ION Partners with GFO-X for Regulated Crypto Derivatives Market Infrastructure

ION has partnered with GFO-X to provide technology for the UK's first regulated, centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives. GFO-X will be powered by ION's front-to-back suite, enabling participants to access crypto derivatives products from launch. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between traditional and crypto markets and address constraints in the crypto derivatives market.

London, June 19, 2025 — ION, a global leader in trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics, and strategic consulting, has announced a strategic partnership with GFO-X. The partnership will see ION provide the technology infrastructure for GFO-X, the UK's first regulated, centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives.

ION's front-to-back suite, including XTP Execution, XTP Clearing, and the trade-processing platform XTP, will power GFO-X's market access, clearing, and margin processing. This integration ensures that a broad segment of the cleared derivatives industry can access GFO-X's crypto derivatives products from day one. Intermediaries and their end-clients can trade on GFO-X alongside other crypto derivatives products already offered by US exchanges.

The partnership aims to bridge the gap between traditional and crypto markets by addressing constraints in the crypto derivatives market, such as counterparty risks and technology challenges. By leveraging ION's technology, GFO-X can offer a seamless and secure trading experience for its clients, enhancing reliability, security, and efficiency.

Arnab Sen, CEO at GFO-X, expressed his delight at the partnership, stating, "We are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with ION. This collaboration evidences our shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the digital asset derivatives market. Working with ION allows us to use their expertise and cutting-edge technology to enhance our client connectivity and market infrastructure. Together, we are poised to deliver a seamless and secure trading experience for our clients, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the rapidly evolving digital asset space."

Francesco Margini, Chief Product Officer for Cleared Derivatives at ION Markets, added, "We're proud to support GFO-X in bringing the security and efficiency of the traditional markets to digital asset trading. Exchanges increasingly seek to partner with ION to remove the entry barriers represented by the significant technology investment required to support the trading and clearing of new products. The GFO-X launch demonstrates the industry's strong appetite to trade crypto derivatives across different regions and jurisdictions, and to trade all these products from a single technology platform."

GFO-X is designed to bring digital assets into the mainstream through traditional market structures, supported by new technologies to solve the multiple risks associated with the digital asset market. By solving market constraints such as counterparty risks and technology challenges, GFO-X delivers a robust market structure and innovative products to propel the next leg of growth of the digital asset ecosystem.

The partnership underscores the vision of creating a highly regulated and efficient market structure that meets the needs of large institutional participants. It is expected to drive significant growth and diversification in the digital asset derivatives market, providing clients with unparalleled opportunities.

References:
[1] https://iongroup.com/press-release/markets/ion-partners-with-gfo-x-to-power-market-access-clearing-and-margin-processing/
[2] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2938754/fiserv-fi-shares-jump-with-new-digital-asset-platform-announcement
[3] https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20250623ny11025/ion-partners-with-gfo-x-to-power-market-access-clearing-and-margin-processing