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Home » Ecosystem » Circle to launch Arc, a layer 1 blockchain for stablecoin finance Powered by Gloria | Edited by Aug. 12, 2025 Arc is engineered for high-performance, EVM-compatible settlement in regulated financial environments, featuring deterministic sub-second settlement, opt-in privacy, and a permissioned Proof-of-Authority validation system. Photo: Kevin Rodriguez Key Takeaways Circle is launching Arc, a layer 1 blockchain focused on stablecoin payments and capital markets. Arc will use USDC as its native gas token and aims to enable compliant, instant cross-border transactions. Share this article Circle Internet Group, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has announced plans to launch Arc, a new EVM-compatible layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for stablecoin finance and tokenized assets. The announcement came alongside the company’s second-quarter earnings report today. As noted in Arc’s litepaper, the network will use USDC as its native gas asset and deliver sub-second settlement finality, opt-in privacy features, and full integration with Circle’s platform. Introducing Arc, the home for stablecoin finance.@Arc is an open Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built to drive the next chapter of financial innovation powered by stablecoins. Designed to provide an enterprise-grade foundation for payments, FX, and capital markets, Arc delivers… pic.twitter.com/Z8FHUls1xY — Circle (@circle) August 12, 2025 Arc’s key innovations include USDC-based transaction fees, eliminating volatile native tokens from gas pricing. The network guarantees final and irreversible settlement in under one second, and offers confidential transfers that conceal transaction amounts while maintaining visible addresses. “Arc is designed to serve as the hub for stablecoin liquidity and applications. With fast finality and USDC as the gas token, Arc will enable users to instantly access any application across more than dozens of blockchains through Circle’s CCTP and Gateway,” according to the paper. The network aims to facilitate cross-border payments, foreign exchange, capital markets, and real-world asset tokenization within legal compliance frameworks and could serve as a major settlement layer for global finance. Circle plans to launch Arc’s public testnet this fall, with the mainnet beta to follow, featuring the core fee architecture, sub-second finality, the FX engine roadmap, and integration with its broader product suite. Later upgrades will add confidential transfers, MEV mitigation techniques such as encrypted mempools and batch processing, and a permissioned proof-of-stake governance model to expand validator participation. Circle reports $658M in Q2 2025 revenue, USDC circulation up by 90% Circle reported second-quarter revenue of $658 million on Tuesday, with USDC stablecoin circulation exceeding $61 billion, up 90% year-over-year. The company posted a net loss of $482 million for Q2 2025, primarily due to $591 million in IPO-related non-cash charges, including $424 million in stock-based compensation and a $167 million increase in convertible debt value. Adjusted EBITDA grew 52% year-over-year to $126 million. “Circle’s successful IPO in June marked a pivotal moment—not just for our company, but for the broader adoption of stablecoins and the growth of the new internet financial system,” said Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman at Circle. The company completed its $1.2 billion initial public offering in June, generating $583 million in net proceeds before deducting $12.8 million in offering costs. Key operational metrics show USDC’s market share reached 28% of all fiat-backed stablecoins. The company minted over $42 billion in USDC during the quarter, while redemptions totaled $40.8 billion. Circle launched its Payments Network in May with four active payment corridors and has over 100 financial institutions in the pipeline. The company also announced new partnerships with Binance, Corpay, FIS, Fiserv, and OKX Share this article Read More

Ethereum Home » Ethereum » Ethereum ETFs see record $1 billion inflow as ETH hovers around $4,300 Powered by Gloria | Edited by Vivian Nguyen Aug. 12, 2025 Institutional demand and aggressive accumulation are fueling record inflows, signaling growing confidence in Ethereum’s long-term outlook. Key Takeaways Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded over $1 billion in daily net inflows, their highest since last July. Investor interest in Ethereum exposure through ETFs is rising as ETH trades around $4,300. Share this article US-listed spot Ethereum ETFs listed in the US pulled in more than $1 billion in net inflows on Monday, their highest daily total since debut, according to data tracked by Farside Investors. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) and Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH) also posted their largest single-day inflows, drawing about $640 million and $277 million, respectively. Except for Invesco’s fund, all other Ether ETFs posted positive results. BlackRock has maintained its top position, with assets under management exceeding $13 billion as of August 11. Monday’s gains pushed Ethereum funds into a five-day winning streak. Their longest winning streak on record took place between July 3 and July 31. The strong performance came as ETH hovered around $4,300, its highest level since December 2021. The digital asset is now around 12% away from its all-time high of $4,868 set in November 2021 during the bull run market, TradingView data shows. Ethereum’s price surge comes amid aggressive accumulations from publicly traded companies, such as Tom Lee’s BitMine and SharpLink Gaming. Furthermore, on Monday, Fundamental Global, soon to be renamed FG Nexus, which recently filed a $5 billion shelf registration with the SEC to expand its Ethereum accumulation strategy, announced it had acquired 47,331 ETH as part of its ambition to take a 10% stake in the network. Share this article Read More

AI Home » AI » Musk accuses Apple of antitrust violations, threatens legal action by Vivian Nguyen Aug. 12, 2025 Apple and OpenAI have collaborated since June 2024 to bring ChatGPT features to Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Key Takeaways Elon Musk intends to sue Apple for allegedly restricting AI companies in the App Store. Musk claims Apple unfairly favors OpenAI while blocking competitors like xAI from top rankings. Share this article Elon Musk has threatened to file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, claiming the tech giant unfairly restricts AI companies, except OpenAI, from reaching top positions in its App Store. Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025 Unfortunately, what choice do we have? Apple didn’t just put their thumb on the scale, they put their whole body! https://t.co/NM7gaLwvyG — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025 Musk’s AI company xAI is a direct competitor to OpenAI. Last week, OpenAI launched GPT-5, its latest and most advanced AI model, but Musk claimed xAI’s Grok 4 Heavy had already outsmarted it. Apple has worked closely with OpenAI to embed ChatGPT’s functionality across its platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The collaboration enhances Siri’s conversational skills, integrates ChatGPT within Apple’s writing applications, and facilitates image and document comprehension. Following their partnership announcement, Musk publicly threatened to ban Apple devices in his companies if Apple integrated OpenAI technology into its operating systems. He described this as “an unacceptable security violation” and suggested visitors to Tesla, SpaceX, and his other firms might have to surrender their Apple devices. If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at my companies. That is an unacceptable security violation. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024 Apple is expanding this partnership and considering using AI models from OpenAI to power its updated Siri assistant, alongside models from Anthropic, Bloomberg reported in June. Share this article Read More

Ethereum Home » Ethereum » Peter Thiel acquires 7.5% stake in Ethereum treasury ETHZilla Powered by Gloria | Edited by Vivian Nguyen Aug. 12, 2025 It’s the second Ethereum treasury firm tied to Thiel’s investor group. Key Takeaways Peter Thiel has disclosed a 7.5% stake in ETHZilla, which trades under the ticker ATNF. Thiel and his investor group reported beneficial ownership of over 11 million shares of 180 Life Sciences. Share this article Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech investor and co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, is part of an investor group that holds a 7.5% stake in 180 Life Sciences, which is rebranding as ETHZilla, an Ethereum-focused corporate treasury vehicle, according to a new SEC disclosure. Shares of 180 Life Sciences (ATNF) jumped over 11% at Monday’s close and surged roughly 57% in overnight trading, Yahoo Finance data shows. 180 Life Sciences announced its Ethereum treasury plan in late July. On Monday, the biotech firm said it sold $156 million in senior secured convertible notes due 2028 to an institutional investor, following a recent $425 million private placement. Proceeds will primarily fund Ethereum purchases, yield-bearing assets, and the company’s iGaming operations, while monetizing legacy biotech IP. Thiel’s investor group now has stakes in two Ethereum treasury companies. In mid-July, he reported holding over 9% of Tom Lee’s BitMine Immersion, currently the biggest corporate ETH holder with close to $5 billion in its treasury. Share this article Read More

2025-08-12T13:20:20.213+02:00 Tuesday, 12/08/2025 | 11:20 GMT by Arnab Shome It established a local Chilean entity last year. Recently, XTB secured a Chilean licence to offer products locally in the country. A flag of Chile Plus500 (LON: PLUS) is continuing its expansion in the Americas and is now seeking a licence in Chile, FinanceMagnates.com has learned. It has already established a local entity in the South American country. Plus500’s Americas Push The Israeli broker’s possible expansion into the Latin American markets came after establishing itself in the US retail futures trading market. Recently, it obtained a Canadian licence that allows the broker to offer over-the-counter (OTC) instruments locally. David Zruia, CEO of Plus500 In its latest financials, Plus500 mentioned that its “strategic objectives include expanding into new markets” and added, “The Group will also continue to allocate substantial financial and operational resources to this business as it expands its operations beyond the US.” Plus500’s latest financials: Customer Deposits Soar 107% to Record $3.1B in H1 2025 Latin America Attracts CFD Brokers Meanwhile, Plus500 is not the only broker to head towards Chile. Its rival XTB has also obtained licences from the country’s regulator. “Chile stands out as a key player in XTB’s global growth vision, and I eagerly anticipate welcoming many new clients who will be onboarded under our new licence,” XTB’s CEO, Omar Arnaout, earlier said. While the Chilean regulator has created a functioning path to regulate contracts for differences (CFD) brokers, most of the neighbouring countries still do not regulate this industry. However, several other brokers have also established a physical local presence in Chile and other neighbouring countries, but do not hold any local licences. Many are targeting Brazil and Mexico because of their large market size. Read more: Intelligence Report: Betting on Brazil and Mexico. Is It Worth It? Meanwhile, Israel-headquartered Plus500 is also expanding in the Asian markets. It obtained a licence in the United Arab Emirates, specifically from Dubai’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), earlier this year, and also secured a new commodities licence in Japan, which will allow it to expand its OTC offering to the commodities asset class. The Israeli broker also decided to acquire an Indian broker earlier this year for $20 million to tap into the country’s options and futures market. Plus500 (LON: PLUS) is continuing its expansion in the Americas and is now seeking a licence in Chile, FinanceMagnates.com has learned. It has already established a local entity in the South American country. Plus500’s Americas Push The Israeli broker’s possible expansion into the Latin American markets came after establishing itself in the US retail futures trading market. Recently, it obtained a Canadian licence that allows the broker to offer over-the-counter (OTC) instruments locally. David Zruia, CEO of Plus500 In its latest financials, Plus500 mentioned that its “strategic objectives include expanding into new markets” and added, “The Group will also continue to allocate substantial financial and operational resources to this business as it expands its operations beyond the US.” Plus500’s latest financials: Customer Deposits Soar 107% to Record $3.1B in H1 2025 Latin America Attracts CFD Brokers Meanwhile, Plus500 is not the only broker to head towards Chile. Its rival XTB has also obtained licences from the country’s regulator. “Chile stands out as a key player in XTB’s global growth vision, and I eagerly anticipate welcoming many new clients who will be onboarded under our new licence,” XTB’s CEO, Omar Arnaout, earlier said. While the Chilean regulator has created a functioning path to regulate contracts for differences (CFD) brokers, most of the neighbouring countries still do not regulate this industry. However, several other brokers have also established a physical local presence in Chile and other neighbouring countries, but do not hold any local licences. Many are targeting Brazil and Mexico because of their large market size. Read more: Intelligence Report: Betting on Brazil and Mexico. Is It Worth It? Meanwhile, Israel-headquartered Plus500 is also expanding in the Asian markets. It obtained a licence in the United Arab Emirates, specifically from Dubai’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), earlier this year, and also secured a new commodities licence in Japan, which will allow it to expand its OTC offering to the commodities asset class. The Israeli broker also decided to acquire an Indian broker earlier this year for $20 million to tap into the country’s options and futures market. 7068 Articles 123 Followers Arnab is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He entered the industry covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates and later expanded his reach to forex as well. He is passionate about the changing regulatory landscape on financial markets and keenly follows the disruptions in the industry with new-age technologies. 7068 Articles 123 Followers Finance Magnates Daily Update Get all the top financial news delivered straight to your inbox. Stay informed, stay ahead. Keep Reading More from the Author India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts India Continues Crackdown on CFD Brokers: Raids Zara FX and Freezes Bank Accounts Monday, 11/08/2025 | 09:16 GMT Apex Financial Buys Over 3% Stake in CFDs Broker CMC Markets Apex Financial Buys Over 3% Stake in CFDs Broker CMC Markets Apex Financial Buys Over 3% Stake in CFDs Broker CMC Markets Apex Financial Buys Over 3% Stake in CFDs Broker CMC Markets Apex Financial Buys Over 3% Stake in CFDs Broker CMC Markets Apex Financial

2025-08-12T13:10:14.590+02:00 Tuesday, 12/08/2025 | 11:10 GMT by Damian Chmiel The trading platform sees a surge in user assets to $17.5 billion in Q2 2025, the quarter in which it became a company listed on Wall Street. The fintech added 460,000 funded accounts; however, the net income stagnated at around $30 million. Compared to last quarter, it fell by 50%. Yoni Assia speaking at Fintech Junction Online trading platform eToro (NASDAQ: ETOR) delivered mixed results in its first earnings report as a public company, with net contribution climbing 26% in Q2 2025 while net income stayed essentially flat compared to the same period last year. eToro Posts 26% Jump in Net Contribution Despite Flat Earnings The company posted net contribution of $210 million for the second quarter, up from $167 million a year earlier, driven primarily by increased trading activity across its platform. However, net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) held steady at $30.2 million, compared to $30.6 million in the second quarter of 2024. The earnings included $15 million in costs related to eToro’s initial public offering and other one-time expenses. When excluding these items, adjusted net income rose to $54.2 million from $44.2 million in the prior year period. Metric Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Change Net Contribution $210M $167M +26% Net Income (GAAP) $30.2M $30.6M -1% Adjusted EBITDA $72M $55M +31% Funded Accounts 3.63M 3.17M +14% However, compared with Q1 2025, net contribution fell by about 3%, while net income dropped by nearly 50%, shrinking from $60 million in the first three months of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA, meanwhile, declined by 10% from $80 million. User Base and Assets Show Growth Funded accounts grew 14% to 3.63 million users, up from 3.17 million last year. The increase came from both new customer acquisition efforts and the company’s 2024 purchase of Australian investing app Spaceship. More notably, assets under administration surged 54% to $17.5 billion, nearly doubling from $11.3 billion in the second quarter of 2024. This metric tracks the total value of assets held by users on the platform, including cryptocurrencies, stocks, and cash balances. The company ended June with $1.2 billion in cash and short-term investments. CEO Highlights Product Expansion Chief Executive Yoni Assia emphasized the company’s product development during the quarter. “In the second quarter, we offered 24/5 trading for U.S. equities, introduced new long-term portfolios in partnership with Franklin Templeton, and launched savings products in France, all while strengthening our footprint in Asia through our new Singapore hub,” Assia said. The company rolled out several new features, including 24/5 trading for 100 U.S. stocks, allowing users to trade outside normal market hours. eToro also expanded its U.S. cryptocurrency offerings to over 100 digital assets and introduced AI-powered investment strategies called Alpha Portfolios. Cryptocurrencies account for the overwhelming majority of the company’s revenue, while trading in other instruments currently represents only a small share. Revenue Source Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Change Crypto Revenue $1,915M $1,640M +17% Equities/Commodities $114M $83M +37% Net Interest Income $44M $50M -12% Currency Conversion $23M $18M +27% Total Revenue $2,094M $1,849M +13% Geographic and Product Diversification eToro continued expanding beyond its core trading business. The company launched French savings products including retirement and life insurance options. In Europe, it rolled out the eToro Money debit card offering 4% stock rewards on purchases. The platform also activated its license from Singapore’s financial regulator, establishing the city-state as its Asian headquarters. CFO Meron Shani noted the company’s “focus on profitable revenue growth” in its first quarter as a publicly traded entity. Looking ahead, Assia highlighted plans for tokenization technology and AI tools that he believes “will transform how retail investors interact with the markets and create new opportunities for growth.” Online trading platform eToro (NASDAQ: ETOR) delivered mixed results in its first earnings report as a public company, with net contribution climbing 26% in Q2 2025 while net income stayed essentially flat compared to the same period last year. eToro Posts 26% Jump in Net Contribution Despite Flat Earnings The company posted net contribution of $210 million for the second quarter, up from $167 million a year earlier, driven primarily by increased trading activity across its platform. However, net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) held steady at $30.2 million, compared to $30.6 million in the second quarter of 2024. The earnings included $15 million in costs related to eToro’s initial public offering and other one-time expenses. When excluding these items, adjusted net income rose to $54.2 million from $44.2 million in the prior year period. Metric Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Change Net Contribution $210M $167M +26% Net Income (GAAP) $30.2M $30.6M -1% Adjusted EBITDA $72M $55M +31% Funded Accounts 3.63M 3.17M +14% However, compared with Q1 2025, net contribution fell by about 3%, while net income dropped by nearly 50%, shrinking from $60 million in the first three months of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA, meanwhile, declined by 10% from $80 million. User Base and Assets Show Growth Funded accounts grew 14% to 3.63 million users, up from 3.17 million last year. The increase came from both new customer acquisition efforts and the company’s 2024 purchase of Australian investing app Spaceship. More notably, assets under administration surged 54% to $17.5 billion, nearly doubling from $11.3 billion in the second quarter of 2024. This metric tracks the total value of assets held by users on the platform, including cryptocurrencies, stocks, and cash balances. The company ended June with $1.2 billion in cash and short-term investments. CEO Highlights Product Expansion Chief Executive Yoni Assia emphasized the company’s product development during the quarter. “In the second quarter, we offered 24/5 trading for U.S. equities, introduced new long-term portfolios in partnership with Franklin Templeton, and launched savings products in France, all while strengthening our footprint in Asia through our new Singapore hub,” Assia said. The company rolled out several new features, including 24/5 trading for 100 U.S. stocks, allowing users to trade outside normal market hours. eToro also expanded its U.S. cryptocurrency offerings to over 100 digital

2025-08-12T11:37:20.490+02:00 Tuesday, 12/08/2025 | 09:37 GMT by KCM KCM Trade, MTCC & Westpac unite in Melbourne to explore global wealth trends. On 31 July 2025, KCM Trade, a global leader in fintech brokerage, joined forces with the Melbourne Chinese Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) to host a business networking soirée in Melbourne, Australia. Held under the theme “Professional Navigation, Embarking on Future Wealth”, the event brought together business leaders, professional traders and asset management experts to share insights in the evolving financial landscape. Among the distinguished guests were Jason Lau, Managing Director of KCM Trade Australia, and Peter Chuang, representing the Westpac Group, who engaged in discussions on the latest developments and emerging trends in global wealth management. The event served as a bridge between the Australian business community and global financial professionals, providing entrepreneurs and industry specialists with a high-quality platform for interaction, collaboration and innovation, aimed at driving the growth of the regional wealth management ecosystem. From Insight to Practice: Building a Sustainable Trading Framework During his keynote, Jason Lau highlighted how policy uncertainty can amplify the transmission effects of exchange rates and employment data. Based on an in-depth analysis of the current global economic climate, he introduced a strategic alert framework for emerging market currencies: tariffs as a driving force, non-farm payrolls as a catalyst, and a complete causal chain leading to fluctuations in the Taiwanese dollar. Jason emphasised that the core competitive edge in trading stems from a systematic cognitive framework and rigorous execution discipline. He reiterated KCM Trade’s commitment to sharing professional resources to help traders bridge the gap between theory and practice, enhance their trading proficiency and improve adaptability to market changes. Discussing Industry Innovation with Senior Executives from Westpac Against the backdrop of heightened global market volatility, individual traders continue to face challenges such as fragmented strategies and insufficient risk awareness. Peter Chuang, Group Manager for Mobile Home Financing at Westpac — one of Australia’s oldest and most reputable ‘Big Four’ banks — delivered an insightful presentation on housing loans and interest rates, providing forward-looking market perspectives. Key topics of his address included: The impact of trade war tariffs on the structural depreciation of foreign currencies How non-farm payroll data, Federal Reserve policies and a strong US dollar amplify currency fluctuations An analysis of the “pressure valve” mechanism in emerging market capital flows His insights gave attendees a deeper understanding of the current macroeconomic environment and industry dynamics, reinforcing the scientific foundation for risk management and strategic decision-making. Building Community Bridges, Shaping the Future of Wealth KCM Trade continues to strengthen its presence in the Australian market, actively integrating into the local business ecosystem. By collaborating with the Melbourne Chinese Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) for this event, the company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the local community, deepening cooperation with businesses across regions, and contributing to community development. Through the creation of a premium networking platform, KCM Trade aims to bring greater value to the Australian financial landscape. On 31 July 2025, KCM Trade, a global leader in fintech brokerage, joined forces with the Melbourne Chinese Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) to host a business networking soirée in Melbourne, Australia. Held under the theme “Professional Navigation, Embarking on Future Wealth”, the event brought together business leaders, professional traders and asset management experts to share insights in the evolving financial landscape. Among the distinguished guests were Jason Lau, Managing Director of KCM Trade Australia, and Peter Chuang, representing the Westpac Group, who engaged in discussions on the latest developments and emerging trends in global wealth management. The event served as a bridge between the Australian business community and global financial professionals, providing entrepreneurs and industry specialists with a high-quality platform for interaction, collaboration and innovation, aimed at driving the growth of the regional wealth management ecosystem. From Insight to Practice: Building a Sustainable Trading Framework During his keynote, Jason Lau highlighted how policy uncertainty can amplify the transmission effects of exchange rates and employment data. Based on an in-depth analysis of the current global economic climate, he introduced a strategic alert framework for emerging market currencies: tariffs as a driving force, non-farm payrolls as a catalyst, and a complete causal chain leading to fluctuations in the Taiwanese dollar. Jason emphasised that the core competitive edge in trading stems from a systematic cognitive framework and rigorous execution discipline. He reiterated KCM Trade’s commitment to sharing professional resources to help traders bridge the gap between theory and practice, enhance their trading proficiency and improve adaptability to market changes. Discussing Industry Innovation with Senior Executives from Westpac Against the backdrop of heightened global market volatility, individual traders continue to face challenges such as fragmented strategies and insufficient risk awareness. Peter Chuang, Group Manager for Mobile Home Financing at Westpac — one of Australia’s oldest and most reputable ‘Big Four’ banks — delivered an insightful presentation on housing loans and interest rates, providing forward-looking market perspectives. Key topics of his address included: The impact of trade war tariffs on the structural depreciation of foreign currencies How non-farm payroll data, Federal Reserve policies and a strong US dollar amplify currency fluctuations An analysis of the “pressure valve” mechanism in emerging market capital flows His insights gave attendees a deeper understanding of the current macroeconomic environment and industry dynamics, reinforcing the scientific foundation for risk management and strategic decision-making. Building Community Bridges, Shaping the Future of Wealth KCM Trade continues to strengthen its presence in the Australian market, actively integrating into the local business ecosystem. By collaborating with the Melbourne Chinese Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) for this event, the company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the local community, deepening cooperation with businesses across regions, and contributing to community development. Through the creation of a premium networking platform, KCM Trade aims to bring greater value to the Australian financial landscape. Finance Magnates Daily Update Get all the top financial news delivered straight to your inbox. Stay informed, stay ahead. Keep Reading Thought Leadership TipRanks Becomes One of the First Major Financial Companies

2025-08-12T11:24:05.903+02:00 Tuesday, 12/08/2025 | 09:24 GMT by Damian Chmiel US FX trading companies face significant monthly declines in June 2025 as prolonged dollar weakness takes its toll on retail trading sentiment. OANDA led the decline with a 9% monthly drop while Interactive Brokers showed resilience, highlighting the mixed impact of the sustained USD fall. US forex deposits tumbled across major platforms in June 2025, with the industry posting a combined 5.8% monthly decline to $479.5 million as the dollar index continued testing multi-year lows. The persistent weakness in the American currency drove widespread outflows from retail forex accounts. The value from the most recently reported period is the lowest since we began covering these data in September 2023. US Forex Deposits Drop 5.8% as Dollar Weakness Persists GAIN Capital maintained its position as the industry leader despite posting a significant 5.6% monthly drop to almost $204 million in June from $215 million the previous month. The drop represented the platform’s largest monthly decline in recent quarters as retail traders pulled back from forex markets. Charles Schwab saw a modest 0.96% increase to $62.1 million, bucking the broader industry trend. The institutional platform’s resilience suggests that larger retail clients may have adopted different strategies during the prolonged dollar weakness. Interactive Brokers posted a 1.7% decline to $34.7 million from May’s $35.3 million, while tastyfx dropped significantly by 7.0% to $38.7 million. The varied performance across platforms highlighted how different client bases responded to extended currency volatility. Dollar Weakness Creates Trading Challenges The June figures coincided with the DXY index testing its lowest levels in more than three years, extending a six-month decline from previous two-year highs. Unlike short-term volatility spikes that typically boost trading activity, the sustained directional move created a more complex environment for retail forex participation. Trading.com managed a modest 4.1% decline to $2.3 million, showing relative resilience among smaller platforms. The boutique broker’s performance demonstrated how specialized forex providers navigated the challenging market conditions. Year-Over-Year Trends Show Mixed Results Despite the monthly declines, some platforms maintained positive year-over-year growth. Interactive Brokers showed strong annual performance with a 20.2% increase compared to June 2024, while Trading.com posted solid 5.2% yearly growth. However, OANDA’s struggles extended to annual comparisons, with deposits down 39.9% from June 2024 levels. The steep yearly decline highlighted the platform’s challenges in retaining client funds during volatile currency markets. The total industry deposits of $479.5 million represented a 16.3% decline compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting broader challenges facing US retail forex platforms amid sustained dollar weakness and changing trading patterns. Regulatory oversight remains robust, with all examined brokers continuing to meet CFTC capital requirements despite the challenging market environment. The monthly reporting framework provides crucial transparency into how retail forex platforms perform during various market cycles. fx deposits Understanding CFTC Reporting Requirements The monthly deposit figures come from mandatory regulatory filings that provide crucial transparency into the retail forex industry. These reports are required by federal law and serve multiple important purposes for market oversight and consumer protection. Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) and Retail Foreign Exchange Dealers (RFEDs) must submit detailed monthly reports to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These companies handle customer funds for forex trading and derivatives transactions, making them subject to strict regulatory oversight. The reporting system also helps identify industry trends and potential risks before they become systemic problems. Regulators can spot unusual deposit flows, capital adequacy issues, or emerging market pressures that might threaten customer funds or market stability. US forex deposits tumbled across major platforms in June 2025, with the industry posting a combined 5.8% monthly decline to $479.5 million as the dollar index continued testing multi-year lows. The persistent weakness in the American currency drove widespread outflows from retail forex accounts. The value from the most recently reported period is the lowest since we began covering these data in September 2023. US Forex Deposits Drop 5.8% as Dollar Weakness Persists GAIN Capital maintained its position as the industry leader despite posting a significant 5.6% monthly drop to almost $204 million in June from $215 million the previous month. The drop represented the platform’s largest monthly decline in recent quarters as retail traders pulled back from forex markets. Charles Schwab saw a modest 0.96% increase to $62.1 million, bucking the broader industry trend. The institutional platform’s resilience suggests that larger retail clients may have adopted different strategies during the prolonged dollar weakness. Interactive Brokers posted a 1.7% decline to $34.7 million from May’s $35.3 million, while tastyfx dropped significantly by 7.0% to $38.7 million. The varied performance across platforms highlighted how different client bases responded to extended currency volatility. Dollar Weakness Creates Trading Challenges The June figures coincided with the DXY index testing its lowest levels in more than three years, extending a six-month decline from previous two-year highs. Unlike short-term volatility spikes that typically boost trading activity, the sustained directional move created a more complex environment for retail forex participation. Trading.com managed a modest 4.1% decline to $2.3 million, showing relative resilience among smaller platforms. The boutique broker’s performance demonstrated how specialized forex providers navigated the challenging market conditions. Year-Over-Year Trends Show Mixed Results Despite the monthly declines, some platforms maintained positive year-over-year growth. Interactive Brokers showed strong annual performance with a 20.2% increase compared to June 2024, while Trading.com posted solid 5.2% yearly growth. However, OANDA’s struggles extended to annual comparisons, with deposits down 39.9% from June 2024 levels. The steep yearly decline highlighted the platform’s challenges in retaining client funds during volatile currency markets. The total industry deposits of $479.5 million represented a 16.3% decline compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting broader challenges facing US retail forex platforms amid sustained dollar weakness and changing trading patterns. Regulatory oversight remains robust, with all examined brokers continuing to meet CFTC capital requirements despite the challenging market environment. The monthly reporting framework provides crucial transparency into how retail forex platforms perform during various market cycles. fx deposits Understanding CFTC Reporting Requirements The monthly deposit

Why is XRP price going down today? XRP has declined for four consecutive sessions, losing approximately 8% from recent highs to reach intraday lows of $3.11 on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Currently trading at $3.1422, XRP faces mounting profit-taking pressure following its impressive rally after the Ripple-SEC legal settlement. The primary catalyst behind today’s decline stems from natural profit-taking activities after XRP’s spectacular 208% volume surge to $12.4 billion following regulatory clarity. Trading volumes remain elevated at $9.16 billion, indicating continued institutional interest despite the pullback. In this article, I examine why the XRP price is falling, conducting in-depth technical analysis of the XRP/USDT daily chart and summarize the newest XRP price prediction for 2025 and beyond. XRP Price Falls 4 Sessions in Row as Profit-Taking Dominates At the time of writing, XRP is trading at 3.1422, up 0.5% since the start of the session. The intraday low stands at 3.1178. On the daily chart, four consecutive bearish candles have largely retraced the nearly 11% rally seen on August 7, 2025. The current strong buying reaction has simply led to profit-taking. What is the XRP price today? Source: CoinMarketCap.com XRP’s decline aligns with broader cryptocurrency market weakness. Bitcoin failed to maintain momentum above key levels, while Dogecoin dropped over 5% and Ethereum struggled below $4,300. This risk-off sentiment has pressured altcoins including XRP. XRP Technical Analysis: Support Holds But Resistance Builds XRP’s technical structure reveals critical support at $3.13 after multiple successful tests, while resistance builds at $3.27-$3.31. The token experienced its heaviest selling pressure during the 19:00 hour yesterday, dropping from $3.20 to $3.15 on 73.87 million volume. Key Technical Levels: Strong Support: $3.13-$3.15 (multiple volume-backed tests) Immediate Resistance: $3.27 (repeated rejection zone) Critical Resistance: $3.31 (23.6% Fibonacci retracement) Next Downward Target: Round level at $3.00 (38.2% Fibonacci) My comprehensive technical analysis indicates XRP’s bearish pin bar formation on Monday’s session created a potential sell signal below the important $3.31 resistance and 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level. If price approaches this resistance zone again, it would present an opportunity for sellers targeting the $3.00 psychological level. Additional support levels include the 50 Exponential Moving Average at $2.89, followed by the 50% Fibonacci retracement at $2.78 near August lows around $2.66. The golden ratio 61.8% Fibonacci level sits at approximately $2.40, coinciding with the 200 Exponential Moving Average at $2.28. XRP price technical analysis. Source: Tradingview.com A break below these levels would signal bearish control, potentially driving XRP toward $2.00 or lower to $1.90 where June 22nd session minimums reside. Conversely, a sustained break above $3.30-$3.31 would invalidate the bearish setup, targeting consolidation between $3.60-$3.66. XRP Support and Resistance Levels Level Type Price Level Technical Significance Probability Immediate Support $3.13 Multiple volume-backed tests High Strong Support $3.15 Current floor with bid support Very High Key Support $3.00 Psychological round number + 38.2% Fibo Medium-High Critical Support (50 EMA) $2.89 50 Exponential Moving Average Medium Major Support (50% Fibo) $2.78 50% Fibonacci retracement Medium August Lows Support $2.66 Previous August session lows Low-Medium Golden Ratio (61.8% Fibo) $2.40 Golden ratio Fibonacci level Low Long-term Support (200 EMA) $2.28 200 EMA + 78.6% Fibonacci Very Low June Minimums Support $1.90 June 22nd session minimums Very Low Immediate Resistance $3.27 Repeated rejection zone High Key Resistance (23.6% Fibo) $3.31 23.6% Fibo retracement + pin bar Very High Consolidation Resistance $3.60-$3.66 Mid-July consolidation range Medium Historical High Resistance $3.84 Previous all-time high from 2018 Low Why XRP Price Is Falling? Market Factors Behind XRP’s Decline Ripple’s Monthly Token Release – The routine monthly release of 1 billion XRP tokens worth $3.28 billion from escrow on August 1st triggered market uncertainty and selling fears. Despite Ripple CTO David Schwartz’s clarification as routine monthly activity, the timing coincided with XRP’s rally slowdown. Profit-Taking After Legal Victory – Following the formal end of Ripple’s nearly five-year SEC legal battle, XRP experienced double-digit gains before encountering natural profit-taking. Large holders appear to be rebalancing positions while maintaining bids at $3.13-$3.15. ETF Speculation Cooling – BlackRock’s denial of XRP ETF plans has tempered some bullish sentiment, though multiple XRP ETF applications remain under SEC review with an 85% approval probability for 2025. Derivatives Data Shows Selling Pressure – XRP derivatives markets reflect bearish sentiment with declining open interest dropping 36% to $3.54 billion and negative funding rates indicating short positioning. However, whale accumulation continues with addresses holding 100 million to 1 billion XRP adding 900 million tokens worth $2.88 billion in just 48 hours. You may also like: XRP Eyes $3.50; Ripple-SEC Five Year Legal Dispute Officially Concludes Expert XRP Price Predictions: Divided Sentiment Despite today’s decline, expert opinions remain largely bullish for XRP’s medium-term prospects. Here’s what leading analysts predict: Expert/Source Prediction Target Price Timeframe Sentiment Tony “The Bull” Severino 333% surge within 40 days $13.00 40 days Very Bullish Peter Brandt 60% rally to $4.47 $4.47 Coming months Bullish Changelly $2.43 average Dec 2025 $2.43 Dec 2025 Neutral Digital Coin Price $3.51 average 2025 $3.51 2025 average Bullish GOV Capital $4.78 in one year $4.78 1 year Bullish Fibonacci Extension Analysis $5.53 ultimate 2025 target $5.53 2025 Bullish Conservative Models $3.12 by Aug 31, 2025 $3.12 Aug 31, 2025 Conservative Tony “The Bull” Severino forecasts a 333% surge within 40 days, while Peter Brandt predicts a 60% rally to $4.47 based on technical patterns. More conservative machine learning models project XRP reaching $3.12 by August 31, 2025. Fibonacci extension analysis suggests $5.53 as the ultimate 2025 target, representing over 80% appreciation from current levels. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has made the most ambitious prediction of $178 by 2030, though this represents an extreme bull case scenario. Back in April, Standard Chartered analysts predicted a fivefold increase in XRP’s price, ultimately reaching $12.50 within the next three years. For this year, they expect the price to climb to $5.50. Market veteran Ali Martinez identified XRP breaking above a key resistance channel it had traded within for months. He noted: “XRP has successfully broken above an extensive resistance channel…

August 11, 2025 Last Week In A Nutshell: Last week saw no market moving economic data, leaving markets to mull over the July jobs report and continue playing everyone’s favorite parlor game: Who’s going to be the next Fed chair? But this week’s CPI report could move mortgage rates and make the Fed’s decision at their September 17 meeting very complicated. Upcoming Attractions: Tuesday August 12 CPI and Thursday August 14 PPI reports for July: The key core (excluding food and energy) CPI month-on-month inflation metric is expected to come in at 0.31% for July, which would bring the year-over-year metric to 3.1%. Goods inflation is expected to increase in coming months as tariff effects show up while services inflation (notably shelter) is expected to continue moderating. PPI, excluding food and energy, is expected to come in at 0.2% month-over-month and flat year-over-year. A higher than expected inflation reading could force the Fed to decide whether they will indeed “look through” a tariff-induced inflation bump following the weak July jobs report. Friday 8/15 Core retail sales is expected to increase by 0.4% in July Industrial production is expected to come in flat for July The University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey is expected to show a small increase from 61.7 to 62.0 in August. And 5-10 year inflation expectations are expected to decline slightly from 3.4% to 3.3%. August 4-8 Highlights: Fed: Stephen Miran was nominated to the Federal Reserve Board by the President to fill Adriana Kugler’s seat after she stepped down six months early. Miran’s nomination could tilt the Fed toward more rate cuts, but the effect is likely to be minimal as he will be one of twelve voting members and the confirmation process will take months. His nomination might also be problematic for those worried about Fed independence, but it seems clear that President Trump intends for him to be a temporary placeholder until the administration figures out who to nominate for Chair after Jerome Powell’s term ends in May 2026. Economic Data: The Institute of Supply Managers (ISM) services index for July unexpectedly declined. Details in the report pointed to tariffs affecting prices and delaying planning for next year’s purchases. Initial jobless claims continued to come in near its average since mid-2022, but continuing claims continue to climb, indicating that people are having a harder time finding a job. These are more data points substantiating the stagflationary effects of tariffs, with higher inflation and lower economic growth. Diving a Little Deeper: Fed: The choice to nominate Miran also suggests that Christopher Waller, a current Fed governor, might have a slight edge over other leading contenders for the Fed chair position—Kevin Hassett and Kevin Warsh—since the President could have taken the opportunity to put one of them on the Board. The Fed Chair has to be an existing member of the Fed Board of Governors and if Jerome Powell chooses to not give up his seat on the Board when his term as Chair ends, the President would need to choose from existing Fed Governors. But, on the other hand, Miran may have been chosen because he would give up his seat if Chair Powell chooses to stay on the Board. Inflation reports: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the first piece of inflation data released in any month and, combined with the Producer Price Index (PPI), gives us an almost perfect read through to the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report. The PCE is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge but is not released until the end of the month. The Fed prefers the PCE because, unlike CPI, it gives a broader picture of cost increases as it includes spending done on your behalf (e.g., medical insurance). Mortgage rates almost never move with a PCE data release because investors already know how it will come in after CPI and PPI. The very weak July jobs report increased the odds of a rate cut at the September 17 Fed meeting to about 90% based on futures market pricing. But if the CPI and PPI reports come in high, the Fed will be left in the sticky situation of deciding which side of its mandate (low unemployment or low inflation) they want to prioritize. In most times, the Fed would choose inflation because there are non-montetary based tools to help with unemployment, but in the case of tariffs, the Fed has said that they could “see through” any resulting inflation because the price increases would be one-time. That assumption, however, relies on the trade war not expanding and consumer expectations regarding inflation to remain stable near the Fed’s target. Chen Zhao Chen Zhao is the head of economics research, where she produces research on the housing market for public and internal audiences. Previously, she was an executive director leading housing finance and financial markets research at the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Prior to joining JPMCI, Chen was an economics consultant at Analysis Group, Inc., where she worked on financial litigation cases and led teams conducting health economics and outcomes research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. While in graduate school, Chen was with the Center for Economic Studies and the Social Economic and Housing Statistics Division at the US Census Bureau, where she conducted applied microeconomics research using large scale restricted-access linked survey-administrative data. She started her career at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, where she focused on labor and health economics. Email Chen Get a home loan that helps you win Join us on X for more#housingmarket updates You Might Also Like Read More