Architect Financial Technologies Inc. raises $19.3M; offering $19.4M

Architect Financial Technologies Inc. recently announced the completion of a $35 million Series A investment round, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory. The funding will be used to accelerate the development and expansion of AX, the company’s perpetual futures exchange launched in November 2025. AX, operated by Architect Bermuda Ltd., offers institutional clients perpetual contracts on traditional assets, including foreign currencies, interest rates, single stocks, stock indexes, metals, and commodities. The exchange operates under the regulatory oversight of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, providing a secure and compliant trading environment for institutional participants.

The Series A round was led by Miami International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MIAX) and Tioga Capital, with participation from a consortium of prominent global financial services firms, including Galaxy Ventures, ARK Invest, VanEck, Trumid, and Geneva Trading. Additional support came from existing investors such as Coinbase Ventures, Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, and Third Kind Venture Capital. This round follows a $5 million pre-seed round in 2023 and a $12 million seed round in 2024.

Founded in January 2023 and headquartered in Chicago, Architect Financial Technologies has rapidly evolved from a high-performance software shop into a regulated exchange operator. The company’s leadership team, including CEO Brett Harrison, brings extensive experience from firms such as Citadel Securities, Jane Street, and FTX US. The new capital will be used to expand liquidity, grow engineering and go-to-market teams in Chicago and Bermuda, and accelerate global expansion into Europe and Asia.

AX is designed for institutional participants such as hedge funds, market makers, asset managers, and insurers, offering a 24/7 trading environment with ultra-low latency matching, FIX and WebSocket connectivity, and real-time risk controls. The platform supports cross-asset margining and features proprietary order management and execution management systems. The exchange is currently accessible to institutions in eligible jurisdictions, with plans to expand further in the coming months.

The Series A round underscores the growing interest in institutional-grade trading infrastructure and highlights Architect’s position as a key player in the evolving derivatives market. With a post-money valuation of approximately $187 million, the company is well-positioned to continue its mission of building a robust and scalable market structure.