Exness halts new registrations in India
We begin this week’s recap with a significant development from
Exness. The retail broker stopped accepting new client registrations in India. The change, implemented quietly and without an official
statement, restricts account signups for users accessing the platform from
Indian IP addresses.
Exness’ registration page in India
While Exness has halted new client registrations in India,
it continues to serve existing account holders. The brokerage firm primarily
operates through affiliates and introducing brokers in the region. Some
industry watchers now speculate it could resume onboarding under a different
brand name.
CFD broker ALB to shut European operations
Elsewhere, in our exclusive story, ALB is shutting down its European operations and has initiated the process to surrender its regulatory
license in Malta.
The CFD broker has formally requested license withdrawal
from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and confirmed it will cease
all activities under its Maltese authorization.
The broker has begun notifying clients of its decision to wind down operations, urging them to close their positions within a month. Any remaining open positions will be automatically closed at the end of the second week following that deadline.
CFD brokers are chasing institutional clients
While some CFD brokers face challenges in some markets, the industry is on a new growth path: launching institutional offerings.
Retail brokers like Axi, CFI, and Taurex are expanding into
the institutional space, focusing on liquidity and prime services. Prime-of-prime liquidity is a common entry point.
Industry experts believe that expanding into the institutional space is a natural progression for some retail brokers. As these firms
grow and gain experience, they seek more stable revenue streams. Institutional
clients bring larger capital bases and consistent trading volumes.
Meanwhile, CMOs at online trading firms are exiting their roles at an
accelerating pace. New data from FYI reveals that median tenure has fallen to just 17.5 months, the lowest level in over a decade.
Prediction markets, data rules, and shifting UK retail rules
Meanwhile, forecast contracts have gained traction among savvy traders, drawing interest from both newcomers and established platforms.
As previously reported, Webull partnered with Kalshi in February and recently
expanded into crypto-based prediction markets.
The Wire Act is indeed a major problem for Kalshi.
But CFTC Rule 40.11(a)(1) is even worse. A case killer.
It’s a blanket prohibition against any event contract that involves “gaming” or “activity that is unlawful under any Federal or State Law.”
Not raised (yet) by Nevada. pic.twitter.com/jVyVNX68JJ
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) April 17, 2025
Robinhood followed with the launch of its prediction hub
in March after an earlier misstep. Meanwhile, Interactive Brokers has extended
trading hours for these contracts, and even Charles Schwab has signaled
interest, though it has no immediate plans to enter the space.
eToro enters Singapore
eToro launched its services in Singapore after
securing a Capital Markets Services licence from the Monetary Authority of
Singapore. The move marks a key milestone in the broker’s
Southeast Asian expansion, which had been widely expected.
Users in the region can now access eToro’s platform
locally and trade a range of assets, including stocks from over 20 global
exchanges, exchange-traded funds, and derivatives.
Saxo Bank fined €1M in France
In the regulatory front, France’s financial watchdog imposed a €1 million fine on Saxo Bank A/S for multiple alleged breaches of
conduct rules following its merger with BinckBank NV.
The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) cited
serious shortcomings during a 2020 system migration that impacted over 55,000
clients. Earlier this year, the Dutch
Authority for the Financial Markets also fined Saxo Bank €1.6 million.
How safe are deposits held with trading firms?
The recent security breach at XTB, which allegedly led to a
Polish client losing around 150,000 zlotys ($38,000), has sparked a debate over whether today’s optional security features are adequate for CFD
brokers and retail trading platforms.
Hackers reportedly executed thousands of rapid trades to
deplete the client’s account, raising concerns about the resilience of current
cybersecurity protocols. In the wake of the incident, experts are urging a
complete rethink of how financial firms safeguard client assets in an
increasingly digital landscape.
GENIUS Act signed into law
Good news for crypto! Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act — the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act—into law on Friday after it passed the House of Representatives. This marks a major milestone for crypto regulation in the United
States.
TRUMP: 🇺🇸 “The Golden Age of America is upon us, with today’s signing.”
President Trumps signs the Genius Act signaling the first of Stablecoin legislation. pic.twitter.com/JD2TtV0p9b
— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) July 18, 2025
With stablecoin regulations taking shape, big banks are making increasingly visible moves toward a
blockchain-powered financial system. Citi CEO Jane Fraser recently disclosed
that the bank is “looking at the issuance of a Citi stablecoin.” She also noted
that the firm is exploring tokenized deposits and crypto custody services as
part of its broader digital asset strategy.
From Prompt to Profit?
To something interesting for traders, a Reddit post titled
“Watching ChatGPT make me money while I chill and game” went viral this week, fueling yet another wave of AI hype.
According to the post on r/ChatGPT, the user claims to have
doubled their investment portfolio in just a few days by following trading
ideas generated by OpenAI’s chatbot. None of this is confirmed. There’s no
evidence these trades occurred.
A Reddit user deposited $400 into Robinhood, then let ChatGPT pick option trades. 100% win reate over 10 days.
He uploads spreadsheets and screenshots with detailed fundamentals, options chains, technical indicators, and macro data, then tells each model to filter that… pic.twitter.com/Tvr979ce5S
— Rohan Paul (@rohanpaul_ai) July 13, 2025
Although ChatGPT can summarize market headlines, explain
technical indicators like RSI or MACD, and even help code simple backtests, it
is not a financial advisor.
ForexLive rebrands to investingLive
Lastly, investingLive will launch on July 21, 2025, as the
new identity of the well-known ForexLive platform, expanding its focus beyond
forex to include stocks, commodities, crypto, futures, and decision-support
tools.
As part of its transition to investingLive, the platform is
rolling out new features aimed at helping users make more informed and
confident trading and investing decisions.
Exness halts new registrations in India
We begin this week’s recap with a significant development from
Exness. The retail broker stopped accepting new client registrations in India. The change, implemented quietly and without an official
statement, restricts account signups for users accessing the platform from
Indian IP addresses.
Exness’ registration page in India
While Exness has halted new client registrations in India,
it continues to serve existing account holders. The brokerage firm primarily
operates through affiliates and introducing brokers in the region. Some
industry watchers now speculate it could resume onboarding under a different
brand name.
CFD broker ALB to shut European operations
Elsewhere, in our exclusive story, ALB is shutting down its European operations and has initiated the process to surrender its regulatory
license in Malta.
The CFD broker has formally requested license withdrawal
from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and confirmed it will cease
all activities under its Maltese authorization.
The broker has begun notifying clients of its decision to wind down operations, urging them to close their positions within a month. Any remaining open positions will be automatically closed at the end of the second week following that deadline.
CFD brokers are chasing institutional clients
While some CFD brokers face challenges in some markets, the industry is on a new growth path: launching institutional offerings.
Retail brokers like Axi, CFI, and Taurex are expanding into
the institutional space, focusing on liquidity and prime services. Prime-of-prime liquidity is a common entry point.
Industry experts believe that expanding into the institutional space is a natural progression for some retail brokers. As these firms
grow and gain experience, they seek more stable revenue streams. Institutional
clients bring larger capital bases and consistent trading volumes.
Meanwhile, CMOs at online trading firms are exiting their roles at an
accelerating pace. New data from FYI reveals that median tenure has fallen to just 17.5 months, the lowest level in over a decade.
Prediction markets, data rules, and shifting UK retail rules
Meanwhile, forecast contracts have gained traction among savvy traders, drawing interest from both newcomers and established platforms.
As previously reported, Webull partnered with Kalshi in February and recently
expanded into crypto-based prediction markets.
The Wire Act is indeed a major problem for Kalshi.
But CFTC Rule 40.11(a)(1) is even worse. A case killer.
It’s a blanket prohibition against any event contract that involves “gaming” or “activity that is unlawful under any Federal or State Law.”
Not raised (yet) by Nevada. pic.twitter.com/jVyVNX68JJ
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) April 17, 2025
Robinhood followed with the launch of its prediction hub
in March after an earlier misstep. Meanwhile, Interactive Brokers has extended
trading hours for these contracts, and even Charles Schwab has signaled
interest, though it has no immediate plans to enter the space.
eToro enters Singapore
eToro launched its services in Singapore after
securing a Capital Markets Services licence from the Monetary Authority of
Singapore. The move marks a key milestone in the broker’s
Southeast Asian expansion, which had been widely expected.
Users in the region can now access eToro’s platform
locally and trade a range of assets, including stocks from over 20 global
exchanges, exchange-traded funds, and derivatives.
Saxo Bank fined €1M in France
In the regulatory front, France’s financial watchdog imposed a €1 million fine on Saxo Bank A/S for multiple alleged breaches of
conduct rules following its merger with BinckBank NV.
The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) cited
serious shortcomings during a 2020 system migration that impacted over 55,000
clients. Earlier this year, the Dutch
Authority for the Financial Markets also fined Saxo Bank €1.6 million.
How safe are deposits held with trading firms?
The recent security breach at XTB, which allegedly led to a
Polish client losing around 150,000 zlotys ($38,000), has sparked a debate over whether today’s optional security features are adequate for CFD
brokers and retail trading platforms.
Hackers reportedly executed thousands of rapid trades to
deplete the client’s account, raising concerns about the resilience of current
cybersecurity protocols. In the wake of the incident, experts are urging a
complete rethink of how financial firms safeguard client assets in an
increasingly digital landscape.
GENIUS Act signed into law
Good news for crypto! Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act — the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act—into law on Friday after it passed the House of Representatives. This marks a major milestone for crypto regulation in the United
States.
TRUMP: 🇺🇸 “The Golden Age of America is upon us, with today’s signing.”
President Trumps signs the Genius Act signaling the first of Stablecoin legislation. pic.twitter.com/JD2TtV0p9b
— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) July 18, 2025
With stablecoin regulations taking shape, big banks are making increasingly visible moves toward a
blockchain-powered financial system. Citi CEO Jane Fraser recently disclosed
that the bank is “looking at the issuance of a Citi stablecoin.” She also noted
that the firm is exploring tokenized deposits and crypto custody services as
part of its broader digital asset strategy.
From Prompt to Profit?
To something interesting for traders, a Reddit post titled
“Watching ChatGPT make me money while I chill and game” went viral this week, fueling yet another wave of AI hype.
According to the post on r/ChatGPT, the user claims to have
doubled their investment portfolio in just a few days by following trading
ideas generated by OpenAI’s chatbot. None of this is confirmed. There’s no
evidence these trades occurred.
A Reddit user deposited $400 into Robinhood, then let ChatGPT pick option trades. 100% win reate over 10 days.
He uploads spreadsheets and screenshots with detailed fundamentals, options chains, technical indicators, and macro data, then tells each model to filter that… pic.twitter.com/Tvr979ce5S
— Rohan Paul (@rohanpaul_ai) July 13, 2025
Although ChatGPT can summarize market headlines, explain
technical indicators like RSI or MACD, and even help code simple backtests, it
is not a financial advisor.
ForexLive rebrands to investingLive
Lastly, investingLive will launch on July 21, 2025, as the
new identity of the well-known ForexLive platform, expanding its focus beyond
forex to include stocks, commodities, crypto, futures, and decision-support
tools.
As part of its transition to investingLive, the platform is
rolling out new features aimed at helping users make more informed and
confident trading and investing decisions.
