News Nuggets | 17 April: Virtu Integrates Appital; R3 in Qatar

CME Group to Expand BTC, ETH Options Expiries on May 22

CME Group, a top derivatives marketplace operator, has disclosed plans to expand the expiries of the cryptocurrency options for its standard and micro-sized Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) contracts starting from May 22, 2023. With the new plan, which is still subject to regulatory review, expiries will be available every day of the business week, Monday through Friday, CME Group said in a statement released on Monday.

Speaking on the plan, Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group Global Head of Cryptocurrency Product, noted that the decision is targeted at providing market participants with “greater precision and versatility in managing short-term bitcoin and ether price risk.”

“New expiries for options on Bitcoin and Ether futures will be offered with Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday expirations. Options on micro-sized Bitcoin and Ether futures will add Tuesday and Thursday expiries to their existing Monday, Wednesday and Friday contracts,” the firm explained.

NatWest Group's Adam Wheelwright Starts CTO Role at IG Group

Adam Wheelwright, the previous Managing Director at NatWest Group, resumed his new role as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at IG Group on Monday. Finance Magnates reported in early April that Wheelwright was appointed as the CTO by the London-based spread betting and CFD trading provider "to drive its innovation agenda."

Wheelwright, whose role is based in IG Group's London office, brings nearly three decades of financial industry experience to the role. Apart from the NatWest Group, the executive has previously worked for the UK Health Security Agency, Nomura, Dresdner Kleinwort, and UBS.

Incharge and Intergiro Form a Partnership

A new banking app aimed at making financial services more accessible for European students has been launched by Intergiro, a Banking as a Service (BaaS) platform, in partnership with financial service provider Incharge. The Incharge app, which is free of charge, enables students to manage their finances conveniently from their smartphones.

The app offers a user-friendly experience, allowing students to open an account without paperwork and long wait times by simply using their passport or national ID card. The app provides a range of financial services, including current accounts, virtual and physical cards that allow spending in over 130 currencies, and valuable analytics to help students better understand their spending patterns.

Vantage Offers PayPal Payments

Vantage, a multi-asset broker, has announced the addition of PayPal to its payment options. PayPal is widely recognized for its popularity, with over 370 million users across the world and acceptance in more than 200 markets, making it a secure and quick online available transaction method.

Jack Kelly, the Head of Sales at Vantage, stated that the company is committed to providing investors with the best possible trading experience and is always looking for ways to enhance its services, with the integration of PayPal being one of them.

The inclusion of PayPal in Vantage's payment options is part of its continuous efforts to offer customers a better trading experience. With the addition of PayPal, investors can now easily make deposits and withdrawals as well as instantly fund their accounts quickly and conveniently.

Ex-Deutsche Bank Dealmaker Joins JPMorgan

JPMorgan has hired Khaled Fathallah, a veteran dealmaker from Deutsche Bank, to head up its coverage of mining companies and metals in Europe. Fathallah brings over 13 years of experience at Deutsche Bank, where he was most recently named head of the newly-established energy transition group.

In his new role at JPMorgan, Fathallah will serve as Head of Metals and Mining for the EMEA region and report to James Janoskey, Co-Head of the bank's energy group. This move reflects JPMorgan's commitment to expanding its expertise in the natural resources sector.

Virtu Financial’s Triton Valor EMS Integrates Appital

Virtu Financial’s Triton Execution Management System (EMS) has integrated Appital’s book-building platform – Appital Turquoise BookBuilder™, which was launched in August 2022.

Announced on Monday, the integration will enable buy-side firms using Triton Valor to receive Appital liquidity opportunities directly into their workflows and trading infrastructure. Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Unigestion SA, Principal Financial Group, Groupama Asset Management, and BBVA Asset Management will be the first set of companies to access Appital’s book-building platform via Triton Valor EMS.

"Our clients are always looking for new and innovative ways to seek out liquidity ," said Melissa Ellis, the Head of European Workflow Sales at Virtu Financial. "Appital allows them to interact with like-minded institutions in a market for size. By integrating with Appital, asset managers are now able to access liquidity that would otherwise be latent and initiate a bookbuilding process, adding value to their overall investment processes."

R3 to Support Fintech Industry in Qatar

New York-based blockchain firm, R3 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU ) with the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA), the legal and tax arm of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), to accelerate the development of the country's financial technology industry.

R3 will now work with the QFCA to create a potential lab environment for commercial banks and fintechs in Qatar. They will also provide education and training on asset digitization and the use of decentralized ledger technology.

"Through this collaboration, we aim to foster innovation and create an environment that supports the growth of fintech companies in Qatar," said Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, the CEO of QFC.

R3's Co-Founder and CEO, David E. Rutter, added: "The QFC is already making great progress in expanding the development of fintech in Qatar, and this collaboration will further help create an environment conducive to innovation. We look forward to using our experience and expertise to assist the QFC in supporting the growth of Qatar-based fintech companies."

Kohle Capital Markets Rebrands to KCM Trade

Kohle Capital Markets, which operates a forex and contracts for differences (CFDs) brokerage platform with a Mauritius license, has rebranded itself to KCM Trade. The rebranding is a strategic move as the broker highlighted its ambitions to expand its global presence.

The broker will open a new branch office in Vietnam next month with plans of adding offices in Indonesia, and the Philippines in the third quarter of this year.

Read the full report here.

Crypto Lender Amber Seeks Hong Kong License

Singapore-based crypto lender Amber plans to receive a license in Hong Kong while evaluating options to sell its Japanese unit, Bloomberg reported.

Amber entered Japan, acquiring the crypto exchange, DeCurret Inc. in 2022. Its Managing Partner, Annabelle Huang, said Japan is a "very high-quality market, but regulations are strict." Other major names like Coinbase and Kaken also shuttered their businesses in Japan.

On the other hand, Hong Kong has become a preferred market for crypto companies as the jurisdiction will regulate the crypto industry from June. Last month, a Hong Kong official revealed that about 80 crypto companies are in line to receive licenses.

Hong Kong Charges Ramp-and-Dump Suspect

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) charged Leung Chung Yi, a former licensed representative, in its crackdown against a large-scale and sophisticated syndicate suspected of operating a 'ramp-and-dump' market manipulation scheme.

Yi is the eighth person to face charges, which include offenses of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to employ a scheme with intent to defraud or deceive in transactions involving securities. He has received bail with conditions to remain in Hong Kong, surrender travel documents, and a cash bond of HK$600,000.