ATFX Connect Partners With Fortress Core To Expand Institutional Trading Access Across African Markets

ATFX Connect has entered into a strategic partnership with Fortress Core Connect to expand institutional trading access across African markets, with the collaboration initially focusing on South Africa before expanding to Namibia, Kenya and Botswana by the end of 2025.

The partnership combines ATFX Connect's globally regulated multi-asset platform and ODP Provider licence in South Africa with Fortress Core Connect's specialisation in African institutional trading. The arrangement aims to provide regulated financial institutions throughout the continent with comprehensive access to tier-1 bank and non-bank liquidity, advanced trading technology and institutional-grade execution services.

ATFX Connect operates as an ODP (Over-the-Counter Derivatives Provider)-regulated market participant in South Africa, ensuring full regulatory compliance for institutional clients working through the partnership.

Comprehensive trading infrastructure offering

Through the collaboration, Fortress Core Connect will provide clients with access to tier-1 multi-asset liquidity sourced from banks, non-bank market makers and institutional-grade liquidity providers. This aims to deliver tighter spreads, reduced slippage and optimal trade execution across forex, commodities, indices and digital assets.

Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director of ATFX Connect, said: "At ATFX Connect, we are committed to revolutionising institutional trading by delivering deep liquidity and advanced trading solutions to emerging markets. Our partnership with Fortress Core Connect is a significant step in providing financial institutions in Africa with the tools and infrastructure needed to thrive in the global markets. By combining our institutional-grade platform with Fortress Core's regional expertise, we are setting new benchmarks for market access and trade execution efficiency across Africa."

White-label and technology solutions

The partnership introduces fully customisable white-label solutions, enabling brokers, asset managers and trading firms to scale their operations with institutional-grade trading technology. These solutions include customisable front and back-ends, CRM systems, client portals, online application forms, PSP integrations and access to multiple APIs.

ATFX Connect's proprietary execution technology provides ultra-low latency trade execution for high-frequency trading strategies, advanced Smart Order Routing (SOR) to optimise trade execution and minimise market impact, plus seamless integration with both proprietary and third-party trading platforms.

Targeted client segments

The partnership is designed to serve brokers requiring scalable brokerage solutions with deep liquidity access, proprietary trading firms seeking low-latency execution and customisable front ends, and hedge funds and asset managers looking for optimised execution with risk-adjusted liquidity.

Institutional clients including CFD brokers, asset managers and other regulated financial service providers will benefit from turnkey solutions designed to enhance execution quality, reduce trading costs and provide access to institutional-grade trading technology whilst maintaining full FSCA compliance.

Regulatory framework and expansion

The collaboration ensures transparent trade execution with full regulatory reporting, enhanced oversight for compliance with South African financial regulations, and best execution policies that meet global industry standards. Automated reporting and regulatory compliance features are included as part of the offering.

Fortress Core Connect views the partnership as supporting its mission to empower African financial institutions with connectivity needed to compete in global markets without the operational burdens typically associated with international market access. The arrangement enables institutions to access international trading capabilities through a single intermediary relationship.

The companies describe the collaboration as addressing the evolving needs of institutional clients, with plans for continuous innovation and expansion of service offerings as the partnership develops across the targeted African markets.