JPMorgan Sets Up Quant Trading and Research Group to Accelerate E-trading

Summary

JPMorgan Chase has formed a new quantitative trading and research group to accelerate its development in electronic trading and fend off competition from non-bank rivals like Citadel Securities and Jane Street USHK News. The group will be led by Chi Nzelu, the former global head of e-trading for FICC. This initiative aims to establish JPM as a leader in systematic, data-driven trading, following a year where its trading business achieved a record $35.8 billion in revenue for 2025 USHK News.

Impact Analysis

So JPM is basically admitting the wolves are at the door. They’re explicitly calling out Citadel and Jane Street as threats USHK News. This isn’t a move from weakness—they just posted record trading revenue USHK News—it’s a preemptive strike from a position of strength. They see the future of market-making is purely electronic and systematic, and they’re mobilizing to defend their crown.

The real signal here is the intent to become a “leader in systematic, data-driven trading” USHK News. This isn’t just about catching up; it’s about leveraging their massive balance sheet and client flow with the high-speed tech of their rivals. This formalizes the arms race. For us, it confirms the ‘picks and shovels’ trade: long the tech infrastructure, data providers, and connectivity firms that will power this escalating war for nanoseconds between the banks and prop shops.