Capital.com reported that client trading volumes on its platform reached $1.27 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, an 11.2% increase from $1.14 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2025. The figures, published in the company’s quarterly platform update on Monday, put the broker’s quarterly performance close to its full-year 2024 total of $1.7 trillion, which was achieved over twelve months.
The number of trades executed on the platform rose 81% compared with the same period a year earlier, while average monthly active traders increased 10.9% from the prior quarter. Capital.com said January was the busiest month in its six-month observation window, with roughly $502 billion in volume.
Gold, silver, crypto and oil drive activity
Gold was the primary driver of January activity, accounting for 59% of total platform volume that month as prices reached successive record highs. The update noted that gold’s move was supported by central bank purchasing at a 25-year high, a weakening US dollar and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Silver volumes rose fivefold in January, adding to the surge in precious metals trading.
February saw elevated cryptocurrency volatility, which Capital.com linked to regulatory changes across major jurisdictions that created structural uncertainty. Trading patterns shifted again in March, when oil became the dominant theme on the platform.
On 2 March, Middle East tensions contributed to a 275% increase in active oil traders on the platform. Oil trading volumes rose 649% and the number of oil trades grew 414% in that single session. For March overall, oil volatility reached 36.1%, the highest level in the broker’s six-month observation window.
Regional contribution and competitive context
The Middle East accounted for a significant share of Capital.com’s total trading volume in the first quarter, with the UAE ranking among the top three markets alongside Germany and the United Kingdom. Commenting on the quarter, Tarik Chebib, CEO Middle East at Capital.com, said that Q1 2026 brought three significant market events, each creating different types of decision pressure for participants, and that trading volumes of $1.27 trillion reflected those conditions.
Capital.com’s update coincided with other online broker disclosures. Plus500 reported first-quarter revenue of $242.1 million, up 18% year-on-year, with customer income reaching a five-year high. IG Group stated in March that it expects about £300 million in Q1 2026 revenue, 7% above the year-ago quarter.
Regulatory footprint and expansion plans
Capital.com holds regulatory authorizations from the FCA in the UK, CySEC in Cyprus, ASIC in Australia, the SCA in the UAE and the Securities Commission of The Bahamas. The company is also seeking to expand into new jurisdictions, with license applications underway in Singapore, Japan, Turkey and South Africa.
