Citadel Securities Moves Into Crypto Market-Making Following Trump's Crypto-Friendly Regulation Push

Citadel Securities is preparing to enter cryptocurrency market-making after the Trump administration has signaled a friendlier regulatory environment.

What Happened: The market-making firm is moving to establish itself as a liquidity provider for digital assets, marking a significant change in its approach to cryptocurrency trading, according to a Bloomberg report.

The firm, known for its dominance in equities and fixed-income markets, is now seeking approval to operate on major crypto exchanges such as Coinbase COIN, Binance and Crypto.com, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Citadel Securities had previously avoided major crypto trading platforms due to regulatory uncertainty and concerns over market structures.

Following the collapse of FTX in 2022, scrutiny over conflicts of interest and mismanagement in the sector reinforced the firm's hesitation to participate.

However, with Trump's administration actively reshaping digital asset regulations, Citadel is preparing to expand into cryptocurrency market-making, focusing initially on non-U.S. markets.

According to industry insiders, the firm aims to establish a presence on multiple exchanges, with its level of involvement dependent on evolving regulatory clarity in the U.S.

Citadel Securities has previously engaged with cryptocurrency markets through institutional channels, evidenced by its collaboration with Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments to launch EDX Markets in 2023.

The exchange was structured to reflect traditional financial markets, addressing concerns about transparency, custody, and market integrity in crypto trading.

Also Read: Michael Saylor Presents ‘Digital Assets Framework’ To SEC Crypto Task Force

Why It Matters: The shift in Citadel's stance aligns with Trump's pro-crypto policies, which have removed regulatory barriers that previously discouraged institutional participation in digital assets.

Trump's administration quickly introduced executive orders supporting digital assets and appointed Hester Peirce to lead an SEC task force on cryptocurrency regulation.

Trump has pledged to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet,” a stance that major financial firms are now factoring into their long-term market strategies.

Citadel's entry into the crypto space places it alongside established trading firms such as Jump Crypto and Jane Street.

While Jump and Jane Street maintained a presence in the sector, Citadel's new move represents a deliberate expansion, indicating growing institutional confidence in digital asset trading as U.S. regulations evolve.

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