In what was a holiday shortened week following two weeks of heavy trading volumes (and FX/CFDs industry news) in the wake of US trade tariffs introduced at the beginning of the month which shook the markets, there were still a number of interesting news items and themes to report.
How are crypto industry pioneers Kraken and Ripple beginning to encroach on the world of “traditional” financial trading – and the domain of CFDs brokers?
Who are the new MENA region heads at each of Scope Markets and IC Markets?
How did Plum raise £15 million in fresh capital?
Some of the most read and commented-on FX/CFD industry news stories to appear over the past seven days on FNG included:
Top FX and CFDs industry news stories this week
Kraken goes after neobrokers adding Stocks trading. The worlds of crypto trading and “traditional” instrument trading such as Stocks, FX and CFDs are converging – and quickly. Fresh off its recent entry into Futures trading via the acquisition of NinjaTrader, crypto exchange operator Kraken is now entering Stocks trading. Where will Kraken be adding Stocks trading?
Hidden Road becomes full service prime broker with FINRA license. The lines between crypto trading and crypto brokers, and “traditional” trading, is becoming increasingly blurred. Soon after crypto exchange Kraken acquired regulated futures trading platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, digital asset infrastructure company Ripple bought crypto prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and just days later Hidden Road has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC, has secured approval from the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to operate as a FINRA-member broker-dealer.
StoneX to acquire R.J. O’Brien. StoneX Group said it will acquire futures brokerage and clearing firm R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO) for an equity value of approximately $900 million. The purchase price will be paid in a combination of cash and shares of StoneX common stock. StoneX will also assume up to $143 million of RJO debt.
Plum secures £15 million in venture debt from BBVA. Smart money app Plum has announced that the company has secured an additional £15 million in capital, in the form of debt financing from Spain based financial group BBVA, following a transformational year of delivery. The transaction also marks BBVA’s first venture debt financing deal in the UK.
Hantec Markets volumes hit record $145 billion monthly in Q1 2025. Retail FX and CFDs broker Hantec Markets has announced that the company has delivered its strongest-ever quarter in Q1 2025, with standout growth across trading volume, new applications, and active clients—driven by continued platform enhancements, global partnerships, and strategic investments in talent.
Top FX industry executive moves this week
❑ Exclusive: IC Markets hires eToro alum Jason Hughes to head Middle East.
❑ Scope Markets hires HFM/Tickmill alum Samer Alkhaldi as Regional Head of MENA.
❑ Katina Messinis leaves GCEX for crypto broker Rain.
❑ FP Markets adds Doo Prime exec Christoforos Panagiotou as Africa Regional Manager.
❑ LSEG appoints Gianluca Biagini and Ron Lefferts as Co-Heads of Global Data & Analytics division.
![Government officials pose for a photo before an inter-ministerial meeting on measures to strengthen foreign currency liquidity held at the government complex in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Dec. 18. From left, Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Lee Chan-jin, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon and Bank of Korea Senior Deputy Gov. Ryoo Sang-dai. [YONHAP]](https://charm-retirement.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ac07d7fc-9fd0-4527-8d58-14e318c230d8-1024x665.jpg)
