CMC Markets, Binance Launch SpaceX Trading; IG Result Drives Stock Rally

CMC Markets and Binance introduced grey market trading products for SpaceX on the same day, allowing retail clients to speculate on the private company's valuation ahead of a potential IPO. The FTSE 250-listed broker CMC Markets offers its product via spread bets and CFDs, which will convert to standard share trading upon SpaceX's public listing. Concurrently, Binance launched USDT-margined perpetual futures designed to track pre-IPO pricing signals.

CMC Markets is also expanding its B2B operations, with UK Head Chris Cheverall noting the broker's early focus on the neobank sector, which led to its prime brokerage launch and partnership with Revolut.

IG Group raised its full-year revenue guidance following strong first-quarter results. The FTSE 100 broker reported organic total revenue of £331.2 million, up 19% year-on-year, driven by OTC derivatives, expanded crypto offerings, and contributions from recently acquired Freetrade. Net trading revenue reached £306.5 million, a 25% increase from last year. IG shares surged nearly 11% to a record 1,742 pence following the announcement.

Swissquote confirmed its 1:10 share split will take effect on 28 May. The split will increase the total number of shares from 15,328,170 to 153,281,700, with the par value per share decreasing from CHF 0.20 to CHF 0.02.

XTB reported PLN 1.09 billion in Q1 operating revenue, with 71% originating from Central and Eastern Europe. Revenue from Poland alone contributed PLN 568.8 million, accounting for 52% of total revenue.

Retail CFD trading volumes reached $33.6 trillion monthly in Q1 2026, while active retail FX/CFD accounts outside Japan exceeded 7.4 million. Despite industry growth, MetaQuotes platforms still dominate, with only 16% of retail volume generated outside its ecosystem in Q1 2026.

In a column by Paul Golden, Europe faces geopolitical and economic challenges, including prolonged conflicts and political uncertainty, though investors are advised to focus on the longer-term outlook beyond immediate risks.

Proprietary trading firm Tradeify launched a retail brokerage, entering a clearing and technology agreement with NinjaTrader. Several US prop firms, including FTMO, Topstep, and Tradeify, are moving towards CFTC regulation, a shift attributed to the attractiveness of the US retail market and its regulatory framework.

The CFTC's role in prediction markets is under scrutiny. American Gaming Association CEO Bill Miller criticized the agency as a "rogue agency" for allowing event contracts that he described as "backdoor sports betting." The legal debate centers on federal preemption over state gambling laws.

Jon Light of Devexperts noted prediction markets differ from binary options and may fall under gambling regulations in many jurisdictions. Mainstream brokers like Plus500 and IG Group are increasingly engaging with event contracts.

Interactive Brokers views prediction markets as a source of actionable intelligence for investors, not purely speculative tools, according to founder Thomas Peterffy.

The European Commission is reviewing the MiCA regulation as its grandfathering period nears its July 1 deadline. The number of authorized crypto asset service providers has plummeted from an estimated 1,100-1,300 firms pre-MiCA to around 200 currently, indicating a significant compliance-driven contraction.