June 2026 Summaries

Alpaca has introduced Hard-to-Borrow (HTB) trading that integrates full API support for locates, enhancing their short-selling infrastructure to support automated trading workflows. This development allows traders to seamlessly locate, execute, and track advanced short-selling workflows within the existing Alpaca Trading API ecosystem, minimizing the operational complexities traditionally associated with HTB short selling. The feature is particularly beneficial for active traders, quantitative teams, and algorithmic strategies, as it automates the process of checking borrow availability, managing locate costs, and transitioning from signals to short-sale orders. The integration provides transparent pricing and programmatic controls, enabling traders to set cost thresholds and risk parameters, while supporting 24/5 trading to align with global market shifts. The streamlined API workflow replaces manual touchpoints, helping traders and platforms manage short-selling workflows without switching systems, and is designed to support both developer-first and agent-enabled trading systems.

Count Finance, a regulated financial advice platform in the UK, has launched Stocks and Shares Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to provide tax-advantaged investment opportunities for eligible users, aiming to bridge the gap in financial advice access. The platform, powered by Alpaca and WealthKernel, combines regulated financial advice with investment execution, offering personalized financial strategies that encompass budgeting, saving, investing, and tax optimization. The launch addresses the disparity where only a small percentage of UK adults access financial advice due to cost and complexity barriers. Count operates within the FCA's regulatory sandbox to test its services and plans to expand through B2B and B2B2C channels, leveraging Alpaca's infrastructure to enhance its product offerings. The initiative underscores Count's mission to democratize access to financial advice and services, making them accessible to a broader market segment that traditionally lacked access due to financial constraints.

Stablecoins are increasingly becoming crucial infrastructure for accessing global financial markets, as demonstrated by Alpaca's integration of stablecoin funding into its brokerage services. This development allows Alpaca’s Broker API partners and Trading API users to fund accounts with stablecoins like USDC, USDG, and USDT to access US-listed securities, options, fixed income products, and cryptocurrencies. The adoption of stablecoin funding has accelerated, reflecting a broader trend towards tokenized and on-chain financial infrastructure. By providing a programmable, internet-native settlement layer, stablecoins facilitate faster, more global transactions, overcoming the limitations of traditional banking methods. This makes them ideal for automated financial systems, enabling seamless capital movement and trading across securities and crypto workflows. Alpaca has seen significant increases in both deposit volumes and the number of partners using stablecoin funding, highlighting its potential to connect traditional brokerage systems with on-chain financial services. The flexibility and efficiency of stablecoins are vital for global investors seeking access to US markets, aligning with Alpaca's mission to integrate traditional and on-chain capital markets.

Alpaca has introduced the Alpaca Skills Library, an open-source collection of agent skills aimed at enhancing AI assistants' capabilities in executing repeatable workflows utilizing Alpaca's API, MCP Server, and CLI. The library's inaugural release is the Trading API Backtesting Skill, which aids AI agents in transforming strategy ideas into documented research runs through a structured backtesting workflow. This includes strategy formalization, historical data retrieval, benchmark comparison, and transparent reporting. These skills, encapsulated in SKILL.md files, can be integrated into AI coding assistants like Claude Code and Codex, allowing users to invoke them via natural language commands. The library is designed to offer shared instructions and standards for agents, ensuring consistent results and encouraging community contributions for improvements and new skills. While the skills are intended for educational and informational purposes, Alpaca emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence for investment decisions.

Alpaca offers a comprehensive suite of tools and APIs for building, testing, and automating AI-powered trading applications, catering to diverse user needs through the Trading API, Trading MCP Server, and Trading CLI. These tools provide reliable access to market data and trading infrastructure, with the Trading API facilitating direct integrations for programmatic workflows, the MCP Server connecting AI assistants to trading capabilities, and the CLI enabling terminal-based automation. Recent enhancements include the expansion of the Trading MCP Server and CLI, the introduction of dedicated documentation, and an auto-generated API changelog to help users stay informed about platform updates. Users can begin their journey by creating an Alpaca Trading API account, with the understanding that all information and tools provided are for educational purposes only and not to be construed as investment advice.

Zesty, a fintech company regulated by the Comisión para el Mercado Financiero, has launched a crypto trading platform in Chile, enabling users to trade within US and Chilean markets as well as access various digital assets through a partnership with Alpaca. This move comes amid a significant increase in cryptocurrency demand across Latin America, driven by macroeconomic factors such as inflation and currency volatility, which have made digital assets an appealing hedge. By integrating crypto trading with traditional equities in a single platform, Zesty aims to simplify investment management for Chilean users and differentiate itself through regulatory compliance. Users can fund their accounts in Chilean pesos, avoiding the need for expensive wire transfers, while Alpaca's infrastructure provides deeper liquidity and faster execution. This expansion underscores Zesty's commitment to addressing market fragmentation and enhancing access to digital assets in the region, with a focus on trust and investor protection in a traditionally complex landscape.

Gotrade, a mobile app-based stock investing platform founded in 2019, aims to make global investing accessible to Southeast Asian retail investors, particularly in Indonesia, by addressing barriers such as high fees and regulatory complexities. By partnering with Alpaca, Gotrade offers users the ability to invest in U.S. stocks with as little as $1, along with advanced trading options like 24/5 trading and options strategies. The platform has experienced significant growth, serving over one million users and seeing a tenfold increase in trading volume as investors gain confidence. Gotrade's approach focuses on localization and simplicity, empowering users to engage more actively in global markets, while continuously expanding its product offerings to meet growing demand and stay ahead of larger competitors.

Binance, the largest digital asset platform by trading volume, has launched 24/5 trading of US stocks and ETFs, partnering with Alpaca to enhance access to traditional financial markets alongside digital assets. This expansion marks Binance's strategic move towards becoming a multi-asset super app, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional and digital finance by offering users more seamless access to a diversified range of financial products. By integrating US equities, Binance seeks to alleviate the barriers faced by global retail investors, such as high fees and complex onboarding, while leveraging Alpaca's brokerage infrastructure to support this transition. The launch also sets the stage for Binance's future introduction of tokenized US securities, or bStocks, to further enhance asset accessibility and programmability. As Binance aims to strengthen user experience and operational readiness, this initiative highlights the evolving convergence of traditional finance and blockchain-based solutions, offering users increased flexibility and control over their capital management activities.

Bitget, a digital asset platform with over 125 million users, has launched Reality, a new platform that provides access to tokenized US stocks and ETFs, in collaboration with Alpaca. This development enhances Bitget's Universal Exchange (UEX), which was created to bridge traditional finance and on-chain ecosystems, reducing market complexities and fragmentation. The integration of tokenized US equities aligns with Bitget's vision, led by CEO Gracy Chen, that 10% of financial assets could be tokenized by 2030, offering users streamlined access to high-growth sectors and reducing the challenges of accessing the US equities market. The partnership with Alpaca facilitates faster settlements, around-the-clock market availability, and the ability to invest using stablecoins, all within a single platform. This initiative is part of Bitget's strategic vision to reduce platform fragmentation and complexity, while also incorporating advanced trading tools and maintaining transparency through a substantial Proof of Reserves ratio and a user protection fund.