Financial and Business News

Virtu Backed US Execution Platform Launched by Optimal Market Amid Retail Options Surge

Monday, 23/02/2026 | 17:06 GMT by Tareq Sikder
  • Platform targets retail wholesalers, institutional broker-dealers, and large asset managers.
  • Market makers include Optiver, Akuna, Belvedere, Group One; more expected post-launch
Screenshot of Optimal Market Technologies’ website
Screenshot of Optimal Market Technologies’ website

Optimal Market Technologies has introduced a new US listed options execution platform. The FINRA-approved broker-dealer is backed by global market makers Optiver and Virtu Financial, along with investors Akuna and BSC Ventures.

Retail participation in US markets has increased, with self-directed investors now accounting for a notable share of equity and options trading. Broker platforms are evolving from administrative tools to systems that support real-time decision-making, execution, and analytics.

This shift affects product design, risk management, and revenue models, particularly for derivatives and short-dated options, as brokers adjust to investors making independent trading decisions.

Retail Options Surge Drives New Platform

The platform is expected to be commercially available in Q1 2026. It will serve retail options wholesalers, institutional broker-dealers, and large asset managers, with the initial rollout focused on wholesalers. The launch comes amid rising options volumes. Optimal said it aims to address high costs, limited competition, and inconsistent execution quality.

The platform uses a “competition for order flow” (CFOF) model. Market makers compete for retail order flow based on execution quality, assessed name-by-name with monthly reallocation. Initial participants include Optiver, Akuna, Belvedere Trading, and Group One Trading, with additional market makers expected to join.

Optimal Adds Liquidity Providers, Supports Execution

Optimal Market Technologies is being established as a standalone entity, separate from RQD Clearing. RQD’s multi-asset clearing, custody, and execution platform underpins the new venue’s infrastructure.

Brian Donnelly, founder and chief executive of Optimal Market Technologies, said: “Over the coming months, we plan to add additional liquidity providers so that clients can benefit from an even broader set of counterparties, all competing based on measurable execution quality.”

The platform integrates via standard API or FIX connectivity. With RQD acting as the clearing counterparty, it supports clearing, post-trade processing, and regulatory reporting.

Optimal Market Technologies has introduced a new US listed options execution platform. The FINRA-approved broker-dealer is backed by global market makers Optiver and Virtu Financial, along with investors Akuna and BSC Ventures.

Retail participation in US markets has increased, with self-directed investors now accounting for a notable share of equity and options trading. Broker platforms are evolving from administrative tools to systems that support real-time decision-making, execution, and analytics.

This shift affects product design, risk management, and revenue models, particularly for derivatives and short-dated options, as brokers adjust to investors making independent trading decisions.

Retail Options Surge Drives New Platform

The platform is expected to be commercially available in Q1 2026. It will serve retail options wholesalers, institutional broker-dealers, and large asset managers, with the initial rollout focused on wholesalers. The launch comes amid rising options volumes. Optimal said it aims to address high costs, limited competition, and inconsistent execution quality.

The platform uses a “competition for order flow” (CFOF) model. Market makers compete for retail order flow based on execution quality, assessed name-by-name with monthly reallocation. Initial participants include Optiver, Akuna, Belvedere Trading, and Group One Trading, with additional market makers expected to join.

Optimal Adds Liquidity Providers, Supports Execution

Optimal Market Technologies is being established as a standalone entity, separate from RQD Clearing. RQD’s multi-asset clearing, custody, and execution platform underpins the new venue’s infrastructure.

Brian Donnelly, founder and chief executive of Optimal Market Technologies, said: “Over the coming months, we plan to add additional liquidity providers so that clients can benefit from an even broader set of counterparties, all competing based on measurable execution quality.”

The platform integrates via standard API or FIX connectivity. With RQD acting as the clearing counterparty, it supports clearing, post-trade processing, and regulatory reporting.

Topics
retail
Virtu Financial
Options Technology
Options Trading
About the Author: Tareq Sikder
Tareq Sikder
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A Forex technical analyst and writer who has been engaged in financial writing for 12 years.

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