How Securities and CFD Brokers Can Stay Competitive in Today’s Market

The securities, CFD, and forex brokerage industry has become one of the most competitive segments of the fintech landscape. After working with dozens of brokerages and fintech firms worldwide, we have seen clear patterns in how successful companies scale and adapt. These strategies, confirmed by industry executives we’ve spoken with, can serve as a guide whether you are launching a new brokerage or leading an established firm.

MT4/MT5 vs Proprietary Trading Platforms

MetaTrader 4 and 5 remain the most widely used trading platforms, but this comes with challenges:

• The user base is limited, with hundreds of brokers competing for the same traders.

• MetaQuotes continues to increase licensing costs, putting pressure on broker margins.

This is why many of the leading brokers, including IG, Plus500, Saxo Bank, XTB, Swissquote, and FxPro invested in developing proprietary platforms. The benefits are clear:

• Retail clients find simplified buy/sell interfaces less intimidating than MT5’s advanced tools.

• A custom-built platform allows for differentiation, improved user experience, and stronger branding.

The cryptocurrency sector has already proven this model works. Exchanges such as Coinbase and Kraken attract new users with simple buy/sell functionality, while offering advanced charts and order types to experienced traders. Brokers who want to scale should consider a similar two-tiered approach: intuitive tools for beginners and professional-grade features for active traders.

Diversifying Revenue Beyond Trading

In the past five years, many brokers have successfully expanded into payments, banking, and digital assets. This shift helps them strengthen client retention while creating new revenue streams.

Virtual Assets & Crypto Payments

Adding crypto instruments can be a quick entry point, but the real value comes when combined with payment rails. By handling deposits and withdrawals internally, brokers reduce third-party fees and capture more margin.

Payments & EMI Licensing

Forward-thinking brokers are applying for Electronic Money Institution (EMI) or equivalent licenses. This allows them to:

• Process client deposits and withdrawals directly.

• Launch standalone payment businesses.

• Cross-sell payments with investment services.

FxPro’s Bank Pro is a strong example of this trend in action.

Banking Licenses

Some brokers go further by pursuing banking licenses (investment, digital, or commercial). The advantages include:

• Increased client trust, since funds are held at a bank rather than a brokerage.

• Multi-use balances - clients can trade, transfer, and spend from one account.

• Greater client stickiness through debit cards and private accounts.

This explains why fintechs like Revolut aggressively expand their investment features, and why Swiss players such as Swissquote and Dukascopy remain strong competitors, helped by Switzerland’s regulatory framework outside ESMA’s restrictions.

How Zitadelle AG Supports Brokers and Fintech Firms

If your brokerage is considering expansion into payments, banking, or virtual assets but you’re unsure where to begin, Zitadelle AG can help. We specialize in:

• Brokerage licensing and setup.

• Assistance with trading platform set-up (MT5, CTrader, Condor, other)

• Payments and EMI licensing.

• Banking and digital asset business models.

• Strategic advisory for scaling in competitive markets.

Our team has practical experience across trading, payments, and financial licensing. Whether your goal is to launch a proprietary platform, secure new regulatory authorizations, or expand into ancillary services, we can guide you through every stage of development.