Gamification in financial markets has come under scrutiny by the EU's financial watchdog which wants to raise awareness about risks among new retail investors, Reuters reported.
Gamification means that investors are using smartphones to trade assets. The trend started in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic with apps like Robinhood and has spilled over into European markets.
The new generation of retail investors may not be aware that there are few protections in assets like cryptocurrencies, according to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Verena Ross, chair of the ESMA, told a Forum Europe financial services conference that the watchdog wants investors to engage more in financial markets, but pointed out that gamification also presents significant risks, with investors not realising there are few protections when trading in markets such as cryptoassets.
Social media has enabled the spread of unauthorised trading advice and the EU is planning to update its retail investor strategy this year to reflect the rise of digital finance, Ross added.
“We are looking at how to raise awareness and warn investors what they are letting themselves in for,” she said.
The EU has already proposed banning 'payment for order flow' in the retail market. This is a practice where market makers pay a fee to receive retail investors’ orders, which enables the market makers to trade profitably against their clients' orders and allows retail trading apps to offer zero commission.
The practice is controversial, as regulators fear it creates conflicts of interest.
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last week announced that it is proposing to strengthen its promotions rules to protect consumers from high-risk investments, including cryptocurrencies, mini-bonds, peer-to-peer lending and certain crowdfunding.
READ: UK watchdog to crack down on high-risk financial promotions