SmartTrade Launches Agentic Copilot with MCP-Enabled Sovereign AI Architecture

SmartTrade Technologies has launched smartTrade Agentic Copilot (STAC), a significant upgrade to its AI-enabled trading and payments ecosystem. The new system introduces an MCP-enabled Sovereign AI architecture that allows banks to deploy advanced agentic AI technology whilst maintaining strict security, compliance and latency requirements. Built on three core principles: full client segregation; guaranteed data privacy with zero leakage to public models; and open-standard Model Context Protocol governance, the system ensures each AI stack operates within a secure, private perimeter unique to each client.

The platform extends beyond the first-generation smartCopilot’s natural language analytics capabilities to encompass all solution modules and workflows. Key features include conversational interrogation of algorithmic decisions, human-approved machine learning recommendations for pricing optimisation, autonomous monitoring of business signals such as client churn risk and liquidity imbalances, and integrated access to smartTrade’s knowledge base for reference data management.

Developed by smartTrade Advanced Innovation Labs and hosted on MetaCloud, the system leverages Equinix infrastructure and AWS tools including Amazon Bedrock to deliver a production-ready, fully isolated foundation for financial institutions.

T-REX Network and Zama Partner to Integrate Privacy Encryption into Tokenised Asset Infrastructure

T-REX Network, a multi-chain orchestration layer for real-world assets (RWAs), has partnered with Zama to integrate Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) into the T-REX Ledger. This collaboration aims to resolve a primary barrier to institutional blockchain adoption: the lack of data privacy on public ledgers. By using Zama’s FHE technology, the T-REX Ledger will allow smart contracts to process data without decrypting it, ensuring that sensitive investor information and trading strategies remain confidential while benefiting from public infrastructure.

The initiative is supported by Apex Group, which services $3.5 trillion in assets and has committed to using the T-REX Ledger as its default infrastructure. The group has set a target of $100 billion in tokenised assets by June 2027. The project builds upon the ERC-3643 standard, which currently secures $32 billion in assets. By combining this standard with native confidentiality, the partnership provides a scalable, compliant, and privacy-preserving foundation designed to move regulated financial markets on chain.

The T-REX Ledger operates as a neutral Layer 2 blockchain, acting as a single source of truth for digital securities across multiple chains. This integration allows financial institutions to move away from isolated private blockchains toward interoperable public networks without compromising operational security. The partnership represents a significant step in establishing confidentiality as a core component of institutional financial infrastructure, rather than an optional feature.

NYSE and Securitize Partner to Develop Tokenised Securities Infrastructure

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., has entered into a collaboration with Securitize to advance the development of tokenised securities markets. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Securitize has been named the first digital transfer agent eligible to mint blockchain-native securities for corporate and ETF issuers on the NYSE’s forthcoming Digital Trading Platform.

The partnership focuses on establishing regulatory, operational, and technological standards for institutional-grade tokenisation. As a premier design partner, Securitize will assist in developing a digital transfer agent program designed to support on-chain settlement. This initiative aims to define how transfer agent infrastructure maintains official ownership records and manages corporate actions while ensuring tokenised assets meet the rigorous standards of traditional financial markets.

In addition to its role as a transfer agent, Securitize Markets is expected to join the Digital Trading Platform as a broker-dealer participant. This broader collaboration is intended to strengthen the market structure for issuer-sponsored tokenised securities, leveraging Securitize’s experience as an SEC-registered platform to integrate blockchain technology with global capital markets.

Parameta Solutions Partners with Surperformance to Expand Access to Interest Rate Swap Indices

Parameta Solutions, the Data & Analytics division of TP ICAP Group, has partnered with Surperformance to broaden global access to its EUR and USD Interest Rate Swap Indices through Zonebourse.com and Marketscreener.com. The indices provide daily snapshots of interest rate swap markets and are used by banks, insurers and asset managers for pricing, hedging, portfolio analysis and risk management.

Built on transaction data from TP ICAP’s interdealer broker desks, the indices use a robust methodology to deliver an 11am fixing. Originally launched with Société Générale as anchor client, they have been adopted by major European and US banks and approved by leading insurance companies. The partnership with Surperformance provides a neutral distribution infrastructure that enhances visibility and accessibility for both institutional and retail market participants.

Investec Joins BPX as First Member of Digital Securities Marketplace

BPX, the UK FCA-authorised institutional venue for issuing, trading and lending traditional and tokenised alternative assets, has announced that Investec has become the first member of its digital securities marketplace. This milestone marks the beginning of institutional participation as BPX moves towards live market operations, with additional institutions progressing through onboarding.

Investec will connect to BPX through its electronic trading platform ZebrA-X, which provides clients with a single point of access to multiple trading venues and liquidity pools. The integration will enable Investec’s clients to access BPX’s securities marketplace through a unified electronic environment whilst maintaining familiar trading workflows. BPX is among a select group of firms admitted to the joint Bank of England and FCA Digital Securities Sandbox, where it is developing infrastructure to support digital assets and helping to lay the foundations for a more efficient, transparent and digitally native market structure.

Derive.xyz Integrates with Haruko to Enhance Institutional Risk Management

Derive.xyz, the on-chain options exchange, has integrated with Haruko, a global provider of institutional digital assets technology. This partnership aims to strengthen risk and portfolio management capabilities for institutional clients by providing real-time insights into trading activity, portfolio positions and market exposure.

Through the integration, Derive clients can now use Haruko’s platform to consolidate data from Derive alongside other venues, offering a unified, institutional-grade view of their digital asset portfolios. The platform provides advanced pricing, risk analytics and performance reporting. Derive operates a hybrid market structure combining a central orderbook with an institutional RFQ system, portfolio margining and cross-asset collateral, enabling professional traders to execute complex derivatives strategies with capital efficiency whilst maintaining the transparency and self-custody benefits of on-chain settlement.

GlobalBlock Launches Digital Assets Offering for UK Clients with FCA-Approved Financial Promotions

GlobalBlock, part of GCEX Group, has launched its digital assets offering for UK clients, providing access to crypto services with institutional-grade support and robust controls. The company’s UK cryptoasset financial promotions have been approved by Archax, the regulated digital assets platform, under the FCA’s cryptoasset financial promotions regime. This approval complements GCEX Group’s existing licences, including FCA authorisation for FX and CFDs, a MiCA licence for crypto-asset services across the EU, and a Virtual Asset Service Provider licence in Dubai.

Available via globalblock.co.uk, the offering includes OTC execution, portfolio solutions for eligible clients, and cryptoasset settlement and invoicing tools for businesses. It is supported by GCEX Group’s institutional infrastructure, liquidity and global counterparty relationships. The launch marks a significant step in GlobalBlock’s integration into the GCEX Group ecosystem following its acquisition in September 2025, and reflects the Group’s strategy to serve high-net-worth individuals, family offices, asset managers and corporates seeking professional access to digital assets.

McKay Brothers and Quincy Data Launch High-Speed Services Linking Illinois Futures Markets with Sydney Trading Hubs

McKay Brothers and Quincy Data are launching new services connecting Illinois futures markets with major trading facilities in Sydney, Australia. The services link the CME in Aurora and ICE Futures in Chicago with Sydney’s Australian Liquidity Centre and Equinix SY5, which host ASX and Cboe Australia respectively.

McKay Brothers will offer private transport capacity, while Quincy Data will distribute its Snapshot Feeds covering equity indices, energy, metals and foreign exchange futures. The connection delivers a round-trip delay of less than 168 milliseconds between North America and Australia. Both companies maintain their Level Playing Field policy, ensuring all clients receive equal access to the same high-performance infrastructure regardless of their size.

B3 Completes Phase Two of CSD System Built on Vermiculus VeriSafe Technology

B3, the Brazilian marketplace operator, has completed the second phase of its new central securities depository (CSD) system, developed using VeriSafe technology from Vermiculus. This represents one of the largest CSD transformation projects globally, with Vermiculus and B3 delivering a major phase into production for the second consecutive year.

The elastically scalable platform now supports the full range of complex transactional rules required by a modern CSD, including settlement transactions, participant transfers, deposits, withdrawals and IPOs. VeriSafe also handles creation and redemption processes for all Brazilian certificate types, including ETFs, depository receipts and fractional shares. The microservice-based architecture enables B3 to introduce new products with shorter time-to-market whilst maintaining operational resilience.

Vermiculus and B3 are now progressing to the third and final phase, which will replace B3’s existing corporate actions module and further extend the system’s capabilities for high-volume corporate action processing.

Bite Investments Acquires Portfolio Intelligence Platform Untap

Bite Investments, a technology provider for the alternative investments sector, has announced the acquisition of Untap, a portfolio management and fund-intelligence platform. This move integrates Untap’s data capabilities into Bite Stream, Bite Investments’ flagship software, to enhance portfolio analytics and ESG reporting. The acquisition follows a period of strategic growth for the company, supported by recent investments from NewSpring Capital, Proof Point Capital, and Osage Venture Capital.

The integration of Untap allows Bite Stream to offer private-market managers a more comprehensive suite of tools, including AI-driven fund intelligence and KPI tracking. Untap’s flexible data model facilitates the collection of financial, operational, and qualitative information within a single environment. This assists managers in meeting the growing demand for transparency regarding return generation and fund performance, while also streamlining investor onboarding and communications.

Moving forward, the combined platform aims to bridge the gap between investor engagement and underlying portfolio data. While both platforms will continue to support their existing clients, the development roadmap focuses on unifying the user experience and strengthening data infrastructure. Legal and financial advice for the transaction was provided to Untap by Hart Brown, PwC, and Kitra Advisory.