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AvaTrade

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AvaTrade
TypePrivate
IndustryFinancial services
Electronic trading platform
FoundedBritish Virgin Island 2006; 20 years ago (2006)[1]
Founders
  • Emanuel Kronitz
  • Negev Nosatzki
[2]
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland[3]
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Dáire Ferguson (CEO)
Turlough McIntyre, (VP Risk Managemer)
Ian Webb (vp compliance)[4]
ProductsElectronic trading platform, Forex, CFDs
ServicesOnline brokerage, investment management, electronic trading platform
Number of employees
450 (2025)[5]
Websitewww.avatrade.com

AvaTrade is a privately held broker of foreign exchange market and contract for difference, based in Dublin, Ireland. The company offers trading in commodities, stock market indexes, shares, exchange-traded funds, options, futures, cryptocurrencyies, and bonds, through its trading platforms and mobile apps.

History

[edit]

AvaTrade was founded in the British Virgin Islands as Ava FX (Ava Forex) in 2006 by Emanuel Kronitz and Negev Nosatzki, as an online forex broker.[6] In March 2011, the company acquired the non-American clients of the broker eForex.[7] In June 2011, it acquired the clients and client assets outside of the European Union from Finotec Trading UK Limited.[8] In July 2010, AvaTrade acquired ArtCo, a Japanese Forex broker.[9]

In 2013, AvaFX changed its name to AvaTrade to reflect the company's expansion beyond foreign exchange brokerage services to a broader range of financial services, including stocks, indices (including the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500), commodities, and bonds.[10] The company also operates under the name Ava Capital Markets and DT Direct Investment Hub.[11] In July 2014, AvaTrade acquired the Australian clients of YouTradeFX, a Sydney-based broker.[12] In 2015, Playtech attempted to acquire AvaTrade for US$105m,[13] but the deal was blocked due to concerns from the regulator, Central Bank of Ireland. AvaTrade had revenue of $70m in 2014 and had 13,400 "average active customers" in 2015, as stated in Playtech's acquisition announcement.[14]

In 2021, AvaTrade planned a London Stock Exchange IPO at a £700m valuation, but the move never materialized.[15] In June 2025, Zvika Barenboim made an offer to acquire a 50% stake in AvaTrade for an estimated valuation of between $400 million and $500 million. Although there's no official statements, as it is a privacy held company, the deal, which involves buying shares from an existing founder and injecting new capital, was approved by all 12 different legislations. According to AVA's website, it has 9 millions users worldwide with a monthly trading volume of $230 billion (2026).[16] Its annual EBITDA is estimated to be approximately $90 million.[5]

Regulation

[edit]

AvaTrade is regulated in the European Union by the Central Bank of Ireland,[17] in the British Virgin Islands by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission,[18] in South Africa by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority,[19] in Japan by the Tokyo Financial Exchange,[20] in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission,[21][22] in the United Arab Emirates by the Abu Dhabi Global Market,[23] in Israel by the Israel Securities Authority,[24] in Canada by the Canadian Securities Administrators,[11] in Columbia by the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia, in Poland by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority,[25] and in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The company offers its services to traders worldwide, except in the United States, Belgium, and New Zealand, as well as several restricted nations in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, Russia, and India.[26]

Products and platforms

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In April 2013, AvaTrade launched AvaOptions, a trading platform that allows clients to buy and sell traditional currency options and execute complex investment and hedging strategies.[27] In August 2013, AvaTrade became the second broker to offer online bitcoin trading, launching bitcoin CFDs on its trading platforms.[28] In February 2014, the company launched HushTrade.com, an educational website that offers its clients strategic advice, training materials, and other content from professional traders.[29]

Controversies

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In 2013, an Israeli court ruled that a lawsuit against the company would be heard in Israel, rejecting the claim that the dispute must be settled in the United Kingdom. The judge determined that the "foreign jurisdiction clause" is a prejudicial term designed to deter Israeli customers from taking legal action.[30] In 2014, a lawsuit was filed against the company in the Tel Aviv District Economic Court; the judge ruled that the company does not operate under an inherent conflict of interest, as an investor's loss is not the company's gain.[31] In May 2017, the Israel Securities Authority fined AvaTrade's local subsidiary 150,000 ILS for misleading advertising regarding its high-risk Contract for Difference (CFD) operations.[32][33]

In August 2017, the Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium and the broker reached a settlement payment of €175,000 because AvaTrade had been providing financial services in the country without meeting all legal requirements.[34]

In July 2019, Ava Trade settled with the Ontario Securities Commission after allegations of operating an unregistered trading platform for Canadian clients. The company agreed to pay over $4 million in combined penalties and disgorgement and cease operations in Canada.[35]

References

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  1. ↑ Michael Rauchberger (March 14, 2010). Abramovich is trying to take Eva public abroad. Haaretz.
  2. ↑ Yaniv Magal (March 3, 2015). "There are people who come here to go wild, putting down $100,000 wanting to make a million in an instant. But those for whom this is their primary occupation can make a profit." Globes.
  3. ↑ Paul O'Donoghue (October 6, 2015). Playtech's $105m pitch for Dublin broker is blocked. Irish Independent.
  4. ↑ Management. company site.
  5. 1 2 Almog Ezer (June 18, 2025). Zvika Barenboim is on track to acquire a controlling interest in AvaTrade at a valuation of $450 million. Calcalist.
  6. ↑ Nathan Sheva and Tal Levy (May 13, 2009). Ava Forex — the foreign exchange company owned by Clal Finance and Moshik Lipetz — earned 21 million shekels in the first quarter. TheMarker.
  7. ↑ Michael Greenberg (March 22, 2011). eForex transfers clients to AvaFX. Finance Magnates.
  8. ↑ Gerald Segal (June 6, 2011). AvaFX acquires clients from Finotec'. Leap Rate.
  9. ↑ Shay Aspril (December 22, 2011). Teddy forex. Calcalist.
  10. ↑ Plamen Stoyanov and Ola Alder (March 31, 2026). AvaTrade Review 2026. fxempire.com.
  11. 1 2 AvaTrade/Avatrade. Canadian Securities Administrators.
  12. ↑ Mike Fox (July 30, 2014). AvaTrade acquires the Australian customer book of Sydney-based broker. YouTradeFX. leaprate.com.
  13. ↑ (1 July 2015). Playtech buys Israeli co Ava Trade for $105m. Globes.
  14. ↑ Vincent Boland (October 5, 2015). Playtech suffers setback in bid to acquire AvaTrade. Financial Times.
  15. ↑ Mark Kleinman (March 25, 2021). Online trading platform AvaTrade places bet on £700m London float. Sky News.
  16. ↑ About. AVA's website.
  17. ↑ AVA Trade EU Limited.
  18. ↑ Ava Trade Markets Ltd. British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission.
  19. ↑ (February 2, 2023). FSCA warns against unauthorised financial services providers. Financial Sector Conduct Authority (South Africa).
  20. ↑ Members, Other Futures Brokers. The Financial Future Association of Japan.
  21. ↑ Ava Trade EU Limited. Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
  22. ↑ D.T. Direct Investment Hub Ltd. Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
  23. ↑ Ava Trade Middle East Limited. Abu Dhabi Global Market,
  24. ↑ Authorized Trading Platforms. Israel Securities Authority.
  25. ↑ AVA Trade EU Limited. Polish Financial Supervision Authority
  26. ↑ (2020). AvaTrade review. Brokerguide.
  27. ↑ Ron Finberg (April 16, 2013). AvaTrade Launches FX Options – Powered By Sentry Derivatives. Finance Magnates.
  28. ↑ Ron Finberg (August 5, 2013). AvaTrade Launching Bitcoin Trading On Both Its AvaTrader and MT4 Platform. Finance Magnates.
  29. ↑ Steven Hatzakis (February 20, 2014). AvaTrade Launches HushTrade.com Portal, and New Binary Options Offering Is Live. Finance Magnates.
  30. ↑ Yasmin Gueta (July 17, 2013). Court: Dispute to be heard in Israel - even though Forex determined it will be heard in the UK. TheMarker.
  31. ↑ Efrat Neuman (July 2, 2014). Court rules: Atrade Forex company's business model is not based on client losses. TheMarker.
  32. ↑ Uri Tomer (July 4, 2017). Legal but Lethal: Who will remain in the arena after the crackdown on Binary Options?. TheMarker.
  33. ↑ (May 9, 2017). The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) imposed a financial sanction of NIS 150,000 on the trading arena Atrade Ltd. for violating the Securities Law.
  34. ↑ (August 23, 2017). Agreed settlement - AVA TRADE EU Ltd and iCFD Ltd.
  35. ↑ (July 25, 2019). International trading platforms pay more than $10 million following settlements with OSC. The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC).
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