We believe that excellence in financial markets is driven by institutions, platforms, and initiatives that prioritise exceptional performance, innovation, and governance. By adhering to best practices and fostering growth, efficiency, and transparency, these entities play a crucial role in strengthening global financial ecosystems and building trust among stakeholders.

1. Best Stock Exchange

A well-managed stock exchange facilitates the efficient raising of capital and enables price determination for participants. The institution has an established track record of delivering strong financial performance, healthy liquidity, and depth. The exchange adopts international best practices in corporate governance and employs business strategies that foster product development and growth. Market access and connectivity are enabled with streamlined trading architecture, superior technology, and robust risk management processes.

2. Best Financial Derivative Exchange

A well-managed financial derivative exchange facilitates the efficient transfer of risk and enables price determination for participants. The institution has an established track record of delivering strong financial performance, healthy liquidity, and market depth. The exchange adopts international best practices for trading efficiency and employs business strategies that foster product development and growth. Market access and connectivity are enabled through the use of streamlined trading architecture, superior technology, and robust risk management processes.

3. Best Commodities Exchange

A well-managed commodities exchange facilitates efficient transfer of risk and enables price determination for participants. The institution has an established track record of delivering strong financial performance, healthy liquidity and market depth. The exchange adopts international best practices for trading efficiency and employs business strategies that foster product development and growth. Market access and connectivity are enabled through use of streamlined trading architecture, superior technology and robust risk management processes.

4. Best Trading Platform

A high-functioning trading platform facilitates efficient processing of investor transactions. The system is operationally stable and clients are offered a diverse set of asset class with enhanced geographic coverage. The platform adopts international best practices for trading efficiency resulting in low cost and high liquidity. Market access and connectivity are enabled through use of streamlined trading functionality, advance technology and robust risk management processes.

5. Best Trading and Reference Data Provider

A high-performing trading and reference data provider has a track record of delivering strong financial performance. Data delivery processes and systems match the needs and requirements of financial markets participants. System characteristics offer high functionality and information quality to users on a sustained basis. Data protection is enabled with robust risk management processes.

6. Best Financial Derivatives Provider

A well-established derivatives provider has a demonstrated track record of delivering strong financial performance. Its business is built through a combination of diversified derivative offerings, competitive pricing structure and sustained deal flow. Robust risk management systems are in place to offset any adverse market movements and structured products are engineered to support institutional client needs.

7. Best Clearing House

A well-established clearing house facilitates efficient clearing of securities for market participants. The institution has an established track record of delivering strong financial performance. The house adopts benchmark clearing capabilities enhanced with a customer-centric focus that provides superior collateral and incorporates robust risk management practices.

8. Best Central Securities Depository

A well-run central securities depository ensures appropriate safekeeping of securities for market participants. The institution has an established track record of delivering strong financial and operational performances. The depository adopts an issuer-centric solution focus, which is further enhanced through superior collateral management, robust risk management practices and extended customer support.

9. Best Custodian Bank (by country/region)

A well-run custodian bank ensures the appropriate safeguarding of securities under its purview. The institution has an established track record of delivering strong financial performance while consistently acquiring new mandates. The custodian/sub-custodian bank further offers client-focused asset-servicing solutions, strengthened by robust risk management practices, technology-driven customer services, and post-settlement facilities.

10. Best Digital Asset Custody Service

A successful digital asset custody service ensures appropriate and real-time safeguarding of digital assets, highlighting the need for secure management of public-private key pairs and robust risk management in digital asset custody. This is supported by offering client-focused, data driven digital asset-servicing solutions, technology driven customer services and post-settlement facilities.

11. Best Digital Asset Institution

A well-run digital asset institution enables its users to aggregate, integrate and manage all digital products while facilitating payment, trading and conversion transactions as needed. The digital asset institution can successfully provide a superior and differentiated user experience, while enabling connectivity in a secure manner with various stakeholders within the broader digital asset ecosystem.

12. Best Digital Asset Exchange

The Best Digital Asset Exchange enables efficient trading of cryptocurrencies and/or tokens. The system is operationally stable and provides support to a range of digital assets including cryptocurrencies. The underlying trading technology enables price discovery, maintains low volatility and ensures safety of client assets. The platform is also in compliance with applicable regulations governing trading, maintenance and management of digital assets.

13. Best Digital Asset Fund Manager

The Best Digital Asset Fund Manager combines deep expertise in digital asset markets with strong risk management, regulatory knowledge, and technical skills. The person effectively manages volatility through diversification and data-driven strategies while ensuring compliance in local and international regulations. A successful manager should also be competent in balance innovation, client interests, and security to deliver optimal outcomes in the dynamic digital asset space.

14. Best Asset Tokenisation Initiative

A successful asset tokenisation initiative involves the seamless conversion of real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain. It requires clear regulatory compliance, ensuring adherence to local and international laws, including securities regulations and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. The initiative provides liquidity and transparency, enabling fractional ownership and efficient transfer of assets. Investor adoption, market acceptance, and operational scalability also demonstrate how tokenisation can enhance access, efficiency, and value for all stakeholders.

15. Best Blockchain-Based Financial Market Infrastructure

A well-established blockchain-based financial market infrastructure combines security, transparency, scalability, and regulatory compliance to support seamless financial transactions. It leverages blockchain’s decentralised nature to enhance trust and reduce the reliance on intermediaries, ensuring faster, more cost-efficient clearing, settlement, and record-keeping. The infrastructure also provides strong encryption and resilient security protocols to safeguard data and prevent fraud.

16. Best Financial Markets Technology Implementation

A successful technology implementation project establishes an architecture that will support the financial institution's growth and provides the organisation with requisite operational gains. The implementation process starts with a clear business case, delivers the project as planned and results in measurable qualitative and quantitative efficiencies for the organisation on a sustained basis.