Blue Ocean Technologies Selects Eventus’ Validus Platform for Trade Surveillance

Blue Ocean Technologies has chosen Eventus’ Validus platform as the trade surveillance solution for its Blue Ocean ATS, the first after-hours equities trading venue. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing Blue Ocean’s surveillance capabilities, supporting its mission to offer a secure and efficient 24-hour trading environment. The platform will help the company improve monitoring of trading activity through a centralised, flexible, and scalable system.

Validus was selected for its ability to handle high volumes of data and deliver actionable insights. Its comprehensive features are expected to strengthen Blue Ocean’s reporting, operational oversight, and long-term decision-making. This partnership underscores both companies’ focus on maintaining strong risk management and surveillance standards in global trading.

CME Group to Launch FX Tape+ for Enhanced Transparency in FX Markets

CME Group has announced plans to launch CME FX Tape+ later this year, aiming to deliver centralised reference prices and a broad view of FX market liquidity. The service will consolidate data from CME’s central limit order book (CLOB) platforms, including FX futures, EBS Market, FX Spot+, and FX Link. Drawing on a network of 1,400 institutions and over 100,000 FX market participants, the initiative is designed to address fragmentation in the FX market and improve pricing transparency.

CME FX Tape+ will provide real-time reference prices derived from firm, actionable liquidity rather than indicative or curated sources. Covering 10 major currencies at launch, the system will feature a composite mid-price calculated from trades, quotes, and mid-rates across CME’s platforms. Data will be available at 250-millisecond intervals via a websocket API and historical files, enabling market participants to better benchmark trading strategies and assess execution costs.

Railbird Exchange Selects Connamara’s EP3 Platform for Newly Approved U.S. Prediction Market

Connamara Technologies has announced that Railbird Exchange will deploy its EP3 exchange platform to power Railbird’s regulated prediction market in the United States. Railbird, founded in 2021, enables users to trade on real-world event outcomes, spanning economic, entertainment, and cultural themes. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) granted Railbird Designated Contract Market (DCM) status on 13 June 2025, with its launch scheduled for later this year.

The EP3 platform offers Railbird a high-performance, modular system designed to meet the operational demands of regulated marketplaces. It includes features such as order matching, risk management, and market surveillance. For Connamara, Railbird’s selection reinforces EP3’s growing adoption among emerging and regulated markets, highlighting its ability to accelerate market entry and reduce operational costs.

BPX Gains FCA Authorisation for MTF, AIFM, and Crypto Services; Advances Toward Live Operations

BPX has received regulatory authorisation from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate as a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF), Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM), Cryptoasset Exchange, and Custodian Wallet Provider. These approvals support BPX’s plan to build an institutional-grade, fully integrated marketplace for the full lifecycle of securities – including issuance, trading, and collateralised lending – covering both traditional and tokenised assets.

The company has also become the only FCA-authorised trading venue to pass Gate 1 of the Bank of England and FCA’s Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS). With regulatory permissions secured, BPX is now preparing for live operations and is engaging institutional participants ahead of its inaugural transaction. Its distributed ledger-based platform aims to enhance access and liquidity for issuers and investors by enabling scalable tokenisation and broadening capital market opportunities.

Nasdaq Integrates Blockchain Capabilities into Calypso Platform for Enhanced Collateral Management

Nasdaq has announced the integration of blockchain-based workflows into its Calypso platform via the Canton Network, in partnership with QCP, Primrose Capital Management, and Digital Asset. This initiative demonstrates how on-chain technology can enhance collateral mobility and management across all asset classes for institutional clients. The integration aims to support real-time, automated 24/7 margin and collateral operations, covering crypto derivatives, fixed income, and both exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives.

This development marks a step forward in Nasdaq’s drive to modernise financial infrastructure by enabling more efficient capital allocation and redeployment of collateral across markets. It aligns with Nasdaq’s broader strategy to expand its digital asset capabilities and support institutional adoption of blockchain technologies. Calypso’s expanded functionality now bridges traditional finance with digital markets, positioning Nasdaq to meet the growing demand for capital efficiency in an always-on global financial system.

Wedbush Securities Enhances Trading Infrastructure with Rapid Addition’s Cloud-Ready Platform

Wedbush Securities has adopted a cloud-ready platform from trading technology provider Rapid Addition to upgrade its trading infrastructure. This integration supports multi-asset class trading, improves risk management, and streamlines post-trade operations, aligning with Wedbush’s commitment to innovation and high client service standards.

The platform helps unify front and middle-office processes, offering greater efficiency and scalability. It positions Wedbush to respond more quickly to client needs and adapt as business demands grow. The collaboration also paves the way for future developments, including expanding into new asset classes and workflows.

“This expansion underscores our focus on being a technology-first firm that our clients can rely on – not just today, but as markets evolve,” Rodrigo Parrode, EVP, Chief Operating Officer at Wedbush Securities, tells TradingTech Insight. “By adopting cutting-edge infrastructure like Rapid Addition’s platform, we’re ensuring that our clients benefit from faster execution, smarter workflows, and the kind of responsive, always-on service that defines our commitment.”

BlockFills Integrates with Your Bourse to Expand Multi-Asset Liquidity and Execution Services

BlockFills, the digital asset trading and market technology firm, has completed its integration with brokerage technology provider Your Bourse. The partnership broadens BlockFills’ liquidity network, allowing it to aggregate liquidity across a wider pool while also acting as a liquidity provider to brokers using the Your Bourse platform. The integration supports digital assets, FX, and CFDs, and is underpinned by BlockFills’ high-speed infrastructure offering two-way streaming liquidity, anonymous execution, and no trade limits.

Clients of Your Bourse can quickly connect to BlockFills’ trading services, including CFD trading through its FCA-regulated UK affiliate, Basis Capital Markets. The collaboration aims to provide brokers with access to institutional-grade trading capabilities with enhanced speed and reliability.

Bloomberg Launches Geopolitical Risk Scores for 7 Million Companies via Seerist Integration

Bloomberg has introduced geopolitical country-of-risk scores for 7 million companies through a partnership with Seerist, a provider of geopolitical risk and security intelligence. Available on the Bloomberg Terminal and through Data License, the tool enables financial professionals to monitor 29 categories of political, operational, and security threats at the country level. This data helps risk managers and investors better understand exposure across portfolios by linking geopolitical risks directly to the companies’ countries of operation.

The scores incorporate Seerist’s daily Country Stability Score (PulseAI) and expert-driven Risk Ratings, supported by over 200 analysts via Control Risks. Bloomberg has integrated this intelligence with its existing data infrastructure, allowing users to map risk factors to public and private companies and drill down to the bond and equity level. Additional layers, such as supply chain and sector data, enhance threat assessment for strategic investment decisions.

Digital Asset Secures $135 Million to Advance Canton Network Expansion

Digital Asset has raised $135 million in a strategic funding round led by DRW Venture Capital and Tradeweb Markets, with participation from leading firms across traditional and decentralised finance, including Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Circle Ventures, and Citadel Securities. The investment supports the expansion of the Canton Network, a public, permissionless Layer-1 blockchain designed for institutional-grade compliance and configurable privacy.

The capital will be used to accelerate the tokenisation and integration of real-world assets such as bonds, commodities, and life insurance products onto the Canton Network. The round also strengthens partnerships with key institutions involved in the network’s development and governance. With nearly 400 participants already engaged, Canton aims to bridge traditional finance and blockchain technology through scalable, privacy-focused infrastructure.

Integral Integrates with CME Group’s EBS Market and FX Spot+ to Expand FX Liquidity Access

Integral, the FX technology provider, has launched a full integration with CME Group’s EBS Market and FX Spot+ platforms. This development allows clients to execute FX spot, NDF, and precious metals trades directly from Integral’s trading interfaces without requiring additional technology investment or incurring extra fees.

The enhanced platform supports order submissions via trader GUIs, APIs, algorithmic models, and risk systems. The integration offers seamless access to CME Group’s primary liquidity, including firm, anonymous pricing with no last look, and aims to lower trading costs for clients. This move further strengthens Integral’s offering by providing broader market access through familiar workflows.