BTC/USD

WTI Reaches $100, Falls as Trump Talks Up Hormuz Reopening; Trump Says Iran Not Ready to Negoitate; Trump Threatens to Delay China Summit Over Hormuz; Stock Markets Higher as Iran Military Capabilities Crumble

There is a medium-term descending price channel which continues to hold the price lower, but the price action is ascending from the low and looks likely to test pivotal resistance.

AUD/NZD broke higher today as Aussie strength accelerated following Governor Michele Bullock’s clarification that the RBA’s split decision was about timing rather than direction. The pair initially dipped after the surprise 5–4 vote, but sentiment quickly reversed as markets reassessed the outcome as a “hawkish hold” rather than a dovish shift. Bullock’s comments helped restore […]

RBA Governor Michele Bullock pushed back against the market’s initial interpretation of a divided board, emphasizing that the 5–4 split in the decision on today’s 25bps hike reflects a debate over “timing” rather than “direction”. She stressed that all members agree inflation remains too high and that further policy tightening will be required, with those […]

RBA delivered a widely expected 25bps hike to 4.10%, but the real surprise lay in the 5–4 split decision, exposing a deeply divided board. The narrow margin suggests that while policymakers are concerned about inflation, there is no strong consensus that further tightening is clearly warranted. At the center of the debate is the energy-driven […]

At its meeting today, the Board decided to increase the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.10 per cent. While inflation has fallen substantially since its peak in 2022, it picked up materially in the second half of 2025. Information since the February meeting suggests that some of the increase in inflation reflects greater capacity pressures. […]

Bitcoin is staging a notable recovery this week, climbing back above the 75,000 handle even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated. The move challenges the typical risk-off playbook, where escalating conflict would normally pressure crypto assets. Instead, improving sentiment as oil stabilizes has helped, but the rebound appears to be driven more […]

Key Highlights Bitcoin started a steady increase above $72,000 and $75,000. A bullish trend line is forming with support at $71,500 on the 4-hour chart of BTC/USD. Ethereum also climbed over 10% and surpassed $2,350. Gold failed to settle above the $5,200 resistance and trimmed gains. Bitcoin Price Technical Analysis Bitcoin price remained supported above […]

Metals have been responding very unusually to the latest and ongoing US-Iran-Israel conflict, initially spiking higher but failing to withstand the pressure that followed. What is bothering Metals, as with virtually all other assets on the Market except for Crude and its beloved Petrodollar, is that supply tensions in Energy are known for their long-lasting […]

AUDUSD: ⬆️ Buy AUDUSD reversed from support zone Likely to rise to resistance level 0.7160 AUDUSD currency pair recently reversed from the support area between the key support level 0.6965 (low of the eagerly wave 2), support trendline from November, lower daily Bollinger Band and the 38.2% Fibonacci correction of the upward impulse from December. […]

USDCAD: ⬇️ Sell USDCAD reversed from resistance zone Likely to fall to support level 1.3625 USDCAD currency pair recently reversed from the resistance zone between the key resistance level 1.3725 (which stopped wave A), upper daily Bollinger Band and the 50% Fibonacci correction of the downward impulse from January. The downward reversal from this resistance […]

S&P 500: ⬆️ Buy S&P 500 reversed from strong support level 6600.00 Likely to rise to resistance level 6800.00 S&P 500 index recently reversed from the support area between the multi-month support level 6600.00 (which has been reversing the index from September), lower daily Bollinger Band and the 50% Fibonacci correction of the upward impulse […]

The Euro bounced from new multi-month low (1.1410) on Monday as traders collect profits from strong fall in past two weeks (the pair was down 3%). Slight optimism over the Middle East crisis contributed to technical signals on oversold daily studies, which paused broader downtrend. Violation of significant supports at 1.1500 zone (former base / […]

Markets Markets are in some kind of wait-and-see stance today after the energy-repositioning of the previous two weeks. Bond yields drop a few bps. The dollar eases off recent top levels and equities avoid a further decline. It is unclear what label/explanation is appropriate. Is it markets hoping that a solution on the passage of […]

Markets are pricing in a 68% probability for a 25-basis-point (bps) rate hike, lifting the cash rate to 4.1%. The board needs to move policy past the current “neutral” rate (where interest rate ≈ inflation) to cool the “very hot” economy and suppress climbing prices. A hawkish statement pointing to further hikes could propel AUD/USD […]

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.1373; (P) 1.1452; (R1) 1.1494; More…. Intraday bias in EUR/USD is turned neutral with current recovery and some consolidations could be seen. But further decline is expected as long as 1.1666 resistance holds. Below 1.1408 will resume the fall from 1.2081 to 38.2% retracement of 1.0176 to 1.2081 at 1.1353. Firm break […]

Daily Pivots: (S1) 1.3171; (P) 1.3271; (R1) 1.3323; More… Intraday bias in GBP/USD is turned neutral with current recovery and some consolidations would be seen. But risk will stay on the downside as long as 1.3482 resistance holds. Below 1.3216 will resume the fall from 1.3867 to 1.3008 structural support. Firm break there will carry […]

Daily Pivots: (S1) 159.23; (P) 159.49; (R1) 160.00; More… Intraday bias in USD/JPY is turned neutral with current retreat. On the upside, above 159.74 will target a retest of 161.94. Firm break there will confirm larger up trend resumption and target 61.8% projection of 139.87 to 159.44 from 152.25 at 164.34. However, considering bearish divergence […]

Headline CPI inflation cooled in February to 1.8% year-on-year (y/y) slightly below consensus expectations. The GST/HST break ended partway through February 2025, which lead to large price increases in that month, but puts downward pressure on the year-on-year price change in February 2026. Energy prices were a source of downward pressure on inflation including gasoline […]

Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.7866; (P) 0.7893; (R1) 0.7939; More…. A temporary top is in place at 0.7921 in USD/CHF and intraday bias is turned neutral first. Some consolidations would be seen but further rally is in favor as long as 0.7746 support holds. Rise from 0.7603 is seen as correcting whole down trend from 0.9200. […]

Oil slipped back below $100 today as signs emerged that the Strait of Hormuz remains navigable, easing fears of a full disruption to global energy supply. Dollar weakened broadly as traders scaled back the most extreme oil shock scenarios tied to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Overall market sentiment also improved with major European indexes […]

IG Group-owned crypto exchange Independent Reserve is going to add payment capabilities and yield products for corporate customers across the Asia Pacific. Announced today (Tuesday), the new products will be part of its “next phase of regional expansion” and are slated to launch in the second half of 2026. New Corporate-Centric Crypto Products Although the new products are subject to regulatory approvals, they will be built on the exchange’s existing regulated infrastructure. “We’re seeing stronger demand from corporates and institutions for infrastructure that is regulated, scalable, and built for long-term participation,” said Lasanka Perera, CEO of Independent Reserve Singapore. “These new products are an extension of how we’ve been evolving our platform as we continue to build on the governance and compliance discipline we’re known for.” IG closed its acquisition of Independent Reserve earlier this year. The London-listed giant, which recently entered the FTSE 100 index, previously revealed its plans to launch “a crypto proposition” for its customers in Singapore, Australia, and the UAE in the second half of 2026 following the deal. Independent Reserve also highlighted that IG, as its parent, would bring global scale, institutional expertise, and platform capabilities to support its next phase of growth. An APAC-Focused Crypto Exchange Headquartered in Australia, the crypto exchange generated A$35.3 million in revenue in FY25, a sharp increase from A$18.8 million in the previous year. It also reported EBITDA of A$9.9 million, with a 28.2 per cent margin. At the time of its sale to IG , it had 129,400 funded accounts, A$1.7 billion in assets under custody, and an average of 116,000 monthly active customers. The initial enterprise value of the deal was set at A$178 million . It was valued at five times its annual revenue for the last financial year. IG initially acquired the crypto exchange for A$109.6 million. A further contingent payment of A$15 million will be made based on the performance of the Australian company in FY26. The UK broker also has a call option to purchase the 30 per cent stake it will not own at closing, with the valuation based on performance in FY27 and FY28. “Singapore is a core market for IG,” added Matt Macklin, Managing Director of APAC and ME at IG Group, “with Independent Reserve playing a central role in our digital assets strategy and serving as a springboard for regional growth.” This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

Kraken Pro has introduced 70 traditional finance futures markets for eligible EU clients, giving them access to equity indices, commodities, and FX contracts alongside more than 290 existing crypto perpetuals. Kraken Pro Expands Futures Access for EU Traders According to Monday's announcement, the expansion lets users trade short or long positions on assets such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, gold, oil, and major currency pairs on the same interface used for digital assets. The contracts follow the CME Group’s extended 23-hour trading schedule, available from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon ET. The launch means Kraken, ranked #14 in daily volumes on CoinMarketCap, is turning into a more full‑service trading venue for European clients by letting them trade major equity indices, commodities and FX futures on the same platform they already use for crypto. You may also like: Maven Joins Wave of Prop Firms Launching Crypto Funded-Trader Platforms The products are offered through Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Limited, Kraken’s Cyprus-based investment firm regulated by CySEC. Traders must complete an eligibility assessment before activating derivatives trading on Kraken Pro. Funded accounts receive free real-time Level 1 data, with optional Level 2 for deeper market insight. Macro traders, this one's for you 🫵TradFi futures are now live on Kraken Pro.Trade S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, gold, oil, FX and more directly on Kraken Pro alongside crypto.Global markets. One terminal.Get started 👇 https://t.co/iDprZ0UHrs pic.twitter.com/264XzyjYpu — Kraken Pro (@krakenpro) March 16, 2026 CySEC-Regulated Offering This launch builds on Kraken’s 2025 rollout of regulated crypto futures in Europe and marks another step toward a unified multi-asset platform. EU traders can now act on global market events across both traditional and digital assets without leaving the exchange’s environment. In recent months, Kraken has laid the groundwork for this move with a series of EU‑focused initiatives. The exchange secured an EU MiFID license via the acquisition of a CySEC ‑regulated Cyprus investment firm, paving the way for regulated crypto derivatives across the bloc. Kraken has also deepened its push to blur the lines between digital and traditional assets, extending 24/7 access to tokenized equities and equity‑linked perpetual futures via its xStocks product and it also entered a collaboration with Deutsche Börse aimed at unified trading, custody and settlement across crypto, stocks and futures. On the futures side, Coinbase is the clearest peer moving in a similar direction to Kraken. The exchange recently launched regulated crypto and equity‑index futures across 26 European countries via its CySEC‑licensed MiFID entity. It offers leveraged contracts and index products to eligible users on the same Coinbase Advanced interface they use for spot trading. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Prop trading firm Maven has rolled out a new crypto-focused proprietary trading brand that runs entirely on simulated trading. Dubbed WenCrypto, the platform operates under the Maven Trading brand and targets traders who want to trade crypto without using real deposits or accessing live markets. WenCrypto is here. 💎A prop firm where crypto gets the spotlight it deserves. Built by the Maven Trading team. Fast, structured, and designed for people who want momentum. https://t.co/Tt41Km8Gpb pic.twitter.com/RQTwYOrpKD — WenCrypto (@WenCryptoTrade) March 16, 2026 Crypto Prop Push In crypto prop trading a firm backs traders to trade with the firm’s capital and infrastructure in return for a share of any profits. Traders focus on strategies in spot and derivatives, while the firm handles risk limits, platforms, and funding. This setup attracts traders who want a professional environment without running their own fund or managing outside clients. In the past year, more firms have entered this space, including teams with a background in major banks. In Hong Kong, former executives from JP Morgan and Dresdner Kleinwort recently launched a dedicated crypto prop venture that targets professional and semi-professional traders. You may also like: TTT Markets Joins Prop Firms Expanding into CFD Brokerage As new players arrive, competition in crypto prop trading increases. Established crypto shops now face rivals backed by people with experience from global banks and hedge funds. That push raises expectations around risk management , compliance awareness, and trading technology, even when firms focus on training, simulations, or non-broker structures instead of direct market access. Prop Firms Diversify into Crypto and Brokerage Several other firms have moved into crypto-focused prop trading. Crypto Fund Trader has positioned itself as a crypto-native prop platform and recently disclosed that it has paid about $18 million to traders, underscoring demand for funded-style crypto programs. Retail prop firms that started in forex and indices are also adding crypto. Besides its crypto prop launch, Maven is one of the prop firms now in the brokerage space. Last year, it secured a brokerage license to restore MetaTrader 5 access for its traders . It launched Maven Trade Ltd in Saint Lucia, allowing it to offer MT5 under its own authorization after MetaQuotes’ earlier crackdown on grey-label setups forced many prop firms, including Maven, to remove the platform. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Polymarket has generated 62.3 billion dollars in notional trading volume over the past three years, giving it a 54.5% share of the 114.4 billion‑dollar prediction markets segment tracked by Token Terminal. Kalshi ranks second with 52 billion dollars in three‑year notional volume, underscoring how the two venues now dominate on‑chain and regulated event trading. According to Token Terminal’s market breakdown, prediction markets as a whole have cleared more than 114 billion dollars in notional flow over the same three‑year period, with Polymarket sitting at the top of the category by cumulative volume. Most of this activity on Polymarket has settled on Polygon, which remains the primary chain for its event contracts over the observed timeframe. Iran-linked event contracts drive record trading volumes as US regulators and lawmakers move to tighten oversight of prediction markets. CFTC Advances Rules on Event Contracts US regulators have started to formalize how they treat these products. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has issued guidance that categorizes event contracts as a financial asset class and launched a rulemaking process to determine how the Commodity Exchange Act applies to prediction markets. CFTC chair Michael Selig has argued that the agency holds exclusive jurisdiction over these venues, though a recent Ohio court ruling questioned whether federal law fully preempts state gambling statutes in some cases. At the same time, lawmakers are targeting war-related contracts. Senator Adam Schiff has introduced the DEATH BETS Act, which would amend the Commodity Exchange Act to bar CFTC -regulated venues from listing markets tied to war, terrorism, assassination and individual deaths. Read more: Can Your Platform Launch Prediction Markets? A CFTC Compliance Checklist Prediction markets tied to the escalating US–Iran conflict have pushed trading activity on Polymarket and Kalshi to record levels, even as Washington moves to restrict some of the most controversial contracts. Weekly notional volume on both platforms recently hit new highs, while aggregate prediction market activity has climbed to tens of billions of dollars in notional terms and millions of users. Schiff Bill Targets War and Assassination Markets The proposal followed reports that several Polymarket traders earned about 1 million dollars by correctly positioning for a US strike on Iran, and that Israeli authorities arrested two people accused of using confidential information about an Israeli strike to trade on the platform. No injuries are reported in Iran's latest ballistic missile attack on Israel, the fourth today.One missile struck an open area just outside Beit Shemesh, first responders say and footage shows.Sirens had sounded across the Jerusalem area, the West Bank, and parts of southern… pic.twitter.com/j6sovAsDwz — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 10, 2026 Meanwhile, an Israeli war correspondent says he has received death threats from online gamblers who tried to pressure him into changing a Times of Israel report on an Iranian missile impact so they could win a high‑stakes bet on prediction platform Polymarket. In an account published on Monday, Times of Israel military reporter described a coordinated campaign of emails, social media messages and WhatsApp calls demanding that he amend his description of a March 10 ballistic missile strike near Beit Shemesh from a direct hit to “interceptor debris.” According to the correspondent, anonymous bettors posing as concerned readers, sources and even a lawyer escalated from polite requests and fabricated email screenshots to explicit threats to “finish” him and his family if he did not correct his reporting, claiming they stood to lose around 900,000 dollars if the market resolved against them. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

The Financial Commission has approved FP Trading as its newest member, the organization announced today (Monday). The Financial Commission recently added RA Prime as a member . Other firms that have joined the organization include FP Markets, OneRoyal, FXON, and GTCFX. Neex, which provides trading in forex, indices, and commodities , has also joined the commission. Separately, the commission certified iTech Software , confirming that its technology meets the organization’s trading infrastructure standards. The company provides solutions for forex, CFD, crypto, and NFT brokerages. Commission Offers €20,000 Protection Per Complaint With its approval, FP Trading and its clients gain access to the commission’s dispute resolution services, including protection of up to €20,000 per complaint through the Compensation Fund. The Financial Commission operates as an independent dispute resolution body for the financial trading industry. It offers mediation when brokers and clients cannot resolve complaints directly. For participants in CFDs, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrency markets, the commission says its third-party process can be faster and simpler than arbitration or local courts. Broker FP Trading Gains Access to Mediation Services FP Trading is an online brokerage providing access to global financial markets, including forex and CFD instruments. The company states it offers trading tools, pricing structures, and order execution systems for both new and experienced market participants, with a focus on technology, transparent conditions, and customer support. By joining the Financial Commission, FP Trading becomes part of a network of brokerages and independent service providers that use the organization’s mediation services as part of their client dispute handling process. Traders Targeted by Fake Commission Representatives Separately, the Commission provided an update on a scam involving individuals falsely claiming to represent the organization . The imposters targeted traders who experienced losses or blocked withdrawals from non-licensed brokers, offering funds recovery and chargeback services for a fee. Some issued letters of guarantee through fictitious companies and falsified contact details resembling legitimate digital wallet providers. The Commission reiterated that it does not offer recovery services, charge fees, send unsolicited messages, or issue guarantees. Traders should consult the official member list, use the Dispute Resolution Form for inquiries, and verify all communications directly with the organization. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

What began as a tool for crowdsourced forecasting is rapidly evolving into a contest of speed, automation, and trading infrastructure. Automation is beginning to reshape prediction markets in much the same way it transformed forex and crypto trading. As volumes surge on platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, bots are exploiting latency and arbitrage opportunities faster than human traders can react. In the global FX market, algorithmic trading already accounts for roughly 70–80% of spot activity, according to estimates from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS, 2022). High-frequency traders, execution algorithms, and quantitative strategies now dominate price discovery and liquidity. Prediction markets may be moving in the same direction. Evidence of this shift is starting to appear in trader data. A simple review of Polymarket’s public leaderboard found that 14 of the 20 most profitable wallets are bots. 14/20 most profitable traders on @Polymarket are bots.The team that builds a proper agentic infrastructure layer for prediction markets will easily be a billion-dollar project. pic.twitter.com/HXYY2aRcaJ — Stacy Muur (@stacy_muur) March 16, 2026 If the pattern continues, prediction markets may follow a trajectory familiar from forex and crypto exchanges: a transition from human speculation toward machine-driven liquidity and price formation. Bots Do Not Need to Predict the Future One widely discussed example illustrates how the edge works. Wallet 0x8dxd reportedly turned roughly $300 into more than $400,000 within a month trading ultra-short crypto prediction contracts. The system did not outperform humans by forecasting outcomes better. It won because it reacted faster. The bot traded 15-minute BTC, ETH and SOL contracts, exploiting latency arbitrage between Polymarket and crypto exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase. When probabilities on Polymarket lagged behind real-time signals from those markets, the system bought the mispricing instantly. Research suggests such strategies can be highly profitable. The paper “Unravelling the Probabilistic Forest” (August 2025) estimates that arbitrage traders extracted roughly $40 million from Polymarket between April 2024 and April 2025 by exploiting structural pricing inefficiencies. The advantage came from execution speed rather than predictive accuracy. The Arbitrage Playbook Most automated trading in prediction markets relies on structural arbitrage rather than superior predictions. Bots exploit simple pricing inconsistencies: buying YES and NO contracts when their combined price drops below $1, capturing price differences between platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi , or identifying logical mismatches between related contracts. Because these strategies depend on speed rather than insight, automated systems can execute them far more effectively than human traders. Why Humans Are Losing the Game For human traders , the disadvantage is structural. Bots operate 24/7, monitor hundreds of markets simultaneously and execute trades without hesitation or emotion. More importantly, they exploit a layer of the market many participants rarely see: data feeds, latency, order routing and cross-venue price differences. In many cases, opportunities exist only for milliseconds — the gap between two systems updating at different speeds. The dynamic is becoming visible across prediction markets. “You have human participants in prediction markets alongside many machines,” said David Minarsch, co-founder of Valory AG in an interview with CoinDesk. “So humans are already in a battle with machines.” Some analyses suggest that only 7–8% of wallets consistently generate profits, a pattern common in speculative markets where most participants lose money over time. However, automation’s dominance is not uniform across all prediction markets. Ultra-short crypto contracts, where outcomes resolve within minutes, are especially vulnerable to latency strategies. Longer-dated markets — such as elections or sports outcomes — still leave more room for human judgment and sentiment analysis. The Rise of Agentic Infrastructure Automation is also creating a new layer of fintech infrastructure around prediction markets. The opportunity is no longer simply building profitable bots. It is building the tools and rails those bots rely on: real-time data aggregation, arbitrage scanners, analytics dashboards, execution engines and automated strategy platforms. Some platforms are already experimenting with autonomous trading agents. “In a nutshell, Polystrat is an autonomous AI agent that trades on Polymarket 24/7 on behalf of its human user,” said Minarsch. Around that core layer, a broader ecosystem is emerging: whale-tracking tools, mispricing detection platforms, arbitrage scanners and institutional-style trading terminals. In effect, prediction markets are developing an algorithmic trading stack similar to the infrastructure that already underpins forex and crypto markets. In financial markets, trading strategies rarely remain profitable forever, but infrastructure often scales much further — supporting thousands of automated participants at once. Who Owns the Bots? Prediction markets were originally designed to aggregate human judgment about future events. But as automation spreads, the crowd increasingly competes with machines. If automated systems already dominate many of the most profitable wallets, the long-term question may no longer be whether humans can outperform prediction markets. The real question is who controls the infrastructure — and the bots — that shape them. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

HTFX is moving to dismantle its regulated European footprint, having applied to cancel its Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) license on January 7, 2026. The move follows the official renouncement of its CySEC license earlier this month. The broker's ownership structure also appears to have significantly changed in recent years. Corporate records indicate that before October 2023, the firm was controlled by Lijun Li, alongside an offshore company, both holding authority from August 2022 until the most recent change in governance. Control now rests with Stephen Williams and Levy Benarroch, who serve as director and CEO, respectively, at the UK entity. The dual exit from two of the world’s most prominent regulatory hubs marks a definitive retreat for the broker. In a further sign of the wind-down, the company’s HFTX.eu domain (it belonged to the Cyprus entity) is parked free on GoDaddy, usually a placeholder for something soon to be on sale. It remains unclear what prompted the withdrawal from both jurisdictions; it had been operating in Cyprus and the UK for 7 and 9 years, respectively. Under the terms of its license cancellations, the broker must now fulfill all remaining legal obligations, including the orderly notification of clients and the completion of wind-down procedures for its regulated activities. Cyprus' Rising Costs of Doing Business HTFX’s departure from Cyprus comes amid a broader regulatory overhaul on the Mediterranean island, joining a growing list of brokers that have relinquished their CySEC licenses over the past year CySEC has recently moved to adjust the cost of doing regulated investment business, proposing a new fee structure in early 2026 that significantly increases application and annual levies for Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs). This article was written by Adonis Adoni at www.financemagnates.com.

Crypto exchange MEXC has launched a prediction market platform with zero trading and settlement fees, entering a sector that until recently was dominated by specialised venues such as Kalshi and Polymarket. The move adds to a growing trend of large exchanges integrating event-based contracts into their trading ecosystems, potentially increasing competition in a market that has expanded rapidly over the past year. The launch comes as activity in prediction markets has increased significantly over the past year. Industry data suggests that leading platforms processed more than $18 billion in trading volume in February, highlighting rising interest in the format. MEXC said the new product will run on its existing exchange infrastructure. According to the company, the platform uses the same low-latency trading systems that support its spot and derivatives markets. “The next frontier of trading isn’t just assets, it’s outcomes,” said MEXC Chief Operating Officer Vugar Usi. “At MEXC, we’re transforming global events into real-time probability signals traders can act on instantly.” Big step for us today!Prediction Markets Beta is now live on MEXC — the first crypto CEX to launch it.We build with a user-centric mindset, always exploring new products that traders actually want.Try it out, share your feedback in the comments, and join the giveaway 🎁… pic.twitter.com/5Ye8zMKbTW — MEXC Product | Jamie (@Jamie_MEXC) March 16, 2026 Competing on Fees and Infrastructure Prediction markets have so far been dominated by a small number of specialized platforms. However, large trading venues are beginning to integrate event contracts into broader trading ecosystems. Coinbase launched regulated prediction markets in January 2026 through a partnership with Kalshi, allowing U.S. users to trade contracts tied to political and economic outcomes. Crypto.com has also introduced a CFTC-regulated prediction product through its North American derivatives unit. Other platforms are preparing similar launches. Kraken has said it plans to add prediction markets to its trading lineup, while Robinhood is developing event-based derivatives through the MIAXdx exchange . Against this backdrop, MEXC’s decision to introduce zero trading fees suggests an attempt to compete on pricing and infrastructure rather than market exclusivity. Implications for the Market The entry of large crypto exchanges could change how prediction markets develop. Platforms with existing trading infrastructure and large user bases may be able to launch event-based products quickly and experiment with different pricing models. For trading platforms and brokers watching the sector, the development highlights how prediction markets are beginning to spread beyond specialized venues into broader multi-asset trading ecosystems. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

As FX trading volumes in Singapore continue to grow, market participants are confident that the connectivity and trading infrastructure are in place to support current and future market requirements. FX Volumes Surge in Singapore The most recent triennial central bank survey of the global FX and OTC derivatives market, conducted by the Bank for International Settlements, found that average daily FX trading volumes in Singapore increased by 60% between April 2022 and April 2025, driven by robust growth in US dollar, Japanese yen, and euro trading. Volumes in FX spot, forwards, and swaps (which together accounted for 90% of Singapore’s turnover) rose by between 42% and 61%. Singapore strengthened its position as the third largest FX centre in the world after the UK and the US , with its share of global FX volumes rising to 11.8% and accounting for almost $1 trillion of FX trading every day. MAS Highlights Liquidity Role The executive director of the financial markets development department at MAS refers to deeper liquidity in the Asian time zone to support economic and hedging needs in the region as a key factor in this increase and highlighted Singapore’s role as an efficient price discovery hub. Join the inaugural Finance Magnates Singapore Summit 2026 , which will bring together brokers, fintechs, banks, EMIs, wealth managers, and hedge funds across APAC. Banks Anchor Regional FX Teams With all of the top five global banks housing their regional FX sales and trading teams in Singapore, the city-state offers a deep and liquid market for the trading and hedging of G10 currencies, as well as Asian emerging market currencies. Electronic Trading Demands Rise As more trading shifts to electronic platforms, the demands on infrastructure naturally increase—especially during volatile periods when activity spikes. That is the view of Jean-Philippe Malé, CEO SGX FX, who is satisfied that infrastructure development has kept pace with the development of the FX market. “The market continues to function smoothly, and that speaks to the depth of investment in infrastructure in Singapore,” he says. “We operate from Singapore to connect global participants to Asian currency risk with our on-premise and cloud-based environments to support trading at scale.” Infrastructure Supports FX Expansion Singapore is a highly advanced economy with world-class digital infrastructure and ubiquitous internet access, and Interactive Brokers sees growth in domestic clients using its institutional-grade FX rates in support of their trading of overseas assets. “From our perspective, data centre capacity and trading bandwidth has not been an issue, and we are confident that the local infrastructure is more than capable of supporting future growth,” says Yujun Lin, CEO of Interactive Brokers Singapore. Chaitanya Peddada, chief operating officer of Spark Systems (a Singapore-based fintech that develops ultra-low latency FX trading platforms and technology solutions), also observes that Singapore’s data centre infrastructure has broadly kept pace with the growth in electronic FX trading, particularly as the market has moved towards more continuous, automated execution. Shift to Localised Processing A key shift has been the move to localised processing and matching, which has reduced reliance on offshore infrastructure and improved latency for institutional participants. “FX trading has become significantly more data-intensive,” he says. “Platforms are processing large volumes of market data, orders, and trade information on a near-continuous basis, placing increasing demands on infrastructure. As a result, the focus is on delivering consistent, sub-millisecond performance, resilience, and the ability to scale without introducing latency.” Singapore Positioned for FX Growth With strong global connectivity, sub-millisecond performance, and scalable infrastructure in place, Peddada reckons Singapore is well-positioned to support its continued expansion as a leading global FX trading hub. From a sell-side perspective, Singapore’s data centres have on the whole kept up with demand, suggests Philip Huang, chief risk officer at Orient Futures Singapore. “The infrastructure is stable and capable of supporting electronic FX trading,” he says. “That said, most liquidity in Asia is still concentrated in Tokyo (TY3), which remains the main price discovery centre. While Singapore (SG1) has strong CNH liquidity, broader G10 and regional FX liquidity is still largely anchored in Tokyo, New York, and London.” MAS Builds E-Trading Infrastructure Over the last few years, MAS has been working with banks and trading platforms to build up Singapore's e-trading infrastructure . The regulator hopes this will improve price discovery and FX trade execution in the region and provide market participants with reduced latency, better pricing, and liquidity. According to Malé, Singapore already has the fundamentals it needs to support its future electronic FX ambitions in the form of deep liquidity, global participation, and strong regulatory oversight. “That is why it consistently ranks among the top FX centres globally,” he says. “What is changing now is how firms trade, as more risk is managed across asset classes. For us, FX is part of our broader multi-asset platform, which allows participants to manage currency exposure alongside equities, rates, and commodities. That integrated set-up strengthens Singapore’s role in a market that is becoming more electronic and interconnected.” Connectivity and Matching Engines Singapore’s rise as a major global FX centre has been closely linked to improvements in connectivity and trading infrastructure, and the city-state now benefits from strong regional and international network links, local matching capabilities, and an increasingly sophisticated institutional ecosystem—all of which support low-latency electronic trading, explains Peddada. “From our perspective, the ability to operate local matching engines across key FX centres—including Singapore, Tokyo, London , and New York—plays an important role in mitigating latency in a global market,” he says. “By matching trades closer to end users, participants can access liquidity more efficiently without relying solely on offshore infrastructure.” South East Asia Colocation Data Center Portfolio Report 2025: Singapore Dominates the Existing Market with a Power Capacity of More Than 780 MW - https://t.co/guyiBA7QmK https://t.co/7YkMcocVyc pic.twitter.com/OrYIF0TofQ — Latest News from Business Wire (@NewsFromBW) January 6, 2026 Future Electronic FX Challenges Given Singapore’s status as a fast-growing and systemically important FX hub, Peddada believes the combination of low-latency infrastructure, deep connectivity, and institutional participation positions the market to play a leading role in the next phase of electronic FX development. Huang also agrees that Singapore has the connectivity and technical infrastructure needed to support further growth in electronic FX trading, although he acknowledges that other challenges remain. “The bigger issue is where pricing is generated,” he concludes. “Many liquidity providers still run their main pricing engines in other regional hubs. For Singapore to strengthen its position as an electronic FX hub, more liquidity providers would need to originate pricing directly from SG1 rather than simply distribute prices from other regional centres.” This article was written by Paul Golden at www.financemagnates.com.

Saxo Bank executive Casper Andreas Solbakken is stepping down after more than 20 years at the company. The departure comes shortly after ownership changes at Saxo Bank . Earlier this month, J. Safra Sarasin Group completed its acquisition of a majority stake in the Danish trading platform and installed Daniel Belfer as chief executive. Saxo Executive Solbakken Steps Down Solbakken announced his departure in a LinkedIn post on Monday. He wrote that “after 20 incredible years at Saxo Bank, the time has come for me to start a new chapter.” He said his time at the company “shaped me profoundly,” adding that it strengthened his leadership and broadened his perspective. He also said the experience reinforced his belief in “disciplined execution , strategic clarity, and strong collaboration across teams and functions.” Solbakken most recently served as Global Head of Commercial Offering & Experience at Saxo Bank. He assumed the role in May 2024 . Before that, he held several senior leadership roles at the company. He served for around 10 months as Global Head of Products, Pricing and Platforms, and for almost two years as Global Head of Products and Services. From Student Assistant to Executive: Exits His earlier roles at Saxo Bank included Head of Equities for over two years. Prior to that, he worked for about 10 months as a Product Specialist for equities. Solbakken joined Saxo Bank as a quantitative trader and remained in the role for more than a decade. Before becoming a trader, he worked for over two years as a student assistant in the equities and derivatives division. Prior to joining Saxo Bank, he worked for just over two years as a student assistant at Nykredit. Ownership Deal Completes After Yearlong Approval As Saxo Bank is now part of a new ownership structure, the combined entity will oversee more than $460 billion in client assets. J. Safra Sarasin manages over $460 billion and has around 5,000 employees across more than 35 locations. Its parent, the J. Safra Group, controls $590 billion in assets and operates in over 230 locations globally. The deal, approved by FINMA and Denmark’s FSA, took about a year to complete. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Finance Magnates announces the opening of nominations for the Finance Magnates Annual Awards 2026, marking the third edition of its annual awards programme, which recognises leading brands across online trading, fintech, payments, and related services. Nominations open today, March 16, 2026, and winners will be revealed live at the Gala Dinner in Limassol, Cyprus, on Friday, November 6, 2026. In an industry where trust can shape every decision, awards mean far more than a trophy. They show the market that a brand has earned attention, respect, and confidence. For nominees and winners, this kind of recognition can help build stronger brand awareness, create new business opportunities, and give clients and partners one more reason to believe in who they choose to work with. Why the Finance Magnates awards matter The Finance Magnates Awards are designed to reflect real market input, not closed-door decisions. The process combines: Community voting (50%) through Finance Magnates channels for B2B categories, and investingLive channels for B2C categories Expert panel scoring (50%) by a panel of industry specialists This approach helps ensure winners are recognised for impact and reputation, supported by both community feedback and expert assessment. Awards 2026 timeline Nominations phase (6-month window) Nominations open: March 16, 2026 Nominations close: September 11, 2026 Voting phase (21-day period) Voting opens: September 28, 2026 Voting closes: October 16, 2026 Gala Dinner and winners announcement Awards ceremony and winners announced: Friday, November 6, 2026 How the Awards work The Awards follow three main stages: 1) Open call for nominations Industry peers and supporters can nominate brands during the nominations period. Brands may veto nominations, but each participating brand must enter at least two categories based on its business type and activities. 2) Voting (50/50) Community vote (50%) B2B categories: Finance Magnates channels B2C categories: investingLive channels Expert panel (50%) Each brand is recognised in the single award category where it achieves its highest final vote total. 3) Gala Dinner winners reveal Winners will be revealed at the Gala Dinner in Cyprus on Friday, 6th of November 2026, where trophies will bepresented on stage. Award groups for 2026 (B2B and B2C) The 2026 Awards are structured into B2B and B2C groups: B2C groups (Brokerage Brands) Global Regional National B2B groups (Fintech Brands) Institutional Trading Services for Brokers Tech for Brokers Winner exposure packages (available on request) Alongside the awards process, Finance Magnates offers optional winner-exposure packages designed to help brands communicate their nominations and results throughout the year. ➡️Discover the Exclusive Exposure Opportunities These options may include, depending on the nominated group : Pre-awards visibility for nominated brands (such as nominee announcements and social content) Gala Dinner attendance and on-site networking opportunities Post-awards winner announcements across Finance Magnates channels Winner PR coverage and editorial formats Visibility placements are linked to the winning category for the following year Brand placement on the FM Awards winners' website for 12 months For selected groups, winner interviews and directory listing support Brands can submit a nomination and request the Awards information pack to receive full details on categories and exposure options. Gala Dinner: Friday, November 6, 2026, Cyprus The Finance Magnates Annual Awards will be celebrated at the Gala Dinner in Cyprus on Friday, November 6, 2026, bringing finalists, partners, and winners together for an in-person celebration and trophy presentation. How to be part of the Finance Magnates Awards 2026 Nominations open on March 16, 2026 and run through September 11, 2026. Companies and industry professionals can nominate brands they believe have delivered strong results across products and services over the past year. Submit a nomination and request the Finance Magnates Awards 2026 information pack to get full details on categories, voting, and winner exposure options. Reflecting on Success: 2025 Award Winners Last year, the Finance Magnates Annual Awards showcased a remarkable array of talent and innovation across the financial industry. We celebrated outstanding contributions from leaders in brokerage, fintech and payments sectors. By reflecting on their success, you can find inspiration for your entries in the upcoming 2025 awards. Relive the Finance Magnates Awards 2025 with our official video highlights. This article was written by Finance Magnates Staff at www.financemagnates.com.