CFI Financial Group
CFI Financial Group is a privately held, multi-jurisdiction online brokerage (founded 1998) offering CFDs, stock and options trading across 15,000+ instruments to retail traders and investors, primarily in MENA and increasingly Latin America, monetized through spreads and transaction fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersEbène, Mauritius
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CFI Financial Group does
CFI Financial Group is a privately held online trading and investment brokerage founded in 1998, with a global headquarters entity in Ebène, Mauritius (CFI International Ltd) and a regional operating hub in Dubai. The company offers retail and professional traders access to over 15,000 instruments, predominantly through CFD (Contracts for Difference) products spanning forex, metals, energies, indices, ETFs, crypto, bonds and futures, alongside direct stock investing (from a $10 minimum), MENA-listed equities and US options. Its primary customer base is individual retail traders and longer-term investors concentrated across the MENA region, with an active push into Latin America (Colombia, Brazil) and EMEA-adjacent markets.
Technically, CFI runs a platform-plus-modules architecture: a proprietary CFI Trading App (70K+ downloads, 4.7 rating) and CFI Multi-Asset platform, supplemented by third-party platforms MetaTrader 5 and embedded TradingView charting. Differentiating features include Kaiana, an OpenAI-powered conversational trading assistant providing market and sentiment analysis; Trading Transparency+, an educational/disclosure program; social/copy trading; and market-specific integrations such as Direct Market Access to Dubai Financial Market stocks via BHM Capital and biometric eKYC onboarding via Beyon Connect's eKey in Bahrain. The group operates under 15 regulatory licenses across five continents (including UK FCA, UAE CMA, Cyprus CySEC, plus emerging-market regulators), which is central to its positioning.
Revenue is transaction-based: the company markets commission-free trading and monetizes primarily through spreads, swaps and leverage-related costs on CFD flow, with additional revenue from stock/options transaction fees and an affiliate-style Introducing Broker (IB) program. Go-to-market combines self-serve product-led acquisition (digital marketing, brand ambassadors Lewis Hamilton and Maria Sharapova, educational content via CFI Academy), an IB channel-partner network, and enterprise field sales executed through country-level CEOs and locally licensed entities. No external venture or private equity funding is disclosed; growth appears self-funded since founding.
CFI Financial Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CFI Financial Group
- Legal name
- CFI International Ltd
- Website
- https://cfi.trade
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- CFI Financial Group is a privately held, multi-jurisdiction online brokerage (founded 1998) offering CFDs, stock and options trading across 15,000+ instruments to retail traders and investors, primarily in MENA and increasingly Latin America, monetized through spreads and transaction fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CFI Financial Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Brokerage
- NAICS
- Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail FX/CFD Broker Trading Venues (FSAFADAD)
Keywords
Where CFI Financial Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ebène
- HQ country
- Mauritius
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices15 records
Markets served
CFI Financial Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CFD Trading: CFI generates revenue primarily through CFD (Contracts for Difference) trading across forex, metals, energies, indices, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and futures. Revenue is generated through spreads, swaps, and leverage-related costs. The company offers commission-free trading with spreads as the primary revenue driver.
- Stock Investing: Revenue from stock investing services, offering access to stocks listed across US, Europe, Asia, and MENA markets. Users can start investing with as little as $10. Income may come from transaction fees or spreads on stock trades.
- ETF Trading: Revenue from ETF CFD trading, offering access to funds like VOO, SPY, IVV, and others that track indices, sectors, commodities, and more.
- Options Trading: Revenue from options trading on US securities with advanced charting, low contract fees, and extensive risk-management features.
- Introducing Broker Program: Partners (IBs) earn commission by referring active clients to CFI. The company pays out commissions to partners, retaining a portion of the referred client trading activity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Zero Commission Account |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic Trader Account |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
CFI Financial Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CFI Financial Group is a global online trading broker offering retail and professional traders access to 15,000+ instruments across CFD forex, stocks, ETFs, options, metals, energies, indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and futures, plus direct stock investing starting from $10 minimum. The company delivers these services through proprietary platforms (CFI Trading App, CFI Multi-Asset, Kaiana AI assistant) and integrations with MetaTrader 5 and TradingView, operating under 15 regulatory licenses across MENA, EMEA, and LATAM.
Product overview
CFI Financial Group operates as a global online trading and investment services provider offering a unified platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering centers on the CFI Trading App, complemented by third-party platforms MetaTrader 5 and TradingView integration. The product portfolio spans CFD trading across 15,000+ instruments including forex, stocks, metals, energies, indices, ETFs, crypto CFDs, bonds, and futures, alongside direct stock investing and options trading. AI capabilities are delivered through Kaiana, an OpenAI-powered conversational trading assistant integrated into the mobile app. Additional modules include educational resources via CFI Academy, Trading Transparency+ program, social/copy trading, and an Introducing Broker partnership program. The company holds 15+ regulatory licenses across multiple jurisdictions including FCA (UK), CMA (UAE), CySEC (Cyprus), and has expanded into Latin America with Colombia and Brazil operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CFI Trading App: Mobile trading and investing application for trading CFDs and real stocks with advanced charting powered by TradingView
- Kaiana
- CFI Multi-Asset
- CFI Academy
- Trading Transparency+
- CFI Rewards
- CFI Card
Products and services
- CFI Trading App
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
- CFI Multi-Asset
- Kaiana AI Assistant
- Forex Trading
- Stocks Trading
- Metals Trading
- Energies Trading
- Indices Trading
- ETFs Trading
- Crypto CFDs Trading
- Bonds Trading
- Futures Trading
- Stock Investing
- MENA Stocks Investing
- Options Trading
- DFM Local Stock Trading
Quantifiable outcome
- Record trading volume of $2.3 trillion in Q1 2026, up 81% year-on-year
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CFI Financial Group
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CFI Financial Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
CFI Financial Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- BHM Capital Financial ServicescoreIntegration via Direct Market Access (DMA) facility enabling CFI clients to access over 40 local stocks listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). The partnership allows clients to access UAE-listed equities across sectors including real estate, banking, logistics, telecom, and utilities through a regulated platform, enhancing market accessibility and liquidity.
- Beyon ConnectcoreIntegration with Bahrain's national biometric digital identity and eKYC platform (EKEY-B), developed by Beyon Connect in cooperation with Bahrain's Information & eGovernment Authority. Enables fully digital onboarding for CFI Bahrain clients using secure 3D facial biometrics, eliminating passwords, OTPs, and manual document uploads while ensuring Central Bank of Bahrain KYC compliance. CFI became the first investment platform in Bahrain to use this technology.
- Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu DhabiflagshipStrategic partnership renewed through 2027, supporting cultural, entertainment, and sporting initiatives. The partnership reinforces Abu Dhabi's status as a global destination and reflects CFI's commitment to innovation and cultural enrichment. Both organizations emphasize shared vision to boost Abu Dhabi's cultural and tourism sectors.
- OpenAIcoreKaiana, CFI's advanced AI trading assistant, is powered by OpenAI technology. The AI assistant provides real-time market analysis, sentiment analysis, live quotes, risk management insights, strategy building, trading education, and personalized trading assistance through conversational interface.
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5)coreMetaTrader 5 platform offered as one of CFI's trading platforms for advanced charting and trading features, supporting CFD trading across multiple asset classes including metals, energies, indices, stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, and futures.
- TradingViewcoreTradingView charting integration powering advanced charting in the CFI Trading App and platforms, providing traders with powerful charting tools for real-time market analysis.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CFI Financial Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- XM Group (Trading Point Holdings): XM is a global multi-asset CFD broker with strong MENA presence and multi-jurisdictional regulation, offering MT4/MT5 platforms and copy trading. Closely comparable to CFI on product mix, target customer, and regulatory footprint across emerging markets.
- IC Markets: IC Markets is a globally regulated CFD/ECN broker targeting active and professional traders across multiple jurisdictions. Highly comparable to CFI on product breadth (forex, CFDs, stocks), platform stack, and zero/low-commission positioning.
- Pepperstone: Pepperstone is an Australian-headquartered CFD broker with global regulation (FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, SCB). Comparable to CFI in targeting active retail traders, offering tight spreads, and pursuing multi-jurisdictional expansion.
- Exness: Exness is a multi-jurisdictional CFD broker with strong presence in emerging markets (MENA, LATAM, Asia, Africa) and high reported trading volumes. Closely comparable to CFI on geographic targeting, product breadth, and emerging-market regulatory strategy.
- AvaTrade: AvaTrade is a regulated multi-asset CFD broker with licenses across 6+ jurisdictions and strong MENA presence. Comparable to CFI on platform offerings (MT4/MT5, proprietary apps), regulatory footprint, and zero-commission positioning on certain accounts.
- XTB: XTB is a publicly listed, multi-jurisdictional broker offering CFDs and stock/ETF investing across Europe, MENA, and LATAM. Comparable to CFI on multi-asset product evolution, AI features (xStation AI), and emerging-market expansion strategy.
- eToro: eToro is a multi-asset retail platform known for social/copy trading, offering stocks, ETFs, crypto, and CFDs across 100+ countries. Comparable to CFI on social trading feature, multi-asset breadth, and emerging-market growth focus.
Broad incumbents
- IG Group: IG Group is a FTSE 250-listed incumbent broker with decades of history, broad multi-asset offerings, and global regulation. A larger, broader incumbent operating in adjacent segments (CFDs, stocks, options) with deeper capital markets access than CFI.
- Plus500: Plus500 is a publicly listed, self-developed multi-asset CFD broker serving retail traders globally. Larger and more established than CFI, with comparable zero-commission CFD model and similar product breadth.
Regional players
- ADSS (formerly ADS Securities): ADSS is an Abu Dhabi-based broker with strong MENA roots, regulated by SCA and FCA. Comparable to CFI as a regional MENA-focused competitor with multi-jurisdictional expansion ambitions and similar institutional/retail product mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CFI Financial Group social profiles
Digital presenceCFI Financial Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance17 records
CFI Financial Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CFI Financial Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
CFI Financial Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
CFI Financial Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CFI Financial Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CFI Financial Group
What does CFI Financial Group do?
CFI Financial Group is a global online trading broker offering retail and professional traders access to 15,000+ instruments across CFD forex, stocks, ETFs, options, metals, energies, indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and futures, plus direct stock investing starting from $10 minimum. The company delivers these services through proprietary platforms (CFI Trading App, CFI Multi-Asset, Kaiana AI assistant) and integrations with MetaTrader 5 and TradingView, operating under 15 regulatory licenses across MENA, EMEA, and LATAM.
Is CFI Financial Group a public or private company?
CFI Financial Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was CFI Financial Group founded?
CFI Financial Group was founded in 1998. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CFI Financial Group based?
CFI Financial Group is headquartered in Ebène, Mauritius, in the Africa region.
How does CFI Financial Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. CFD Trading is the primary driver. The others are stock Investing, ETF Trading, options Trading and introducing Broker Program.
Who are CFI Financial Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are XM Group (Trading Point Holdings), IC Markets, Pepperstone, Exness, AvaTrade, XTB and eToro. Broad incumbents are IG Group and Plus500. ADSS (formerly ADS Securities) is listed as a regional player.
Does CFI Financial Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for CFI Financial Group.
What industry is CFI Financial Group in?
CFI Financial Group's product category is Online Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAFADAD, Retail FX/CFD Broker Trading Venues. Its NAICS code is 523 and its SIC code is 6200.