Wintermute will allocate $1 billion to AI infrastructure: a bet on universal trading
Major cryptocurrency market maker Wintermute has announced an ambitious plan: over the next five years, the company will invest approximately $1 billion in infrastructure for high-frequency trading and artificial intelligence. The funding will come from retained earnings, underscoring management's confidence in its own resilience and long-term strategy.
CEO Evgeny Gaevoy explained that entering traditional markets requires significant resources. Competing with players who have spent decades perfecting their algorithms and trading systems forces Wintermute to ramp up its technological capabilities. Currently, non-crypto segments generate only about 10% of the company's revenue, but by the end of 2027, this figure is expected to exceed 50%. Meanwhile, average daily trading volume in 2026 fell to $10 billion from $15 billion a year earlier, which only strengthens the motivation for diversification.
The key investment focus will be on data centers oriented toward AI and quantitative models. Gaevoy emphasizes that modern strategies require not only minimal latency in trade execution but also continuous model training on vast arrays of market data. This entails substantial investments in computing power, storage systems, and network infrastructure.
Expansion Beyond Cryptocurrencies
The transformation process is already underway. In February, Wintermute added tokenized gold PAXG and XAUT to its OTC platform, offering clients settlements in cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and fiat. In March, the Asian division launched 24/7 OTC trading in CFD contracts on WTI crude oil, including weekends and holidays. This is a direct response to growing demand for using crypto infrastructure to work with traditional assets.
In parallel, Wintermute is strengthening its team: in 2027, the headcount at the New York office will double from the current 17 people, while global staffing will grow by approximately 40%. It is worth recalling that in August, the affiliated entity Wintermute USA LLC already registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer, opening access to the regulated U.S. securities market.
My analysis: This move is not merely an attempt at hedging but a systemic bet on the convergence of crypto and traditional markets. Wintermute is clearly seeking to follow in the footsteps of giants like Jane Street or Citadel Securities, but with a unique advantage—deep expertise in digital assets and AI. Given declining trading volumes, diversification is becoming not just an ambition but a necessity for survival in a competitive environment. Success will depend on how quickly the company can scale its technology platform without losing operational efficiency.