Virtu Financial (NASDAQ:VIRT) (NASDAQ: VIRT) is a global electronic market maker and liquidity provider, founded in 2008 and headquartered in New York City. Since its initial public offering in 2015, Virtu has leveraged advanced technology and quantitative research to facilitate efficient price discovery across major financial markets. The firm’s origins trace back to a vision of harnessing cutting-edge algorithms and low-latency infrastructure to capture trading opportunities and narrow bid-ask spreads for institutional and retail investors.
At the core of Virtu’s business is electronic market making, where it deploys proprietary trading strategies in equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, commodities and derivatives. By maintaining continuous buy and sell quotations, Virtu enhances market depth and reduces transaction costs for counterparties. The firm also offers execution services that include smart order routing, transaction cost analysis and customized trading algorithms, enabling clients to optimize order performance in rapidly changing market conditions.
Virtu’s operations span North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, linking over seventy global venues through a network of data centers and direct market access gateways. In addition to its market-making franchise, Virtu provides post-trade services such as clearing and settlement support, as well as analytics solutions that deliver real-time market insights and historical performance metrics. Strategic acquisitions, including the 2017 purchase of KCG Holdings’ electronic division, have broadened Virtu’s product suite and expanded its geographic footprint.
The leadership team is spearheaded by CEO Douglas Cifu, who brings decades of experience in quantitative trading and financial services, while founder Vincent Viola serves as Executive Chairman. Under their guidance, Virtu has built a culture of innovation focused on risk management, regulatory compliance and technology investment. The firm remains committed to delivering reliable liquidity and market structure solutions to a diverse client base that includes asset managers, hedge funds, broker-dealers and corporate treasuries.
