When we launched the Add-ons Interview Series in 2025, our goal was simple: to create space for meaningful conversations in the fintech/trading industry.
We wanted to go beyond surface-level discussions of trading platforms and technologies to ask deeper questions:
How does innovation translate into real client value for brokerages, and how do we, as an industry, prepare for what’s next?
Over the last few months, Add-ons has become a platform for collaboration and idea exchange. We brought together founders, executives, compliance experts, and technologists to explore the shifts shaping the future of online trading.
And now, as 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to pause, reflect, and share what we’ve learned before we look forward to the next chapter.
What Add-ons 2025 revealed
Throughout this year’s series, we explored themes at the very heart of the brokerage business: innovation, compliance, automation, and trust. Each guest offered a unique lens, yet a few key lessons echoed through every conversation.
Episode 1: The A–Z of Online Trading Service Creation
We opened the Add-ons series by going back to basics: what does “service creation” truly mean for a broker today?
In this foundational episode, Paulina Parowicz and Anton Sokolov from Brokeree Solutions unpacked the layers of building a brokerage offering that goes beyond technology.
Anton explained that a service isn’t a standalone product or turnkey solution. It’s the entire ecosystem that connects technology, people, and process. Installing a platform is just the first step. The service begins once it’s live, when brokers help clients use it effectively, tailor it to their needs, and sustain it through ongoing support.
The discussion also touched on the pitfalls many new brokers face. Too often, firms rush to choose tech providers before defining their audience. Anton advised that understanding who you serve and what their needs are must come first because that choice shapes everything, from marketing tone to platform setup to staffing.
By the end of the conversation, one insight stood out: differentiation rarely comes from the technology itself. It comes from how you deliver, package, communicate, and support it. That’s what makes a service memorable.
Episode 2: AI Agents Transforming Fintech & Online Trading
Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining forces reshaping the fintech and trading landscape, and in this episode, Katerina Burtsava of Think Huge joined Paulina to break down how AI agents are driving that transformation.
Katerina defined AI agents as intelligent, autonomous systems capable of performing tasks, analyzing data, and making adaptive decisions in real time. Unlike static chatbots or rule-based bots, AI agents adapt and respond in real time, making them invaluable for modern online trading operations.
The conversation explored how AI can support both external and internal operations: providing instant trader communication, personalizing education, and automating marketing or compliance processes. But beyond capability, Katerina emphasized readiness and responsibility. Brokers need to define their objectives and plan for security and compliance and train their AI agent accordingly.
They should deploy AI models on private, secured servers and safeguard sensitive data, especially when using third-party AI services. From fraud detection to customized client support, AI is quietly becoming the invisible infrastructure of modern brokerages.
Episode 3: Navigating Regulations in Prop Trading and Beyond
Regulation, the ever-moving foundation of the trading world, took center stage in this insightful discussion with Emil Kongelys, CTO at Muinmos.
Prop trading remains one of the industry’s gray zones: full of opportunity but surrounded by uncertainty. Emil broke down the realities and future direction of regulation in this space, emphasizing that new frameworks are less about restriction and more about clarity.
He pointed out that while regulators are not always the fastest to adapt, their growing focus on transparency and risk controls will ultimately strengthen the market.
Emil’s pragmatic perspective stood out: firms should prepare early by investing in strong compliance infrastructure, risk management, and documentation. Waiting for regulators to “catch up” is not a strategy. Emil noted that the industry has seen similar situations before. For example, copy trading existed for years before formal rules were introduced.
By looking at how products like copy trading eventually evolved under regulation, brokers can anticipate the direction prop trading might take and start preparing early. This approach reduces uncertainty and gives firms more time to build the risk and compliance structures they will eventually need.
He also emphasized the importance of technology partnerships in achieving compliance — pointing to solutions like those developed by Muinmos and Brokeree as key to safeguarding firms against operational risks.
“A bad tool could be even worse than anything else. It could close you down overnight.”
Ultimately, this episode reframed regulation as a strategic advantage: those who embed compliance early will be the ones ready to lead when formal rules arrive.
Episode 4: Building a Sustainable FX Brokerage with CRM & Copy Trading
What does sustainability look like in brokerage terms? In this episode, Nicole Demosthenous, COO of FXBO, joined Paulina to explore how the right CRM and copy trading tools can help brokers build scalable, client-centered operations.
Nicole explained the importance of a forex-specific CRM, which connects the dots between trading platforms, payment providers, and compliance systems.
The conversation touched on the most common pitfalls: many brokers rush into choosing CRMs based on cost or speed, only to discover later that scalability and customization were missing.
Beyond technology, collaboration emerged as a recurring theme. Brokers thrive when their tech partners communicate with each other. That transparency, she argued, is what builds trust and smooth experiences for traders.
The discussion ended with a forward-looking insight: innovation in CRM should always be client-driven, not vendor-driven. The brokers who listen closely to their traders and relay those needs back to their providers will shape the next generation of brokerage technology.
Episode 5: Intelligent KYC Transforming Broker Security
In this episode, Angelos Gregoriou, CEO and Co-Founder of Dynamic Works, explored how KYC, long considered a compliance necessity, is transforming into a true enabler of trust and security.
As fraud and identity scams become more sophisticated, Angelos explained that modern eKYC systems must evolve too. Today’s intelligent KYC solutions leverage AI, NFC verification, and behavioral analytics to identify anomalies and flag risks before they become threats.
He described how innovations such as NFC chip scanning, liveness checks, and voice analysis have turned identity verification into a faster, more accurate, and more fraud-resistant process. Contrary to fears that stronger verification slows onboarding, Angelos explained that automation accelerates it by eliminating manual steps and data entry.
The conversation also looked ahead. As Angelos explained, there might be a shift toward identity-based sign-ins using NFC-enabled IDs instead of social or email logins. This would create a universal digital identity that is secure, portable, and verifiable.
Looking ahead: Add-ons 2026
If 2025 was about exploring what’s changing, 2026 will be about uncovering what’s next.
In the coming year, we’ll continue the Add-ons journey with new voices and new themes. The series will remain a platform for open dialogue, practical insight, and shared vision across the fintech and trading ecosystem. Because while technology powers the industry, it’s collaboration that propels it forward.
Thank you for being part of the journey
To everyone who tuned in or joined the discussion, thank you. Your engagement made Add-ons what it is today. We can’t wait to continue the conversation in 2026.
→ Catch up on all 2025 episodes of Add-ons on our YouTube channel.
Have a story or idea for the next season? Drop us a line at [email protected]; we’d love to hear from you.
