News · Analysis
XTB Gets Indonesian CFD Approval, Eyes Launch in Weeks
XTB has been authorised to offer CFDs in Indonesia and expects to launch the product within weeks, according to CEO Omar Arnaout in comments made to Polish-language YouTube channel Comparic and reported by Finance Magnates on 21 August 2026. The approval extends an existing local operation that previously covered only stocks and ETFs, following XTB's 2024 acquisition of a majority stake in Eagle Capital Futures. The move comes as Plus500 and Doo Financial also build regulated Indonesian CFD businesses, intensifying competition in a market XTB itself had described as unproven only months earlier.
XTB's push into Indonesia has moved from a stocks-and-ETFs pilot to a full CFD offering, according to remarks by chief executive Omar Arnaout reported by Finance Magnates on 21 August 2026. The disclosure came via a Polish-language YouTube interview with Comparic, translated by Finance Magnates, rather than a formal regulatory statement, which is worth bearing in mind when weighing the timeline.
What happened
Arnaout said XTB has received approval to offer CFDs in Indonesia and expects to introduce the product within weeks, with only minor operational work remaining before an official start, Finance Magnates reported. The authorisation broadens an Indonesian subsidiary that Warsaw-listed XTB built through the acquisition of a 90% stake in Eagle Capital Futures, completed in January 2024, according to the report. That local unit had previously been approved only for stocks and ETFs, with XTB initially targeting a 2025 launch for that business, Finance Magnates noted.
Why it matters
The CFD licence adds a higher-margin product line to a market where XTB has, by its own account, struggled with low deposits and limited brand recognition. In an earlier Comparic interview reported by Finance Magnates in March 2026, Arnaout said Indonesia had roughly six months to justify continued resourcing alongside Europe, the United Arab Emirates and South America, noting that while Indonesia produced XTB's fastest first 1,000 accounts, the underlying economics remained uncertain and he preferred directing technology resources toward Germany and the UAE. The latest comments suggest that assessment has shifted in Indonesia's favour, at least to the extent of unlocking a CFD product, though Arnaout also said the company has no further licensing or geographic expansion planned, according to Finance Magnates, and will instead concentrate on existing markets including Indonesia, Chile, the Gulf region and parts of Europe.
What it means for traders
For Indonesian retail clients, the practical effect is a broader product set from an existing broker rather than a new market entrant. XTB will be launching CFDs into a market where other international brokers have also been building locally regulated businesses. Finance Magnates reported that Plus500 acquired Bappebti-regulated broker Global Intra Berjangka in December 2025 after that firm had stopped onboarding clients in 2023, and began offering services through a local website. Separately, Doo Financial's Indonesian subsidiary received a futures brokerage licence and approval to participate in the country's alternative trading system in December 2024, with permits covering futures, CFDs and over-the-counter products, according to the report. Traders comparing platforms across markets may find it useful to see our Best Trading App winners as a starting point for broader due diligence, alongside our methodology for how such comparisons are constructed. Nothing in the Finance Magnates report indicates any award recognition tied to this news.
What to watch
Confirmation of an exact launch date, and any formal statement from Indonesian regulators, would firm up a timeline currently based on a translated executive interview rather than an official announcement. It will also be worth watching how XTB's Indonesian CFD volumes and deposits compare with the broker's earlier internal benchmarks, given Arnaout's March 2026 comments about uncertain economics in the market. The competitive dynamic with Plus500 and Doo Financial, both pursuing locally licensed CFD operations, is another factor likely to shape pricing and marketing in the region over the coming months.
FAQ
Has XTB officially launched CFDs in Indonesia? Not yet, according to Finance Magnates. CEO Omar Arnaout said in comments to Comparic, reported 21 August 2026, that approval has been secured and launch is expected within weeks, but no official start date has been confirmed.
What did XTB offer in Indonesia before this approval? Its local subsidiary, built via the 2024 acquisition of a majority stake in Eagle Capital Futures, had previously been approved to offer stocks and ETFs, with a 2025 launch initially targeted, according to Finance Magnates.
Are other brokers pursuing similar approvals in Indonesia? Yes. Finance Magnates reported that Plus500 acquired a Bappebti-regulated broker in December 2025, and that Doo Financial's Indonesian unit received a futures brokerage licence in December 2024 covering futures, CFDs and OTC products.