Tickmill Europe CEO: “Cyprus Offers More Than a Pleasant Lifestyle”

Valerijus Ovsianikas speaks to FastForward about Cyprus’s role in global operations, regulatory headwinds in the EU, and Tickmill’s tech-driven growth strategy.

The FastForward News Team

12 May 2025

Operating in the highly competitive world of online forex and CFD trading, Tickmill has grown into a global brokerage powerhouse since its establishment in 2014, serving hundreds of thousands of clients across multiple continents. At the heart of its European operations is Tickmill Europe Ltd, headquartered in Cyprus—a jurisdiction known both for its regulatory framework and its strategic relevance in the trading sector.

In this interview, CEO Valerijus Ovsianikas offers a candid look into Tickmill Europe’s integral role within the group, his outlook on regulatory challenges in EU markets, and how the company is leveraging automation, AI, and proprietary platforms to serve over 10,000 new clients each month and stay ahead of industry trends.

Tickmill has established itself as a global player in online trading. What role does the Cyprus office play in the company’s broader strategy?

Tickmill Europe plays a key role within the Group, managing IT, Marketing, Compliance, Support, and other operations not only for EU markets but also at the Group level. We are actively involved in strategic planning and new product development, contributing to global synergies and driving operational efficiency across regions.

Cyprus is a well-known hub for forex and CFD brokers. What makes it an attractive jurisdiction for financial firms like Tickmill?

Cyprus offers much more than a pleasant lifestyle. It provides a well-developed environment for financial and investment firms, featuring a favorable licensing framework, a multicultural and skilled workforce, and a competitive tax regime.

Cyprus offers much more than a pleasant lifestyle

With the growing scrutiny of retail trading platforms, how do you balance client protection by offering robust trading experience?

Our trading infrastructure, developed over the past decade, has been built on deep liquidity sourced by multiple providers, a skilled Dealing team, and strong support from our Data Analytics and IT departments. Additionally, we offer our own developed trading platform with a broad selection of instruments.

The industry is evolving fast, with an increasing interest in AI, automation, and mobile trading. How is Tickmill adapting to these trends?

With over 10,000 new clients onboard each month and many long-term loyal clients, we have developed advanced systems for KYC, client support, and operations. As a multi-asset, multi-platform company, we continually improve our capabilities, including implementing AI-driven solutions to meet evolving client needs and maintain operational excellence.

In your view, what are the biggest challenges currently facing the forex and CFD trading industry in Europe?

Severe marketing restrictions introduced in several EU countries —such as Spain, Portugal, and France— have made client acquisition more difficult. While I support strong licensing and regulation, in some cases regulatory measures may be excessive.

Severe marketing restrictions introduced in several EU countries —such as Spain, Portugal, and France— have made client acquisition more difficult

As CEO of Tickmill Europe, what are your top priorities for 2025 in terms of growth, innovation, or market share?

Globally, we see strong potential for expansion into new regions. Despite the regulatory restrictions in the EU, I remain optimistic about the European market. Our competitive multi-asset offering, strong multi-platform infrastructure, and consistently fast execution give us a strong advantage to grow and continue innovating in 2025.