This week, the U.S SEC and the CFTC collectively issued new steering clarifying how federal legal guidelines apply to crypto. The duo outlined the circumstances below which a token transitions from being a safety to a commodity.
SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins mentioned that the brand new information “acknowledges what the previous administration refused to acknowledge – that almost all crypto property will not be themselves securities.”
TODAY 🚨: The Fee issued an interpretation that clarifies the applying of federal securities legal guidelines to crypto property.
It is a main step to supply better readability relating to the Fee’s therapy of crypto property.
Learn the discharge right here: https://t.co/DDykVLHZQI pic.twitter.com/zbLFS2JH6g
— U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee (@SECGov) March 17, 2026
What does it imply for brokers? The framework units clearer boundaries for participation in crypto whereas redefining their strategy to threat oversight and compliance on this evolving market. The danger is now within the day-to-day operations, the place the standing of a crypto asset can change relying on how it’s marketed.
Our interpretation on crypto property—grounded in present regulation and knowledgeable by intensive public enter—acknowledges what the previous administration refused to acknowledge…
Most crypto property will not be themselves securities.pic.twitter.com/fbHan0vmmb
— Paul Atkins (@SECPaulSAtkins) March 17, 2026
It additionally marks a serious milestone in crypto regulation, introducing a five-category classification system that replaces the earlier regulatory uncertainty. Nevertheless, by shifting from a disclosure-focused mannequin to at least one centered on market conduct, the framework additionally raises issues about potential gaps in investor safety and the steadiness between innovation and oversight.
[#highlighted-links#]
Banks apply insider buying and selling guidelines to prediction markets
Insurance policies are additionally shifting within the quick‑shifting prediction markets house. Huge banks are beginning to take a look at how their present compliance guidelines apply to prediction markets. This is among the first clear indicators that occasion‑primarily based buying and selling is shifting into formal company coverage fairly than sitting on the sidelines.
Be part of the inaugural Finance Magnates Singapore Summit 2026, which is able to carry collectively brokers, fintechs, banks, EMIs, wealth managers, and hedge funds throughout APAC.
JPMorgan Chase is among the many first to assessment its inner guidelines on employees buying and selling these contracts and will difficulty specific steering for its 320,000 workers on utilizing platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
Crypto exchanges push into TradeFi
In the meantime, in crypto land, diversification is shortly turning into the brand new home rule. Crypto platforms are more and more shifting into buying and selling merchandise that used to belong firmly to conventional finance.
The newest instance is Kraken, which in late February mentioned it could supply perpetual futures on tokenized shares to non-US shoppers, giving merchants 24/7 entry to equity-like value actions with as much as 20x leverage and the flexibility to go lengthy or brief.
These merchandise initially monitor tokenized variations of main fairness indices, commodities and well-known public firms. Perpetual futures are sometimes described because the lacking hyperlink in tokenized equities as a result of they haven’t any expiry date.
IG considers crossing the Atlantic
IG Group is contemplating shifting its itemizing from London to New York to deepen its footprint in one of many world’s greatest monetary markets. The dealer mentioned it’s reviewing the place its shares are listed, the place the corporate is legally primarily based, and whether or not it ought to pursue acquisitions as a part of a broader progress technique.
Chief Monetary Officer Clifford Abrahams instructed Bloomberg {that a} U.S. itemizing might assist IG stand out extra amongst its rivals, attract contemporary traders, and provides it extra choices for deal-making. He additionally famous that such a transfer may gain advantage workers by giving them higher entry to international capital markets and doubtlessly extra engaging equity-based incentives.
IG reported file income of £1.12 billion in 2025, supported by sturdy double-digit progress in internet buying and selling income and a lift in new shoppers from its Freetrade integration. Web buying and selling income for the 12 months to 31 December 2025 rose 10% to £1,004.6 million, up from £910.6 million in 2024.
Swissquote bullish on 2026 income
Extra quantity additionally got here from Swissquote, the place the agency expects to finish 2026 with internet income of CHF 760 million and pre-tax revenue of CHF 385 million. It has additionally lifted its 2028 internet income objective from CHF 900 million to CHF 950 million, however trimmed its pre-tax revenue margin goal from 55 p.c to 53 p.c.
This steering follows a powerful 2025, when Swissquote reported internet income of CHF 723.3 million and pre-tax revenue of CHF 420.2 million, up 9.4 p.c and 21.6 p.c, respectively. Final 12 months’s income was helped by increased buying and selling exercise, which pushed internet charge and fee revenue up 17.5 p.c to CHF 209.4 million and internet buying and selling revenue up 52.6 p.c to CHF 119.5 million.
Colmex Professional to exit CFDs, halts new shoppers
It isn’t all effectively with some brokers within the CFD house, and Colmex Professional is the newest instance. The Cyprus-regulated agency has stopped taking over new retail shoppers for contracts for distinction (CFDs), because it steadily pulls out of the product line.
Colmex Professional says this transfer is a part of a longer-term plan to shift its enterprise towards funding merchandise and market entry companies. The dealer now plans to concentrate on choices equivalent to equities, ETFs and different exchange-traded devices.
HTFX to exit UK after dropping CySEC license
HTFX is scaling again its regulated presence in Europe after making use of to cancel its Monetary Conduct Authority (FCA) licence on January 7, 2026. The appliance got here shortly after the dealer formally renounced its CySEC licence earlier within the month, signalling a broader withdrawal from two main European regulatory markets. Company filings present that HTFX’s possession has undergone important modifications since 2023.
The dealer’s web site is on sale
Earlier than October of that 12 months, management rested with Lijun Li and an offshore firm, which held authority from August 2022. The UK entity is now managed by Stephen Williams and Levy Benarroch, serving as director and CEO, respectively. The corporate’s twin exit from CySEC and the FCA underscores a transparent shift away from the area’s tightly regulated frameworks.
Admirals not onboarding CFD customers below Jordan and Kenya Licenses
Admirals stopped onboarding shoppers below its Jordanian license within the fourth quarter of 2025 and has additionally ceased taking over new shoppers by means of its Kenyan entity. As an alternative, new merchants from each nations at the moment are being registered below the corporate’s Seychelles license.
A customer support government instructed Finance Magnates that shoppers had been notified concerning the shift and had been provided options tailor-made to regulatory necessities and particular person wants. Nevertheless, the consultant mentioned the corporate couldn’t share further particulars for compliance causes.
iFOREX shares stagnate
It’s been two weeks since any exercise was seen in iFOREX Monetary Buying and selling Holdings shares on the London Inventory Alternate, and the dearth of motion is drawing consideration. The CFD dealer, which lastly listed on the LSE’s Most important Market on February 25 after an eight-month delay, was buying and selling round 207 pence per share—about 6% increased than its 195p supply value.
Nevertheless, this slight acquire doesn’t reveal a lot about investor sentiment or buying and selling momentum. When iFOREX launched its IPO at 195 pence per share, it issued 4.49 million new shares, equal to simply 20.2% of its whole share capital. Not one of the present traders offered their stakes, retaining many of the inventory tightly held. The providing raised £8.75 million, giving the corporate an general valuation of roughly £43.3 million, however with so few shares in public palms, the market now feels extra frozen than free.
Is the Comoros license mirage ending?
The one legit monetary regulator within the Union of Comoros is the Banque Centrale des Comores, regardless of claims from a couple of island-based authorities. Some entities counsel {that a} small charge and tropical branding can purchase regulatory legitimacy, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality.
The Union of Comoros consists of three islands off the East African coast—Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli) and Ndzwani (Anjouan).
Whereas the nation has a historical past of political and authorized quirks, its monetary regulation is extra difficult than marketed. Two native our bodies, the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) and the Mwali Worldwide Providers Authority (MISA), declare to difficulty banking, foreign exchange, and insurance coverage licenses. Nevertheless, their authority to take action is extremely questionable.
CFD brokers face more durable UK reporting guidelines
Nonetheless within the regulatory entrance, the FCA confirmed new guidelines to enhance how monetary corporations, together with CFD brokers, report operational incidents and points involving third-party suppliers.
The regulator mentioned the up to date framework will make reporting clearer, extra constant, and simpler to observe. It’s also meant to assist authorities reply quicker to critical disruptions equivalent to cyberattacks or energy outages, whereas giving corporations clearer steering on what and when to report.
The modifications observe an increase in cyber threats and operational dangers throughout the sector. In line with the FCA, greater than 40% of cyber incidents reported in 2025 concerned third-party suppliers. Current outages affecting companies linked to Cloudflare and Amazon Net Providers have underscored the trade’s rising dependence on exterior know-how companions.
Brokers assured in Singapore’s FX progress
Lastly, as overseas change (FX) buying and selling exercise continues to rise in Singapore, market individuals categorical confidence that the nation’s connectivity and buying and selling infrastructure can help each present and future demand. Trade stakeholders say the techniques in place are well-equipped to deal with rising transaction volumes and rising international participation.
In line with the Financial institution for Worldwide Settlements’ triennial survey of worldwide FX and OTC derivatives markets, Singapore’s common each day FX buying and selling quantity rose by 60% between April 2022 and April 2025. The expansion was largely pushed by sturdy buying and selling within the US greenback, Japanese yen, and euro, cementing Singapore’s place as one of many world’s main FX hubs.
On the similar time, Singapore’s Financial Authority of Singapore is advancing its management in asset tokenization by means of Venture Guardian, launched in 2022. The initiative has already seen cash market funds and bonds tokenized and settled on-chain, reflecting the nation’s balanced strategy to innovation and regulation.
