Wintermute Secures US Broker-Dealer License to Trade Stocks and Crypto ETFs

Key Highlights

Table of Contents

Wintermute USA LLC has obtained broker-dealer registration from both the SEC and FINRA
The firm’s New York-based arm is now authorized to trade equities, equity options, and serve as an authorized participant for ETFs
The company cites the expanding tokenized securities market as a key driver behind this strategic expansion
Wintermute processes more than $10 billion in daily trading volume across over 60 trading platforms
Founder Evgeny Gaevoy anticipates deeper convergence between digital assets and conventional finance

Leading cryptocurrency market maker Wintermute has successfully registered its United States subsidiary as a licensed broker-dealer with both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Wintermute Registers as U.S. Broker-Dealer, Targets Wall Street Market-Making Giants

The Wall Street Journal reported that Wintermute’s U.S. arm has registered as a broker-dealer, bringing it under FINRA and SEC oversight and making it eligible to seek designated market-maker… pic.twitter.com/bD9BpIDLJU

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 6, 2026

Operating from New York, Wintermute USA LLC now possesses the authority to execute trades in equities and equity options, deliver liquidity services to American securities markets, and function as an authorized participant for exchange-traded products, including those linked to cryptocurrency assets.

The company revealed this development on Thursday, August 7, 2026.

Understanding Broker-Dealer Licensing

Firms holding broker-dealer status are registered entities with the SEC and FINRA authorized to execute securities transactions on behalf of customers while also maintaining the capability to trade from their proprietary accounts.

Wintermute USA has additionally secured permission to independently clear transactions involving digital asset securities. This capability grants the organization enhanced autonomy over its American market trading activities.

Within the ETF ecosystem, authorized participants perform a critical function. These entities facilitate the creation and redemption of substantial ETF share blocks through exchanges with the underlying securities basket, thereby maintaining alignment between a fund’s market price and its net asset value.

Growth in Tokenized Assets Fuels Strategic Move

According to Wintermute, the decision to pursue this registration stems from the company’s outlook on tokenized securities market expansion. The organization has been actively growing its presence in this sector, having launched market-making services for tokenized gold earlier this year while also supplying liquidity to prediction market platforms.

While the SEC has shown support for blockchain technology innovation, the regulator has consistently emphasized that transferring securities to blockchain networks doesn’t create exemptions from existing securities regulations. The commission has clarified that various blockchain-based securities operations necessitate appropriate licensing.

Founder and CEO Evgeny Gaevoy emphasized that the company has consistently maintained that digital asset markets would expand beyond cryptocurrency alone.

“Digital assets and traditional finance will continue to develop in parallel, intersect in new ways, and ultimately integrate more deeply,” Gaevoy said. “As the landscape evolves, the firms that succeed will be those that have technical and operational know-how to operate in both.”

Based in London, Wintermute currently handles in excess of $10 billion in average daily transaction volume. The firm maintains operations spanning more than 60 centralized and decentralized trading venues worldwide.

Wintermute USA will establish its base in New York, functioning as the organization’s central command for broadened American operations spanning both conventional and digital asset markets.

This regulatory approval represents a significant milestone in connecting cryptocurrency market making services with traditional financial infrastructure within the United States market.

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