Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 5, 2026

SpotOption

SpotOption was a privately held platform software provider based in Israel in the controversial binary option industry, which was banned in Israel starting in January 2018. The company operated as a provider of white-label trading infrastructure and backend services for online brokerage firms offering binary options products. Following the Israeli ban on binary options in 2018, SpotOption and its owner, Pini Peter, announced that the company had exited the binary options business and was exploring other financial technology-related activities. Prior to the ban, the company had announced reductions in its operations in Israel and the relocation of some functions to other jurisdictions. At its peak, the firm claimed to have 70 percent share in the market for binary options platforms, and charged binary options firms up to 12.5% of their revenues.

Last revised
Jun 5, 2026
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≈ 11 min
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
SpotOption
IndustryGambling and binary options
Founded2010, 2011 or 2016 (uncertain)
FounderPinchas Peterktzishvilly also known as Pini Peter
Headquarters
Ramat Gan, Israel
Key people
Moshe Avrahami, CEO1
Production output
$5 billion in trades (claimed) (20152)
ServicesBackend for 300 affiliates
Number of employees
150 (2016)

SpotOption was a privately held platform software provider based in Israel in the controversial binary option industry, which was banned in Israel starting in January 2018.34 The company operated as a provider of white-label trading infrastructure and backend services for online brokerage firms offering binary options products.2 Following the Israeli ban on binary options in 2018, SpotOption and its owner, Pini Peter,5 announced that the company had exited the binary options business and was exploring other financial technology-related activities.6 Prior to the ban, the company had announced reductions in its operations in Israel and the relocation of some functions to other jurisdictions.7 At its peak, the firm claimed to have 70 percent share in the market for binary options platforms, and charged binary options firms up to 12.5% of their revenues.4

In January 2018, SpotOption's offices in Ramat Gan were raided in a joint operation involving the Israel Police and FBI. The investigation was connected to broader inquiries into binary options fraud schemes, including the case involving Lee Elbaz, the chief executive officer of Yukom Communications, who was accused of fraud. Broker brands associated with Yukom Communications used SpotOption technology. She was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in August 2019, and in December 2019 sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. As of March 2020, restitution to victims was still being decided but a figure of $28 million was being considered.8

In 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil charges against several individuals and entities connected to binary options operations involving SpotOption technology.910

History

SpotOption was founded in Israel by Pinchas Peterktzishvilly as a financial technology company focused on developing software infrastructure for the online binary options industry.11 The company emerged during a period of rapid growth in retail online trading platforms, particularly in the binary options sector, which expanded internationally during the early 2010s.12

The company developed white label trading software that enabled brokerage operators to launch online binary options platforms using SpotOption’s infrastructure.13

As the binary options industry grew, regulators in several jurisdictions raised concerns regarding investor protection, misleading marketing practices, and alleged fraudulent activity connected to some online brokers using white label trading platforms. Media investigations examining the broader industry identified SpotOption as one of the primary infrastructure providers within the binary options ecosystem.144

The company later expanded aspects of its platform offerings beyond binary options products, including contracts for difference (CFDs),15 foreign exchange trading tools, and cryptocurrency-related trading services.16

During the period in which Israeli regulators were moving toward restrictions on the binary options industry, The Times of Israel reported that Israel’s Economy Ministry had approved payments totaling approximately $273,000 to SpotOption between 2014 and 2016 for the company’s operational expansion in China.17

Following increased international regulatory scrutiny of the binary options sector, Israel enacted legislation banning the binary options industry beginning in January 2018. On 30 January 2018 Facebook banned advertisements for binary options trading as well as for cryptocurrencies and initial coin offering (ICOs).1819 Following increasing regulatory restrictions and bans on binary options trading in multiple countries, the industry experienced a substantial decline.

After the ban, SpotOption announced that it was exiting the binary options business and exploring other areas of financial technology and blockchain related services.6

Controversies

Market positioning

The firm claims that two thirds of the binary option dealers around the world use SpotOption, and that the firm has $5 billion annual trading volume. In 2015, the company's former CEO, Ran Amiran, said "SpotOption is the industry".2 SpotOption and TechFinancials together supply trading technology to brokers with claimed $8 billion annual turnover.20 SpotOption supplied brokerages including the now defunct Banc De Binary, formerly SpotOption's biggest client,2 and smaller brokerages including itrader,21 BDSwiss, OptionRally, Webitrader, and FXDD.22

In 2016, SpotOption claimed 300 brands or affiliates.23 among them are:

  • Banc de Binary, once SpotOption's largest client, shut down in January 2017 after being fined or prohibited from operating in multiple countries on three continents.2425
  • BD Swiss, also known as Banc de Swiss, a licensed brand of Keplero Holdings Ltd, fined €150,000 in December 2016 by CySEC, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.2627 BD Swiss has addresses in Cyprus and Germany, but not Switzerland.
  • The demise via self-inflicted gunshot wound of Canadian entrepreneur, Fred Turbide, was attributed to Spot Option powered 23Traders.com brand.28

According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, "PowerPoint presentations posted online by Hong Kong-based SpotOption sales manager Thomas Chang in 2016 and former Middle East sales manager Fakhri Husseini in 2013 told potential brokers that only 20% of people who invest in binary options ever get any money back after signing up."2 SpotOption exhibited at the IFX Expo International held in Cyprus in May 2016. Their director of marketing, Tammy Levy, when asked about crackdowns by law enforcement, was quoted as saying "SpotOption is a technology company, okay? Everyone is responsible for checking regulation in the jurisdiction where they want to work. I am here to tell you what options you have technologically."3

In June 2021, a film was submitted as evidence in a civil case in Tel Aviv District Court alleging that a SpotOption insider revealed a fraudulent binary options scheme.29

The company and associated executives were also referenced in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigative reporting and law enforcement actions concerning alleged fraudulent binary options schemes.

Yukom and Lee Elbaz case

SpotOption's trading platform was used by binary options brokerages that later became the subject of regulatory and criminal investigations.30 Among them was Yukom Communications, an Israel-based sales and marketing company associated with the binary options brands BinaryBook and BigOption.31

According to United States prosecutors, Yukom employees misled investors regarding the risks, expected returns, and withdrawal conditions associated with binary options trading. Prosecutors further alleged that representatives used false identities and deceptive sales practices to obtain customer deposits.32

In 2019, Lee Elbaz, the former chief executive officer of Yukom Communications, was convicted in the United States on charges including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a global binary options scheme.33 She was later sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.34

Government support and regulatory criticism

Media reports stated that SpotOption received financial assistance from Israeli government export promotion programs during the period in which the binary options industry was facing increasing regulatory scrutiny.35 According to The Times of Israel, Israel's Economy Ministry approved payments totaling approximately $273,000 to SpotOption between 2014 and 2016 to support the company's expansion activities in China.35

The funding became the subject of public criticism after Israeli authorities moved to prohibit the binary options industry in 2017, following allegations of widespread fraud associated with parts of the sector.36

Founding

Sources have reported differing dates regarding the establishment of SpotOption. Bloomberg identified “Spot Option” as operating from 7 Jabotinsky Street in Ramat Gan, Israel, and reported that the company was founded in 2011.37 Corporate registration records in the United Kingdom later reflected an incorporation date of 2016 for a related entity registered under the SpotOption name.38

Investigative reporting by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism stated that the company’s operations in Israel appeared to date back to 2010.2 The report identified Pinchas Peterktzishvilly, also known as Pini Peter, as the founder and principal shareholder of the company. The same report noted that Peterktzishvilly had previously been convicted on money laundering charges in 2005.39 Media reports and promotional materials connected to the binary options industry have also associated executives of Banc De Binary, with the early development of SpotOption. Banc de Binary garnered significant controversy surrounding hiring experts to obfuscate the truth about Banc de Binary and SpotOption's affiliate funnel online;40 which effectively sees the latter create a range of affiliate funnel online products such as auto-traders, which in turn lure new depositors into placing funds at Spot Option's tied agents and brands.41

Gambling using binary options

At the 2011 iGaming Super Show, the company showed its platform to traditional gaming vendors, claiming it was compatible with industry regulations and profitable for operators. Peterktzishvilly (Pini Peter) said they intended "to bridge the forex and gaming industries".4243 The company appeared at numerous gambling industry trade shows including ICE Totally Gaming in London in 201444 and the American Gaming Association's Global Gaming Expo Asia 2015 in Macao, calling itself creator of "the perfect financial game".45

In May 2015, SpotOption launched its new Spot5 platform that would include new instruments called "digital contracts".46 These were developed in order to meet new regulatory requirements. On 23 August 2017, the company announced their intention to launch a blockchain based trading platform for binary options called SpotChain, a new product which will raise money from the crowds to fund their operations.47

References

References

  1. Weinglass, Simona (9 August 2017). "Israel's coalition chief won't rush binary options ban to Knesset". Times of Israel.
  2. Newman, Melanie (14 December 2016). "80% losses guaranteed! Inside the murky world of binary options trading". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  3. Stuart, Hunter (15 June 2016). "As victims pile up, the binary option industry parties in Cyprus". Times of Israel.
  4. Wootfiff, Raoul (29 October 2017). "Israel gave taxpayers' money to key binary options firm to expand into China". Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  5. Appelberg, Shelly (14 January 2018). "FBI Raids Tel Aviv Offices of Binary Options Platform Provider SpotOption". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  6. "Exclusive: SpotOption Officially Stops All Binary Options Activity". Finance Magnates. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. "SpotOption Shifts Focus to Global Branches". MarketWatch.com. PR Newswire Europe. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  8. "US prosecutors: Israeli binary options scammer should pay back $28 million". Times of Israel. Associated Press. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  9. "SEC.gov | SEC Charges Binary Options Trading Platform and Two Top Executives with Fraud". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. Weinglass, Simona (17 July 2023). "In unique testimony, binary options kingpin slams 'stupid' US law enforcement". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  11. Weinglass, Simona (19 April 2021). "SEC charges Israel's main binary options firm, and its 2 chiefs, with vast fraud". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  12. "SpotOption is first binary provider to launch mobile app | Finance Magnates". Financial and Business News | Finance Magnates. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  13. "SpotOption Launches Mobile Trading Platform for Binary Options | Finance Magnates". Financial and Business News | Finance Magnates. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  14. "SpotOption Binary Option Platform Get Better". www.binaryoptions.net. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  15. "Exclusive: SpotOption Launches CFDs Trading Platform and MT4 Binary Options | Finance Magnates". Financial and Business News | Finance Magnates. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  16. Hobart, David (10 August 2017). "Trading platform provider SpotOption announces support for Cryptocurrencies | LeapRate | Online Trading Industry News, Broker Intelligence & Fintech Analysis". Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  17. Wootliff, Raoul (29 October 2017). "Israel gave taxpayers' money to key binary options firm to expand into China". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  18. Frier, Sarah; Verhage, Jules (30 January 2018). "Facebook Bans Ads Associated With Cryptocurrencies". Bloomberg. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  19. Cornish, Chloe (30 January 2018). "Facebook and regulators move to halt cryptocurrency scams". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  20. Tova Cohen; Luke Baker (27 September 2016), Mind the Gap: From Israel via London, an online gambling scam traps thousands, Reuters
  21. Saks-McLeod, Andrew (20 November 2016). "iTrader saga continues". Finance Feeds. Archived from the original on 12 December 2016.
  22. Segal, Gerald (10 December 2013). "FXDD launches binary options trading with SpotOption platform". LeapRate. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  23. "SpotOption - Some Brands". SpotOption. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
  24. Cornish, Chloe (2 February 2017). "Inside the high stakes world of online investing: binary options". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  25. "Binary trading group winds down after regulatory issues". Financial Times. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  26. Patterson, Jeff (23 January 2017). "BD Swiss Holding settles with CySec for €150K after suspected breach of conduct". Finance Magnates.
  27. "Reaching a settlement with CIF Bdswiss Holding Plc". Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. 23 January 2017.
  28. "Fleeced by Israeli binary options firm, Canadian man dies by suicide". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  29. Erazo, Felipe (4 October 2021). "Insider Reveals an Alleged Fraudulent Binary Options Scheme from SpotOption". Finance Magnates. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  30. "In unique testimony, binary options kingpin slams 'stupid' US law enforcement". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  31. "United States v. Lee Elbaz". United States Department of Justice. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  32. "Former CEO of Israeli Company Found Guilty for Orchestrating $145 Million Binary Options Fraud Scheme". United States Department of Justice. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  33. "Israeli ex-CEO convicted in U.S. over $145 million binary options fraud". Reuters. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  34. "Former CEO of Israeli Company Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Orchestrating $145 Million Binary Options Fraud Scheme". United States Department of Justice. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  35. "Even as regulators worked to ban binary options, Economy Ministry paid SpotOption $273,000". The Times of Israel. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  36. "Israel moves to ban binary options industry after reports of fraud". Reuters. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  37. "Bloomberg Private Company Profiles - Spot Option". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  38. "Companies House entry for Spot Option UK". Companies House (UK). Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  39. Newman, Melanie; Jones, Meirion; Fielding-Smith, Abigail; Mathiason, Nick (20 September 2016). "Revealed: How Brits are losing millions to UK's biggest scam while the government stands by". Bureau for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  40. "Wikipedia vs. Banc De Binary: A 3-year battle against binary options 'fake news'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  41. "Breaking: European Binary Options Association Calls for the End of Bonuses | Finance Magnates". Financial and Business News | Finance Magnates. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  42. "SpotOption Presents at iGaming Super Show in Dublin", Entertainment Close-Up, 10 June 2011, archived from the original on 16 February 2017
  43. "SpotOption Displays Binary Options Platform at iGaming Super Show, Dublin", Entertainment Close-Up, 11 June 2011, archived from the original on 16 February 2017
  44. ICE 2014 list of exhibitors, ICE Totally Gaming, 31 January 2014, p. 12
  45. "SpotOption". 2015 Exhibitor List. American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibition for Global Gaming Expo Asia. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017.
  46. "SpotOption Launches New Product - FXaxe". FXaxe. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  47. "Exclusive: SpotOption Announces Blockchain-Based Trading via SpotChain | Finance Magnates". Finance Magnates | Financial and business news. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
Further reading

Further reading

External links