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Paying to place a link on another website is a common part of many SEO budgets today. It's a financial trade for potential ranking benefits. An increasing number of people use dedicated platforms instead of full link building service agencies for this task. 

The reason is straightforward: these platforms give you the reins. You can select the exact site, see its performance stats, manage costs, and get links live faster without waiting on someone else's timeline.

A backlink selling platform, or link building marketplace, operates like a digital storefront for web authority. It hosts a list of website owners open to publishing your link. You browse their offers, compare data like traffic and domain authority, pay a set price, and the platform arranges the placement. You handle the buying, and they handle the outreach and coordination.

What are the most popular platforms for buying backlinks?

You can find plenty of platforms out there. Some are solid, others — not really. The ones people use regularly have been around. They do what they say they'll do. These services keep big lists of approved websites. They also show you the details you need to decide what to buy.

You'll find that each service has its own standout feature. Some are known for extremely fast placement, and others build their reputation on providing a huge amount of upfront data for you to review.

Let's compare five of these prominent platforms.

INSERT.LINK

• Pricing: Credits are purchased upfront. Links range from roughly $30-$40 for lower-tier placements up to $500 for high-authority pages.
• Services: Link insertions (niche edits), guest posts, and press releases.
• Reviews: Rated 4.8/5 on DesignRush and G2. Reviewers frequently highlight its massive page-level database and fast, responsive customer support.

Linkhouse

• Pricing: Not publicly listed; pricing is based on custom quotes.
• Services: Guest posts, sponsored articles, and link insertions designed for direct brand promotion.
• Reviews: Holds a 4.9/5 rating on G2 and 4.8/5 on Trustpilot. Users often praise the platform for securing brand-relevant links from high-quality sites.

Bazoom

• Pricing: Project-based pricing, typically starting around $100 per link.
• Services: Content writing, link placement, campaign management, and SEO consulting.
• Reviews: Rated 4.6 stars on G2 and 4.1 on Trustpilot. Reviews commonly mention fast turnaround times (often 7-10 days) and a practical, easy-to-use dashboard.

WhitePress

• Pricing: Flexible pricing that can start as low as $20, depending on the publisher.
• Services: Guest posts, sponsored articles, content creation, and digital PR campaigns.
• Reviews: Scores 4.3/5 on Trustpilot. Widely praised for its highly detailed and granular filtering system when selecting publishing sites.

Fatjoe

• Pricing: Fixed pricing, with guest posts starting at approximately $199.
• Services: Guest posting, niche edits, white-label link building, and content writing.
• Reviews: Rated 4.7/5 on Trustpilot from 400-plus reviews. Known for reliability, strong communication, and a lifetime link guarantee. 

The table shows you the basics. To choose one, you should know more about how they work and who usually uses them.

1. INSERT.LINK

INSERT.LINK is a backlink platform for scalable link building. You search by keyword or topic, and it returns specific pages (not just websites) from its massive database that are open for a link insertion or guest post. You get shown a bit of the article's text, stats about the page, and the cost right away.

• Pricing: You buy credits first, then spend them. Putting a link into an existing post might start at $30. A link on a major site with lots of visitors costs more.
• Database: It includes more than 45,000 checked websites. You can look through millions of separate articles in over fifteen big fields like tech, finance, or health.
• Placement speed: It's quick. Adding a link into live content usually happens in one to three days.
• Control and transparency: You have a lot. Every page's authority and visitor numbers are visible before you pay. You can search for specific articles, not just homepages.
• Best for: SEO professionals, freelancers, or companies that like choosing their own links. It's for getting links fast without having to talk to website owners yourself.

2. Linkhouse

Linkhouse cares most about getting your brand seen. It matches companies with websites for guest articles and sponsored posts. It picks good spots over a huge number of links.

• Pricing: They give you a specific price after hearing about your project and which sites you want to target.
• Database: A curated network of publishers, including thematic blogs and media sites focused on delivering brand-relevant visibility.
• Placement speed: Varies by campaign, as it involves content creation and direct publisher relationships.
• Control and transparency: You talk with their staff to set targets and say yes to the final spots. This makes sure everything fits with what your brand is trying to do.
• Best for: Marketing people and brands that want to be in good, related content. The main aim is to build a name and get recognized, not just to collect another link.

3. Bazoom

Bazoom offers a hybrid model. It's a platform where you can buy links directly, but it also provides managed services like content writing and strategy. It's known for strong international reach, particularly in Nordic and DACH regions.

• Pricing: Custom project quotes. A managed campaign has a minimum engagement, while direct marketplace links start around $100.
• Database: Thousands of vetted media sites, filterable by traffic, domain rating, and other SEO metrics.
• Placement speed: Efficient; averages 7-10 days for link placement.
• Control and transparency: They have one main dashboard where you follow your orders. A few users say the search tool finds website names, not article topics, so getting an exact match can be tricky.
• Best for: Companies that want some DIY and some done-for-you service. It's a fit if you're focusing on Europe or if you need someone to write the content for you.

4. WhitePress

WhitePress is a veteran content marketing and link platform with one of the most advanced filtering systems available. It gives you immense control to drill down and find the perfect website across a huge international network.

• Pricing: Flexible. You choose a publisher and pay based on their rates, with options starting around $20-30.
• Database: A massive network of over 90,000 websites across 30-plus languages.
• Placement speed: Streamlined; publication typically takes 2-5 days after the website is chosen.
• Control and transparency: Extremely high control through dozens of advanced filters (theme, portal type, multiple authority metrics, traffic). You approve the specific site.
• Best for: Detail-oriented users and content marketers who want maximum filter control to place guest posts and sponsored articles on very specific types of websites worldwide.

5. Fatjoe

Fatjoe is a hands-off, service-driven platform popular with marketing agencies. You submit an order, and their team handles the entire outreach and placement process. It's built for reliability and scale, with full white-label options.

• Pricing: Clear, fixed prices. A standard guest post starts around $199.
• Database: A network of "real blogs" secured through manual outreach, covering general topics like Business, Health, and Tech.
• Placement speed: Reliable turnaround, typically within a few weeks for guest post orders.
• Control and transparency: You set the topic and target URL; they manage the rest. They offer a standout "lifetime link guarantee," replacing any links that go down.
• Best for: Marketing agencies and solo workers. These people need to get link building done by someone else they can count on. They then show that work to their clients as if they did it themselves.

Link Building Platform FAQ

People often ask these key questions about the platforms. Here are simple answers to them.

What is a link building marketplace platform, and how does it work?

It's a website that sells spaces for links on other websites. You look through a list, use filters to narrow it down, pick a spot, pay the price shown, and the platform's people email the site owner to put your link up. It makes a complicated email task feel like online shopping.

How is a backlink selling platform different from a traditional link building agency?

With a platform, you do the picking and the price is usually set. Things move faster. An agency does everything for you. They plan, find sites, talk to owners, and send you reports. That costs more money and takes more time.

What are the top platforms for building backlinks at scale?

INSERT.LINK and Fatjoe are two good ones for doing a lot. INSERT.LINK has a massive list and is fast. Fatjoe sells ready-made packages and lets agencies use their own brand. Both let you order many links without a big hassle.

What should be considered when choosing the best link building platform?

Think about three points. First, does it have websites about your topic? Second, does it show you useful info about those sites before you buy? Third, will they fix your link if it disappears? Pick based on how fast you need it, what you can spend, and how much you want to be involved.

Are platforms that sell backlinks safe for SEO in 2026?

It depends on the platform. The good ones check the websites they list. They stay away from low-quality link farms. They try to put your link in normal-looking articles. The problem isn't buying a link. The problem is buying a link from a bad website that has nothing to do with your topic.

Final Words

Every platform here does something different. INSERT.LINK is for people who like to choose everything themselves from a giant list. Linkhouse fits brands that want to partner with good content. Bazoom is for mixing your own work with their help. 

WhitePress gives super detailed control, especially for sites in other countries. Fatjoe is the dependable choice you can order from and not worry about. Don't look for the one "best" service. Look for the one that's best for the way you like to get things done.

CleverFiles has announced the launch of Clever AI Humanizer, a free, browser-based tool designed to help businesses and creators transform AI-generated text into more natural, human-sounding content. The release comes as concerns grow among users and search engines over the increasing volume of automated, formulaic writing across blogs, product pages, social media, and email communications.

According to the company, Clever AI Humanizer enables teams to continue using AI for speed and scale while improving readability, tone, and authenticity — addressing the challenge of maintaining audience engagement in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

A New Generation of AI Humanizing Tools

Clever AI Humanizer was built specifically for writers, marketers, SEO professionals, and businesses who want to make AI writing sound more human. The tool transforms generic AI writing into natural, human-sounding language and significantly reduces AI detection signals in widely used AI-detection platforms. It’s also worth mentioning that the platform recently launched an AI writer that generates already humanized text from scratch. Instead of editing or rewriting AI drafts, you can start with content that’s designed to sound natural right away. The tool currently supports three formats: essays, blog posts, and general writing, which makes it practical for everyday content needs. Since this feature was released only this week, it wasn’t included in the original scope, but it’s a useful addition for anyone who prefers generating human-sounding text in one step.

How to Humanize AI Text

Clever AI Humanizer requires no signup or installation. Simply:

1. Paste your AI-generated text into the editor.
2. Choose your preferred writing style (casual, neutral, or formal).
3. Click "Humanize AI."

In seconds, your AI text is reworded to sound natural and bypass most AI detectors, all without losing the core message.

Key Features:

• Clever AI Humanizer is entirely free (up to 200,000 words per month).
• Humanize up to 1000 words at a time, with a total daily limit of 4000 words.
• You can sign up to unlock up to 7000 words per day, still 100% free.
• 3 writing styles; you can choose from standard, creative, and academic tones to match your audience.
• Top performance against popular AI detectors; tests achieved 0% detection on ZeroGPT (flagged as human-written), far outperforming many paid alternatives.
• Works with both English and non-English input; great for international teams and creators.
• Registered users can view and revisit their history (past inputs and outputs).

Why It Matters

Search engines are adapting to AI and penalizing content that reads like it was churned out by AI. And users, especially in industries like e-commerce and education, expect content that feels personal. Clever AI Humanizer empowers businesses to keep using AI for efficiency, without the need to sacrifice quality or trust. This tool provides a solution for avoiding AI detection or making content sound more natural.

How Does AI Humanizer Work?

Behind the scenes, Clever AI Humanizer uses a combination of machine learning and natural language processing to rewrite text at a structural level. First, it identifies patterns common to AI-generated content (uniform sentence lengths, predictable phrasing). Then it applies an LLM to rephrase sentences, vary structure, and inject more human-like rhythm and imperfections (called “burstiness”).

About CleverFiles

Clever AI Humanizer was created by CleverFiles, the developers of Disk Drill, as an online tool that aims to solve one of today’s biggest content challenges: how to make AI writing sound more human. Built with performance and transparency in mind, it offers a truly free automated solution for anyone who wants to rewrite or refine AI-generated text without leaving a detectable trace. For more information, visit cleverfiles.com and aihumanizer.net.

Media Contact

Roman Kropachek
CEO, CleverFiles
roman@cleverfiles.com

Global football is riding a spending spree like never before. Meanwhile, behind the glitter of headline transfers lies a growing network of hidden fees, opaque contracts, and shifting financial pressures.

But how long can clubs keep taking on risk before the system cracks?

A Market on Steroids

The transfer market in 2025 broke all the records. Global spending in men’s football has surged to $9.76 billion, marking a new all-time high and a jump of more than 50% compared with mid-2024.

Premier League clubs have driven much of the rise, but Europe’s top leagues as a whole are moving faster and spending bigger than ever. Close to 12,000 international transfers have already gone through this year.

Some of the biggest moves included Alexander Isak's transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool (£125m), Florian Wirtz’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool (£116.5m), and Hugo Ekitike's transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool (£79m).

And even though all these moves still can’t reach Neymar’s record €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, in total, they show quite a surge.

What Fuels the Boom? 

First of all, Richer broadcasting deals and sponsorship money flood the top leagues. New capital, from wealthy owners, private equity, and investors drawn to sport’s worldwide reach, also injects fresh liquidity. Meanwhile, clubs are spending more on scouting, youth (to resell later), and inflated salaries.

It’s a cycle — success on the field demands expensive squads, but expensive squads often demand risky financial maneuvers.

Agents, Add-ons, and Contract Creativity

The headline fees are just the visible part. Beneath the surface lies a complicated network of intermediaries, back-loaded deals, and commission-heavy contracts, creating a shadow economy few outside club boards fully understand.

Agent fees alone have soared. In 2023, FIFA tried to rein in the system by proposing a cap on agent earnings — 10% of a transfer fee when representing the selling club and 5% for the buying club. But legal pushback in several countries put the rules on hold. That leaves the market wide open, where the “average” cut may sit around 10–15%, but high-profile clubs and star players can push commissions far beyond that.

From February 2024 to February 2025, Chelsea paid a little over £60 million in agent fees, and Manchester City spent around £52 million. Across the league, clubs handed over £409.1 million. That kind of fee can drastically amplify the cost of a “free transfer” or a loan-to-buy deal.

FIFA Compliance and Club Debt

FIFA’s transfer rules were meant to bring structure, but they leave room for creative accounting. The current regulations focus on contract stability, training compensation, the ban on third-party ownership, and the use of the FIFA Clearing House to monitor payments. Clubs must also comply with their own domestic financial rules, such as UEFA’s squad-cost ratio or England’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

But none of these frameworks cap transfer spending or stop clubs with large debts from striking huge deals as long as they remain technically compliant. That’s how clubs with significant liabilities — from Manchester United’s long-term debt to Barcelona’s well-documented financial strain — still manage major signings. Deferred payments, multi-year amortisation, conditional add-ons, and player-swap valuations all fall within the rules and allow clubs to operate aggressively despite balance-sheet pressure.

These blurry edges make room for inflated add-ons and image-rights carveouts — bonuses paid later depending on performance or commercial deals. Some transfers inflate the publicly declared fee but obscure how much or when the selling club actually receives the money.

Loans, intermediaries, and multipart contracts further dilute transparency, making real costs and future liabilities almost impossible to track. Analysts at CIES warn that these structures weaken financial fairness across leagues and increase long-term risk for heavily leveraged clubs.

Rising Calls for Reform, but Weak Oversight

In response to growing concern, FIFA has begun emphasizing compliance, transparency, and enhanced governance. Their mid-year 2024 transfer snapshot, for instance, was released on a new interactive platform aimed at tracking cross-border deals with more precision.

Still, enforcement remains patchy:

• Agent fees and add-ons often fall under different jurisdictions.
• Many contracts remain private.
• Third-party intermediaries operate across opaque networks.

Swiss-based CIES calls for standardized disclosure of agent commissions, loan-to-buy fee structures, and image-rights clauses — reforms that could shine a light on the hidden economics of transfers.

Until meaningful regulation and transparency are enforced, the gap between what fans see (transfer fees and player moves) and what clubs actually spend will only widen.

What’s at Stake?

The boom may fuel elite clubs, but its ripple effects threaten broader competitive balance. Clubs with deep pockets or willing investors can absorb hidden costs and structural debt, while smaller clubs risk insolvency when trading becomes speculative. Youth development may also suffer if clubs prefer buying stars over nurturing homegrown talent.

For players, volatility is real. Long-term security gets longer shadows. Contract clauses tied to performance, image rights, or resales may raise pressure, especially if transfers become more about financial engineering than career progression. Similar patterns are visible in sports and casino markets, where high stakes and speculative bets create winners and losers beyond the field.

Without safeguards, the sport risks shifting toward a financial arms race where success depends more on money-market moves than on goals, tactics, or training.

But if regulatory measures take hold, clubs and fans might finally glimpse the full cost of the game. Until then, every transfer is part of an ever-growing shadow economy, pulling soccer deeper into speculative markets and financial uncertainty.

Before the global media, Vietnam’s rapid tech ascent took center stage. CT Group ended 2025 by unveiling ASEAN’s landmark projects two spearhead sectors: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and the Low Altitude Economy (LAE), revealing a future never seen before.

On December 29, 2025, at Hanoi’s Ho Guom Opera House, before over 600 distinguished guests, including leaders from the Ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Science and Technology, and Foreign Affairs; VCCI and the Vietnam Association of the Elderly; officials from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh, Tay Ninh, and Ca Mau; alongside top scientists and representatives from VNU Hanoi, VNU HCM, and Can Tho University; and major corporations such as VDB, VNPT, Shrimpl, and Aicello (Taiwan), CT Group officially unveiled two landmark projects: the UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union and the ASEAN’s Largest Low Altitude Economy (LAE) Center.

In a departure from conventional launch events worldwide, CT Group adopted a novel perspective to address the fundamental question: “What is the scientific basis for a Vietnamese corporation to invest in two major global technology projects?” This was not only a candid and challenging question for CT Group but also a strategic solution for other corporations following Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW. Not everyone grasps the philosophy behind this special event. So, how did CT Group respond?

Firstly, mastering all core UAV technologies: CT Group, through its subsidiary CT UAV, has achieved an average localization rate of 87.5% across six core UAV technology groups: Electronics and Semiconductor Technology, AI Technology, Control & Autonomous Technology, Composite Technology, Battery Technology, and Security & Telecommunications Technology. Notably, the two most critical groups, Electronics – Semiconductor Technology and AI & Software have reached 95% autonomy.

Secondly — and going beyond mastering core technologies — to compete, survive, and thrive, a Vietnamese corporation must possess robust creative capabilities to maintain and continuously develop superior new technologies as a single year’s delay in R&D means being eliminated from the race. During the event, CT UAV revealed three revolutionary proprietary technologies that could stun the world:

• "Magic Brush" technology: Characterized by the motto "fly with any propeller" and with super-advanced self-programming capabilities, the UAV can maintain stable flight even with four completely different propellers, whereas conventional UAVs require all four propellers to be identical and precisely calibrated;
• Multi-level safety technology: This allows the UAV to maintain control and perform a safe landing even in the event of a single propeller failure.
• Exclusive autonomous swarm firefighting technology: An innovative solution for automated fire suppression.

These are ultra-advanced technologies that far exceed current market standards. Most notably, the corporation has mastered the most difficult and high-end segment of the industry: passenger-carrying UAVs.

Thirdly, in today’s volatile and uncertain world, CT Group must demonstrate exceptional adaptability to create a significant competitive edge over global industry peers.

Fourthly, CT Group possesses extensive manufacturing and large-scale operational expertise, backed by a chain of five modern UAV production plants currently in operation (located on DT743 Avenue, near VNU-HCM). To continue meeting the surging demand from both domestic and international markets, CT Group has officially resolved to scale up production by investing in the UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union, with an estimated total investment of USD 2 billion over a 10-year period.

The UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union is envisioned as a "Technology City," integrating a chain of UAV component manufacturing plants, research institutes, flight training and testing grounds, universities, and innovation centers. This is bolstered by a comprehensive ecosystem designed to attract top talent, featuring international schools, hospitals, commercial centers, and specialized urban residential areas for experts, engineers, and workers. Most importantly, this will serve as a pilot city for the Low Altitude Economy (LAE), featuring more than 600 high-tech products and services.

Fifthly, the project is underpinned by the strong support of the Party and the State, evidenced by the commitment of Tay Ninh Province to facilitate all favorable conditions for CT Group’s swift deployment. “The UAV–ASEAN Super Headquarter Union is not merely an investment project; it is a strategic high-tech complex. It perfectly aligns with the province's high-tech industrial development roadmap and the central government's policy on advancing strategic technology industries, integrating economic development with national defense and security in this new era,” emphasized Mr. Doan Trung Kien, vice chairman of the Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.

CT Group officially announced an investment of VND 6,000 billion in the ASEAN’s  Largest Low Altitude Economy Center (LAE 1). Strategically located at the Truong Chinh-Cong Hoa intersection, the center is situated adjacent to Terminal T3 (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) and Metro Station No. 2. As the architect behind Vietnam’s Low Altitude Economy Doctrine, CT Group stands as one of the few entities globally to possess the complete suite of LAE and core UAV technologies, successfully bridging the gap from theoretical framework to practical application.

LAE 1 is set to become a strategic engine, empowering Vietnam to attract global talent and export home-grown technology to the international market. Its core is the Global Command Center, which integrates and operates centralized digital infrastructure, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and Digital Twin technology, alongside a complex of advanced research laboratories, material science facilities, and pilot plants. This serves as a premier platform for innovation and technology commercialization, supporting 600 applications and services across more than 20 industries and 93 sub-sectors.

Sixthly, regarding quality standards, the Group has established an international quality management system. Experts from Switzerland have assisted CT Group’s entities in streamlining their quality control systems to meet aerospace standards, implementing AS9100D and ISO 9001 across the entire operational chain, from headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and research centers to the production processes.

Seventhly, CT Group currently possesses an extensive customer portfolio with a presence in major domestic and international markets. The Group has deployed and supplied products and services to numerous localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Tay Ninh, and Ninh Binh, with plans for further expansion across 34 provinces in Vietnam. In 2025, CT Group reached a global milestone with an export order of 5,000 UAVs to South Korea and established strategic cooperation with the Indonesian government to develop the Low Altitude Economy (LAE). Concurrently, CT Group is penetrating markets in the U.S., Singapore, and the Middle East, with expansion targets spanning more than 100 other countries.

As concrete evidence, during the launch ceremony, CT Group signed strategic partnership agreements with over 20 major partners, including leading Vietnamese corporations like VNPT; provincial authorities of Tay Ninh, Ca Mau, and Ninh Binh; academic and research institutions such as the Quantum Technology Institute and the High-Tech and Innovation Park; along with major companies and distributors from Indonesia.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr. Tran Kim Chung, chairman of CT Group, stated: “Having proven our capacity to scale production and business through a system of five existing plants, and by mastering all core and advanced technologies alongside CT Group’s unique technology ecosystem and culture, as well as securing commitments from numerous major clients, we have boldly decided to invest in this project. Our partners recognize that we are a serious, steadfast enterprise with the utmost patience to pursue and fulfill long-term commitments.”

CT Group is powerfully demonstrating to the world that Vietnam possesses a solid scientific foundation to ascend to new heights in pioneering technologies such as UAV and LAE.

Vetted Prop Firms unveils a refreshed and expanded evaluation platform, setting a new standard in the prop trading space.

The update introduces an enhanced roster of fully vetted prop firms and a strengthened Best Prop Firms guide that spans general instruments such as forex, crypto, and futures, signaling a robust commitment to transparency in an industry crowded with risk.

It also expands the Best Futures Prop Firms offering for futures-only trading and updates the Best Crypto Prop Firms list to cover Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. All changes are made under the supervision of veteran industry strategist Fred Harrington, ensuring traders can navigate the landscape with greater confidence.

This launch delivers a decisive edge for traders seeking legitimate funding options, fair profit-sharing arrangements, and trustworthy promotional offers. By delivering side-by-side analyses and independent reviews, Vetted Prop Firms helps users distinguish legitimate programs from scams, reducing research time and increasing the likelihood of favorable, sustainable partnerships.

The refreshed platform consolidates critical insights in one place, making it easier for traders to compare opportunities across instruments and providers.

The move solidifies Vetted Prop Firms’ role as a trusted navigator in a complex market. Its rigorous vetting standards, ongoing updates, and comprehensive comparisons empower traders to make informed decisions and pursue funding paths that align with their risk tolerance and goals. The result is greater market transparency and improved protection for prospective traders seeking credible prop relationships.

"This industry requires vigilance and integrity. Our refreshed listings and continued diligence help traders identify legitimate programs while avoiding scams, so they can focus on building sustainable trading careers with confidence," said Fred Harrington, founder of Vetted Prop Firms.

Looking ahead, Vetted Prop Firms, which has a rivalry with Prop Firm Match, will continue to expand its vetted firm database, refine its comparative tools, and introduce new metrics that capture trader outcomes and program reliability.

The company plans to offer enhanced educational resources and targeted insights to help users navigate evolving funding models and regulatory considerations.

About Vetted Prop Firms

Vetted Prop Firms is a resource committed to evaluating prop trading firms to help traders identify legitimate opportunities and avoid scams. We provide reviews, rankings, and comprehensive side-by-side analyses to assist traders in evaluating funding options, profit-sharing arrangements, and promotional offers with transparency and integrity. For more information, visit vettedpropfirms.com.

Visit our site for the latest reviews and comparisons, and to learn how we can help you navigate the prop firm landscape with confidence.

Media Contact

Fred Harrington
Vetted Prop Firms
fred@vettedpropfirms.com

VISTAForex, a leading authority in forex market analysis and broker evaluation, today released its comprehensive rankings of the best high leverage forex brokers for 2026. After extensive research and analysis, five brokers have been identified as industry leaders: 

1. XM: Maximum leverage up to 1000:1
2. PU Prime: Maximum leverage up to 1000:1
3. Vantage: Maximum leverage up to 500:1 (2000:1 in select jurisdictions)
4. BlackBull Markets: Maximum leverage up to 500:1
5. ActivTrades: Maximum leverage up to 400:1

Understanding the High Leverage Landscape

High leverage in forex trading refers to leverage ratios exceeding 100:1, enabling traders to control substantial positions with relatively modest capital investments. While regulated markets in Europe, the U.K., and Australia have implemented leverage caps at 30:1 for retail traders, offshore and less restrictive jurisdictions continue to offer leverage ratios reaching 1000:1, 2000:1, or higher.

"The regulatory landscape has created a clear divide between protective jurisdictions and more permissive ones," noted the VISTAForex research team. "Traders must carefully balance their desire for higher leverage with considerations of regulatory protection and broker safety."

The Top 5 High Leverage Forex Brokers for 2026 

1. XM

XM continues to dominate as one of the most trusted names in high leverage forex trading, serving over 10 million clients across 190 countries since its founding in 2009. The broker's multi-jurisdictional regulatory framework allows it to offer varying leverage levels depending on the regulatory entity. Key advantages include:

• Maximum leverage up to 1000:1 under FSC (Belize) regulation
• Exceptionally low minimum deposit of just $5, making forex trading accessible to beginners
• Multi-jurisdictional regulation including CySEC, ASIC, FSC (Belize), and IFSC
• Ultra-fast order execution under one second with zero re-quotes policy
• Over 1,000 tradable instruments across multiple asset classes
• Comprehensive educational resources and 24/7 multilingual customer support
• Negative balance protection preventing accounts from going into the negative
• Competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD
• Multiple account types including Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, and Shares accounts
• Bonus programs available for eligible regions
• MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary XM Mobile App platforms

XM's leverage availability varies significantly by regulatory entity, with E.U./U.K. regulated entities limiting leverage to 30:1 for major pairs due to ESMA regulations, making entity selection crucial when opening an account.

2. PU Prime

Established in 2015, PU Prime has rapidly grown to become a major player in the high leverage space, offering flexible leverage options with strong multi-jurisdictional regulation and comprehensive trading tools. Key advantages include:

• Maximum leverage of 1000:1 for forex majors, minors, and gold trading
• Low minimum deposit of $50 (just $20 for Cent account)
• Multi-jurisdictional regulation through FSA (Seychelles), FSC (Mauritius), and ASIC (Australia)
• Ultra-competitive spreads from 0.0 pips on ECN account
• Over 1,000 tradable instruments including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies
• Four distinct account types catering to traders from beginner to institutional level
• Advanced copy trading with adjustable leverage through proprietary Leverage Flex feature
• 24/7 customer support available in 18 languages
• Comprehensive educational academy with structured courses for skill development
• Multiple bonus programs enhancing trading capital for eligible traders
• Negative balance protection preventing losses beyond deposited capital
• MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, and proprietary mobile app platforms
• High leverage available across multiple instrument classes including 100:1 for cryptocurrencies

3. Vantage

With over 15 years of industry experience, Vantage (formerly Vantage FX) delivers institutional-grade trading conditions to retail clients globally, backed by comprehensive regulatory oversight and exceptional trader protection measures. Key advantages include:

• Maximum leverage up to 500:1 with some offshore entities offering up to 2000:1
• Reasonable minimum deposit of $50 for account opening
• Extensive multi-jurisdictional regulation: ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), VFSC (Vanuatu), FSCA (South Africa), and CIMA (Cayman Islands)
• Ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips on RAW ECN accounts
• Over 1,000 tradable instruments across all major asset classes
• Multiple platform options including MT4, MT5, ProTrader (proprietary), TradingView, and Vantage App
• Three-tier account structure from Standard STP to Pro ECN for institutional-level trading
• Lloyd's of London insurance coverage up to $1,000,000
• Financial Commission protection (EUR 20,000) and FSCS protection (GBP 85,000) for UK clients
• Multiple integrated copy trading platforms (ZuluTrade, DupliTrade, Myfxbook AutoTrade)
• Comprehensive market research from Trading Central and Autochartist
• No deposit or withdrawal fees for most payment methods
• Professional trader classification available for higher leverage access

4. BlackBull Markets

Since 2014, BlackBull Markets has established itself as a provider of institutional-grade trading conditions, offering retail clients access to an impressive array of over 26,000 tradable instruments. Key advantages include:

• Maximum leverage of 500:1 for forex and precious metals trading
• No minimum deposit requirement for Standard account holders
• Regulated by FMA (New Zealand) and FSA (Seychelles)
• Ultra-tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips on ECN accounts
• Exceptional execution speed under 75 milliseconds average
• Industry-leading 26,000+ tradable instruments across all asset classes
• Multiple platform options including MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and proprietary platforms
• Three-tier account structure (ECN Standard, Prime, and Institutional) catering to all trader levels
• Segregated client funds ensuring maximum safety of deposits
• Free VPS hosting for qualifying accounts to optimize algorithmic trading
• Copy trading functionality available for social trading enthusiasts
• 24/7 customer support ensuring assistance whenever markets are open
• Flexible leverage by instrument type (forex/precious metals 500:1, indices/oil 100:1, Bitcoin 100:1)

5. ActivTrades

Founded over 20 years ago, ActivTrades has built a reputation for catering to active traders with professional-grade trading conditions and exceptional execution speeds averaging just 4 milliseconds. Key advantages include:

• Maximum leverage of 400:1 for professional account holders (up to 1000:1 in offshore entities like Mauritius)
• No minimum deposit requirement for Individual accounts
• Tier-1 regulatory oversight from FCA (UK), CMVM (Portugal), SCB (Bahamas), and FSC (Mauritius)
• Exceptionally tight spreads from 0.5 pips on major currency pairs
• Lightning-fast execution speed averaging 4 milliseconds
• Over 1,000 tradable instruments including forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and ETFs
• Multiple platform options: proprietary ActivTrader, MT4, MT5, and TradingView integration
• Spread betting available for UK clients, one of the few brokers offering this feature
• Zero trading commissions on Standard accounts
• Islamic accounts with swap-free trading available
• Professional accounts offering up to 400:1 leverage for qualified traders
• Strong emphasis on execution quality and reliability

Critical Considerations for High Leverage Trading

While high leverage offers significant advantages including capital efficiency, greater profit potential, and accessibility for traders with limited capital, VistaForex emphasizes that traders must understand and respect the substantial risks involved.

"High leverage is a powerful tool that magnifies both profits and losses equally," the research team noted. "A small adverse price movement can wipe out significant portions of trading capital. Traders must implement rigorous risk management protocols, never risking more than 1-2% of capital per trade, and always using stop-loss orders."

The study highlights that success with high leverage depends not on the leverage ratio itself but on disciplined risk management, thorough market analysis, emotional control, and continuous education.

Regulatory Evolution in 2026

The regulatory landscape continues to show clear division between protective and permissive jurisdictions. E.U., U.K., and Australian regulators maintain strict leverage caps at 30:1 for major currency pairs for retail traders, while offshore jurisdictions including Belize, Seychelles, Vanuatu, and Mauritius permit leverage up to 1000:1 or higher.

Professional traders who meet specific qualification criteria can access significantly higher leverage (100:1 to 500:1) even in restrictive jurisdictions, typically requiring substantial trading experience, portfolio value exceeding specified thresholds, and professional trading backgrounds.

Conclusion

"High leverage forex trading offers tremendous opportunities but demands respect, discipline, and careful broker selection," concluded the VISTAForex research team. "All five brokers in our rankings offer excellent conditions, but the best choice depends on individual trader needs, regulatory preferences, leverage requirements, trading style, experience level, and platform preferences."

The complete analysis emphasizes that preservation of capital through disciplined risk management remains the foundation of long-term trading success, regardless of leverage levels or broker selection.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or trading advice. Trading in forex, CFDs, and other financial instruments involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers should conduct their own independent research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The companies mentioned are independent entities, and inclusion in this analysis does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Availability of products, services, and regulatory permissions may vary by jurisdiction.

As the United Arab Emirates solidifies its position as a premier Middle Eastern financial hub, a comprehensive evaluation of trading platforms has identified the top five brokers serving UAE-based traders in 2026. The analysis, based on regulatory compliance, technological innovation, competitive pricing, and trader satisfaction, highlights platforms that combine international standards with localized services for the region's dynamic marketplace.

The 5 Best Trading Platforms in the UAE

• XM: Low-cost global access
• ActivTrades: Tech-driven European platform
• BlackBull: Professional trading conditions
• PU Prime: Learn and copy community
• Vantage: Social features, pro tools

The 2026 Leaders: Five Platforms Setting New Standards 

1. XM Global: Regulatory Excellence Meets Accessibility

XM Global has emerged as a standout choice for UAE traders across all experience levels, combining DFSA oversight with SCA Category 5 authorization to deliver enhanced legitimacy and investor protection.

Key advantages:

• Exceptional entry point: Minimum account funding requirement of just $5, removing capital barriers for aspiring traders.
• Generous promotional structure: New accounts qualify for a 100% deposit bonus up to $10,500, plus a $30 no-deposit bonus for immediate market participation.
• Comprehensive market access: Over 1,400 tradeable instruments spanning forex, equities, commodities, and digital currencies across global markets.
• Advanced technology suite: MetaTrader 4 and MT5 platforms with newly launched AI assistance tools and TradingView charting integration.
• Localized support: Multilingual assistance including Arabic-language sessions, regular webinars, and extensive market commentary.
• Sharia compliance: Swap-free Islamic accounts fully adhering to Islamic finance principles.
• Ultra-fast execution: Infrastructure engineered for rapid execution with minimal slippage and virtually eliminated re-quotes.

"XM Global's combination of regulatory legitimacy, minimal entry requirements, and comprehensive educational programs makes it particularly attractive to UAE traders who prioritize security and continuous skill development," noted market analysts reviewing the platform's regional performance.

2. ActivTrades: Two Decades of Institutional-Grade Trading

With over 20 years of continuous market presence and FCA supervision, ActivTrades brings institutional-quality trading environments supported by premier regulation and forward-thinking technology.

Key advantages:

• Proven reliability: Operating since 2001 with FCA oversight and verified track record spanning multiple market cycles.
• Superior client protection: Insurance coverage reaching $1 million per account holder at no extra charge, substantially exceeding typical industry standards.
• Lightning-fast execution: Average execution speeds of just 4 milliseconds with narrow spreads starting at 0.5 pips.
• Innovative technology: Proprietary ActivTrader platform with progressive trailing stop functionality and integrated TradingView capabilities.
• Extensive instrument range: Access to over 1,500 instruments including forex, equities, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
• Industry recognition: 26-plus professional accolades including Best Forex Broker Italy 2025.
• Platform diversity: Choice between MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and complete TradingView integration.
• Transparent pricing: Fair and competitive spreads with clear cost structure ensuring traders understand all expenses.

The broker's dedication to operational excellence and client safeguarding positions it as an ideal choice for traders who value established reputation and cutting-edge execution technology.

3. BlackBull Markets: The ECN Powerhouse

Since its 2014 establishment, BlackBull Markets has rapidly evolved into an authentic Electronic Communication Network (ECN) broker, delivering institutional-caliber infrastructure to both everyday and professional traders.

Key advantages:

• Unmatched instrument diversity: Trading access to over 26,000 instruments encompassing equities, options, ETFs, and bonds across 80-plus global markets.
• Institutional execution quality: Processing speeds averaging below 75 milliseconds via strategically positioned Equinix infrastructure.
• Award-winning pricing: Gold spread pricing recognized at Forex Expo Dubai 2024 for competitive rate structure.
• Authentic ECN environment: True market connectivity with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on premium accounts.
• Zero entry barriers: No minimum funding requirements on ECN Standard and Prime accounts with leverage up to 1:500.
• Platform versatility: Multiple options including MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and BlackBull CopyTrader.
• Outstanding support: 24/7 customer service regularly praised for being swift, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive.
• BlackBull Invest integration: Direct access to underlying equities and ETFs through innovative investment platform.

BlackBull Markets' comprehensive instrument selection and professional-grade execution infrastructure make it particularly suitable for traders seeking maximum diversification and institutional-quality trading conditions.

4. PU Prime: Innovation Leader with Local Market Access

Established in 2015, PU Prime has swiftly positioned itself as an innovation pioneer, earning three prestigious UAE awards in 2025 while providing sophisticated social trading systems and direct connectivity to UAE securities markets.

Key advantages:

• Local market recognition: Winner of Best Trading Platform UAE 2025 and Best Copy Trading Platform UAE 2025.
• Direct UAE equity access: Zero-commission execution on UAE-listed equities from the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
• Expanded regional coverage: Trading access to 20 newly introduced UAE equities spanning energy, banking, construction, and healthcare sectors.
• Attractive welcome bonus: New account holders receive 100% Deposit Bonus up to $1,000 for expanded trading capital.
• Advanced copy trading: Sophisticated social trading mechanism in PU Trading App allowing seamless replication of accomplished investors' strategies.
• Competitive pricing: Narrow spreads starting at 0.0 pips with transparent, economical trading frameworks and zero non-trading fees.
• Mobile excellence: Application exceeding 40 million installations with refined interface and advanced features.
• Comprehensive education: Substantial collection of instructional articles, training videos, live webinars, and Autochartist integration.
• Platform flexibility: Support for both MT4 and MT5 alongside comprehensive all-in-one mobile application.

PU Prime's focus on local market connectivity and award-winning copy trading capabilities positions it as the premier choice for traders seeking exposure to UAE equities alongside global instruments.

5. Vantage: The Established Leader with Premium Integrations

With over 15 years of operational history and robust multi-jurisdictional regulatory oversight, Vantage combines considerable market tenure with premium technological integrations and comprehensive protection measures.

Key advantages:

• Exceptional trust rating: Outstanding Trust Score of 90/99, authorized by Tier-1 regulators including ASIC and FCA.
• Comprehensive insurance protection: Aggregate coverage reaching $50 million with $1 million per individual account from Lloyd's of London.
• Professional analytics integration: Complete TradingView integration alongside full MetaTrader suite for advanced technical analysis.
• Extensive market coverage: Execute trades on 1,000-plus CFD instruments encompassing forex, indices, commodities, equities, and ETFs.
• Ultra-competitive pricing: Exceptionally narrow spreads starting at 0.0 pips with clear, equitable pricing frameworks.
• Diverse platform options: MT4, MT5, ProTrader, TradingView connectivity, and proprietary Vantage Application.
• Tiered account structure: Clear progression pathway from $50 minimum Standard accounts to premium Pro ECN accounts for high-volume traders.
• Active trader rewards: Exclusive Vantage Club loyalty program offering cash rebates and commission reductions based on trading volume.
• Regional customization: Swap-free Islamic accounts and comprehensive research materials in Arabic for MENA region traders.

Vantage's combination of regulatory excellence, institutional-grade analytics, and substantial insurance protection makes it particularly appealing to serious traders who prioritize security and professional-caliber tools.

UAE Trading Environment: Regulatory Excellence and Market Growth

The UAE has implemented a sophisticated three-tier regulatory architecture ensuring market integrity while promoting innovation. The 2025-26 regulatory revision introduced enhanced disclosure obligations for forex brokers and more rigorous capital adequacy standards, ensuring brokers maintain substantially elevated minimum capital reserves for financial stability.

Forex trading remains fully legal and actively encouraged within the UAE, with individual traders free to participate through properly licensed brokers without requiring personal authorization. This regulatory clarity provides essential protections while maintaining an accessible, open marketplace.

Dubai has established itself as the Middle East's undisputed forex trading hub, hosting numerous internationally licensed brokers and maintaining sophisticated trading infrastructure. The rapidly expanding UAE stock market, driven by vigorous IPO activity and favorable economic policies, offers compelling opportunities for traders seeking exposure to the region's considerable economic growth trajectory.

Key Considerations for UAE Traders

• Regulatory compliance: All trading must be conducted through brokers licensed by SCA, DFSA, or FSRA. The five platforms featured in this analysis maintain appropriate regulatory clearances for operating within the region.
• Cost structures: Understanding comprehensive expense frameworks—including spreads, commissions, overnight swap charges, and potential dormancy fees—remains critical for accurate profit calculations.
• Islamic finance compatibility: For Muslim traders following Islamic guidelines, swap-free Islamic accounts eliminate overnight financing charges to ensure complete Sharia adherence.
• Platform usability: Traders should thoroughly evaluate platforms using practice accounts before committing real capital, assessing execution speed, interface design, analytical tools, and overall functionality.
• Customer support: Premium support including 24/7 availability, multiple contact channels, and Arabic language assistance proves vital when technical issues arise during active trading sessions.

Conclusion

The UAE's robust regulatory ecosystem, strategic geographic position, and rapidly expanding financial infrastructure provide an exceptional foundation for trading success in 2026. Each of the five featured platforms offers distinct advantages tailored to different trading styles and preferences:

• XM Global excels in regulatory legitimacy, accessibility, and comprehensive education.
• ActivTrades leads in institutional-grade execution speed and superior client protection.
• BlackBull Markets dominates in instrument diversity and professional ECN infrastructure.
• PU Prime pioneers local market access and sophisticated copy trading innovation.
• Vantage delivers established reliability with institutional capabilities and premium analytics.

As the UAE continues expanding its position as a global financial center, traders benefit from an increasingly sophisticated marketplace offering world-class trading platforms, comprehensive regulatory protections, and unprecedented access to global financial markets.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or trading advice. Trading in forex, CFDs, and other financial instruments involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Readers should conduct their own independent research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The companies mentioned are independent entities, and inclusion in this analysis does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Availability of products, services, and regulatory permissions may vary by jurisdiction.

As 2026 approaches, more retirement investors are reassessing how exposed their portfolios are to market volatility, inflation, and long-term economic uncertainty. Traditional retirement accounts heavily weighted toward stocks and bonds have faced increased pressure from fluctuating interest rates, geopolitical risk, and concerns about currency purchasing power. 

This has renewed interest in alternative assets — particularly physical gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold IRS-approved physical gold inside a tax-advantaged retirement account. 

Best Gold IRA Providers 2026 Rankings Overview

• Augusta Precious Metals (Best Overall for Investments Above $50,000)
• Lear Capital (Best Customer Support)
• Goldencrest Metals (Best Prices)
• Preserve Gold (Best Products)

Unlike paper assets, gold is not directly tied to corporate earnings or monetary policy decisions. For many investors, this makes gold an effective diversification tool rather than a speculative investment.

In 2026, Gold IRAs continue to appeal to investors who want to reduce overall portfolio risk while maintaining long-term value preservation. Physical gold has historically served as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation, which is especially relevant in periods of persistent economic uncertainty.

Evaluate the best gold IRA companies with this complimentary checklist.

How IRAEmpire Ranked the Best Gold IRA Companies for 2026

Ranking Gold IRA companies for 2026 requires more than looking at marketing claims or promotional offers. Because a Gold IRA is a long-term retirement strategy, the company behind it must demonstrate consistency, transparency, and reliable customer support over time.

Michael Hunt, senior writer at IRAEmpire says, “Our rankings are based on investor-focused criteria that reflect how Gold IRA companies actually perform in real-world scenarios. Each provider on this list was evaluated for its ability to help investors set up, manage, and eventually exit a Gold IRA smoothly and compliantly.”

Key Criteria Used in Our 2026 Rankings

• Reputation and Track Record: We prioritized companies with established histories in the precious metals and retirement industries. Longevity, regulatory standing, and brand credibility are essential indicators of reliability.
• Customer Reviews and Satisfaction: Independent reviews from sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and verified consumer platforms were reviewed to assess service quality, complaint resolution, and overall satisfaction.
• Fee Transparency: Clear disclosure of setup fees, annual maintenance costs, storage fees, and dealer markups was a critical factor. Companies that openly explain costs ranked higher than those with vague or inconsistent pricing.
• IRA Setup and Rollover Support: We evaluated how efficiently companies assist with rollovers from 401(k)s, IRAs, TSPs, and other retirement accounts, including guidance on IRS compliance.
• Storage and Security: Only companies offering IRS-approved custodians and secure, insured depositories were considered.
• Buyback Programs: A reliable buyback policy adds flexibility and liquidity, which is important for long-term retirement planning.
• Education and Customer Support: Companies that emphasize education, no-pressure consultations, and ongoing account support ranked more favorably.

These criteria help ensure that the companies listed below represent the most trustworthy Gold IRA providers for investors in 2026.

1. Augusta Precious Metals — Best Overall Gold IRA Company (2026)

Augusta Precious Metals continues to rank as the top Gold IRA company in 2026 due to its consistent focus on investor education, transparency, and long-term retirement planning. Rather than relying on high-pressure sales tactics, Augusta positions itself as a trusted guide for investors who want to understand exactly how a Gold IRA fits into their broader financial strategy.

Get Augusta Precious Metals’ free gold IRA kit.

Why Augusta Precious Metals Ranks No. 1 in 2026

One of Augusta’s biggest differentiators is its education-first approach. Investors are given access to detailed educational sessions that explain how Gold IRAs work, the role of gold in a retirement portfolio, and the potential risks and benefits involved. This approach is particularly valuable in 2026, as investors navigate ongoing economic uncertainty and shifting market conditions.

Augusta is also known for its emphasis on transparency. Pricing, fees, storage arrangements, and account requirements are clearly explained early in the process. The company works exclusively with IRS-approved custodians and secure, insured depositories to ensure full regulatory compliance.

Customer support remains a major strength. Investors are assigned a dedicated account representative who assists with rollovers, metal selection, and ongoing account management, creating a smooth and supportive experience from start to finish.

Augusta Precious Metals Gold IRA Features

• IRS-approved gold and silver products
• Assisted rollovers from 401(k), IRA, TSP, and other retirement accounts
• Fully insured, segregated storage through approved depositories
• Dedicated account representatives
• Strong buyback program

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Education-driven, no-pressure sales model
• High customer satisfaction and strong reputation
• Transparent pricing and clear disclosures
• Premium long-term support

Cons:

• Higher minimum investment compared to some competitors
• Best suited for serious, long-term investors

Best For (2026 Investors)

Augusta Precious Metals is best for investors who prioritize trust, education, and long-term retirement stability. It is particularly well-suited for individuals rolling over larger retirement accounts or those seeking a premium Gold IRA experience in 2026.

Schedule a free one-on-one web conference with a Harvard-educated economist.

2. Lear Capital — Best for Experience and Metal Selection (2026)

Lear Capital ranks second among the best Gold IRA companies for 2026 due to its long-standing presence in the precious metals industry and its broad selection of IRA-eligible investment options. With decades of experience serving retirement investors, Lear Capital appeals to those who want flexibility, diversification, and a company with deep market knowledge.

Get Lear Capital’s free gold IRA kit.

Why Lear Capital Ranks No.2 in 2026

Lear Capital’s longevity is one of its biggest strengths. Having operated through multiple economic cycles, the company has developed systems and expertise that help investors navigate both stable and volatile market environments. This experience is particularly valuable in 2026, as investors continue to seek dependable retirement solutions.

Another key advantage is Lear Capital’s wide range of precious metals. In addition to gold, investors can include silver, platinum, and palladium in their IRA, allowing for broader diversification within a precious metals portfolio. All metals offered meet IRS eligibility standards.

Lear Capital also maintains a structured buyback program, giving investors liquidity options if they decide to sell metals in the future. While pricing details may require direct consultation, the company provides guided support throughout the rollover and setup process.

Lear Capital Gold IRA Features

• Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium IRAs
• Assisted rollovers from IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement accounts
• Access to IRS-approved coins and bullion
• Secure storage through approved depositories
• Established buyback program

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Decades of industry experience
• Broad selection of IRA-eligible metals
• Strong buyback options
• Suitable for diversified precious metals strategies

Cons:

• Pricing details typically discussed during consultation
• Less emphasis on structured education compared to some competitors

Best For (2026 Investors)

Lear Capital is best for investors who want flexibility and diversification within their Gold IRA. It is particularly suitable for those rolling over moderate to large retirement accounts and looking to include multiple precious metals alongside gold.

3. GoldenCrest Metals — Best for Personalized Gold IRA Support (2026)

GoldenCrest Metals earns its position as the third-ranked Gold IRA company for 2026 by focusing on personalized service and hands-on guidance. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the company emphasizes individual attention, making it a strong option for investors who want clarity and support throughout the Gold IRA process.

Get GCM’s free gold IRA kit.

Why GoldenCrest Metals Ranks No.3 in 2026

GoldenCrest Metals differentiates itself through its consultative service model. Investors work directly with knowledgeable specialists who take the time to understand their retirement goals, risk tolerance, and investment timeline. This level of personalization can be especially valuable for investors navigating a Gold IRA for the first time.

The company emphasizes transparency during account setup and works with IRS-approved custodians and secure depositories to ensure compliance. While it may not have the same brand recognition as larger competitors, GoldenCrest Metals has built a solid reputation for straightforward communication and responsive customer service.

In 2026, as investors seek more guidance amid evolving economic conditions, GoldenCrest Metals’ hands-on approach continues to resonate with those who value direct access to experts rather than automated processes.

GoldenCrest Metals Gold IRA Features

• IRS-approved gold and silver products
• One-on-one account setup and rollover assistance
• Secure, insured third-party storage
• Personalized guidance from precious metals specialists
• Simplified onboarding process

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Highly personalized, consultative service
• Strong support for first-time Gold IRA investors
• Competitive pricing structure
• Clear communication throughout the process

Cons:

• Smaller brand compared to top-tier providers
• Fewer large-scale educational resources

GoldenCrest Metals is best suited for investors who want a tailored Gold IRA experience with direct guidance. It is particularly appealing to first-time investors or those who prefer a relationship-driven approach rather than a large corporate model.

4. Preserve Gold — Best Gold IRA Company for Promotions (2026)

Preserve Gold ranks fourth among the best Gold IRA companies for 2026, primarily due to its focus on accessibility, promotional incentives, and investor-friendly onboarding. The company is well-positioned for individuals who are newer to precious metals investing and want a straightforward entry into Gold IRAs.

Get Preserve Gold’s free gold IRA kit.

Why Preserve Gold Ranks No.4 in 2026

One of Preserve Gold’s main strengths is its use of promotions and incentives to help offset initial investment costs. These offers can make Gold IRAs more approachable for investors who may be hesitant to commit a large amount of capital upfront.

Preserve Gold also emphasizes simplicity. Its onboarding process is designed to be easy to follow, with team members guiding investors through rollovers, metal selection, and storage arrangements. Educational materials are provided to help investors understand Gold IRA fundamentals without overwhelming them.

While Preserve Gold does not have the same depth of history as some higher-ranked competitors, it delivers solid value for investors prioritizing ease of entry and promotional benefits in 2026.

Preserve Gold IRA Features

• Gold and silver IRAs with IRS-approved metals
• Assisted rollovers from IRAs and employer-sponsored plans
• Secure storage through approved, insured depositories
• Promotional offers and incentives
• Beginner-focused education and support

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Attractive promotions for new investors
• Simple, guided setup process
• Educational resources for beginners
• Responsive customer service

Cons:

• More limited customization options
• Shorter track record compared to top-ranked providers

Preserve Gold is best for new investors looking to enter the Gold IRA space with minimal friction. It is particularly well-suited for those who value incentives, simplicity, and educational support in 2026.

What is a gold IRA and how does it work in 2026?

A Gold IRA is a type of self-directed individual retirement account that allows investors to hold physical gold and other approved precious metals as part of a tax-advantaged retirement portfolio. In 2026, Gold IRAs remain a popular option for investors seeking diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

How a Gold IRA Works

The process of opening and managing a Gold IRA in 2026 follows several key steps:

• Open a Self-Directed IRA: The investor establishes a self-directed IRA through an IRS-approved custodian. The custodian administers the account and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Fund the Account: Funds are added via a rollover or transfer from an existing retirement account, such as a 401(k), traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or TSP. Direct rollovers are typically used to avoid taxes and penalties.
• Select IRS-Approved Metals: The investor chooses eligible gold products that meet IRS purity standards. Some Gold IRAs may also include silver, platinum, or palladium.
• Secure Storage: Physical metals are stored in an IRS-approved depository with insurance coverage. Home storage is not permitted for Gold IRAs.
• Ongoing Management and Distributions: The account remains tax-advantaged until distributions are taken in retirement, at which point taxes apply based on the account type.

Eligible Precious Metals in a Gold IRA

In addition to gold, eligible metals may include silver, platinum, and palladium, provided they meet IRS purity requirements and are approved for retirement accounts.

Learn how to spot red flags in gold IRA companies with this free checklist.

About IRAEmpire

IRAEmpire is an independent research and comparison platform dedicated to helping investors make informed decisions about retirement planning and alternative assets. The site specializes in in-depth reviews, rankings, and educational guides. For more information, visit www.iraempire.com.

Media Contact

Ryan Paulson
ryan@iraempire.com

For years, 3D pipelines have lived with an awkward compromise: geometry defines the shape, and textures are something you slap on afterward. It’s efficient, and it works — until it doesn’t. 

The cracks show up the moment a model needs to be more than a pretty render. When you move into 3D printing, manufacturing, or any high-fidelity output, that classic “build the mesh first, then project details onto it” workflow can turn into a game of whack-a-mole: stretched textures, mismatched seams, missing detail in occluded areas, and hours of manual cleanup before anything is safe to send to a printer. 

Hitem3D says its newly released Hitem3D 2.0 is built to attack that split head-on. The headline feature is integrated texture generation at 1536³ Pro resolution, designed to make textures feel less like a layer painted onto a surface and more like something that’s generated as part of the object itself — tied to the geometry, scale, and material logic from the start.

“We weren’t trying to make models look more ‘flashy,’” a Hitem3D technical lead says. “We’re focused on making the structure, texture, and production logic more coherent — because if generation isn’t solid, printing and mass production turns into rework.”

From “Pasted On” to “Grown In”

A lot of the current wave of AI 3D tools still inherits a familiar problem: the output can look impressive from the front, but it’s fragile once you rotate it, inspect it up close, or try to push it into a real production workflow. In practice, the “AI magic” often ends up creating a new kind of technical debt — you gain speed upfront, then pay it back later with fixes.

Hitem3D’s pitch is that the solution isn’t just “higher resolution textures,” but a different generation logic: a structure-aware integrated texture generation approach that treats texture as something that should be consistent with geometry, not merely aligned to it.

dragon-shaped asset where scales, horns, and whiskers follow the underlying geometry rather than appearing as a flat overlay. Hitem3D claims the detail holds even as an untextured mesh, with volume and layering that remain intact before finishing, making the asset more directly usable for printing workflows.

Why This Matters for Printing (and Not Just Visuals)

The gap between “looks good” and “production-ready” is often found in the overlooked details: the underside of a seated figure, the interior folds of a cloak, or the complex internal cavities of an architectural model. For 3D printing professionals, these are the high-stakes areas where traditional textures often fail, leading to costly print failures.

Hitem3D 2.0 leans heavily on that reality. Instead of relying on the usual multi-view projection approach, the company says it generates texture information during geometry reconstruction — aiming for consistent completion across both visible and occluded regions.

In one architectural example described by a 3D printing studio operator, the model’s interior walls, the inner faces of openwork structures, and balcony railings were filled in with consistent material and texture logic — the kind of stuff that often collapses into blanks until you discover it in print.

“Before, a model could look fine from the front,” the operator notes, “but printing exposed the issues: empty bottoms, missing interior surfaces. Now the completion happens during generation, and we can send it to print with far fewer fixes.”

The Technical Spine: Constraints, Lighting, and Material Truth

Hitem3D says the engine behind 2.0 is trained on a large base of 3D asset data to learn spatial continuity and surface logic in three dimensions — so the system can do reconstruction under structural constraints rather than “guess and paste.” 

Practically, that’s meant to reduce the classic projection failures: stretching, misalignment, distortion, and that uncanny “texture sliding over the mesh” look that instantly gives away AI outputs.

Hitem3D is also targeting a different, quieter killer: lighting.

 If you’ve ever tried to extract clean material information from source imagery, you know the trap — highlights and shadows get baked into what’s supposed to be base color and material response, and suddenly your asset has an inconsistent material response under standard PBR lighting. Hitem3D 2.0 introduces illumination-aware semantic recognition paired with Physically Based Accuracy, meant to delighting (shadow, specular, ambient influence) from the underlying surface properties. The idea is to create a cleaner, more uniform base for downstream PBR workflows — and less of that “looks correct only in the lighting that created it” problem. 

A second demo example — a wooden crate — is presented as a case where material logic matters more than raw sharpness: wood grain orientation and plank seams are intrinsically aligned with the object's geometry. Furthermore, surface wear is intelligently distributed — concentrating on high-contact edges and base surfaces — resulting in a model that reflects authentic usage patterns rather than arbitrary procedural noise.

Portraits, but at “Hair Level”

If there’s one category that reliably breaks 3D generation systems, it’s humans — and hair, in particular, tends to turn into either a clumpy helmet or a mess of intersecting geometry.

Hitem3D 2.0 adds a portrait mode described as “strand-level fidelity,” aiming to reconstruct head shape and facial proportions structurally while preserving fine detail like hair flow direction, brows, and lashes, plus cleaner transitions between skin and hair material regions.

A long-time 3D modeling user described the difference in practical terms: clearer curl layers, less chaos, fewer interpenetration issues, and less manual cleanup time on face and hair details.

Production Features: Segmentation, Retopo, Embossing, and “Printing-Ready”

On the production side, Hitem3D is positioning 2.0 as something closer to an end-to-end system than a one-off generator:

• Semantic 3D model segmentation so the system understands parts, not just surfaces
• Automatic retopology and AI 3D embossing features for manufacturing-oriented workflows
• Export and workflow support aimed at moving assets from generation into toolchains without weeks of repair

And importantly: Hitem3D highlights automated export for multi-material printing-ready (4 materials) assets — with the note that the same concept extends to 8 or 16 materials. That’s a meaningful distinction from “full-color printing” in the casual sense: the point here is that the model is split and structured in a way that can actually map to a multi-material printer pipeline without hours of manual mesh surgery.

Hitem3D also says it supports USDZ, and a workflow that uses geometry and reference images to generate textures — positioning it as a way to “revive” existing models, not just create new ones. A deeply integrated Blender add-on is framed as the practical bridge: less context switching, more “native” insertion into creator workflows.

The Part That Actually Matters: Usability, Not Spectacle

It’s easy for AI 3D announcements to devolve into a familiar loop — bigger numbers, flashier renders, vague claims about “realism.” Hitem3D’s argument is that the next phase of 3D generation isn’t just about speed, but about whether the output can withstand the rigors of industrial workflows — from printing tolerances and structural integrity to material consistency and reduced rework rates.

If Hitem3D 2.0 delivers on this promise — providing integrated generation that holds up structurally and operationally — it represents a pivotal transition. It moves AI-generated assets from the realm of "cool demos" into a reliable, trust-based framework for B2B production. 

The real test, as always, is what happens when users push it beyond the cherry-picked examples: thin features, complex joints, extreme occlusion, and the messy variety of real-world assets. But the direction is clear: 3D generation is trying to grow up from “content acceleration” into a repeatable production capability — and Hitem3D wants to be one of the systems building that bridge.

About Math Magic

Math Magic is the developer of Hitem3D, a 3D generation tool powered by its proprietary high-resolution AI model, Sparc3D. With just a single reference image, users can instantly generate studio-ready 3D assets with industry-leading quality, making 3D creation faster, easier, and more accessible. This breakthrough solution empowers game developers, designers, and 3D artists to streamline their creative workflows and bring ideas to life efficiently from concept to deployment. For more information, visit hitem3d.ai.

Media Contact

Celine Su
contact@email.hitem3d.ai

MBANK, one of Kyrgyzstan's leading digital financial institutions, has been honored with the "Innovative Leader in Digital and Sustainable Banking – Kyrgyzstan, 2025" award from the Global Brand Frontier Awards 2025, conducted by Boston Brand Research & Media, one of the world's most reputed and highly regarded platforms for recognizing corporate excellence and transformative leadership.

"MBANK exemplifies what the future of banking should look like: inclusive, technology-led, and deeply sustainable," said Shivakumar, president and CEO of Boston Brand Research & Media. "Their visionary approach to digital transformation, combined with a strong commitment to sustainability, makes them a true pioneer in Kyrgyzstan's financial landscape."

This achievement reflects MBANK’s strategic vision and its evolution into a comprehensive financial ecosystem that has over 12 million MBANK app downloads. The bank continues to lead the market through innovative solutions, including cryptocurrency integration, children’s banking products, and lifestyle platforms, while strengthening its brand through customer-centric communication and financial literacy initiatives across diverse audience segments.

“The status of a Leader in Digital and Sustainable Banking confirms MBANK’s role as one of the key drivers of digital transformation and sustainable banking in Kyrgyzstan. We see this award as an incentive to continue developing solutions that create long-term value for customers and the country’s economy,” said Marat Toraliev, first deputy CEO and group strategy and development officer.

About MBANK

MBANK’s innovations encompass the digitalization of a broad range of financial services, alongside the development of proprietary acquiring solutions and lifestyle services. By combining advanced financial technologies with everyday digital services, the bank is building a comprehensive ecosystem that goes beyond traditional banking, offering customers seamless, secure, and convenient solutions integrated into a single mobile platform.

MBANK is steadily strengthening its position as one of the leading banks in Kyrgyzstan, demonstrating sustainable growth across key performance indicators.

MBANK’s superapp downloads has exceeded more than 12 million, making it one of the most widely used banks in the country. The bank’s assets have grown multiple times over recent years, reflecting strong scaling dynamics and a high level of customer trust. According to industry data, MBANK consistently ranks among the top banks in Kyrgyzstan in terms of financial performance and operational efficiency.

This growth is driven by active digitalization: the bank continues to expand its remote services, payment solutions, and everyday financial ecosystem, enabling MBANK not only to increase its business performance but also to set new standards for banking services in Kyrgyzstan.

As of today, MBANK operates over 85 branches across all regions of Kyrgyzstan, with more than 500 ATMs and more than 4,000 terminals servicing Visa and Mastercard payment cards. The bank also supports four international money transfer systems, providing access to 160 countries in the world.

Latest Innovations from MBANK

MBANK continues to lead digital banking in Kyrgyzstan by introducing innovative solutions that make financial services more accessible and convenient. Recent developments include MBANK Junior, MInvest, MProfi, MTicket, MPLUS (Buy Now, Pay Later).

MBANK Junior, the first children’s banking service in Kyrgyzstan, is a mobile banking solution for children aged 7 to 16, enabling them to make payments and transfers independently while developing essential financial literacy skills. The service is designed with enhanced security features, allowing parents to monitor and manage their child’s activity through their own MBANK account. 

Through the MInvest cryptocurrency platform, users can buy, store, and transfer cryptocurrency quickly, securely, and within a familiar banking ecosystem. MInvest integrates cryptocurrency functionality directly into the mobile app, allowing users to purchase digital assets from the available selection, store them in a familiar banking interface, transfer funds to friends or external wallets via QR code, and manage their cryptocurrency just as easily as traditional banking products.

MProfi by MBANK is a service for finding verified professionals directly within the bank’s mobile app. The platform brings together plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, tutors, cleaners, and photographers all in one place. All specialists are verified, with ratings, reviews, and confirmed identities. Users can select a category, view detailed profiles, prices, photos of completed work, and reviews, then contact and pay for services directly quickly, conveniently, and securely.

MTicket is a ticketing service within the MBANK app that allows users to purchase electronic tickets for concerts, movies, theaters, festivals, and other events. The platform brings all available events together in one place, enabling users to select, pay for, and store tickets directly in the mobile app — quickly, conveniently, and without the need for printed tickets.

MPLUS (Buy Now, Pay Later) is a credit line within the MBANK app that allows customers to purchase goods from partner merchants in installments with 0% interest and no overpayments. After applying and receiving a credit limit, users can split payments over three months without a down payment. The service offers transparent terms, with no additional fees, a minimum purchase amount starting from 2,000 KGS, and free delivery for installment purchases.

About Boston Brand Research & Media

Boston Brand Research & Media is a leading global consulting and media firm specializing in brand intelligence, strategic recognition, and corporate storytelling across industries including finance, technology, healthcare, and energy. Through its data-driven research, editorial platforms, and high-impact global award programs, the firm highlights organizations demonstrating excellence in leadership, customer experience, innovation, and sustainability. Recognized worldwide as one of the most reputed evaluators of corporate excellence, Boston Brand Research & Media empowers brands to gain global visibility and credibility through its flagship Global Brand Frontier Awards program. To learn more, visit www.bostonbrandmedia.com.

About the Global Brand Frontier Awards

Founded by Boston Brand Research & Media, the Global Brand Frontier Awards honor outstanding companies and leaders who are reshaping industries and setting new standards across global markets. Known for its rigorous selection process, the awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and a bold commitment to excellence. The 2025 awards recognized top-tier organizations, including AXA IM Select, STC Bank, Tawuniya, ADIB Egypt, Access Bank Tanzania, Gulf Insurance Group (GIG), Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance and many more innovators. To learn more or to nominate your organization for the Global Brand Frontier Awards 2025, visit www.bostonbrandmedia.com/register-for-the-2025-frontier-awards.

Media Contact

Boston Brand Research & Media
Awards Team
awards@bostonbrandmedia.com
+1 617-935-8890

Xu Yan Malaysia officially opened at Starhill, Kuala Lumpur’s prime lifestyle destination, marking the debut of a new immersive cultural dining experience that brings Malaysia’s diverse heritage to life through performance, storytelling, and gastronomy.

Designed as a multi-sensory cultural journey, Xu Yan presents an experience where dining, performance, and spatial storytelling are seamlessly integrated. Guests are invited to engage with Malaysian culture not through static displays, but through a live, evolving narrative that unfolds throughout the evening.

A Cultural Narrative Shaped by Diversity

Malaysia’s identity has long been shaped by the coexistence of multiple cultures. Drawing inspiration from this rich background, Xu Yan builds its experience around the idea of cultural coexistence and shared history.

Through music, movement, and storytelling, the performance reflects how different traditions have intersected over time, forming a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape. Rather than presenting history as a timeline, the show translates it into emotion, rhythm, and atmosphere — allowing guests to experience culture intuitively.

Cuisine as Part of the Storytelling

At Xu Yan, cuisine plays an essential role in the narrative experience.

The culinary journey is designed around cooking techniques, flavor structures, and cultural influences that reflect Malaysia’s diverse food heritage.

Instead of focusing on individual dishes, the dining sequence follows the rhythm of the performance. Cooking methods, seasoning profiles, and presentation styles echo the cultural themes being portrayed on stage, allowing food to become a natural extension of the storytelling rather than a separate element.

This approach transforms dining into an experiential layer — one that complements the visual and emotional flow of the evening.

An Immersive Space Built Around Story and Movement

The spatial design of Xu Yan centers on immersion and fluid movement. Rather than recreating specific architectural styles, the venue is designed as a narrative environment that adapts to the progression of the performance.

Lighting, music, and staging work together to guide the audience through different emotional chapters, creating a sense of continuity and engagement throughout the experience. The space becomes part of the storytelling, allowing culture to be felt rather than explained.

Connecting Culture, Experience, and Global Audiences

Xu Yan was created with the vision of presenting Malaysian culture in a way that resonates with both local and international audiences. By combining performance, dining, and narrative design, the project offers a contemporary platform for cultural expression — one that feels accessible, immersive, and emotionally engaging.

The team behind Xu Yan believes that culture is best shared through experience rather than exhibition. By transforming heritage into a living, participatory journey, the project aims to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of Malaysia’s cultural richness.

The opening of Xu Yan Malaysia marks not just the launch of a new experiential venue, but a new approach to cultural storytelling — one that invites the world to experience Malaysia through rhythm, flavor, and shared moments.

Media Contact

Cher Yee
cheryeechng@hotmail.com
+60 12-394 9118

Marlie AI, a leading AI answering service for small and mid-sized businesses, has processed over 1 million calls while delivering more than 50,000 hours in time savings to its customers. The milestone demonstrates how artificial intelligence is becoming a practical solution for businesses that can't afford to miss customer calls but struggle with the costs and limitations of traditional staffing.

The numbers tell a compelling story. One million calls represents thousands of potential customers who didn't hang up in frustration, didn't get sent to voicemail, and didn't call a competitor instead. The 50,000 hours saved translates to roughly 24 full-time employees working for an entire year — time that business owners have redirected toward actually running their companies instead of being tied to their phones. With an average response time under two seconds and a 98% accuracy rate, Marlie AI has proven that automated answering technology can match or exceed human performance while operating around the clock.

The platform serves diverse industries across the United States, from emergency services like towing companies and locksmiths who need to capture late-night calls, to home service providers like plumbers and HVAC technicians who are often too busy on job sites to answer their phones. Professional services including lawyers and real estate agents use the system to ensure potential clients always reach someone, while restaurants rely on it to handle reservation requests and takeout orders during dinner rushes. Each industry has different needs, but the underlying challenge is the same: missing calls means missing revenue.

Consider a typical plumbing company that receives 40 calls per week outside of business hours. Before implementing an AI answering service, those calls either went to voicemail or to a traditional answering service that cost hundreds of dollars per month and still couldn't book appointments directly into their calendar. Now, their AI receptionist answers instantly, understands which calls are genuine emergencies, schedules non-urgent appointments automatically, and sends detailed summaries to the owner's phone. The result? More jobs booked, happier customers, and the owner actually sleeping through the night.

"We built Marlie AI because we saw small business owners being held hostage by their phones," said Alex Dimcevski, founder of Marlie AI. "Reaching 1 million calls isn't just a number for us, it represents 1 million moments where a business owner didn't have to choose between serving a customer and living their life. These are real people running towing companies at 2 AM, managing restaurants during rushes, or trying to grow a law practice without hiring expensive staff. The fact that AI can now handle these conversations naturally and accurately is genuinely transforming how small businesses operate."

What sets Marlie AI apart from both traditional answering services and other AI solutions is its combination of simplicity and sophistication. Business owners can set up their AI receptionist in about 15 minutes by connecting their website and letting the system learn their services, pricing, and policies. The platform then handles everything from answering basic questions to booking appointments, collecting payments, and routing urgent calls to the right person. It works in multiple languages, integrates with the tools businesses already use, and costs a fraction of what they'd pay for human staff or conventional answering services.

The broader trend is clear: American small businesses are embracing AI not as a futuristic experiment but as a practical necessity. With labor costs rising and customer expectations for immediate response growing, the traditional model of hiring receptionists or paying for answering services that charge per minute is becoming unsustainable. AI answering services offer an alternative that provides better coverage at up to 90% lower cost than traditional solutions. For businesses operating in competitive markets where speed matters, like emergency services, home repairs, or professional consulting—the ability to answer every call in under two seconds can be the difference between winning and losing a customer.

As more businesses discover they don't need to choose between quality customer service and profitability, AI-powered phone systems are moving from "nice to have" to essential infrastructure. The 1 million call milestone suggests this shift is already well underway.

About Marlie AI

Marlie AI is an AI answering service designed to help businesses handle incoming calls automatically. With Marlie, you get a virtual receptionist that can answer calls, handle common questions, book appointments, capture key information, and route qualified leads to the right person. Based in New York City, Marlie AI serves small and medium-sized businesses across the United States. Our realistic AI receptionist is built to listen, understand, and act on caller needs, ensuring calls are managed efficiently while preserving the human touch when it matters most. For more information, visit www.marlie.ai.

Media Contact

Alex Dimcevski
Founder & CEO, Marlie AI
alex@marlie.ai

Within the scope of its international collaborations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emrina Inc. has signed a significant strategic agreement together with China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., Ltd., one of the largest companies in the People’s Republic of China and globally.

Under this collaboration, a comprehensive memorandum of understanding has been reached between Emrina and China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., and Le Park Concord Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading firms in the real estate and hospitality sectors. The agreement covers joint project development across Saudi Arabia, the establishment of a joint venture company, and the construction of a total of 60 motel projects throughout the Kingdom.

These projects are fully aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the country’s tourism, accommodation, and commercial infrastructure. The planned motels are designed to provide modern, sustainable, and high-standard solutions to the rapidly increasing demand for accommodation. They will be located in strategic areas and designed to appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

Leveraging its strong command of local regulations, permits, and authorization processes in Saudi Arabia, as well as its international project management experience, Emrina will play an active role in the planning, construction, and operational phases of the projects by ensuring effective coordination between the Chinese and Saudi partners. China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co. will contribute its global-scale engineering, construction, and infrastructure expertise to deliver the projects in accordance with the highest quality standards.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our valued friend Ahmed Al Yahya, whose support has made a significant contribution to strengthening communication and trust among the parties throughout the realization of this important collaboration. We also extend our gratitude to the Board of Directors of Le Park Concord Company, chaired by Faiz Tala Alenezi, for this valuable partnership.

As Emrina, we firmly believe that this strong collaboration established between Türkiye, China, and Saudi Arabia will pave the way for new investments and sustainable partnerships at both regional and global levels.

About Emrina

Emrina A.Ş. is a versatile company that represents leading global brands in Turkey, in addition to its own Consubcon and WorkinMENA brands. It holds the Turkish rights to prestigious brands such as Guido Gobino (producer of Armani Dolci), one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers; EdX, a company founded through a partnership between Harvard and MIT; Alchemy Pay, a global payment technology giant; and Shanghai Metal, one of China's largest industrial manufacturers. Through these partnerships, Emrina is a strategic player that makes a difference not only in the field but also through global collaborations. For more information, visit www.emrina.com.

Media Contact

Emrah Inanc
Emrina Inc.
emrah@emrina.com

Within the scope of its international collaborations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emrina Inc. has signed a significant strategic agreement together with China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., Ltd., one of the largest companies in the People’s Republic of China and globally.

Under this collaboration, a comprehensive memorandum of understanding has been reached between Emrina and China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co., and Le Park Concord Company, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading firms in the real estate and hospitality sectors. The agreement covers joint project development across Saudi Arabia, the establishment of a joint venture company, and the construction of a total of 60 motel projects throughout the Kingdom.

These projects are fully aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen the country’s tourism, accommodation, and commercial infrastructure. The planned motels are designed to provide modern, sustainable, and high-standard solutions to the rapidly increasing demand for accommodation. They will be located in strategic areas and designed to appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

Leveraging its strong command of local regulations, permits, and authorization processes in Saudi Arabia, as well as its international project management experience, Emrina will play an active role in the planning, construction, and operational phases of the projects by ensuring effective coordination between the Chinese and Saudi partners. China Railway Assembly Xinjiang Construction and Development Co. will contribute its global-scale engineering, construction, and infrastructure expertise to deliver the projects in accordance with the highest quality standards.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our valued friend Ahmed Al Yahya, whose support has made a significant contribution to strengthening communication and trust among the parties throughout the realization of this important collaboration. We also extend our gratitude to the Board of Directors of Le Park Concord Company, chaired by Faiz Tala Alenezi, for this valuable partnership.

As Emrina, we firmly believe that this strong collaboration established between Türkiye, China, and Saudi Arabia will pave the way for new investments and sustainable partnerships at both regional and global levels.

About Emrina

Emrina A.Ş. is a versatile company that represents leading global brands in Turkey, in addition to its own Consubcon and WorkinMENA brands. It holds the Turkish rights to prestigious brands such as Guido Gobino (producer of Armani Dolci), one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers; EdX, a company founded through a partnership between Harvard and MIT; Alchemy Pay, a global payment technology giant; and Shanghai Metal, one of China's largest industrial manufacturers. Through these partnerships, Emrina is a strategic player that makes a difference not only in the field but also through global collaborations. For more information, visit www.emrina.com.

Media Contact

Emrah Inanc
Emrina Inc.
emrah@emrina.com

Businesses and consumers are increasingly turning to digital platforms that simplify complex decisions, improve efficiency, and deliver measurable value. StartupMafia selected the following six companies for their practical use of technology, data, and partnerships to address real operational and user needs across B2B and B2C markets.

1. Rounds

Rounds develops an autonomous, data-driven AI platform that manages the full lifecycle of mobile assets, from sourcing and evaluation to continuous optimization. The company works with mobile products as scalable digital businesses, using automation and analytics to identify assets with growth potential and improve their performance over time.

What distinguishes Rounds is its agentic AI approach, which continuously analyzes user behavior and market signals to guide decisions. Instead of relying on manual optimization, the platform acts as a persistent engine for improvement, helping mobile assets evolve sustainably while reducing operational overhead for teams managing large portfolios.

2. nCube Nearshore Development Services

nCube provides nearshore software development services that help product companies scale engineering capacity without expanding internal hiring. Operating across Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe, the company supplies developers who integrate directly into clients’ workflows and teams.

The firm’s key differentiator is its flexible delivery model. Clients can choose staff augmentation, dedicated teams, or a full nearshore R&D center, depending on their growth stage and control requirements. This structure allows companies to retain product ownership while gaining access to long-term engineering talent and regional cost efficiencies.

3. AtoZ PR

AtoZ PR is a communications and media agency focused on helping technology companies increase visibility and credibility across global markets. Founded in 2017, the agency works primarily with IT, blockchain, and Web3 businesses seeking structured media exposure and reputation building.

AtoZ PR stands out for its emphasis on measurable outcomes rather than broad promotion. By combining industry-specific expertise with targeted storytelling, press distribution, and expert placements, the agency aligns media activity with business objectives such as market entry, investor visibility, and audience trust.

4. Factory.Sale

Factory.Sale operates a B2B sourcing platform that connects buyers directly with manufacturers in the global construction and building materials sector. The company focuses on simplifying procurement by reducing intermediaries and improving transparency across pricing, specifications, and logistics.

Its differentiation lies in precision-driven sourcing supported by data and AI-assisted processes. Factory.Sale tailors manufacturer selection to each client’s technical and commercial requirements, helping businesses reduce supply risks while maintaining quality standards in complex international procurement environments.

5. Pleso

Pleso is a digital mental health platform that connects users with qualified psychotherapists through online sessions. The service addresses growing demand for accessible psychological support by removing geographic barriers and simplifying the process of finding appropriate professional help.

The platform’s smart matching algorithm is a key feature, pairing clients with therapists based on individual needs and preferences. By focusing on fit and confidentiality, Pleso aims to improve therapy outcomes while offering a structured, technology-enabled alternative to traditional in-person mental health services.

6. Topologica

Topologica Travel Map offers an interactive world travel map designed to consolidate destination research into a single digital experience. The platform covers more than 195 countries, providing information on visas, safety, cost of living, and travel planning tools for different traveler profiles.

Topologica differentiates itself through its map-based interface and comprehensive scope. By combining travel guides, budget calculators, and digital nomad visa data, it serves users who need more than flight or hotel search, supporting informed decision-making for short-term trips and long-term stays alike.

Conclusion

The companies highlighted by StartupMafia reflect a broader shift toward platforms that prioritize clarity, automation, and user-centric design. Across industries, these solutions demonstrate how targeted innovation can address operational complexity while delivering tangible benefits to businesses and end users.

About StartupMafia

StartupMafia is a business media and research platform that tracks emerging companies, technologies, and market trends worldwide. It provides curated insights to help businesses and investors identify relevant solutions in a changing global economy. For more information, visit startupmafia.eu.

Media Contact

StartupMafia.eu Press Department
press@startupmafia.eu

Meta has released SAM Audio, a new research model designed to segment sound using text, visual, and temporal prompts. The project extends Meta’s earlier “Segment Anything” concept into the audio domain and signals growing interest in sound separation as a core area of AI research.

While the model itself is experimental, its arrival has already sparked discussion across the music and audio technology community, especially among creators searching for vocal remover tools and professionals working with music stem separation in production environments.

The release raises a familiar question: how much does a research model like SAM Audio change what musicians, producers, and engineers can actually use today?

What is SAM Audio and Meta’s Benchmark in terms of vocal removal and pro music stem separation?

SAM Audio is a unified, multimodal model that can isolate sounds based on natural language prompts such as “vocals,” “guitar,” or “background noise.” In video-based scenarios, it can also rely on visual information to guide the separation process.

From a research perspective, the model explores open-vocabulary sound segmentation, where the system is not limited to a fixed set of predefined audio classes. That makes it useful for studying how audio, text, and visuals interact in complex recordings.

At the same time, Meta positions SAM Audio as a research system rather than a consumer or professional product. Running the model requires high-end hardware, including NVIDIA A100 GPUs, along with technical expertise and long processing times. According to Meta’s own benchmarks, SAM Audio operates at roughly 0.7× real time on an A100, meaning that even short clips demand substantial compute resources.

Online searches for “vocal remover” usually reflect a simple need: users want to isolate or remove vocals from a song, often for karaoke, remixing, or learning to play an instrument. In practice, vocal removal is just one part of a broader category known as music stem separation, which involves splitting a track into components such as vocals, drums, bass, synths, guitars, lead and back vocals, other instruments, and even echo and reverb removal.

Research models like SAM Audio approach this problem from a very wide angle. They are built to separate almost any sound from any mixture, including noisy or unstructured recordings. This makes them useful for experimentation, academic work, and certain multimodal tasks.

However, the expectations around vocal removal in music production are narrower and stricter. Users are not simply looking for isolated sound; they expect the result to preserve stereo width, timing, ambience, and tonal balance, especially in professional music production tasks. These details are often what determine whether a separated vocal is usable in a real project.

Research Models vs. Production Tools

The difference between research capability and production usability becomes clear when looking at how SAM Audio processes sound. The Meta’s model operates in mono, which limits its ability to preserve stereo information and spatial effects. For creative workflows such as remixing, mastering, or archival work, this is a practical constraint. Reverbs, delays, and spatial cues are not decorative elements in music; they are part of the mix itself.

This is where production-focused tools take a different approach. Instead of trying to separate any sound from any context, commercial stem separation systems are usually trained on music-specific data and optimized for speed, consistency, and fidelity. The goal is not flexibility at all costs, but predictable results that match the original track as closely as possible.

LALAL.AI Appeared in Meta’s Benchmark as a Leading Professional Instrument and Vocal Remover

In Meta’s published evaluation, LALAL.AI was included as one of the commercial reference solutions alongside services such as Moises, AudioShake, and FADR. The benchmark compared SAM Audio’s output with that of existing music separation tools across several categories.

SAM Audio achieved the highest overall scores in instrument separation, including vocals. Among commercial systems, LALAL.AI showed the smallest performance gap relative to the research model in professional instrument separation tasks, vocal isolation included.

“Being selected as a reference in Meta’s benchmark confirms that LALAL.AI continues to set the standard for high-quality, production-ready music stem separation,” said Nik Pogorski, LALAL.AI product owner and co-founder. “Among all commercial services evaluated, we achieved the smallest performance gap to the research-level SAM Audio, while offering fast, accessible, and reliable solutions for professional workflows.”

LALAL.AI’s approach relies on transformer-based architectures designed specifically for audio. Unlike generative diffusion models, these systems are discriminative rather than generative: they focus on separating existing sound rather than recreating or resynthesizing it. This design choice helps preserve stereo imaging, phase alignment, and subtle details such as reverb tails: factors that are critical for studio-quality vocal extraction.

As a leader in the Instruments (Pro) category among other commercial services and vocal removers, LALAL.AI is the cross-platform tool that is available to plenty of creators and businesses, from hobbyists and karaoke lovers to pro audio engineers and labels, on every device, in every scenario, and now, with the release of its VST plugin, in a direct integration with multiple DAWs. 

To remove vocals from a song, an audio file, or even a video recording, creators just have to upload the recording to LALAL.AI (either on desktop, mobile, or web) and choose the Vocal & Instrumental stem.

Speed and Accessibility in Real Vocal Isolation Workflows

Benchmarks provide useful reference points, but they do not fully reflect how tools are used day to day. For most musicians and producers, the key questions are practical ones: how fast the separation runs, what hardware is required, how clean vocals are, and whether the output can be used immediately.

LALAL.AI is built to run on standard consumer and professional setups, including desktop applications, mobile apps, and a VST plugin that integrates into existing audio workstations, which contrasts with research systems like SAM Audio, which are designed to explore what is possible under laboratory conditions rather than to support routine production work.

Universal models may perform well on noisy recordings, speech-heavy content, or multimodal scenarios that combine audio and video. These use cases matter, but they differ from the controlled, high-quality source material typically used in music production.

What This Means Going Forward

Meta’s SAM Audio highlights how quickly audio research is progressing and how much attention sound separation is now receiving within the broader AI field. Its release does not replace existing vocal remover tools or professional stem separation services, but it does help clarify the boundaries between research exploration and production-ready software and showcases how the field is developing.

For creators searching for reliable vocal removal today, the distinction remains clear. Research models expand the range of what can be studied. Production tools define what can be used, at scale, without specialized infrastructure. Both approaches are likely to coexist and serve different needs, under different constraints, and for very different audiences.

About LALAL.AI

LALAL.AI is an AI-powered audio processing platform that helps users extract vocals, instruments, and other audio components from music and video files. Launched in 2020 in Switzerland, it quickly grew from a 2-stem splitter to the world’s first 10-stem solution. Over the years, LALAL.AI expanded across desktop, mobile, VST, and API, added noise reduction, echo removal, and voice modification features. The service is now used by over six million musicians, producers, audio engineers, content creators, and media professionals around the world. For more information, visit www.lalal.ai.

Media Contact

Klara Alexeeva
PR & Communications Manager, LALAL.AI
klara.alexeeva@lalal.ai

As the New Year approaches, StartupMafia reviewed consumer products that have gained attention not through seasonal promotion but through steady, year-round demand. The resulting selection reflects how families, professionals, and entertainment consumers increasingly favor gifts that combine practicality, reliability, and long-term relevance.

1. Naturally KIDS Dinosaur Backpack

Naturally KIDS dinosaur backpack is designed for children aged three to five and serves as an everyday item for preschool and early kindergarten use. The backpack is sized for small essentials such as snacks, toys, or personal items, making it suitable for daily routines rather than occasional outings. Its playful dinosaur design is intended to appeal to young children while remaining functional for parents managing regular schedules. The product is part of Naturally KIDS’ broader range of themed children’s accessories.

What sets Naturally KIDS apart is its scale and focus on safety. The company reports serving more than one million families worldwide and cites over 22,000 verified reviews averaging 4.8 stars on Amazon in the United States and Canada. Products are designed and tested with child safety in mind, and the brand maintains a consistent design language across backpacks, toys, and children’s lamps shaped as animals and fantasy characters.

2. Silverline® Compression Socks

Silverline® compression socks are positioned for individuals seeking everyday comfort during work, travel, or light physical activity. The socks are intended for people who spend long periods standing or sitting and who prefer non-medical compression wear as part of their daily routine. Vita Vera operates as a Slovenia-based e-commerce company serving customers across Germany and other European Union markets.

The product’s distinguishing features lie in material selection and production standards. Vita Vera emphasizes certified textiles and consistent manufacturing processes, aligning with growing consumer interest in quality assurance for apparel worn daily. Rather than focusing on elite athletic performance, the Silverline® line targets routine use, reflecting a broader market shift toward functional wellness products integrated into normal lifestyles.

3. OKDERMO Professional Skincare Products

OKDERMO professional skincare products reflect a wider shift in consumer behavior toward ingredient-driven, routine-based skin care. The platform specializes in dermatology-oriented formulations, with particular emphasis on retinoid-based products that are widely studied and commonly used by experienced skincare users. These products are typically incorporated into long-term routines rather than purchased for short-term cosmetic effects.

OKDERMO differentiates itself through structure rather than branding. Products are organized by active ingredients and use cases, allowing consumers to make selections based on familiarity and gradual routine building. This approach mirrors an industry-wide move away from trend-focused beauty retail toward platforms that prioritize formulation transparency, consistency, and informed use over novelty.

4. World Cup 2026 Tickets via Ticombo

World Cup 2026 tickets on Ticombo have become a notable gift option as official ticket releases continue to sell out within minutes. Many fans are unable to secure seats through primary sales channels, increasing reliance on verified secondary marketplaces. Ticombo operates as a resale platform that connects buyers and sellers while applying checks designed to reduce transactional risk.

The platform’s role reflects changing dynamics in global sports ticketing. As demand for major events outpaces supply, structured resale markets have become a common alternative rather than an exception. Ticombo’s large inventory and verification processes position it within this evolving ecosystem, where access and reliability increasingly shape purchasing decisions.

5. MAG555 Google TV™ Set-Top Box

Infomir MAG555 Google TV set-top box is designed for users looking to upgrade standard televisions into comprehensive smart entertainment systems. The device supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, HDR, HEVC video compression, and Dolby Digital™ audio. Built on Google TV, it aggregates streaming services, live television, and applications into a single interface.

The MAG555 stands out for its focus on performance standards and platform integration rather than proprietary limitations. By combining widely supported hardware specifications with Google TV, the device reflects consumer demand for flexible home entertainment solutions that remain compatible as content formats and viewing habits continue to evolve.

Conclusion

The five gifts selected by StartupMafia highlight a shared pattern across different markets: consumers increasingly value functionality, verified quality, and long-term use over novelty. From children’s products to digital entertainment and personal care, the common denominator is practical relevance. Together, these examples illustrate how everyday needs are shaping gift choices as the New Year begins.

About StartupMafia

StartupMafia is a business media and research platform that tracks emerging companies, technologies, and market trends worldwide. It provides curated insights to help businesses and investors identify relevant solutions in a changing global economy. For more information, visit startupmafia.eu.

Media Contact

StartupMafia.eu Press Department
press@startupmafia.eu

Yarbo will introduce the newest addition to its product portfolio, the Yarbo M Series Modular Yard Robot, on January 6, 2026. This groundbreaking piece of yard equipment redefines outdoor and yard living, making laborious outdoor tasks simpler through automation and AI technology. Yarbo’s transformative piece of modular yard equipment will be showcased at Booth #51232, Venetian Expo, Halls A–D, Level 2 at 2:00 PM. 

At the launch event, Yarbo will host live product presentations and demonstrations, while formally announcing that the Yarbo M Series will soon be available to a global audience via Kickstarter. The smart yard management solution not only marks a significant expansion of Yarbo’s product portfolio but also a turning point in its product strategy. Until now, Yarbo has primarily focused on premium large-yard solutions; however, the M Series opens the door to everyday yard maintenance needs of the majority of households.

Yarbo and the Next Chapter of Smart Yard Living

Yarbo has long been committed to reducing the physical burden of yard work by applying the concept of the indoor smart home system to the outside world with its new modular yard robot ecosystem. This automatic yard robot transforms labor-intensive outdoor jobs into a system-managed daily routine.

Built on Yarbo’s modular DNA, the M Series Yard Robot comprises one core piece of equipment and multiple interchangeable modules, designed for all seasons. The Yarbo Core is the foundation of the entire ecosystem. It incorporates a powerful computing system with sensors to plan its pathways, navigate autonomously, and avoid obstacles. 

Users can buy one Core and add modules as needed, eliminating the need for users to store multiple pieces of large yard equipment. With the Yarbo Core and its attachments, users can maintain lawn care during the spring and summer months and clear away debris and snow through autumn and winter. 

The Modular Yard Robot’s Key Features and Benefits

The Yarbo M Series is a compact yard robot for every season and a variety of yard types. Not only does this maintenance tool enhance service standards, but it also reduces labor costs, making it a useful asset in residential yards, high-end communities, resorts, luxury villas, and vacation properties. 

The three key pillars of its design are as follows:

1. Set up, charge, finish — all faster.

The M Series Yard Robot is designed to fit into users’ weekly yard work routine, including daily lawn mowing, trimming, leaf clearing, snow removal, and overall curb appeal maintenance. 

The interchangeable modules attach easily to the Core for a quick and hassle-free setup. Yarbo’s yard robot makes tasks easier to start and resume, cutting tedious tasks down to mere minutes of hands-on labor. It simplifies outdoor maintenance with its intelligent, all-season yard design. 

2. Compact size. Strong performance.

The Yard Robot has a compact footprint, making it easy to store. Despite its size, it packs power and intelligence into every inch. This piece of yard equipment is built to function across a wide range of terrain types–not just ideal lawns. 

3. Modular by design. Built for every season.

The Yarbo Yard Robot is not just a single-purpose machine, but a long-term service platform that allows users to buy the Core and add modules later. Under this budget-friendly, space-saving design, users only purchase and store what they need according to seasonal changes and climate. 

Upon its CES launch, Phase 1 of the M-Series will support the following modules:

• Two mower modules
• Plow blade module
• Collector module
• Trimmer module
• Smart assistant module

Kickstarter Launch and Preorder Information

The Yarbo M Series is set to launch first on Kickstarter, giving early supporters priority access to the system and exclusive early-bird pricing.

Attendees and readers are encouraged to subscribe on Kickstarter ahead of launch to stay informed and secure limited super early bird offers. Preorders are expected to open in February 2026, marking the first opportunity for users worldwide to experience Yarbo’s next-generation modular yard robot system.

The Future of the Yarbo Brand

Yarbo is making a global impact and is well on its way to becoming the world’s leading provider of smart yard solutions. Yarbo already has a wide following in North America and Europe, and is quickly catching on in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. 

The M Series Yard Robot launch at CES represents a key milestone in Yarbo’s expansion as a brand. Media and audiences can take the opportunity to stop by the Yarbo booth, see firsthand how this robotic yard system functions, and ask questions about its design and global crowdfunding via Kickstarter. 

With its new M series, Yarbo makes its innovative outdoor designs widely accessible to diverse audiences while steadily building its yard robot system.

About Yarbo

Yarbo is making a global impact and is well on its way to becoming the world’s leading provider of smart yard solutions. Yarbo already has a wide following in North America and Europe, and is quickly catching on in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. To learn more, visit www.yarbo.com, forum.yarbo.com, or wiki.yarbo.com. For additional information, you can also visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@yarboglobal, our Instagram at www.instagram.com/yarboglobal, our LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/yarboglobal, or our Facebook at www.facebook.com/yarboglobal.

Media Contact

Maggie Zhou
pr@yarbo.com

Metals Edge, a U.S.-based precious metals firm serving investors for more than two decades, today announced a business update expanding client support and investor education across three core areas: Gold IRA guidance, allocated precious metals storage, and insured physical delivery of gold and silver.

The update focuses on improving the investor experience from first inquiry through ongoing service, helping clients understand key decisions, including IRA eligibility, storage options, and the practical logistics involved in receiving physical metals.

Key Facts: Details of the Business Update

This business update includes improvements designed to create a clearer, more consistent experience across Metals Edge’s client workflows:

• Streamlined onboarding with more precise steps, documentation checkpoints, and improved process transparency
• Expanded investor education to clarify common questions about Gold IRAs, allocated storage, and delivery expectations
• Improved service pathways aligned to typical investor needs (retirement allocation, long-term diversification, direct ownership)
• Enhanced communication standards to reduce confusion around timelines, paperwork, storage coordination, and insured shipment logistics
• Updated website pathways to help visitors more quickly find resources related to Gold IRAs, storage, and physical delivery

What the Update Means for Metals Edge

The update strengthens Metals Edge’s ability to deliver a more standardized, service-led client experience across the full lifecycle of a precious metals purchase — from education and onboarding to storage coordination and fulfillment.

By prioritizing more precise documentation, cleaner process steps, and more accessible educational materials, Metals Edge aims to reduce friction points that can slow down decision-making or create uncertainty for investors — especially those evaluating precious metals for retirement planning, diversification, or long-term wealth protection.

Why It Matters for Customers and Stakeholders

For customers, the most meaningful benefit is clarity — knowing what to expect, understanding available pathways, and receiving straightforward explanations in plain English.

For retirees and pre-retirees, the decision to explore a Gold IRA or physical precious metals often comes with questions about custodians, eligibility, storage arrangements, timelines, and delivery. The Metals Edge update is designed to make those questions easier to answer early, so investors can move forward with confidence and with better context.

For stakeholders such as service partners and storage providers, more consistent documentation and communication standards can support smoother coordination, clearer handoffs, and more predictable service outcomes.

“Whether someone is planning for retirement or simply wants direct ownership of physical metals, we want the experience to feel organized, documented, and professional from day one,” said David Love, president of Metals Edge.

Supporting Investors Across Gold IRA, Allocated Storage, and Physical Delivery

Metals Edge supports investors pursuing different approaches to precious metals ownership, including:

• Gold IRA guidance: Many investors explore a Gold IRA as part of a broader retirement diversification strategy. Metals Edge provides education and process guidance to help clients understand common IRA-related considerations and next steps, including documentation flow, coordination steps, and service expectations.
• Allocated precious metals storage: For investors who prefer third-party storage, Metals Edge helps clients understand allocated precious metals storage — including what “allocated” means, why it matters, and how storage coordination typically works. The business update expands materials and service pathways intended to make storage decisions easier to evaluate.
• Insured physical delivery: Some clients prefer insured physical delivery of gold and silver for direct ownership. Metals Edge provides education around ordering, fulfillment expectations, shipping coordination, and communication standards to help ensure a professional experience from purchase through delivery.

About Metals Edge

Metals Edge is a full‑service precious metals firm serving high-net-worth investors and retirement account holders with Gold IRAs, storage trading accounts, and physical delivery. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured firm with an A+ rating and more than two decades in business. Our client‑facing platform includes a full‑service online account portal, and we offer market‑making capabilities for buys and sells, designed to deliver transparency and efficiency. Metals Edge is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information, visit metalsedge.com.

Disclaimer

Metals Edge does not provide tax, legal, or individualized investment advice. Precious metals involve risk and may fluctuate in price. Investors should consult qualified professionals regarding their specific situation.

Media Contact

Stephanie Sutcliffe
Metals Edge
contact@metalsedge.com
+1 800-982-6105

Though Europe’s most listened-to artist on radio in 2025 was Ed Sheeran, Alex Warren's hit song, “Ordinary,” emerged as the most listened-to song across European radio.

The results are published as part of Radioplayer’s annual overview of actual radio listening. Unlike traditional radio charts, which measure what is broadcast, Radio Played 2025 reveals what listeners actually chose to listen to across platforms, countries, and moments. It is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform, representing millions of listeners across Europe and powered by metadata supplied by radio broadcasters in 27 countries.

The data shows that while new hits dominate the very top of the rankings, radio listening across Europe is strongly shaped by timeless catalogue artists. Alongside Ed Sheeran, artists such as Queen, Madonna, and Michael Jackson rank among the most listened-to artists of the year, underlining radio’s unique role in sustaining long-term cultural relevance, not just short-term trends.

Seasonal listening also plays a clear role. Towards the end of the year, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” once again emerged as one of the most listened-to songs on European radio, highlighting radio’s continued importance for shared, live moments.

Beyond music, Radio Played 2025 also reflects how radio is used across Europe. Paris recorded the longest average listening sessions of any city, while November 27 became the single biggest radio day of the year, driven by an intense international news cycle that brought audiences back to live radio at scale.

Context and Platform

Radioplayer distributes radio across connected cars, smartphones, apps, voice assistants and smart speakers, offering a unique pan-European view of how radio is actually used today.

Unlike personalized or predictive rankings, Radioplayer captures collective listening behavior at scale, the artists, songs, cities and moments that brought audiences together across borders.

Radio Played 2025 is based on aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform, representing millions of listeners across Europe, and powered by metadata supplied by radio broadcasters in 27 countries.

Most Listened-To Song in Europe 2025

• No. 1: “Ordinary,” Alex Warren
• No. 2: “Messy,” Lola Young
• No. 3: “Nice to Meet You,” Myles Smith
• No. 4: “Azizam,” Ed Sheeran
• No. 5: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
• No. 6: “Bad Dreams,” Teddy Swims
• No. 7: “End of the World,” Miley Cyrus
• No. 8: “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
• No. 9: “That’s So True,” Gracie Abrams
• No. 10: “Sapphire,” Ed Sheeran
• No. 11: “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” Benson Boone
• No. 12: “Austin,” Dasha
• No. 13: “Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish
• No. 14: “Belong Together,” Mark Ambor
• No. 15: “Anxiety,” Doechii

Most Listened-To Artist in Europe 2025

• No. 1: Ed Sheeran
• No. 2: Queen
• No. 3: Lady Gaga
• No. 4: Michael Jackson
• No. 5: Coldplay
• No. 6: Madonna
• No. 7: Myles Smith
• No. 8: Benson Boone
• No. 9: Sabrina Carpenter
• No. 10: Teddy Swims
• No. 11: Alex Warren
• No. 12: Taylor Swift
• No. 13: Lola Young
• No. 14: Miley Cyrus
• No. 15: Elton John

Cities with the Longest Average Listening Sessions in Europe 2025

• No. 1: Paris
• No. 2: London
• No. 3: Helsinki
• No. 4: Dublin
• No. 5: Milan
• No. 6: Lyon
• No. 7: Antwerp
• No. 8: Berlin
• No. 9: Tampere
• No. 10: Birmingham

Methodology

Radio Played 2025 is based on anonymized and aggregated listening data from the Radioplayer platform. Results are powered by broadcaster-supplied metadata from 27 European countries and cover listening in connected cars, on smartphones, apps, voice assistants and smart speakers.

About Radioplayer

Radioplayer is the broadcaster-owned technology platform that keeps radio strong in the car and across connected devices. We work to make radio look right, work right and be right there wherever people listen, in dashboards, apps, smart speakers and through voice. By combining FM and DAB broadcasting with internet connectivity, Radioplayer delivers hybrid radio that just works, with seamless coverage and a modern visual experience that makes stations clear, branded and premium on every screen. We collaborate closely with the world’s leading car manufacturers and technology partners, providing one certified feed and integration framework. This reduces complexity, ensures safety and compliance, and gives carmakers a consistent, trusted way to deliver the best radio experience to drivers. Radioplayer is live with 17 major car brands and more than five million cars. Learn more about Radioplayer at www.radioplayer.org.

Media Contact

Tommy Gaustad
Head of Communication, Radioplayer
tommy.gaustad@radioplayer.org
+47 93 00 35 66