This week, the US SEC and CFTC collectively issued new steerage clarifying how federal legislation applies to cryptocurrencies. The 2 outlined the situations below which the token will transition from a safety to a commodity.
SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins mentioned the brand new information “acknowledges what the earlier administration refused to acknowledge: that the majority crypto belongings aren’t securities per se.”
At this time 🚨: The Fee issued an interpretation clarifying the appliance of federal securities legal guidelines to crypto belongings.
This is a crucial step in the direction of offering higher readability on the fee's remedy of crypto belongings.
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? This framework units clearer boundaries for cryptocurrency participation whereas redefining the method to danger oversight and compliance on this evolving market. Threat is now in on a regular basis enterprise, and the standing of crypto belongings can change relying on how they’re bought available in the market.
Our interpretation of crypto belongings relies on present legislation, based mostly on broad public opinion, and acknowledges what the earlier administration refused to acknowledge…
Most crypto belongings aren’t securities themselves. pic.twitter.com/fbHan0vmmb
— Paul Atkins (@SECPaulSAtkins) March 17, 2026
That is additionally a serious milestone in cryptocurrency regulation, with the introduction of a five-category classification system that replaces earlier regulatory uncertainty. Nonetheless, the framework additionally raises issues about potential gaps in investor safety and the steadiness between innovation and oversight by transferring from a disclosure-focused mannequin to a market behavior-focused mannequin.
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Banks apply insider buying and selling guidelines to prediction markets
Insurance policies are additionally altering within the fast-moving subject of prediction markets. Giant banks are starting to think about how present compliance guidelines apply to prediction markets. This is among the first clear indicators that event-based buying and selling is transferring from the sidelines to formal company coverage.
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JPMorgan Chase & Co. could shortly evaluation its inner insurance policies relating to staff buying and selling these contracts and supply clear steerage to its 320,000 staff on the usage of platforms equivalent to Calci and Polymarket.
Cryptocurrency alternate joins TradeFi
In the meantime, on the earth of cryptocurrencies, diversification is shortly turning into the brand new home rule. Crypto platforms are more and more transferring into buying and selling merchandise that after belonged firmly in conventional finance.
The latest instance is Kraken, which introduced in late February that it might provide perpetual futures on tokenized shares to non-U.S. prospects, giving merchants 24/7 entry to stock-like worth motion with as much as 20x leverage and the power to go lengthy or brief.
These merchandise will initially observe tokenized variations of main inventory indexes, commodities, and well-known publicly traded firms. Perpetual futures don’t have any expiry date and are sometimes cited because the lacking hyperlink in tokenized shares.
IG considers transatlantic crossing
IG Group is contemplating transferring its itemizing from London to New York because it additional expands its footprint in one of many world's largest monetary markets. The brokerage mentioned it was contemplating the place to checklist its shares, its authorized foundation and whether or not to pursue the acquisition as a part of a broader development technique.
Chief Monetary Officer Clifford Abrahams mentioned: bloomberg A U.S. itemizing may assist IG stand out amongst its rivals, appeal to new traders and provides it extra choices for closing offers. He additionally famous that such a transfer may benefit staff by bettering entry to world capital markets and doubtlessly offering extra enticing equity-based incentives.
IG reported report revenues of £1.12bn in 2025, supported by sturdy double-digit development in internet buying and selling income and new buyer additions from free commerce integration. Web buying and selling earnings for the 12 months to 31 December 2025 elevated by 10% to £1,004.6m from £910.6m in 2024.
Swissquote bullish on 2026 earnings
Additional figures can be found from Swissquote, which expects internet income of CHF 760 million and pre-tax revenue of CHF 385 million on the finish of 2026. It additionally raised its 2028 internet income goal from CHF 900 million to CHF 950 million, however lowered its pre-tax revenue margin goal from 55% to 53%.
This steerage follows a robust 2025 through which Swissquote reported internet income of CHF 723.3 million and revenue earlier than tax of CHF 420.2 million, up 9.4% and 21.6% respectively. Revenues final yr had been supported by elevated buying and selling exercise, with internet payment earnings rising by 17.5% to CHF 209.4 million and internet buying and selling earnings rising by 52.6% to CHF 119.5 million.
Colmex Professional terminates CFD and stops new shoppers
Some brokers within the CFD house aren’t doing effectively and Colmex Professional is the newest instance. The Cyprus-regulated firm has stopped accepting new retail prospects for Contracts for Distinction (CFD) because it regularly exits the product line.
Colmex Professional mentioned the transfer is a part of a long-term plan to shift its enterprise in the direction of funding merchandise and market entry providers. The corporate now plans to concentrate on merchandise equivalent to shares, ETFs, and different exchange-traded merchandise.
HTFX withdraws CySEC license and withdraws from UK
HTFX is lowering its regulated operations in Europe after making use of to have its Monetary Conduct Authority (FCA) license revoked on January 7, 2026. The submitting comes on the heels of the dealer formally relinquishing its CySEC license earlier that month, signaling a broader exit from Europe's two main regulated markets. In accordance with firm filings, HTFX's possession has modified considerably since 2023.
Dealer's web site is on sale
Earlier than October of the identical yr, the administration rights belonged to Lijun Li and the offshore firm, and from August 2022, the offshore firm retained the authority. The UK firm is at the moment managed by Stephen Williams and Levy Benarroch, who function Director and CEO respectively. The corporate's twin exits from CySEC and the FCA spotlight a transparent shift away from the area's extremely regulated framework.
Admiral not onboarding CFD customers below Jordan and Kenya licenses
Admirals will stop onboarding prospects below its Jordanian license within the fourth quarter of 2025 and has additionally ceased accepting new prospects by means of its Kenyan entity. As a substitute, new merchants from each international locations are actually registered below the corporate's Seychelles license.
A customer support govt informed Finance Magnate that prospects had been knowledgeable concerning the transition and supplied options tailor-made to regulatory necessities and particular person wants. Nonetheless, a consultant mentioned he couldn’t share extra particulars for compliance causes.
iFOREX inventory slumps
It has been two weeks since there was any motion in iFOREX Monetary Buying and selling Holdings shares on the London Inventory Alternate, however the lack of motion is attracting consideration. The CFD dealer, which lastly listed on the LSE's predominant market on February 25 after an eight-month delay, was buying and selling at round 207p per share, about 6% increased than its providing worth of 195p.
Nonetheless, this small improve 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, representing simply 20.2% of its complete share capital. Not one of the present traders bought their shares, holding nearly all of their shares firmly in place. The general public providing raised £8.75 million, giving the corporate an general valuation of round £43.3 million, however with so few shares in public fingers, the market at the moment feels extra frozen than free.
Will the Comoros license mirage finish?
Regardless of the claims of a number of island-based authorities, the one reputable monetary regulator within the Comoros Federation is the Comoa Central Financial institution. Some teams recommend that small charges and tropical manufacturers should buy regulatory legitimacy, however that couldn't be farther from the reality.
The Union of the Comoros is made up of three islands off the coast of East Africa: Ngajidja (Grand d'Arcoma), Mwari (Moheli), and Nzwani (Anjouan).
Whereas the nation has a novel political and authorized historical past, its monetary laws are extra complicated than marketed. Two native our bodies, Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) and Mwari Worldwide Providers Authority (MISA), declare to situation banking, overseas alternate and insurance coverage licenses. Nonetheless, their authority to take action is extremely questionable.
CFD brokers face harder UK reporting guidelines
Persevering with to be on the forefront of regulation, the FCA has 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 trace. It additionally goals to assist authorities reply extra shortly to main disruptions equivalent to cyberattacks or energy outages, and to provide firms clear steerage on what to report and when.
This variation comes as cyber threats and operational dangers improve throughout the sector. In accordance with the FCA, over 40% of reported cyber incidents in 2025 concerned third-party suppliers. Current outages affecting providers associated to Cloudflare and Amazon Net Providers have highlighted the business's elevated dependence on exterior expertise companions.
Brokers are assured in Singapore's foreign money development
Lastly, overseas alternate (FX) buying and selling exercise continues to extend in Singapore, with market members expressing confidence that the nation's connectivity and buying and selling infrastructure can assist each present and future demand. Trade officers say the methods in place are well-equipped to deal with elevated buying and selling volumes and elevated world participation.
Singapore's common every day overseas alternate buying and selling quantity elevated by 60% from April 2022 to April 2025, in keeping with the Financial institution for Worldwide Settlements' triennial survey of world overseas alternate and OTC derivatives markets. This development was primarily 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 overseas alternate hubs.
On the identical time, the Financial Authority of Singapore is advancing its management in asset tokenization by means of Challenge Guardian, launched in 2022. The initiative has already tokenized cash market funds and bonds and settled them on-chain, reflecting the nation's balanced method to innovation and regulation.
