XTB Levels Up in UAE: Secures Full Broker Status

XTB Levels Up in UAE: Secures Full Broker Status
XTB Levels Up in UAE: Secures Full Broker Status

Hey FinTech Fanatic!

Warsaw-based XTB, a major online trading platform known for stocks, forex, and CFDs, just leveled up its presence in the UAE by securing top-tier licenses from the local regulator.

This upgrade turns it into a full-fledged broker there, making it easier for Middle Eastern clients to trade locally.

For everyday traders and investors (XTB's core users), this means faster account setups, smoother trades, and better protection under strict local oversight, all without jumping through international hoops.

Some of the key highlights to keep in mind is that the Polish trading platform, which has Zlatan Ibrahimovic as brand ambassador, added a Category 1 (client onboarding) and Category 2 (trade execution) on top of their existing setup, unlocking advanced products soon.

With over 2 million clients worldwide, this cements XTB's MENA foothold amid rising retail trading demand.

The rest of today’s FinTech news is just a scroll away. Let’s dive in! 👇

Cheers,

Marcel


FINTECH NEWS

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🇺🇸 Kalshi dominates the U.S. prediction market with 91% share, according to Bank of America. Data from NS3.AI also shows the platform's weekly trading volume has experienced a notable increase over the past year. Continue reading

🇦🇪 XTB deepens UAE push after receiving Category 1 and Category 2 licences, adding to its existing Cat 5 licence. The upgrade will allow the broker to locally onboard clients and execute trades, while expanding access to more advanced investment products.


PAYMENTS NEWS

🇮🇳 Google Pay introduces a new feature called “Pocket Money” under its UPI Circle framework, designed to let primary account holders, typically parents or guardians, extend controlled UPI access to secondary users such as children or dependents, without requiring them to have their own bank accounts.

🇮🇳 India’s central bank considers new controls for high-value transactions amid rising digital frauds, including a proposed one-hour delay for transfers above Rs10,000 via fast systems like UPI. The move comes as fraud cases surged to 2.8 million between 2021 and 2025.

🇺🇸 Payments FinTech Pepper Pay declares bankruptcy. The company seeks to liquidate about $665,000 in assets against more than $3.4 million in debts. This highlights ongoing pressure in a highly competitive market that can be stiff and risky for payment processing ISOs.

🌍 Careem Pay expands its remittance service to Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, enabling UAE residents to send money directly to bank accounts in both countries. The move strengthens its footprint, now covering 35+ countries, with fast transfers delivered in just 5 to 10 minutes.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong awards stablecoin licences to HSBC, StanChart-led group, marking a key step in embracing digital assets. The HKMA deputy chief noted that both applicants have experience in traditional finance and risk management, aligning with the mission of stablecoins to bridge traditional and digital finance.

🇦🇪 UAE’s instant payments platform Aani surpasses 12.5 million users, reflecting rapid growth in digital payments. Backed by 74 financial institutions, it supports daily transfers and transactions, reinforcing its role as a key pillar in the country’s shift toward a cash-light economy.

🇳🇬 Flutterwave plans to establish its South-East office in Anambra to expand access to payments, loans, and FinTech services for businesses, following its Nigerian banking licence, which enables it to go beyond payments and offer broader financial services across the region.


DIGITAL BANKING NEWS

🇬🇧 Starling research shows sole traders are increasingly turning to AI for tax and accounting advice, with 26% using it for Making Tax Digital guidance and many valuing speed over cost. The trend reflects growing trust, with 88% saying they rely on AI insights

🇺🇸 Meow Technologies launches banking for AI agents, a platform that enables AI agents to open and manage business bank accounts on behalf of users. With a simple prompt, users can initiate account creation, while agents handle payments, cards, and day-to-day activity autonomously.

🇲🇾 KAF digital bank meets BNM deadline to roll out basic banking services. The service provides access to deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and payments, supporting financial inclusion, particularly among underserved and underbanked groups in Malaysia.

🇧🇷 Brazilian FinTech Stone is accelerating its transition from a point-of-sale terminal provider to a digital bank, with a more comprehensive offering for SMEs. The company plans to evolve into a platform increasingly focused on financial services, including accounts, credit, and cash flow management.

🇺🇸 Nymbus has launched its MCP Server, one of the first secure Model Context Protocol servers built for core banking, enabling financial institutions to connect AI assistants to front-office tools. The platform supports actions like account management, payments, and card controls through a single interface.


BLOCKCHAIN/CRYPTO NEWS

🇯🇵 Japan’s cabinet has approved a bill to reclassify crypto assets as financial products under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, marking a step toward tighter oversight. If passed in the current session, the legislation could take effect as early as fiscal 2027.

🇨🇭 Celsion Bank AG launches as a fully licensed bank built for digital assets. At launch, the bank provides digital asset custody, trading, staking, and transfer services, complemented by core banking services within a fully regulated framework. Continue reading

🇺🇸 Circle has introduced the Arc Fintech Starter, an open-source app that demonstrates how to build multichain treasury systems with USDC, helping teams manage wallets, move funds across chains, and execute payouts. Read more


PARTNERSHIPS 

🇦🇺 Zip partners with TPG Telecom to launch ZMobile for Australian customers. The new product offers a seamless sign-up experience and prepaid plans, including fast 4G/5G network access via TPG’s network, which reaches 98.5% of the population, along with generous data rollover, global roaming, and international calling capabilities.

🇺🇸 Walmart’s OnePay expands into HR with Workday deal. Under the partnership, OnePay will join Workday Wellness as a financial benefits partner, enabling employers to offer workers access to banking, investing, and credit tools directly within the platform.


DONEDEAL FUNDING NEWS

🇿🇦 Standard Bank is backing Optasia with $330M in financing, including $180 million in term facilities and $150 million in guarantees. The transaction further advances Standard Bank’s purpose of driving Africa’s growth. The deal aims to enhance funding certainty, expand capacity, and provide long-term flexibility to support the FinTech’s growth and expansion.

🇻🇳 OKX has made a strategic investment in CAEX Exchange in Vietnam, joining partners including VPBankS, LynkiD, and HashKey Capital. The funding will help meet regulatory requirements and support CAEX’s growth across infrastructure, compliance, security, and liquidity within the country’s evolving framework.

🇮🇳 Astranova Mobility raises $6.4 million in a Series A round led by IvyCap Ventures, with participation from the Asian Development Bank and others. The funding will support its EV financing platform, scaling operations, and strengthening data, AI, and engineering capabilities.

🇨🇳 SimpleChain has raised $15 million in seed funding to build an RWA-focused Layer 1 blockchain and DataIPO protocol. The company said the new capital will go toward engineering, compliance, and ecosystem incentives as it races to position its infrastructure as a base layer for regulated RWA issuance.


MOVERS AND SHAKERS

🇰🇷 Kroo Bank has undergone leadership changes while revising its profitability timeline, signaling a reassessment of execution and funding pressures in digital banking. The shift highlights growing scrutiny on challenger banks and reinforces the importance of governance and capital stability.

🇸🇬 Singapore FinTech Finmo hires Matt Poblocki as its first general counsel to support regulatory expansion. Poblocki joins from Binance, having previously held legal roles at PayPal and eBay, and will strengthen Finmo’s legal and regulatory functions as the company continues to grow.

🌍 Paymentology announces Pedro Blanco-Pinto as Head of Business Development for Latin America. He will be responsible for commercial strategy and growth across key markets, with a focus on scaling the company’s presence in the region.


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