristic providing 2x leverage simply confirmed up within the Revolut app for EU primarily based consumer. In June 2024 Revolut entered into partnership with CMC Markets for entry to numerous markets together with CFDs for its clients. pic.twitter.com/ij37GdDWgh
— Max Karpis (@maxkarpis) January 24, 2025
On the identical time, CMC Markets is specializing in the B2B section, with UK Head Chris Cheverall highlighting the dealer’s early push into the neobank area. Cheverall advised Finance Magnates that the CFD dealer recognized rising demand within the sector a number of years in the past, which led to the launch of its prime brokerage enterprise and underpinned its partnership with Revolut.
IG lifts forecast on constructive Q1 outcomes
Amid sturdy financials, IG raised its full-year income steerage and medium-term outlook its first-quarter. The FTSE 100 dealer posted natural whole income of £331.2 million, up 19% year-on-year. It was pushed by progress in OTC derivatives, an expanded crypto providing, and momentum from its lately acquired platform, Freetrade.
Internet buying and selling income reached £306.5 million, marking a 25% enhance in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months and a 17% rise from the earlier quarter. On a reported foundation, which incorporates contributions from Freetrade and Australia-based crypto change Unbiased Reserve, whole income climbed 21% to £339.9 million.
IG Group shares closed at a file 1,742 pence on Tuesday, rising practically 11% in a single session after the dealer raised its full-year income steerage and reported 19% progress in first-quarter natural income. The surge marks one of many inventory’s strongest every day features outdoors the pandemic interval and pushes its year-to-date enhance to over 30%, roughly matching its whole features for all of 2025.
Swissquote 1:10 cut up set for subsequent week
In the meantime, Swissquote confirmed that its 1:10 share cut up
will take impact in public buying and selling on 28 Could. It follows shareholder approval
earlier this month. Underneath the cut up, every current share has been divided into
ten new shares, with the share worth adjusted proportionally.
Motion of Swissquote shares within the final 5 years (Supply: Google Finance)
The cut up shares will commerce on the SIX Swiss Trade, with
the opening worth primarily based on the closing worth recorded on 27 Could 2026. As a
end result, the overall variety of Swissquote shares will enhance from 15,328,170 to
153,281,700, whereas the par worth per share will lower from CHF 0.20 to CHF
0.02.
XTB’s PLN 1B quarter pushed by Europe
Nonetheless with this week’s numbers, XTB’s full first-quarter report confirmed the headline figures launched in late April however provides an in depth regional breakdown. The dealer generated PLN 1.09 billion in working income between January and March, with PLN 780.2 million, or 71%, coming from Central and Jap Europe (CEE). Western Europe contributed PLN 232.8 million.
Different areas remained smaller contributors, with Latin America producing PLN 35.4 million, the Center East PLN 45.7 million, and Asia simply PLN 4,000. Development Concentrated in Europe Almost all year-on-year progress got here from Europe. Income from CEE rose 99% from PLN 391.7 million in the identical interval final 12 months, with Poland alone contributing PLN 568.8 million, or 52% of whole income, up from PLN 314.4 million. Western Europe additionally noticed sturdy progress, with income rising 114% from PLN 108.9 million.
Is MT4 dropping floor to rivals?
The CFD trade continued its sturdy progress into early 2026, with each buying and selling volumes and consumer numbers reaching file ranges. Month-to-month retail buying and selling volumes rose to $33.6 trillion in Q1 2026, up from $29.8 trillion within the earlier quarter and considerably increased than the $18.2 trillion recorded in the identical interval of 2024.
On the identical time, the variety of energetic retail FX/CFD accounts outdoors Japan exceeded 7.4 million, reflecting regular progress in international participation. Platform Panorama Largely Unchanged Regardless of this growth, the aggressive steadiness amongst buying and selling platforms has remained largely unchanged. Dealer information exhibits that solely 16% of retail buying and selling quantity in Q1 2026 was generated on platforms outdoors the MetaQuotes ecosystem.
That is under the latest peak of 27% recorded in Q1 2025. The information means that whereas various platforms are attracting customers, they’re rising at a slower tempo than MetaQuotes platforms, together with MT4 and MT5.
Europe seems to be weak, however is it?
In Paul Golden’s column, Europe is dealing with a variety of ongoing challenges, each at house and overseas. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has entered its fifth 12 months with no clear decision, whereas vitality costs stay affected by disruptions within the Strait of Hormuz. Political uncertainty can also be elevated, with eight of the 27 EU member states set to carry parliamentary elections this 12 months.
As well as, nations such because the UK and Germany are seeing opposition events achieve floor in nationwide polls. Focus Past Quick Dangers Regardless of these pressures, buyers are being urged to look past short-term geopolitical and macroeconomic issues and deal with the broader image. Whereas present developments spotlight instability, they don’t essentially mirror Europe’s longer-term outlook.
Futures prop agency Tradeify launches retail dealer
Within the prop buying and selling area, Tradeify launched a brand new retail brokerage because the US-based proprietary buying and selling agency expands past its core analysis enterprise. The futures prop agency has signed a clearing and know-how settlement with NinjaTrader, which was acquired by Kraken, and can depend on it for all commerce execution and dealing with of shopper funds.
The brokerage will function via Tradeify Brokerage, a registered introducing dealer with the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee and a member of the Nationwide Futures Affiliation. Underneath the settlement, NinjaTrader Clearing LLC will act because the unique futures fee service provider for Slay Markets, the brand new buying and selling platform.
US prop companies transfer inside CFTC perimeter: alternative or survival?
Prop buying and selling stays largely unregulated worldwide, however
a number of US-based companies at the moment are selecting to come back beneath the oversight of the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee (CFTC). FTMO has already moved into the
regulated area via its acquisition by OANDA, whereas latest steps by Topstep
and Tradeify spotlight a shift in priorities amongst proprietary buying and selling companies.
Once I was working in brokerages, I had massive volumes of associates and introducing brokers. Some have been refering 30+ depositing clients every single day. While I admire their enterprise at the moment of my profession, I’ve by no means used an affiliate hyperlink to register a brokerage account and…
— Josh Dentrinos – Founding father of Dealer Fights (@PropJoshD) May 15, 2026
Many prop companies have proven curiosity in acquiring brokerage
licenses, usually from offshore regulators, primarily to safe entry to broadly
used buying and selling platforms similar to MetaTrader. The push towards a US CFTC license
seems to mirror a distinct strategic motive, tied to the attractiveness of
the US retail buying and selling market and its strict regulatory surroundings.
CFTC is a “rogue company” on prediction markets
Within the prediction markets, the battle over U.S. prediction markets is intensifying, with rising deal with federal preemption and the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee’s (CFTC) authority over occasion contracts. Talking earlier than a Senate subcommittee on Wednesday, American Gaming Affiliation CEO Invoice Miller sharply criticized the regulator, calling it a “rogue company” and accusing it of undermining congressional intent by permitting monetary exchanges to supply what he described as “backdoor sports activities betting.”
On the core of the dispute is a key authorized situation: whether or not companies licensed by the CFTC as designated contract markets (DCMs) or derivatives clearing organizations can bypass state-level playing legal guidelines beneath federal preemption. This framework is already influencing enterprise technique. For instance, Sporttrade lately shut down its sportsbook operations to deal with acquiring CFTC change and clearinghouse standing, signaling a shift towards working beneath federal oversight somewhat than state-by-state regulation.
Jon Gentle warns prediction markets might have playing licenses
Prediction markets and binary choices might seem related, however they differ of their underlying references and typical construction, in keeping with Jon Gentle, Senior Director of Product Administration at Devexperts. He additionally highlighted the focus of danger in occasion contracts and famous that, in lots of jurisdictions, such merchandise usually tend to fall beneath playing or betting laws somewhat than conventional monetary market guidelines.
Whereas Kalshi and Polymarket stay the main platforms, mainstream brokers are more and more getting into the area. Plus500 has moved in as an occasion contracts clearing accomplice, and IG Group’s CEO has confirmed inside discussions on the subject, signaling rising engagement from main CFD brokerage companies.
Prediction markets are a significant buyer perception software
Interactive Brokers is positioning prediction markets as a supply of actionable intelligence somewhat than purely speculative merchandise, because it expands entry to a number of platforms and targets extra subtle buyers searching for market alerts.
Chatting with CNBC, founder and chairman Thomas Peterffy dismissed the concept that the agency’s push into the area is pushed by competitors from platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. As an alternative, he stated prediction markets are sometimes misunderstood, noting that purchasers use them to trace financial tendencies throughout areas and sectors, anticipate demand shifts, and inform their funding choices.
EU to evaluate MiCA as 80% of crypto companies vanish
Lastly, the European Fee launched a proper session to evaluate how the Markets in Crypto-Property (MiCA) regulation is functioning. This continues its apply of reviewing main frameworks after implementation. The method invitations suggestions from exchanges, issuers, and trade associations, successfully reopening debate amongst key stakeholders because the regulation takes maintain.
EURC pockets share grew greater than 6x from January 2025 to March 2026.
As adoption expands, euro-denominated stablecoin utilization is reaching a broader set of customers and purposes onchain. pic.twitter.com/VsKTZlNKuU
— Circle (@circle) May 15, 2026
This evaluate comes as MiCA’s grandfathering interval nears its July 1 deadline, with early indicators pointing to a pointy drop in market individuals. Earlier than MiCA, an estimated 1,100 to 1,300 crypto asset service suppliers (CASPs) operated throughout the EU beneath fragmented nationwide guidelines. As of Could, solely round 200 companies have secured authorization beneath the brand new unified regime, highlighting the dimensions of the compliance-driven contraction.


