At the Finance Magnates Africa Summit 2025, financial analyst Mj Givens Kgasi opened with a direct focus on the core themes of his presentation.

In a session titled “The Future of CFD Trading in 2025: Key Trends,” the Octa strategist delivered more than just market predictions—he issued a call to action.

“Volatility is here to stay,” Kgasi declared, setting the tone for a workshop rooted in realism. For over a decade, he’s seen market cycles rise and fall, but 2025, he argued, presents a different kind of turbulence—one driven by institutional forces, sticky inflation, and simmering geopolitical tensions.

“The beauty of CFDs is that you can profit whether markets go up or down—but only if you’re prepared,” he said. “The market isn’t dangerous; the lack of preparation is.”

It was a session that seamlessly blended technical insight with social awareness, as Kgasi warned of the risks posed by a new generation of retail traders—many driven not by ambition, but by necessity.

Retail Rush Without the Rigor

South Africa’s 32% unemployment rate has pushed thousands into trading, often without adequate education. “Many come in because they’re desperate, not because they want to build a career,” Kgasi noted, urging brokers and trading firms to go beyond marketing and offer structured mentorship. The stakes are high: “82% of South African traders have been scammed,” he said, drawing an audible reaction from the room. “We can’t just complain—we must provide solutions.”

Technology’s Double-Edged Sword

In an era where AI tools are flooding the financial sector, Kgasi struck a cautionary note. “Octa has taken this technology to the next level,” he said, pointing to developments in pattern recognition and real-time analytics.

But during a live demonstration using ChatGPT to request a gold trading signal, he revealed a critical gap. “AI won’t give you magic answers. You still need knowledge to interpret its output.” His takeaway was blunt: “Use tech, but keep the human element.”

An Industry Reckoning

The most striking moments came during Kgasi’s direct appeal to brokers and traders in the audience. Addressing tax evasion, regulatory apathy, and reputational risk, he spoke plainly: “Some of you make millions but don’t pay taxes. Others ignore regulations.”

His message: the industry must police itself or risk losing credibility. “Brokers now avoid bad publicity—so we need ethics, professionalism, and transparency.”

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He concluded with a pointed reminder: “Integrity is what you do when no one’s watching.” For Kgasi, the future of CFD trading depends not only on tools and tactics, but on trust.

A Blueprint for 2025

Kgasi left the audience with a roadmap: combine preparation with purpose, lean into technology without surrendering judgment, and champion transparency as a competitive advantage.

“This isn’t just about cars and houses—it’s about changing the narrative,” he said. In a space often clouded by hype, Kgasi’s session was a bracing return to fundamentals—one that challenged attendees to elevate not just their strategy, but their standards.