In a significant move reflecting broader industry trends, AETOS Capital Group, a global contracts for difference (CFD) broker, has officially relinquished its Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) licence, effectively ending its regulated operations in the United Kingdom.
The decision, confirmed via the FCA’s public registry, indicates that AETOS UK has ceased all regulated activities and is in the process of winding down its UK business. The company cited “ceasing to trade” as the reason for the cancellation, a designation typically associated with administration, liquidation, or dissolution
UK Exit Follows Prolonged Inactivity
AETOS’s UK entity had held its FCA licence since 2016 but had shown signs of declining activity in recent years. In the fiscal year 2024, the firm reported a turnover of £479,000, up from £399,000 the previous year. However, only £4,761 of that revenue came from brokerage commissions, with the bulk derived from management service fees
The company’s dwindling brokerage income and lack of new business appear to have prompted the strategic retreat. AETOS also filed a Solvency Statement with Companies House, a move often linked to capital restructuring or voluntary closure.
Focus Shifts to Australia and Offshore Markets
While AETOS is exiting the UK, it continues to operate under regulatory licences in Australia and Mauritius. Its Australian arm, AETOS Capital Group Pty Ltd, is regulated by ASIC, while its offshore operations are managed through AETOS Markets (M) Ltd, based in Mauritius
The group is ultimately controlled by Chinese entrepreneur Yongqiang Lu, and the brand remains active in Asia-Pacific and other emerging markets.
Industry-Wide Trend of FCA Exits
AETOS is not alone in its departure from the UK regulatory landscape. Several other CFD brokers, including ADSS, TrivePro, and ICM.com, have either exited the UK market or are in the process of surrendering their FCA licences. Many cite increased regulatory pressure and limited retail profitability as key factors behind their decisions
What This Means for Clients
With the FCA licence now surrendered, AETOS can no longer offer regulated financial products or services in the UK. Clients are advised to contact the company directly for information regarding account closures or fund withdrawals.
In a bold move signaling its ambitions on the global stage, emerging brokerage firm NeoMarketshas appointed seasoned industry executive Dominique El Khoury as its new Chief Executive Officer. The announcement, made earlier today, marks a significant leadership shift as the company positions itself for aggressive growth across key international markets.
El Khoury, a veteran of the online trading sector, brings over a decade of experience to the role. His résumé includes senior positions at SquaredFinancial, ATFX, Axi, and ADSS, where he led business development and sales initiatives across the Middle East and Africa. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Business Development at SquaredFinancial, overseeing strategic expansion in the Gulf and broader MEA region
Now at the helm of NeoMarkets Group Ltd, El Khoury is expected to steer the firm through its next phase of development. “We’re building something bold and future-focused,” he shared in a statement, hinting at a transformative vision for the company’s future
Who is NeoMarkets?
Founded as an offshore brokerage in Mauritius, NeoMarkets has quickly evolved into a multi-jurisdictional player. The firm recently secured a Category 5 “introducers” license from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), allowing it to operate through its regional arm, NeoMarkets Mena For Financial Consultation & Financial Analysis
NeoMarkets offers trading in CFDs and equities, with additional services such as PAMM accounts. Its client acquisition strategy is focused on Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, particularly India, where demand for online trading platforms continues to surge
While its Mauritius license provides a regulatory base, the company also partners with entities in the UAE and Kazakhstan, though not all of these are currently regulated. This hybrid model reflects a broader trend among fintech startups seeking flexibility in global operations.
A Strategic Appointment
El Khoury’s appointment is widely seen as a strategic coup for NeoMarkets. His deep regional expertise and track record of scaling brokerage operations make him a natural fit for a company with global aspirations. Industry insiders suggest that his leadership could help NeoMarkets navigate the complex regulatory landscapes of emerging markets while enhancing its credibility among institutional and retail clients alike.
As the fintech and trading sectors continue to evolve, all eyes will be on NeoMarkets and its new CEO to see whether this ambitious startup can deliver on its promise of innovation and growth.
CFD trading is a complex, often misunderstood niche of the financial industry. Unlike traditional investing, CFD trading allows individuals to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset, whether it’s stocks, commodities, or currencies. With high leverage and risk, the product attracts a very specific profile: financially curious, tech-savvy, and looking for dynamic opportunities.
To broaden appeal and humanize their brand, brokers have turned to the world’s most passionate pastime: sports.
Emotional Impact: Sponsorships create a visceral connection with fans, building trust through affiliation with beloved clubs.
Brand Recognition: Having a logo on a jersey or stadium banner delivers visibility that digital ads alone can’t match.
Market Expansion: Football clubs have global followings, especially in Asia and Africa, regions where CFD adoption is rising.
The Biggest Moves in Football Sponsorships
2024–2025 saw a flurry of deals between brokers and top-tier football teams:
CFD Broker
Football Club
Type of Sponsorship
Year
iFOREX Europe
Ferencvárosi TC
Back-of-shirt sponsor
2025
EC Markets
Liverpool FC
Global Partner
2025
IUX
Fulham FC
Official CFD Trading Partner
2024
ZERO Markets
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Digital & interactive sponsor
2025
Libertex
FC Bayern Munich
Premium club partnership
2024
eToro
Slavia Prague
Shirt sponsor
2024
Beyond Europe, brokers are also eyeing Latin American and Asian leagues, where fan engagement is intense and digital trading is expanding rapidly.
Not Just Football: F1, Esports, and More
While football dominates, CFD brokers are increasingly venturing into other realms:
FxPro and AvaTrade maintain strong visibility in Formula One, leveraging the sport’s elite image and global reach.
Plus500 made headlines by entering esports sponsorships, a move to connect with younger, tech-native audiences.
Pepperstone and IG Group have flirted with deals in rugby, cricket, and tennis, especially targeting the Australian and UK markets.
What’s in It for the Brokers?
These deals aren’t cheap. Industry insiders estimate that top-flight football sponsorships can cost:
$2–$15 million annually, depending on the club and activation level
Additional costs for player appearances, hospitality packages, and digital marketing
But the return on investment goes beyond numbers. Sponsorships reinforce credibility, especially in regions where CFDs face regulatory scrutiny or low public awareness.
Psychological Trading Meets Emotional Fandom
There’s an oddly poetic overlap between trading and sports:
Both require discipline, strategy, and emotional control
Both offer high stakes and moments of triumph or despair
Both are followed passionately—whether by day traders watching candlesticks or football fans glued to injury-time drama
CFD brokers understand this synergy. By aligning themselves with champions, they position their platforms as winning arenas for financial empowerment.
In the battle for attention and trust, CFD brokers are no longer trading in silence—they’re cheering from the sidelines. As more partnerships emerge and the line between sport and finance continues to blur, don’t be surprised if your favorite striker ends up celebrating with a branded trading app in hand.
Football Sponsorships
IC Markets × La Liga & Bundesliga IC Markets secured sponsorships with 12 football clubs across Spain and Germany, including Real Sociedad, Athletic Club Bilbao, and Bayer Leverkusen. The deal includes LED branding, VIP experiences, and merchandise access.
Axi × Manchester City Axi has been the Official Online Trading Partner of Manchester City since 2020. The partnership spans both the men’s and women’s teams, with regional activations and branded content like the “City Slickers” campaign.
Doo Group × Manchester United In early 2023, Doo Group became the Official Financial Trading Partner of Manchester United, leveraging the club’s massive global fanbase for brand visibility.
ThinkMarkets × Liverpool FC ThinkMarkets joined Liverpool’s sponsorship roster in 2021, focusing on digital engagement and global reach.
Global Kapital Group × Arsenal FC This 2019 partnership helped Global Kapital Group tap into Arsenal’s strong presence in Africa and Asia.
Basketball & Beyond
TMGM × Brooklyn Nets TMGM signed a multi-year deal with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, marking its first major U.S. sports sponsorship. The partnership includes courtside branding and digital content, aimed at younger, mobile-first audiences.
TMGM × Chelsea FC TMGM also extended its partnership with Chelsea FC, maintaining its role as the Official Regional Online Forex and Trading Partner in Asia Pacific.
Formula One & Other Sports
FxPro & AvaTrade × Formula One These brokers maintain active sponsorships in F1, capitalizing on the sport’s high-performance image and global reach.
Plus500 × Chicago Bulls & Atalanta BC Plus500 has diversified its sports portfolio with deals in both NBA basketball and Serie A football, targeting fans in the U.S. and Italy
In a bold move blending finance and football, iFOREX Europe has inked a jersey sponsorship deal with Ferencvárosi TC, Hungary’s most decorated football club and reigning national champions. The Cyprus-based trading platform will feature as the official back-of-shirt sponsor as Ferencváros gears up for its sixth consecutive European campaign this summer.
“It’s a partnership built on shared values—resilience, preparation, and relentless ambition,” said iFOREX Group CEO Itai Sadeh, drawing parallels between elite athletes and successful traders.
The deal was brokered by SPORTFIVE Hungary, whose CEO, András Igaz, emphasized that iFOREX’s involvement will go beyond branding, with plans for fan engagement and joint club activities.
This latest alliance adds to iFOREX’s growing sports portfolio, which already includes sponsorships with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Lech Poznań in Poland.
The announcement comes amid speculation around iFOREX’s delayed IPO plans on the London Stock Exchange, paused due to a compliance inspection in the British Virgin Islands.
Looks like iFOREX is playing the long game—on and off the pitch.
CFD brokers have been scoring big in the sports world lately.
Retail FX and CFDs broker Moneta Markets has announced a strategic partnership with LaLiga powerhouse Atlético de Madrid, becoming the club’s official online trading sponsor across the Asia-Pacific region.
The collaboration marks another chapter in Atlético’s long-standing relationship with the trading sector, following previous deals with Plus500 and Hantec Markets. But for Moneta Markets, this move signals a bold expansion of its brand footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing trading regions.
“We are excited to partner with Atlético de Madrid, one of Europe’s most iconic and competitive clubs,” said David Bily, Founder and CEO of Moneta Markets. “This collaboration reflects more than just a shared commitment to leading—it’s about effort, strategy, and ensuring we deliver the best possible performance for our clients.”
Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from Australian broker Vantage, Moneta Markets has quickly evolved from an offshore brand domiciled in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to a globally recognized trading platform. The company now holds a Financial Service Provider license in South Africa and operates primarily out of Dubai, under the leadership of Bily, Vantage’s former Chief Marketing Officer.
Óscar Mayo, Atlético’s Chief Revenue and Operating Officer, welcomed the partnership, noting that Moneta’s “global mindset, innovative approach and pursuit of excellence reflect the values that define us both on and off the pitch.”
The deal is expected to fuel Moneta’s visibility across APAC, blending the high-octane energy of elite football with the precision and potential of online trading.
In a bold move that bridges Wall Street and the hardwood, Australian-based CFDs broker TMGM has announced a multiyear sponsorship deal with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, marking a significant step in its global brand expansion.
The partnership, set to kick off with the 2025–26 NBA season, will see TMGM’s branding featured courtside and across digital platforms at Barclays Center, the Nets’ home arena. While TMGM is not licensed to operate in the United States, the firm is leveraging the NBA’s international reach—particularly in Asia—to amplify its presence in key growth markets.
The announcement comes ahead of the Nets’ preseason tour in Macau this October, where they’ll face off against the Phoenix Suns in a pair of exhibition games. The timing aligns with TMGM’s strategic push into the Far East, Africa, and Latin America, regions where the broker has been actively expanding its footprint.
Nick Yang, TMGM’s Chief Commercial Officer, described the partnership as “a fusion of performance and precision,” adding that the collaboration aims to promote financial literacy and create dynamic touchpoints between elite sports and global trading.
Catherine Carlson, Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships at BSE Global, echoed the sentiment: “TMGM shares our vision for global engagement and innovation. Together, we’re crafting a sponsorship model that goes beyond branding—it’s about cultural relevance and meaningful connection.”
TMGM, headquartered in Sydney and regulated by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission, offers trading across forex, indices, commodities, and equities. The firm has built a reputation for speed, transparency, and trader-focused tools, and now seeks to align its brand with the discipline and ambition embodied by the Brooklyn Nets.
The deal mirrors similar moves by other brokers, including Plus500’s sponsorship of the Chicago Bulls, as financial firms increasingly tap into the NBA’s global appeal to reach new audiences.
TMGM is positioning itself as a tech-savvy, globally regulated broker with a strong emphasis on execution speed, product diversity, and strategic branding. While it may not yet rival the educational depth of some competitors, its infrastructure and global partnerships make it a compelling choice for traders seeking performance and reach.
EC Markets, a leading global forex and CFD broker, has officially inked a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Premier League powerhouse Liverpool FC, becoming the club’s Official Global Partner. The strategic alliance marks a bold step in EC Markets’ international expansion, aligning the brand with one of football’s most iconic institutions.
Under the terms of the deal, EC Markets will gain extensive visibility across Liverpool’s legendary home ground, Anfield, including pitch-side LED displays and digital advertising boards. With over 504 million global TV viewers tuning into Liverpool matches each season, the partnership offers unparalleled brand exposure.
The broker will also benefit from access to player rights and digital marketing opportunities across Liverpool FC’s massive online footprint—boasting over 135 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Liverpool FC, a club with a rich history and truly global reach,” said Matthew Smith, CEO and Chairman of EC Markets. “This collaboration reflects our shared values of excellence, innovation, and ambition.”
Ben Latty, Chief Commercial Officer at Liverpool FC, echoed the sentiment:
“We want partners who share our passion and commitment to innovation. EC Markets is a perfect fit for the LFC family.”
The sponsorship kicks off with EC Markets’ branding debut during Liverpool’s pre-season double-header against Athletic Club on August 4. The timing positions EC Markets at the forefront of the new football season, amplifying its brand across key international markets.
ATFX has reported a record-breaking $862.2 billion in trading volume for the second quarter of 2025, marking a new milestone in its global growth trajectory and reinforcing its position among the world’s top-performing brokers.
The figures, confirmed by the latest Finance Magnates Intelligence Report, extend ATFX’s streak of 20 consecutive quarters ranked in the global Top 10 by trading volume. The surge reflects the broker’s expanding market share, deep liquidity, and commitment to delivering institutional-grade execution across asset classes.
Cross-Asset Momentum Fuels Growth
ATFX’s Q2 performance was driven by strong activity across key product categories:
Precious Metals: Gold and silver trading rose 23.1% year-over-year and 15.2% quarter-over-quarter, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid persistent market volatility.
Forex: Currency pair trading climbed 10.14% from Q1, underscoring the appeal of ATFX’s multi-asset platform in navigating global FX dynamics.
Equities: Stock trading volumes skyrocketed—up 106.14% year-over-year and 54.22% from Q1—highlighting a shift in trader appetite toward equities and ATFX’s growing role in supporting diversified strategies.
A Consistent Upward Trajectory
The Q2 results build on ATFX’s previous quarterly achievements, including $776.5 billion in Q1 and $643 billion in Q4 2024. This sustained momentum reflects the broker’s agility in adapting to market conditions and its investment in platform performance and client support.
Global Footprint and Regulatory Strength
Operating in 24 locations and holding nine regulatory licenses—including from the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), SCA (UAE), and SFC (Hong Kong)—ATFX continues to expand its global reach while maintaining strict compliance standards.
The company’s leadership attributes its success to a client-first approach, robust technology infrastructure, and a commitment to innovation. “We’re not just growing—we’re evolving with our clients,” said a spokesperson. “This milestone is a reflection of our shared ambition and the trust our traders place in us.”
As ATFX pushes forward with product development and market expansion, its Q2 performance sets a high bar for the industry and signals continued momentum in the quarters ahead.
Taipei, July 22, 2025 — As football mania grips Southeast Asia and Australia, global trading platform Mitrade has announced its official partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), becoming the regional CFD sponsor in a move that blends sport and finance.
Launched under the banner “Rise with Champions,” the campaign reflects Mitrade’s strategic push to connect with retail investors through shared passions. With Argentina’s national team jerseys outselling traditional football giants across APAC, the timing couldn’t be better.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to connecting with communities through shared passions,” said Kevin Lai, Vice President of Mitrade Group. “Football, like financial markets, demands analytical thinking, quick decision-making, and strategic insight—qualities our users value deeply.”
The collaboration comes amid Argentina’s growing regional presence, including a sold-out friendly in Jakarta that drew 60,000 fans and surging support from Australian followers inspired by Lionel Messi’s World Cup triumph.
Mitrade, which boasts over 5 million users and 44 industry awards, offers contracts for difference (CFDs) across forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, and shares—all via a mobile-first platform. The company says the AFA partnership will support its mission to make trading more intuitive and accessible, while also promoting financial literacy in emerging markets.
With football and fintech converging, Mitrade’s latest move signals a new playbook for engaging APAC’s digitally savvy, sport-loving investor base.
Trade Nation, the global retail trading platform, has reported a landmark year in 2024, with revenues soaring to $217 million, marking a significant leap from previous years and cementing its position as a rising force in the online brokerage industry.
The company’s latest financial disclosure reveals that Trade Nation not only achieved record revenue but also concluded the year in profit—a notable turnaround from earlier years of reinvestment and platform expansion. The results reflect a strategic blend of product innovation, geographic diversification, and a renewed focus on customer experience.
Growth Driven by Global Expansion and Product Diversification
Trade Nation attributed its revenue growth to a surge in client acquisition across key markets, including the UK, Australia, and South Africa. The firm’s simplified pricing model and transparent trading conditions have resonated with retail traders seeking clarity in volatile markets.
CEO Stuart Lane commented, “2024 was a transformative year for Trade Nation. We’ve proven that a customer-first approach, backed by robust technology and ethical trading practices, can deliver both growth and profitability.”
The company expanded its product suite during the year, introducing new instruments and refining its proprietary trading platform. These enhancements, coupled with educational initiatives and real-time market insights, helped boost client engagement and retention.
Operational Efficiency and Strategic Investment Pay Off
Trade Nation’s profitability was underpinned by disciplined cost management and strategic investment in automation and compliance infrastructure. The firm also benefited from favorable market conditions, including increased retail trading activity amid global economic uncertainty.
Industry analysts note that Trade Nation’s performance stands out in a sector where many competitors have struggled to balance growth with regulatory pressures and rising operational costs.
Regulatory Footing and Future Outlook
With licenses across multiple jurisdictions, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Australia’s ASIC, Trade Nation continues to strengthen its regulatory footprint. The company has emphasized its commitment to transparency and client protection, positioning itself as a trustworthy alternative to legacy brokers.
Looking ahead, Trade Nation plans to expand into new markets and further invest in AI-driven trading tools and analytics. The firm is also exploring strategic partnerships to enhance its global reach and service offering.
Industry Reaction
The announcement has sparked interest across the fintech and trading communities, with many viewing Trade Nation’s success as a bellwether for the evolving retail brokerage landscape.
“Trade Nation’s results show that the retail trading sector is far from saturated,” said one analyst. “There’s room for platforms that prioritize user experience, ethical practices, and smart growth.”
