IG Group

IG Group Holdings plc, trading as IG Group, is a United Kingdom-based financial services company that provides online access to leveraged and investment markets. Its historical core businesses are spread betting and contracts for difference, or CFDs, through which customers speculate on the price movements of instruments such as equities, indices, currencies, commodities and bonds without necessarily owning the underlying assets. Depending on the jurisdiction, the group also provides share dealing, foreign exchange, options, futures, exchange-traded products, managed portfolios, cryptocurrency services and related market research. The company began in London in 1974 as IG Index, founded by Stuart Wheeler. Its original proposition was to let customers speculate on gold prices through spread betting at a time when British exchange controls restricted ordinary access to physical gold. The model later expanded to financial instruments, foreign exchange and, for a period, sports betting. The business became IG Group in 2000 and has since developed from a specialist spread-betting firm into a multi-jurisdictional digital brokerage group. International expansion accelerated in the 2000s. IG entered Australia in 2002, acquired the United States derivatives platform HedgeStreet in 2007 and bought Japanese foreign-exchange provider FXOnline in 2008. HedgeStreet was subsequently operated as the North American Derivatives Exchange, or Nadex. IG also broadened its customer proposition through stockbroking, financial research and wealth-management products. Its acquisition of DailyFX in 2016 added a global foreign-exchange news and analysis platform, while its partnership with BlackRock produced IG Smart Portfolios, a digitally managed investment service. The group operates through locally regulated subsidiaries and varies its product range according to national rules. In the United Kingdom and Europe, its offerings have included CFDs, spread betting, share dealing and turbo warrants. The United States business, principally associated with tastytrade, has focused on options, futures and other products for self-directed investors. In 2024, the US foreign-exchange business IG US was rebranded as tastyfx. IG later expanded into direct cryptocurrency trading for UK customers and pursued further exposure to digital assets through the proposed acquisition of Australian exchange Independent Reserve. Regulation has strongly influenced the company's strategy. Leverage restrictions in Japan, the withdrawal of binary options, European limits on retail CFD leverage and product-intervention measures all affected revenue, risk management and customer acquisition. The company has also faced criticism and litigation relating to platform outages, customer losses, disclosure of risk and the treatment of retail clients. These issues reflect wider controversies surrounding leveraged retail trading rather than a single business line. IG Group is headquartered in London, is listed on the London Stock Exchange under IGG and has been a constituent of the FTSE 100. Recent strategy has combined investment in brokerage and investment products with portfolio reshaping, including the acquisitions of tastytrade and Freetrade and the disposal of Nadex. The group remains an active, regulated financial-services brand, although its precise geographic footprint and product availability continue to change as regulation and corporate strategy evolve.

IG Group originated in 1974 as IG Index, established by Stuart Wheeler with funding from personal contacts. Its first service used spread betting to give customers exposure to gold-price movements without requiring physical ownership. The concept was distinctive in the United Kingdom, where exchange controls made direct gold investment difficult. IG later applied the same model to a wider selection of financial markets. During the 1990s the company added sports spread betting and foreign-exchange trading. In July 2000, IG Group Holdings was created as the parent company of IG Index and was admitted to the London Stock Exchange. Internet adoption helped spread betting reach a larger audience, although the sports-betting operation was eventually closed after declining performance. The company began international expansion in Australia in 2002. In 2003, Wheeler sold his stake and the business underwent a management buyout backed by CVC Capital Partners. IG returned to the public market in 2005. It entered the United States in 2007 through the acquisition of HedgeStreet, an online derivatives venue later known as Nadex, and expanded in Japan through the 2008 acquisition of FXOnline. Regulatory and operating pressures shaped the following decade. Japanese leverage restrictions contributed to a reported loss in 2011, while the group also closed its extrabet sports service. IG diversified into stockbroking in 2014 and acquired DailyFX from FXCM in 2016. The same year, proposed UK conduct rules caused a sharp decline in the share price and intensified scrutiny of retail derivative products. IG withdrew binary options from its offering in early 2017. The group then moved toward broader investment services. In 2017 it partnered with BlackRock to launch IG Smart Portfolios, a digitally managed wealth product. European Securities and Markets Authority restrictions introduced in 2018 capped retail CFD leverage and prohibited binary options for retail clients, contributing to weaker European revenue and profit. IG established a US subsidiary in 2019, later rebranded as tastyfx, and launched its Brighter Future environmental, social and governance programme in 2020, including a fund for youth education and development. A major strategic shift followed with the 2021 acquisition of Tastytrade. The deal added a US retail brokerage with expertise in options, futures and active-investor tools. In 2022, IG sold Nadex and its Small Exchange interest, reducing exposure to those exchange assets. The group subsequently pursued a more diversified retail-investing model through the Freetrade acquisition, crypto-related product launches and the proposed Independent Reserve transaction. IG has also experienced recurring operational and legal criticism. Customers and media reports have raised concerns about trading-platform outages during volatile markets, the handling of customer losses and the risks of leveraged products. A 2015 Swiss franc event led to complaints and compensation ordered by the Financial Ombudsman Service. Australian proceedings have challenged the marketing and contractual treatment of retail CFD customers. These disputes sit alongside the ordinary regulatory demands of operating a leveraged-trading platform in multiple countries. Today, IG remains a London-listed international brokerage and trading group. Its identity combines the original spread-betting franchise with CFDs, investment products, self-directed US brokerage, research, managed portfolios and emerging digital-asset services. Its long-term strategy continues to be influenced by product regulation, technology reliability, customer protection expectations and the balance between organic expansion and acquisitions.

1. 2025Freetrade acquisition completes

   IG completes its acquisition of UK investment app Freetrade.

   Source
2. 2022Nadex disposal

   IG sells Nadex and its minority interest in the Small Exchange.

   Source
3. 2021Tastytrade acquisition

   IG agrees to acquire Tastytrade, strengthening its US retail brokerage offering.

   Source
4. 2020Brighter Future ESG programme

   IG launches its ESG strategy and establishes a fund supporting youth education and development.

   Source
5. 2017IG Smart Portfolios launches

   IG and BlackRock introduce a digitally managed portfolio service.

   Source
6. 2016DailyFX acquisition

   IG acquires the DailyFX financial news and research portal from FXCM.

   Source
7. 2014Online stockbroking launches

   IG introduces an online stockbroking platform with access to thousands of stocks.

   Source
8. 2008FXOnline acquisition

   IG acquires Japanese foreign-exchange provider FXOnline.

   Source
9. 2007HedgeStreet acquisition

   IG acquires US derivatives platform HedgeStreet, later operated as Nadex.

   Source
10. 2005Return to the public market

    IG returns to the stock market after its CVC-backed management buyout period.

    Source
11. 2002Australian expansion

    IG enters Australia, its first reported international market.

    Source
12. 2000IG Group becomes the parent company

    IG Group Holdings is formed and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

    Source
13. 1996Foreign-exchange trading launches

    The company begins offering foreign-exchange trading.

    Source
14. 1993Sports spread betting begins

    IG expands spread betting beyond financial markets to sports events.

    Source
15. 1974IG Index is founded

    Stuart Wheeler establishes IG Index in London, initially offering spread betting on gold prices.

    Source

A regulated, technology-led multi-asset trading and investment provider serving retail and professional customers across multiple jurisdictions.

• IG CFDsLeveraged trading

  IG's CFD service allows customers to take long or short positions on price movements across markets such as shares, indices, currencies, commodities and bonds. CFDs are leveraged derivatives and do not ordinarily require ownership of the underlying asset. Availability, leverage and customer protections differ by jurisdiction.

• IG Spread BettingLeveraged trading1974

  Spread betting is IG's historic core offering. Customers speculate on whether a market will rise or fall, with the result generally calculated from the difference between opening and closing prices and the chosen stake. The product is primarily associated with the UK and is subject to local regulation.

• IG StockbrokingInvestment platform2014

  The stockbroking service gives customers access to share dealing and other investment products. It broadened IG's proposition beyond leveraged derivatives by allowing investors to buy and hold selected securities, subject to market and jurisdictional availability.

• IG Smart PortfoliosWealth management2017

  IG Smart Portfolios is a digitally managed investment service developed with BlackRock. It was designed to provide diversified portfolios for customers seeking a more managed approach than self-directed trading.

• tastytradeOnline brokerage2021

  Tastytrade is a US retail brokerage acquired by IG Group. Its proposition is centered on active self-directed investing, particularly options and futures, supported by trading tools, educational content and a media-led investor community.

• DailyFXFinancial research2016

  DailyFX is a financial news, analysis and research portal acquired by IG. It provides market commentary and educational material, especially for foreign-exchange traders, and complements IG's brokerage services.

• IG CryptoCryptocurrency trading2025

  IG introduced direct cryptocurrency trading for UK customers in 2025, extending its product range from derivative exposure toward spot digital-asset services. The offering is subject to UK registration and applicable product restrictions.

• 2024IG Arena naming partnership

  Japan

  IG entered a long-term naming-rights agreement for the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, under the name IG Arena.

  Outcome. Expanded the brand's visibility through a major sports and entertainment venue partnership.

  Source
• 2020Brighter Future

  Global

  IG launched an environmental, social and governance programme focused on creating a more sustainable business and supporting education and development for young people. The initiative included a dedicated fund responding in part to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Outcome. Established as the group's ESG and community-investment framework.

  Source
• 2013Harlequins partnership

  United Kingdom

  IG signed a sponsorship agreement with rugby club Harlequins, later expanding the relationship to become one of the club's principal sponsors.

  Outcome. Extended IG's UK sports sponsorship platform.

  Source
• 2010Team Sky sponsorship

  United Kingdom · International

  IG Markets announced sponsorship support for Team Sky professional cycling for the 2011 season.

  Outcome. Associated the brand with professional cycling and international sports marketing.

  Source

• 2025Acquisition of FreetradeM&A

  IG pursued growth in commission-free investing and sought to increase its active retail-client base.

  What changed. IG acquired UK investment app Freetrade.

  Aftermath. Completion more than doubled the reported active-client base when combined with IG's existing customers.

  Purchase price. £160 million (Announced January 2025; completed 1 April 2025)

  Source
• 2025Direct UK cryptocurrency tradingProduct launch

  IG sought to broaden its investment range as retail interest in digital assets increased.

  What changed. The company launched direct cryptocurrency trading for UK customers.

  Aftermath. The launch marked a move beyond primarily derivative-based crypto exposure.

  Source
• 2022Sale of Nadex and Small Exchange interestM&A

  IG reviewed its ownership of exchange assets after building a broader retail-brokerage strategy.

  What changed. The group sold Nadex and a 39% interest in the Small Exchange to Foris DAX Markets.

  Aftermath. The disposal reduced IG's direct exposure to those North American exchange businesses.

  Reported transaction value. $216 million (2022)

  Source
• 2021Acquisition of TastytradeM&A

  IG sought to expand its US retail-investing presence and reduce reliance on traditional spread betting and CFDs.

  What changed. IG acquired Tastytrade and its brokerage operations.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added options, futures and active-investor capabilities to the group.

  Reported transaction value. $1 billion (2021 announcement)

  Source
• 2017Withdrawal of binary optionsStrategy

  Regulatory scrutiny of binary options and retail derivative products intensified in the United Kingdom and Europe.

  What changed. IG removed binary options from its retail offering.

  Aftermath. The decision preceded broader European restrictions and reinforced the group's shift toward regulated, diversified trading and investment products.

  Source

• 2024Incorrect account withdrawals after system failureControversy

  A reported system failure caused funds to be withdrawn incorrectly from more than 50 customer accounts. The issue attracted attention after customers said resolution took more than a week.

  Source
• 2023Australian retail-CFD class actionsControversy

  Class actions in Australia alleged misleading or unconscionable conduct in the promotion of CFDs, binary options and other high-risk products to retail investors.

  Source
• 2020Trading-platform outagesControversy

  Media reports described repeated IG platform outages during periods of exceptional market volatility, leaving some customers unable to manage open positions.

  Source
• 2015Swiss franc trading disruptionControversy

  Following the Swiss National Bank's removal of its euro-franc floor, customers reported losses linked to delayed pricing, platform problems and manual stop-loss execution. The Financial Ombudsman Service later ordered compensation to affected customers.

  Source
• 2010Echelon Wealth Management claimControversy

  Former clients of failed trading firm Echelon Wealth Management sued IG Index over the handling of segregated deposits. The claim was dismissed in 2013.

  Source

• 2025IG Group agrees to acquire Freetrade

  IG announced the purchase of UK commission-free investment app Freetrade for £160 million; the transaction was completed on 1 April 2025.

  M&A
  Source
• 2025IG launches direct cryptocurrency trading for UK customers

  The company introduced direct crypto trading for UK clients as part of its expansion beyond traditional leveraged products.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2025IG Group agrees to acquire Independent Reserve

  IG agreed to acquire a 70% interest in Australian cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve, subject to regulatory approval.

  M&A
  Source
• 2024IG Group announces workforce reduction and buyback

  Following weaker revenue, profit and active-client figures, IG announced plans to reduce its workforce and initiated a share-buyback programme.

  Other
  Source
• 2022IG Group sells Nadex and its Small Exchange stake

  The group agreed to sell the North American Derivatives Exchange and a minority interest in the Small Exchange to Foris DAX Markets, associated with Crypto.com.

  M&A
  Source
• 2021IG Group acquires Tastytrade

  IG Group agreed to acquire US online brokerage Tastytrade for approximately $1 billion, expanding its retail options, futures and self-directed investing capabilities.

  M&A
  Source

1. IG Group
2. IG Group corporate website