Global fintech company Capital.com has announced its trading performance for Q1 2026, reporting a total client trading volume of $1.27 trillion between January and March 2026. This marks an 11.2% increase compared to $1.14 trillion recorded in Q4 2025.

The company also saw a strong rise in activity, with the total number of trades increasing by 81% year-on-year compared to Q1 2025, showing growing user engagement on the platform.

January Leads in Trading Activity

January 2026 was the most active month in the period, with trading volumes reaching around $502 billion. This was 11.5% higher than October 2025, which was the next strongest month in the six-month period.

The surge in activity was mainly driven by a sharp rise in gold prices, supported by central bank buying at a 25-year high, a weakening US dollar, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Gold Dominates Trading Volume

Gold Spot was the most traded instrument during Q1 2026, accounting for approximately 59% of January’s total trading volume. Prices of gold reached record highs multiple times throughout the month due to strong institutional demand and global uncertainty.

Strong Growth from Middle East Markets

The Middle East continued to play a key role in Capital.com’s global performance. The region contributed a significant share of total trading volumes, with the UAE ranking among the top three markets, alongside Germany and the United Kingdom.

This performance reflects consistent trading activity across regions where Capital.com is officially regulated.

Market Volatility Across Key Events

According to Tarik Chebib, CEO Middle East at Capital.com, Q1 2026 was shaped by three major market events:

• Record gold highs in January

• High crypto market volatility in February

• Increased oil trading activity in March due to Middle East conflict

He said these events created different levels of decision pressure for traders across global markets.