FNG Exclusive Interview… Deriv has been shaping the global trading landscape for 26 years with the mission of making trading accessible to anyone, anywhere and at any time. With more than 3 million clients, the company continues to promote responsible inclusion through accessibility, education, and trust. Following recent participation in the industry panel “Trust Without Borders” at the Forex Expo Dubai 2025, Yoli Chisholm, Head of Marketing at Deriv, sat down with FNG to discuss how the company is preparing for the next billion traders.

FNG: Hi Yoli, and thanks so much for joining us today. Deriv’s mission has always been “accessible trading for anyone, anywhere, anytime.” What does accessibility really mean today, especially for traders in emerging markets?

Yoli: Accessibility in today’s context transcends mere platform availability. It’s about democratising financial opportunity in markets where traditional barriers have historically excluded millions from participating in the global economy.

Accessibility starts with practical learning and a low entry barrier. That means being able to start small, trade confidently from a phone, and grow skills over time.

Today, over 69% of our clients are mobile-only, so our platform is lightweight, works on low-data connections, supports 22+ languages, and offers local payment options. For example, in the UAE you can start with 40 AED. Deposits are low-cost and quick, with transparent withdrawals.

Our multi-decade commitment since 1999 has taught us that sustainable growth happens when traders can start within their means, develop competency progressively, and scale their activities organically.

Across Africa and Latin America, the same principles apply, mobile-first access, regional onboarding, and reliable local payments make global markets reachable for everyone.

FNG: You’ve said inclusion is not just about access, but also about education and trust. How do those elements come together at Deriv?

Yoli: Education and trust form a symbiotic relationship that fundamentally reshapes how traders engage with markets. Think of it as the difference between giving someone a map versus teaching them navigation, one is temporary assistance, the other builds lasting capability.

Inclusion lasts when clients understand risk, feel protected, and know they’re trading with a company that operates under clear, globally recognised standards.

Deriv Academy equips traders with practical learning tools to understand markets, products, and risk management from day one. We have structured learning pathways that progress from foundational concepts to advanced strategies, recognising that sustainable trading success requires graduated skill development.

Confidence deepens through regulatory accountability. Deriv operates under multi-jurisdictional licences across key financial hubs in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Each license represents stringent capital requirements, segregated client funds, and audit protocols that adhere with global standards. This global oversight ensures transparency, client protection, and responsible growth, allowing clients to trade with confidence wherever they are.

FNG: Digital innovation is accelerating access but how do you ensure it translates into long-term trust and participation?

Yoli: Digital innovation attracts more clients by removing friction and making trading more intuitive. It’s about speed, simplicity, and personalisation, from faster onboarding and smarter user journeys to mobile-first design that meets clients where they are. Seamless deposits, real-time execution, and built-in learning tools help new traders feel confident from the start. Trust and retention ensure long-term partnerships and loyalty. Every update we make to our platform, from copy trading on MT5 to extended trading hours, starts with client feedback and behaviour insights.

We embed risk literacy directly into the trading experience. Clients build competency through usage, with learning moments integrated into their journey rather than siloed in separate tutorials. It’s contextual education that sticks.

Our AI strategy focuses on operational excellence behind the scenes including rapid testing cycles, sentiment analysis, infrastructure optimisation. This translates to what clients actually value: consistent uptime, faster execution, intuitive interfaces.

Every enhancement must pass one test. Does it make the client’s journey simpler, safer, or more successful? Technology should reduce friction. When clients use more features over longer periods with increasing sophistication, that’s validation that innovation serves its true purpose.

FNG: Rebuilding trust is one of the biggest challenges in today’s forex landscape. What approaches have proven most effective in restoring trader confidence?

Yoli: New clients likely arrive carrying experience from another broker and we have to earn their confidence despite that baggage. Rebuilding trust requires radical transparency paired with consistent delivery. We have earned long-term trust by consistently putting transparency into action.

Today, we serve over 3 million clients worldwide, process 168 million deals every month, and see more than $650 billion in monthly trading volume. Those numbers reflect trust in action.

Our 26-year history is backed by multi-jurisdictional regulation across key markets, giving clients the confidence that we operate to global standards. Trust is earned daily through fast, reliable platforms, transparent pricing, and innovation that responds to client feedback, from copy trading on MT5 to AI-powered support and seamless local payments.

It’s also visible in real experiences. In some African countries, for instance, traders can fund accounts through M-Pesa and withdraw within minutes, with full transparency at every step. When outcomes consistently match expectations, confidence becomes loyalty.

FNG: Local payment solutions are crucial for seamless trading experiences. How important are they to Deriv’s growth and ability to serve clients worldwide?

Yoli: Payment infrastructure determines market success. When traders can’t fund accounts using familiar methods, they simply don’t start, making localisation non-negotiable for growth.

We integrate directly with payment methods clients already use and tailor the experience to local norms i.e local currencies, clear fees, and no surprises. That way we ensure the same reliability and transparency everywhere. In the UAE, our app supports instant local deposits and in-app support in both Arabic and English.

Beyond speed, we optimise for predictability. This means visible ETAs, real‑time status, proactive updates, and resilient routing when networks are congested. In some regions, these optimisations have reduced funding times from days to minutes.

Additionally, because access should be borderless, we’re expanding our crypto and stablecoin rails to facilitate 24/7 fund transfers and simplify cross-border transactions. Payment localisation is ultimately about respecting context, when geography becomes irrelevant to opportunity, true global reach emerges.

FNG: AI seems to be reshaping everything, from customer service to trading analytics. How does Deriv use AI in its operations?

Yoli: As an AI-first company, artificial intelligence deployment at Deriv follows a pragmatic philosophy: augment human capability, don’t replace human judgment. We’re systematically identifying where machine learning creates measurable operational advantage.

Our AI integration spans the entire operational stack. In compliance, algorithms flag unusual patterns for human review, while risk analytics models process millions of data points to identify exposure concentrations before they materialise. Development teams use AI for code review and security vulnerability detection, catching issues that manual processes miss.

A good example in practice is AMY, our customer service assistant which has elevated our CSAT to 98.8%. AMY resolves 80% of routine queries autonomously, manages password resets, balance inquiries, transaction status, but recognises complexity thresholds and seamlessly escalates to human specialists.

AI excels at pattern recognition and process optimisation, humans excel at strategy and relationship building. Respecting this distinction is why our AI investments deliver returns, not complications.

FNG: As forex evolves over the next decade, how do you envision its future and where does Deriv’s long-term mission fit within that transformation?

Yoli: The next decade will further blur the lines between forex and everyday financial services. We are already seeing investments seamlessly integrated into banking apps and payment platforms, and the next natural step is trading. As access expands, traders will expect the same simplicity, transparency, and instant control across all their financial activities. Mobile will remain traders’ preferred choice while pricing and risk information will be clearer. AI will create operations efficiencies. Clients will expect institutional-grade capabilities delivered with consumer-app simplicity.

Deriv’s strategic positioning anticipates this evolution. Our mission to make trading accessible, fair, and credible will not change, but we will continue to expand our global presence, innovate with AI, enhance both local and crypto/stablecoin rails, and ultimately, architect for people who don’t yet know they’ll trade.

When the next wave of traders arrive, they shouldn’t need a manual. Our job is to make trading simple, secure, and worth their trust.