As regulatory requirements continue to grow across the financial services industry, brokers face more stringent decisions about where to establish operations, how to expand internationally, and how to manage compliance costs.
Speaking with Finance Magnates at iFX Expo International 2026, Nikos Kesaridis, CEO of… AP Standard Chartered Corporate Services Limitedshared his views on today’s licensing landscape, why some companies are reconsidering existing jurisdictions, and where he thinks the industry is headed next.
A one-stop shop for licenses and corporate services
Nikos AP described Standard Chartered as… A corporate services provider offering licensing, legal, compliance, accounting and auditing servicesWith a presence and ongoing operational support across several jurisdictions, including Cyprus, Seychelles, Hong Kong, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates.
Unlike companies that rely on external partners, AP provides these services under one roof.
“We are truly a one-stop shop for anyone looking to set up a regulated brokerage, crypto business or gambling operation, and we continue to support them long after the license is issued.”
According to Nico, this model allows customers to do just that Get support faster while reducing costs By avoiding multiple providers.
Regulation has become more demanding
The interview focused largely on how regulatory expectations continue to increase across global financial centres.
Nikos explained that obtaining and maintaining a license has become significantly more expensive, especially in Cyprus, where companies must have much of their operational structure in place before it is approved.
He noted that some brokers are now questioning whether maintaining a Cyprus license is still commercially worthwhile.
“No one has a million to burn while waiting just a year or two to get a license.”
He also pointed to increased operational requirements in other jurisdictions, including local director obligations and limited talent pools that make compliance increasingly difficult.
Why the UAE continues to attract brokers
While discussing global regulatory competition, Nikos highlighted the UAE’s rapid growth as a preferred destination for financial firms.
Rather than trying to create a perfect regulatory system from the beginning, he believes UAE regulators have focused on building practical frameworks that improve over time.
This practical approach, combined with faster licensing processes, has helped attract brokers, professionals and investments from all over the world.
Greece appears as an alternative
One of the most surprising points raised during the discussion was Greece’s increasing attractiveness to FX and CFD companies.
According to Nikos, Greece provides greater certainty because regulators work within legally defined timelines for approval.
Unlike some jurisdictions where delays can extend beyond expectations, applicants know when to expect a decision.
This predictability has made Greece increasingly attractive to companies planning European expansion, he explained.
Compliance starts before problems arise
Compliance management, according to Nikos, requires much more than just regulatory reporting.
His team assigns dedicated compliance officers to clients while maintaining regular communication about expansion plans, client onboarding and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Rather than waiting for compliance issues to arise, AP works proactively to reduce future regulatory risks.
Choosing the right license is more important than getting more licenses
Nikos challenged the assumption that brokers should simply combine licenses across multiple jurisdictions.
Instead, he believes that companies must first understand their business goals before expanding.
Different regulatory bodies impose different sanctions policies, encryption rules, and client eligibility requirements, making some licenses more suitable than others depending on business goals.
“We’re not the kind of company that sells a license just because someone wants it. We first have to understand why they actually need it.”
Customer support as a competitive advantage
When discussing why clients choose AP Standard Chartered, Nikos cited direct access and long-term relationships.
Each client gets dedicated account management, while he personally remains available when serious issues arise, he explained.
His commitment extends beyond phone calls.
“Eight months out of the year I personally travel to visit clients. I even traveled to Australia for just one day to meet a client.”
Prediction markets could be the next major trend
Looking to the future, Nikos believes the industry will continue to change as regulations reshape current business models.
Following the emergence of private trading companies, prediction markets are expected to become the next major growth area as companies search for new products.
He believes that regulatory attention will eventually follow this sector, just like previous industry developments.
Key takeaways
-
AP Standard Chartered positions itself as a full-service licensing and compliance provider.
-
Increased regulatory requirements are increasing operating costs across major jurisdictions.
-
Greece has become an attractive alternative due to clearer licensing timelines.
-
The UAE continues to attract brokers with practical regulation and faster execution.
-
Compliance should focus on ongoing communication rather than reactive reporting.
-
Companies should choose licenses based on business strategy, not quantity.
-
Prediction markets may become one of the next major growth sectors in the industry.
Watch the full interview
Want to hear Nikos explain why brokers are leaving certain jurisdictions, why Greece is gaining momentum, and why prediction markets could reshape the industry?
◀ Watch the full Finance Magnates interview for the full discussion.
As regulatory requirements continue to grow across the financial services industry, brokers face more stringent decisions about where to establish operations, how to expand internationally, and how to manage compliance costs.
Speaking with Finance Magnates at iFX Expo International 2026, Nikos Kesaridis, CEO of… AP Standard Chartered Corporate Services Limitedshared his views on today’s licensing landscape, why some companies are reconsidering existing jurisdictions, and where he thinks the industry is going next.
A one-stop shop for licenses and corporate services
Nikos AP described Standard Chartered as… A corporate services provider offering licensing, legal, compliance, accounting and auditing servicesWith a presence and ongoing operational support across several jurisdictions, including Cyprus, Seychelles, Hong Kong, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates.
Unlike companies that rely on external partners, AP provides these services under one roof.
“We are truly a one-stop shop for anyone looking to set up a regulated brokerage, crypto business or gambling operation, and we continue to support them long after the license is issued.”
According to Nico, this model allows customers to do just that Get support faster while reducing costs By avoiding multiple providers.
Regulation has become more demanding
The interview focused largely on how regulatory expectations continue to increase across global financial centres.
Nikos explained that obtaining and maintaining a license has become significantly more expensive, especially in Cyprus, where companies must have much of their operational structure in place before it is approved.
He noted that some brokers are now questioning whether maintaining a Cyprus license is still commercially worthwhile.
“No one has a million to burn while waiting just a year or two to get a license.”
He also pointed to increased operational requirements in other jurisdictions, including local director obligations and limited talent pools that make compliance increasingly difficult.
Why the UAE continues to attract brokers
While discussing global regulatory competition, Nikos highlighted the UAE’s rapid growth as a preferred destination for financial firms.
Rather than trying to create a perfect regulatory system from the beginning, he believes UAE regulators have focused on building practical frameworks that improve over time.
This practical approach, combined with faster licensing processes, has helped attract brokers, professionals and investments from all over the world.
Greece appears as an alternative
One of the most surprising points raised during the discussion was Greece’s increasing attractiveness to FX and CFD companies.
According to Nikos, Greece provides greater certainty because regulators work within legally defined timelines for approval.
Unlike some jurisdictions where delays can extend beyond expectations, applicants know when to expect a decision.
This predictability has made Greece increasingly attractive to companies planning European expansion, he explained.
Compliance starts before problems arise
Compliance management, according to Nikos, requires much more than just regulatory reporting.
His team assigns dedicated compliance officers to clients while maintaining regular communication about expansion plans, client onboarding and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Rather than waiting for compliance issues to arise, AP works proactively to reduce future regulatory risks.
Choosing the right license is more important than getting more licenses
Nikos challenged the assumption that brokers should simply combine licenses across multiple jurisdictions.
Instead, he believes that companies must first understand their business goals before expanding.
Different regulatory bodies impose different sanctions policies, encryption rules, and client eligibility requirements, making some licenses more suitable than others depending on business goals.
“We’re not the kind of company that sells a license just because someone wants it. We first have to understand why they actually need it.”
Customer support as a competitive advantage
When discussing why clients choose AP Standard Chartered, Nikos cited direct access and long-term relationships.
Each client gets dedicated account management, while he personally remains available when serious issues arise, he explained.
His commitment extends beyond phone calls.
“Eight months out of the year I personally travel to visit clients. I even traveled to Australia for just one day to meet a client.”
Prediction markets could be the next major trend
Looking to the future, Nikos believes the industry will continue to change as regulations reshape current business models.
Following the emergence of private trading companies, prediction markets are expected to become the next major growth area as companies search for new products.
He believes that regulatory attention will eventually follow this sector, just like previous industry developments.
Key takeaways
-
AP Standard Chartered positions itself as a full-service licensing and compliance provider.
-
Increased regulatory requirements are increasing operating costs across major jurisdictions.
-
Greece has become an attractive alternative due to clearer licensing timelines.
-
The UAE continues to attract brokers with practical regulation and faster execution.
-
Compliance should focus on ongoing communication rather than reactive reporting.
-
Companies should choose licenses based on business strategy, not quantity.
-
Prediction markets may become one of the next major growth sectors in the industry.
Watch the full interview
Want to hear Nikos explain why brokers are leaving certain jurisdictions, why Greece is gaining momentum, and why prediction markets could reshape the industry?
◀ Watch the full Finance Magnates interview for the full discussion.
