The long-awaited final Chinese regulatory approval for the business could be granted around ‌the time of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Washington to meet with his American counterpart Donald Trump, reported Reuters.

The American bank, which offers corporate, institutional, and other banking services in China, in 2021, applied for a wholly-owned mainland Chinese brokerage unit licence as part of its push to ramp up its presence in the world’s second-largest economy.

“Citi, which has been hiring for the business over the last couple of years in preparation for the licence, aims to roughly double the headcount to around 100 people by the end of this year,” stated Reuters, while citing a source.

The ⁠regulatory approval from Beijing, if it happens this month, would see Citi competing with Wall Street rivals including JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley for a share of growing and increasingly profitable onshore securities trading and underwriting deals in the world’s second-largest economy.

Citi’s aggressive attempt to establish a solid presence in China’s brokerage market comes at a time when the Asian giant is witnessing a growing list of technology and other companies tapping domestic equity markets for fundraising and attracting increased fund flows into the stock markets.

Wall Street giants, irrespective of the growing Sino-US geopolitical rivalry, have been expanding in the world’s second-largest economy.

The Xi Jinping administration also sees the growing access of American firms to its financial sector as a mean to attract more capital inflows.

As part of its China expansion, Citigroup will be adding personnel, including senior front-office bankers and support staff. Reports indicate that Citi will achieve this through a mix via a combination of internal transfers and external hires.

For the China brokerage unit, Citi also plans to relocate some of its bankers from Hong Kong and other Asian markets, apart from moving some of its existing mainland staff to the new business.

Citi’s American rivals are already gaining significantly in China. In 2025, profits at the wholly-owned ‌China securities ⁠unit of Goldman Sachs nearly tripled to 1.46 billion yuan (USD 217.39 million), while JPMorgan’s almost quadrupled to 984 million yuan. Morgan Stanley’s profit, on the other hand, soared sevenfold to 138 million yuan.

All three banks benefitted from surging securities trading revenue primarily from institutional clients.

Citi’s new China business unit will reportedly be seeking a regulatory nod to conduct A-share brokerage, underwriting, research, and principal trading businesses in the onshore market.

As per the sources, those offerings would complement the Wall Street giant’s existing offshore-focused team for investment banking in China that supports domestic companies’ financing activities in overseas markets.

The ⁠bank also plans to lean on its onshore corporate and commercial banking client base, which it already serves in areas such as foreign exchange, cash management, and trade finance, to win A-share equity and M&A mandates.

Citi’s new China unit will focus on sectors including technology, healthcare, and consumer and financial institutions, targeting the Asian giant’s established corporate “champions” as well as emerging players including AI and chip companies.

Citi would be entering a hyper-competitive domain, where, in addition to its Wall Street rivals, Chinese brokerages also introduce new offerings rapidly.
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According to blockchain media outlet U. Today, Ripple Prime is currently strengthening its prime brokerage business linking traditional finance and digital-asset markets, with the goal of presenting the 24-hour, blockchain-based financial infrastructure as the brokerage platform’s core competitive edge.

Michael Higgins, CEO of Ripple Prime International, said in a recent interview, “This crypto winter is not a winter for digital assets. Markets are moving toward 24-hour accessibility, and that requires always-on, blockchain-based infrastructure. That is Wall Street 2.0, and Ripple Prime is leading the change.”

Ripple Prime’s growth has accelerated further since the platform acquired prime brokerage firm Hidden Road for USD 1.25 billion in October 2025. As per the Ripple Prime, its multi-asset activities have been positioned to take advantage of the growing institutional demand that is expanding across asset classes, including foreign exchange, digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and bonds, centered on clearing and financing services.

Ripple Prime is also strengthening its liquidity provision. It recently secured a USD 200 million debt facility from Neuberger Specialty Finance that will be used to expand margin financing capabilities and broaden the liquidity provision base for institutional clients.

Ripple Prime’s key strategy is to shift bank-centered payment systems to a blockchain-based structure.

“Traditional prime brokerages can post collateral only during bank business hours, creating inefficiencies that require additional capital on weekends or holidays. Ripple Prime plans to reduce such constraints by building a 24-hour collateral management system using the dollar-pegged stablecoin RLUSD,” the company remarked.

Higgins said large Wall Street banks are expected to enter the digital prime brokerage market in earnest if the regulatory framework becomes clearer.

“Existing financial institutions would not find it easy to build blockchain-based technology quickly. The biggest market maker in US equities and FX markets is no longer a bank,” he said.

Ripple Prime connects digital-asset exchanges, FX liquidity pools, and traditional stock exchanges through a single integrated technology stack and applies the same operating system. This ability has allowed the company to expand services more quickly across different asset classes.

Considering the institutional adoption of digital assets entering an expansion phase, Ripple Prime is looking to reposition itself as a comprehensive infrastructure provider spanning clearing, financing, and collateral management beyond simple trading services.

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The approvals have now authorised Capital.com South Africa to act as both an “Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider” and a “Category 1 Financial Services Provider”. The broker will now be able to offer CFDs across equities, commodities, indices, foreign exchange, and crypto-related products while operating under direct FSCA supervision.

While the global brokers are increasingly targeting Africa as one of the few major retail trading markets, stating that the continent remains significantly underpenetrated compared with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, FSCA’s approval also highlights a broader trend reshaping the broking industry, with regulation emerging as a competitive weapon. As per the reports, firms are increasingly competing not only on spreads, platforms, and products, but also on the breadth and quality of their regulatory footprint.

South Africa is estimated to become a unique spot within the global retail trading industry, as, unlike other emerging markets, the nation combines a sophisticated financial sector with an established regulatory framework, a developed banking system, deep capital markets, and a large base of retail investors already familiar with leveraged products.

While the Johannesburg Stock Exchange has consolidated its place as Africa’s largest exchange by market capitalisation, the country’s asset management industry currently oversees more than USD 1 trillion in assets, according to industry estimates.

“Retail participation in forex and CFD trading has grown steadily over the last decade, making the country one of the most important markets for international brokers operating on the continent. This has led many firms to pursue local authorisation rather than serving clients through offshore entities, reported Finance Feeds.

Valentina Rzheutskaya, Executive Director at Capital.com, said, “Operating under local regulatory supervision is fundamental to how we approach market entry. The FSCA approvals define the framework within which Capital.com is permitted to operate in South Africa, including the standards we must meet around governance, conduct and risk controls.”

Compared to other jurisdictions where Capital.com already operates, the South Africa approval will fit into the company’s larger expansion strategy that increasingly focuses on regulated local operations rather than cross-border servicing. The dual-licence structure is more significant than a standard broker authorisation because each approval serves a different purpose.

“The Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider licence allows Capital.com to execute derivative transactions under South Africa’s regulatory framework. This includes CFDs linked to equities, commodities, indices, foreign exchange markets, and crypto assets. The Category 1 Financial Services Provider licence serves a different role. It allows the company to market and promote its services locally while providing intermediary services related to approved financial products. Together, the licences create a complete operating framework that enables the broker to acquire clients, market products, and execute transactions through a locally regulated entity,” Rzheutskaya mentioned.

“This structure differs from many offshore models where brokers may possess authorisation in one jurisdiction but market products into another without a locally regulated presence,” she added.

While South Africa has introduced oversight of crypto asset service providers, the African major’s regulatory approach has generally been viewed as more accommodating, as opposed to jurisdictions that have imposed outright restrictions on crypto derivatives.

For Capital.com, the South African authorisation is the latest addition to a licensing portfolio that has expanded rapidly over the last several years. The Cyprus-based company now operates through entities regulated by the FCA in the UK, CySEC in Cyprus, ASIC in Australia, the Securities Commission of the Bahamas, the UAE Capital Markets Authority, the Bermuda Monetary Authority, Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority, and now the FSCA.

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“Momentum Peak Trade is offering retail and high-net-worth investors a 7.6% interest rate on available account equity, calculated weekly and applied without minimum trading volume requirements. The product positions the firm against both traditional brokerages and the high-yield savings accounts that have absorbed significant retail deposits in recent years,” reported Business Insider Africa.

The 7.6% rate on available account equity, offered by the broking firm, reportedly sits above current global benchmark deposit rates, apart from reflecting a broader industry trend in which brokerages have begun deploying interest on uninvested cash, with the goal of retaining clients.

This allows traders to keep capital deployable for market opportunities while accumulating yield during inactive periods, addressing the opportunity cost of holding cash between positions, a long-standing friction point bothering retail trading.

“Momentum Peak Trade does not require lockups, minimum trading thresholds, or large deposit minimums to qualify, according to materials published by the company. The company has structured its offering around eight account levels, beginning with an Intro tier at USD 300 and extending through Basic, Plus, Extra, Advanced, Premium, and Exclusive to VIP at USD 250,000. Spreads tighten across the structure, beginning at 1.6 pips at the Plus level and compressing to 0.8 pips at VIP. Maximum leverage is held constant at 1:200 across all tiers,” Business Insider Africa stated.

Momentum Peak Trade’s strategy of yield enhancement involves cashback rewards that scale alongside investment size, ranging from standard rates at lower tiers to a 5x multiplier at the VIP level. Also, premium tier clients will end up gaining access to up to 10 protected trades carrying USD 200 in credit each, apart from invitations to company events, long-term financial planning consultations, and advanced mentoring programmes.

Momentum Peak Trade is reportedly pursuing a wider client capital range than typical retail brokings, with the VIP threshold positioning the broking firm closer to private wealth territory while the intro tier remains accessible to first-time investors. The platform, as of now, provides access to six asset classes through a unified account structure.

The venture’s equity coverage spans blue-chip stocks and growth equities across technology, healthcare, finance, energy, and consumer sectors. The foreign exchange offering, on the other hand, includes major pairs, minor crosses, and emerging-market currencies, addressing both established trading flows and the growing investor interest in the developing markets.

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“Korea ranks fourth among Asia’s equity markets and tenth globally by market capitalisation, with over USD 10 billion in daily volume – liquidity comparable to many European exchanges. The market is home to category-leading semiconductor manufacturers, automotive innovators, and consumer technology companies with global footprints, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor. As one of Asia’s most liquid markets, Korea represents a point of entry for international investors seeking exposure to the region’s technology leadership and industrial innovation,” Interactive Brokers said.

“For investors operating across multiple markets and time zones, Interactive Brokers’ launch expands the ability to build truly global portfolios with the same integrated trading experience Interactive Brokers provides across all asset classes and regions. Eligible clients worldwide can now access Korean equities with same-day account enablement, real-time execution, and transparent institutional-grade pricing. IBKR clients can trade Korean equities and derivatives alongside over 170 global markets spanning stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds and more from a single unified platform,” the company added.

“Korea is one of Asia’s most dynamic equity markets, and access to the KRX enables our clients to more comprehensively manage their Asian exposure. This launch is a natural extension of our mission to continually expand market access, ensuring our clients can seize investment opportunities wherever they exist. This market has long deserved a place in truly diversified portfolios, and Korean equities can now be traded with the same ease and efficiency as other markets on our platform,” said David Friedland, managing director for Asia Pacific at Interactive Brokers.

Access to Korean equities through Interactive Brokers includes over 1,800 listed securities; multi-currency support with FX (Foreign Exchange) conversion commissions as low as 0.20 basis points or 0.0020% of the trade value; integrated portfolio margining across global holdings where applicable; and API access for algorithmic trading strategies.

“Existing Interactive Brokers clients can begin trading Korean equities immediately by enabling KRX market data and trading permissions in Client Portal. New clients can open accounts online, with most approvals completed within one business day,” the business concluded.

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“Singapore’s world-class regulatory environment, high rates of digital adoption, and growing population of retail investors make it the ideal hub for our mission. We see enormous potential to democratize the financial markets for a new generation of investors in Singapore,” said Patrick Chan, Head of Asia for Robinhood.

The IPA now paves the way for Robinhood to offer a comprehensive suite of brokerage services in the city state, including trading of securities, exchange-traded derivatives, custody, product financing, and collective investment funds.

The Southeast Asian country also serves as Robinhood’s Asia-Pacific headquarters, supporting the American neobroker’s broader goal of building the world’s leading financial ecosystem. Robinhood’s presence in the region has been further strengthened by its subsidiary, Bitstamp Asia, which holds a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the MAS.

“By establishing a local footprint, we aim to provide investors in the Singapore with the tools and access they need to participate in the global economy, furthering our mission to democratize finance for all,” Robinhood remarked.

“An in-principle approval (IPA) reflects MAS’ view that a license may be issued to the applicant, Robinhood Singapore, upon the fulfilment of specified conditions and provided there are no material adverse developments affecting the applicant. An IPA does not constitute a license for RHSG to provide brokerage services at this juncture. MAS reserves the right to rescind the IPA in circumstances where it considers appropriate,” the company concluded.

Simultaneously, Robinhood has outlined its principles for opening private markets to retail investors through its organisational fold, with CEO Vlad Tenev pledging to operate with transparency, protect investors through valuation discipline, and respect issuer preferences on retail exposure.

After tripling in 2025, Robinhood’s stock has dropped roughly 39% year-to-date. To counter the slide, the company approved a USD 1.5 billion share buyback program in March 2026.

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OK HOLDING, established in 1999 as OK GROUP, initially focused on customised insurance services for corporate clients and industrial risk management before transforming into a specialist intermediary with a strong emphasis on advisory capability and client advocacy in claims, particularly for industrial and commercial risks.

Talking about Assurex Global’s network, it operates through an exclusive partnership model with roughly 100 independent firms worldwide, consolidating itself as a specialist intermediary with a strong emphasis on advisory capability and client advocacy in claims, particularly for industrial and commercial risks.

“We are thrilled to welcome OK HOLDING to the Assurex Global Partnership. Their dedication to risk management, deep technical expertise, and outstanding client advocacy perfectly align with the rigorous standards we expect from our Partner Firms. We look forward to the unique perspectives and robust regional strength they will bring to our global network,” Hildebrandt said.

Through OK HOLDING’s addition, Assurex Global will have a stronger foothold in the CEE region, where insurance penetration and premium growth continue to outpace many Western European markets.

“The Czech insurance sector has posted resilient gains in recent years, with non-life premiums and life premiums both recording solid growth as economic conditions and risk awareness improve. Forward-looking forecasts suggest Czech life and non-life premiums will expand at a mid-single-digit annual rate through the remainder of the decade, supported by continued development of the corporate and SME sectors and rising personal lines demand. For international broker networks like Assurex, working with established independent firms in markets like the Czech Republic offers a way to access that growth while retaining on-the-ground expertise in regulation, distribution, and client relationships,” reported Insurance Business recently.

OK HOLDING, known as an umbrella brand providing insurance, finance, and investment solutions, has incorporated entities like OK KLIENT and OK PROFIT, broadening the venture’s reach and service portfolio.

“The expansion has been driven by a combination of steady organic growth and partnerships with regional brokerages, giving the firm a wider distribution footprint across the Czech market and into neighbouring territories,” Insurance Business stated.

“Becoming a Partner Firm of Assurex Global is a significant milestone for OK HOLDING. This partnership not only validates our commitment to providing top-tier consultancy and customised solutions but also empowers us to offer our clients even greater value through an expansive global network. We are truly excited about the collaborative opportunities that lie ahead,” said Radoslav Kubis, chairman of the board.

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The offering, named “Schwab Crypto,” will be operated through Charles Schwab Premier Bank. The implementation model will also see the venture taking a different path than its prior crypto exposure model, which routed clients through ETFs, futures, and crypto-adjacent equities.

Charles Schwab rolling out direct Bitcoin and Ethereum crypto trading to its brokerage client base will also test whether direct digital asset ownership can integrate into the digital workflow of a mainstream brokerage platform at scale, and whether it will generate the kind of demand signal that will reshape competitive dynamics across the retail brokerage industry.

“Qualifying clients will access direct BTC and ETH trading through a dedicated account tied to the firm’s affiliated banking subsidiary, a structural boundary that separates crypto holdings from the stocks, bonds, and ETFs clients already hold under SIPC coverage. Crypto assets held through the new product carry neither SIPC nor FDIC protection, a disclosure Schwab is making explicit in its rollout materials,” Coinspeaker reported.

“The initial cohort is narrow by design. The pilot begins with Schwab employees, followed by a small early-access group drawn from a waitlist currently open on Schwab’s crypto page, before broadening through the remainder of the first half of 2026. Geographic restrictions apply at launch: the product is available across all US states except New York and Louisiana. Asset scope is limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum only, with no additional cryptocurrencies announced,” it added.

However, Schwab currently accepts no external crypto deposits and does not support withdrawals to self-custody wallets, staking, recurring purchases, or limit orders, features that separate native crypto platforms from their brokerage-integrated counterparts. The company also hasn’t discussed things like pricing and fee structure either. The pilot product currently resembles a basic buy-and-sell interface.

However, as per the reports, Schwab is not looking to compete with Coinbase on feature depth. It is testing whether the mere availability of direct ownership, inside a familiar brokerage interface, generates measurable demand from the company’s client base.

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“Maestro has been designed as an AI-supported front door for agents, replacing the need to toggle among multiple point solutions and logins. The platform centralises client information, property search activity, marketing campaigns and deal documents to streamline daily workflows and keep agents focused on live transaction activity,” HomeServices of America said.

“The goal of Maestro is to allow our agents in every market to spend more time doing what they do best – leaning into their relationships with their clients, rather than being bogged down with unnecessary complexity in their day-to-day work. It’s designed so that the technology intuitively supports the agent and their business and is another step towards a true end-to-end platform, something only HomeServices is in a position to deliver through our ownership over the brokerage, mortgage, title and insurance experiences,” said Chris Kelly, president and CEO of HomeServices of America.

The company’s innovative product comes amid headwinds like commission compression, higher lead costs and regulatory scrutiny pressuring brokerage profitability. Firms are betting on integrated platforms lifting agent productivity, along with activities like transaction capture (the final step in a two-phase payment process where a merchant collects previously authorised funds from a customer’s account, finalising the sale).

“For HomeServices, Maestro is a bid to standardise operations across markets and keep agents inside a single ecosystem of tools owned or controlled by the company,” the company continued.

Maestro will be rolled out across HomeServices of America’s brokerage footprint, which includes company-owned firms and franchise brands under the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network. The new tool, by bringing search, marketing and transaction machineries under one roof, will be looking to reduce manual data entry, apart from cutting down workarounds, which will only help real estate agents respond faster to their clients.

For housing industry professionals, the launch of Maestro also reflects a broader industry shift away from disconnected tech stacks. The AI tool will unify proprietary operating systems, spanning the full real estate lifecycle (from lead generation through closing and related services). Large brokerages and franchise networks have reportedly been investing heavily in in-house technology amid tight margins and increasing competition from vertically integrated property players and portals.

“Maestro will surface ‘clear and relevant information’ to agents at each step of a deal, from new lead engagement to listing launch and transaction management. By tying together sales, marketing and administrative tasks, the company aims to create a more consistent experience for agents and consumers while driving more volume through its affiliated mortgage, title and insurance businesses,” HomeServices of America concluded.

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They have scrapped the long-standing Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) programme. The previous framework only allowed large institutions to make investments.

That reform significantly lowers the barrier to entry for overseas investors and gives platforms like Sahm a timely opportunity to widen access to Saudi equities. Sahm says its app offers trading across both Saudi and American markets in a single interface, along with real-time data, analytics tools, and educational content, while the company operates under Capital Market Authority licenses covering dealing, custody, advising, arranging, managing investments, and fund operation.

The broader market backdrop is substantial. Saudi Tadawul Group’s total market capitalisation reached approximately USD 2.6 trillion as of January 2026, emphasising the scale of the exchange Sahm is integrating into. The Saudi Exchange also reported a total foreign holding value of SAR 443.78 billion, or about USD 118.34 billion, at the end of February 2026.

Foreign interest had already been building before the rules changed. By the end of Q3 2025, international investors’ ownership in the Saudi capital market had exceeded SAR 590 billion, with roughly SAR 519 billion invested in the Main Market, up from SAR 498 billion at the end of 2024. That trend suggests the market opening is an acceleration of an existing shift rather than a sudden break with the past.

Sahm has also posted rapid user growth. Company-linked announcements said the platform surpassed one million users within its first year and maintained close to 70% year-on-year user growth in its second year. Earlier reporting also described Sahm Capital as a venture linked to Hong Kong’s Valuable Capital Group and eWTP Arabia Capital.

For investors, the opportunity comes with limits. Saudi rules still maintain foreign ownership caps, including a 49% aggregate ceiling and a 10% limit for a single foreign investor in many cases, even as access has widened. In other words, Sahm may help open the digital front door, but Riyadh’s market opening and not the app itself is the real business story.

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