For brokers focusing on trader acquisition and retention, the time to recalibrate your strategy for 2026 is now. At Contentworks Agency we recommend revisiting your forex marketing strategy at least once a year because the industry evolves faster than other sectors. Market volatility, regulatory updates, policy changes and shifts in trader behaviour can quickly make once-effective campaigns obsolete. Advertising platforms also change their rules and algorithms frequently, altering how audiences are reached and measured. Additionally, your focus may have shifted. New assets, new regions and new regulators can all dictate a new strategy. A yearly reset ensures that your marketing stays compliant, competitive, and responsive to both market trends and trader needs. Let’s take a detailed look at the 2025 forex marketing landscape and what brokers should prioritise in 2026.
The Forex Landscape in 2025
In recent years we’ve heard people say “the forex industry is ending” or “there is no money left in the FX sector”. Neither are true. According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Triennial Survey, average daily FX turnover in April 2025 reached US $9.6 trillion, up 28% from US $7.5 trillion in 2022.
Global Turnover and Instrument Breakdown
- Spot markets recorded about US $3.0 trillion per day, representing 31% of total turnover (up from 28% in 2022).
- Outright forwards amounted to about US $1.8 trillion per day, or 19% of global FX turnover (up from 15% in 2022).
- FX swaps remained the single largest instrument volume, at around US $4.0 trillion per day, though their share fell to 42% (down from 51% in 2022).
- Options and other products more than doubled in volume: they accounted for about 7% of global turnover in April 2025 (up from 4% in 2022) with estimated notional around US $0.63 trillion per day.
- Combined spot and derivatives trading on centralised cryptocurrency exchanges reached US $9.72 trillion in August 2025, up 7.6% month-over-month.
- Derivatives trading made up about 75.7% of total centralised crypto-exchange activity during that surge.
- In the first half of 2025, total exchange trading volume hit roughly US $9.36 trillion, the strongest H1 since 2021.
- The global crypto market capitalisation climbed to US $4.0 trillion by Q3 2025, up 16.4% from the prior quarter.
- Regional on-chain crypto activity in the Asia-Pacific region rose 69% YoY, with value received jumping from US $1.4 trillion to US $2.36 trillion in the 12 months ending June 2025.
- Global interest in prop trading has surged by over 600% in the past four years, a trend that traditional forex brokers can’t afford to ignore
Currencies
- The US dollar remained dominant, appearing on one side of 89.2% of trades in April 2025.
- The euro’s share declined to 28.9% (from 30.6% in 2022) and the Japanese yen’s share held at approximately 16.8%.
- The pool of top currency pairs also changed: whereas in 2022 the “seven major” currency-pairs represented 85% of global turnover, by 2025 that share had fallen to 66.3 %.
- The USD/CNY pair increased to 8.1% of global turnover (up from about 6.6% in 2022) and USD/CHF to 4.9% (from 3.9%).
Geographic Hubs
Trading remained concentrated in major centres such as the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore and Hong Kong collectively intermediated about 75% of global FX turnover. Singapore’s share rose to 11.8%. At the same time, new and emerging regions are attracting more traders. The United Arab Emirates, is seeing rising activity thanks to favorable regulations and tech‑savvy retail clients. Africa, led by Nigeria, is also emerging as a growing market, driven by mobile-first trading adoption and increasing retail participation. Latin America, especially Brazil and Mexico, is seeing higher engagement as brokers offer local payment options and educational content in native languages. These regions represent high-potential markets for brokers seeking expansion beyond traditional hubs.
What This Means for Brokers
- The market is not only large (now nearly US $10 trillion per day) but accelerating: +28% growth in three years is significantly higher than the previous period.
- While the bulk of turnover remains institutional and inter-dealer, the shift in instrument mix (more spot, forwards, options) also provides more opportunity for retail-focused brokers and liquidity providers.
- Currency pair diversity is increasing, and major-pair dominance is dropping meaning more room for brokers to highlight less crowded products.
- Concentration in hubs means regulation, connectivity and technology infrastructure remain critical for brokers.
- Localisation is key. It’s no longer enough to have your content translated into local languages. It needs to be culturally localised and supported in the regions you want to focus on.
Competition Amongst Brokers
The forex space isn’t getting smaller but with competition increasing, it might feel like that for brokers. The broker landscape in forex is intensely crowded and increasingly competitive. According to one industry review, there are over 3,400 active forex brokers globally as of mid‑2025, operating under varying regulatory regimes, business models and jurisdictions.
Despite this large number, fewer than 25% of those brokers are estimated to be fully regulated by top‑tier authorities such as the Financial Conduct Authority (UK), Australian Securities & Investments Commission (Australia) or Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (EU). The number of new broker entities entering the market annually remains high. On average 200 to 300 new brokers launch each year while 400 to 600 firms may cease operations or be black‑listed annually owing to regulatory, financial or operational issues.
For a forex marketing team, this context means that differentiation is critical. With thousands of competitors vying for the same retail and institutional clients, brokers must stand out not just on price or leverage, but on clarity of proposition, content, education, localisation, and trusted brand positioning.
Speak to our team about strategy for your forex broker.
Forex Broker Marketing Priorities for 2026
So, what should forex brokers be prioritising in 2026? In 2026, success will hinge on how effectively forex brokers can integrate technology, analytics, and authentic communication into every layer of their business. From smarter ad targeting and CRM automation to content localisation; brokers must align marketing and product experiences seamlessly. It’s no longer just about getting traders to deposit, it’s about keeping them active.
Strengthen Trust and Compliance
In 2026, trust is one of the most powerful marketing levers for forex brokers. Traders are increasingly savvy and cautious, and marketing messages that feel exaggerated are quickly dismissed. Aim to build credibility by prioritising transparency in all communications, showing traders exactly what to expect. Content marketing plays a central role in this effort. Educational materials, clear explanations of trading processes, and honest messaging about risks and opportunities help position your broker as reliable and customer focused. Storytelling can highlight how the broker supports traders, manages risk, and delivers value without overpromising results.
Speak to our team about creating trustful financial content.
Use AI Carefully
AI can be a powerful tool for researching, creating onboarding flows, suggesting account types or instruments based on behaviour, and predicting churn. It can also assist in generating creative copy and dynamic offers at scale. However, in the financial sector, it is essential to exercise caution. Always fact-check any AI-generated content, ensuring all claims are accurate and sources are reputable. Rewrite AI outputs to align with your brand voice, tone, and messaging, maintaining authenticity and clarity. In our opinion, a human review is non-negotiable, particularly for tone, compliance and regulatory alignment.
Rebuild Educational Content and Creative Quality
We can say from our experience in forex marketing that in a crowded market, educational depth is a differentiator. Develop structured learning journeys (beginner to advanced), social media posts, live webinars, interactive tools. Produce short-form video and podcast content. Gamify progression with badges, certifications and even points that can be redeemed for coffees or travel perks.
Speak to our team about improving your forex education centre.
Refine Paid Acquisition Strategy
Paid acquisition works best when paired with a strong content strategy that drives engagement and conversion. Focus on high-intent channels like search and trusted publisher partnerships, but prioritise the quality and relevance of the content being served over sheer volume.
Use well-crafted educational articles, videos, tutorials, and interactive tools within campaigns to capture attention and guide traders through the funnel. Test different messaging and formats with holdout groups to measure incremental lift and optimise content performance. Low-quality content won’t build credibility or drive meaningful engagement. By integrating thoughtful, performance-focused content into paid campaigns, forex brokers can improve conversion rates, build trust, and maximise ROI.
Invest In Retained Reputation Management
Reputation is a core marketing asset that directly affects acquisition, retention, and lifetime value. Monitor brand mentions across social media, forums, news, and review platforms to identify and address negative coverage quickly. Produce thought leadership content, expert articles, videos, and case studies to position your forex brand as a trusted authority. Use SEO and PR to ensure positive content ranks highly in search results. Plan for crisis scenarios with ready messaging and workflows. Encourage trader reviews, engage in trading communities, and respond to feedback openly. Track KPIs like brand sentiment, share of voice, and NPS, and refine strategies monthly.
We provide monthly reputation management packages for brokers. Speak with our team.
Key Performance Indicators (Marketing + Business)
Stuck for KPIs to track in 2026? Here are some KPIs that align marketing with business outcomes.
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) – Track how much it costs to acquire a new funded trader through each channel.
- Demo-to-Live Conversion Rate –Measure the percentage of demo users who open real accounts and fund them.
- Retention at 30, 90, and 365 Days – Check how many traders stay active after one month, three months, and one year. Short-term retention reflects onboarding quality.
- Average Revenue per Active Trader (ARAT) and Trade Frequency – Calculate how much revenue each active trader generates and how often they trade. These figures reveal engagement levels and overall client value.
- SEO Ranking for Key Content Pages – Track how well educational articles, landing pages, and thought leadership content rank for relevant search terms. Higher rankings drive organic traffic, brand authority, and lower CAC over time.
- Brand Mentions and Sentiment Across Social Media and Forums – Monitor brand mentions, discussions, and sentiment on social media, trading communities, and forums. Understanding perception and engagement helps refine messaging, content strategy, and reputation management efforts.
- Time to First Deposit and Withdrawal Success Rate – Measure how quickly new users make their first deposit. Fast deposits suggest positive outbound marketing, a smooth onboarding process and strong trust.
- Incremental Lift from Paid Campaigns – Use control groups to see how much paid campaigns increase conversions or deposits. This shows the true impact of advertising beyond organic growth.
- Compliance Incident Count and Resolution Time – Count how many compliance issues occur in a given period and how quickly they are resolved. Fewer incidents and faster responses indicate strong governance and brand integrity.
To take your forex marketing strategy to the next level in 2026, it’s important to combine data-driven insights, content-led campaigns, and reputation management with expert guidance. Book a Zoom with Contentworks Agency, specialists in forex marketing, to explore how your brand can grow, engage traders, and maximise ROI.