Innovation in Financial Markets and Why Quality is the New Speed

Is This the Future of Trading?

In the latest episode of FinTech Focus TV, host Toby Babb sits down with Scott Bradley, CEO of OneChronos Markets UK, to discuss a revolutionary approach to trading. With decades of experience in execution services, Scott shares how OneChronos is reshaping market structure through advanced auction theory and optimisation modelling, offering a fresh approach to liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in financial markets.

The Growth of OneChronos: From the U.S. to Europe

OneChronos was founded with the vision of bringing smart market models to the financial ecosystem. Since its launch as an Alternative Trading System (ATS) in the U.S. in 2022, the company has experienced rapid growth. Originally ranked 40th in FINRA’s alternative venue rankings, it has now surged into the top 12, demonstrating the demand for innovation in capital markets. The transformation has been impressive, with OneChronos continuing to solidify its reputation as a leading innovator in electronic trading, focusing on efficiency and fairness in order execution.

Scott highlights the remarkable expansion, with over 90 members onboarded, including global banks, brokers, and proprietary trading firms. The ATS now averages nearly $5 billion in daily notional volume, peaking at $6.7 billionin Q4 2023. This substantial volume demonstrates the effectiveness of OneChronos' optimisation-driven auction model, which is now preparing for a pan-European expansion. By bringing this advanced trading model to London and Amsterdam, the company is poised to transform the European financial ecosystem, pending regulatory approval and successful adaptation to the unique dynamics of the region.

What Makes OneChronos Different?

At its core, OneChronos is not just a trading venue but a technology company, leveraging combinatorial auctions and optimisation to improve execution outcomes. Unlike traditional price-time-priority auctions, OneChronos prioritises maximum notional price improvement, matching buyers and sellers in a way that optimises both price and order size. This distinction is critical in an industry where speed has traditionally been the primary advantage.

This innovative approach removes the speed advantage traditionally held by larger players, democratising access to liquidity. The periodic auction model runs every 10 to 15 milliseconds, ensuring optimal trade execution without the need for high-frequency trading dominance. By decoupling speed from execution quality, OneChronos offers a more level playing field for institutional investors, enabling greater market participation from firms that may not have access to the ultra-fast infrastructure traditionally required to compete effectively in capital markets.

OneChronos Markets UK and Harrington Starr share a common goal of driving innovation in financial markets through technology and talent. As OneChronos expands its smart market model into the UK and Europe, the demand for specialised FinTech professionals in areas like quantitative trading, execution services, and algorithmic development continues to rise. At Harrington Starr, we understand the evolving landscape of electronic trading, regulatory compliance, and financial infrastructure, making us the ideal recruitment partner for firms adopting next-generation trading solutions. By connecting top-tier talent with forward-thinking firms like OneChronos, we help shape the future of FinTech and ensure businesses stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Expansion to the UK and Amsterdam: What’s Next?

As Scott explains, the next step for OneChronos is bringing its smart market model to Europe through a UK and Amsterdam-based Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF). Unlike the dark pool ATS model in the U.S., European regulations require pre-trade transparency, meaning the model must be adapted. This key difference requires a shift in the platform’s approach to order visibility and compliance, which the OneChronos team is actively addressing.

Despite this adjustment, Scott is confident that the data-driven, optimisation-based approach will continue to deliver superior execution outcomes. European markets have long sought genuine innovation, and OneChronos aims to fill the gap by offering a unique alternative to traditional liquidity pools. The anticipated regulatory approval is expected to mark the beginning of a major shift in how financial markets in Europe function, bringing a fairer, more efficient trading ecosystem to the region.

The Role of Regulation and Market Adoption

Toby and Scott discuss the challenges of regulatory approval and market adoption. While OneChronos has submitted applications to the FCA in the UK and the AFM in the Netherlands, the process is rigorous and requires a clear demonstration of the platform’s benefits and compliance measures. Scott emphasises the importance of educating the market on OneChronos’ benefits, ensuring buy-side and sell-side participants understand how it integrates into smart order routing strategies.

By working closely with clients, OneChronos is making the onboarding process as seamless as possible, reducing friction for firms looking to integrate the platform. Given its track record in the U.S., European institutions have a proven case study for how the model can succeed. A smooth transition into these new markets will be critical for the long-term success of OneChronos in Europe.

The Future: Expanding Beyond Equities

While OneChronos has focused primarily on equities trading, the technology’s optimisation principles have applications across asset classes. Scott reveals that in 2025, OneChronos will expand into FX trading, applying auction-based optimisation to spot FX markets. Additionally, the company is exploring fixed-income trading, another sector ripe for innovation. This multi-asset strategy could redefine trading efficiency across multiple financial sectors.

Beyond financial markets, OneChronos’ combinatorial auction model could be applied to other industries, offering efficient matching solutions in areas such as commodities and private markets. As Scott suggests, this is just the beginning of what smart markets can achieve. By expanding into new asset classes and industries, OneChronos is proving that its technology is flexible and capable of reshaping various sectors beyond equities alone.

Why This Matters for FinTech Hiring

For the FinTech recruitment industry, the rise of OneChronos signals a growing demand for professionals in algorithmic trading, quantitative finance, and market structure innovation. As financial technology evolves, firms need specialists who understand optimisation modelling, regulatory compliance, and trading infrastructure. The need for experienced professionals in these areas will only increase as OneChronos continues its expansion.

At Harrington Starr, we specialise in FinTech recruitment, helping firms find the right talent to navigate market evolution. The growth of smart trading venues like OneChronos means demand for quantitative researchers, software engineers, and execution specialists will continue to rise. This shift underscores the importance of recruiting top-tier talent to drive innovation in trading technology, making it an exciting time for professionals looking to enter or advance within the industry.

Final Thoughts: A Game-Changer in Market Structure

Scott Bradley’s insights highlight how technology, regulation, and market needs are converging to reshape trading. By removing the speed-based barriers to liquidity and optimising execution quality, OneChronos is challenging the status quo. With its success in the U.S. and upcoming European launch, this is a company to watch. The potential for expansion into additional asset classes and new geographies only adds to the momentum behind OneChronos, positioning it as a leading force in the future of trading technology.

This episode of FinTech Focus TV with Scott Bradley, CEO of OneChronos Markets UK, underscores the vital role of innovation in financial technology and electronic trading, aligning closely with Harrington Starr’s mission as a FinTech recruitment specialist. As the industry evolves with smart market models, algorithmic trading advancements, and regulatory changes, firms need the right talent to stay ahead. The expansion of OneChronos into Europe highlights the growing demand for professionals who understand market structure, execution services, quantitative finance, and trading technology—all areas where Harrington Starr connects top talent with leading firms.

As Scott discusses advanced auction theory, smart market models, and the expansion of OneChronos into Europe, it underscores the growing demand for specialised talent in areas like algorithmic trading, quantitative finance, and market structure innovation—all core recruitment areas for Harrington Starr.

The episode also emphasises the critical role of technology in transforming capital markets, with OneChronos using combinatorial auctions and optimisation modelling to democratise liquidity and improve execution quality. This kind of innovation requires a highly skilled workforce, from quantitative researchers and software engineers to regulatory compliance experts and trading infrastructure specialists. Harrington Starr bridges the gap between FinTech firms and top-tier talent, ensuring businesses have the expertise needed to stay competitive.

At Harrington Starr, we specialise in quantitative research, algorithmic trading, electronic execution, software engineering, regulatory compliance, cloud infrastructure, and data analytics, all of which are crucial for businesses adopting next-generation trading solutions like OneChronos. Whether you're looking to hire FinTech specialists to drive innovation in your firm or seeking an opportunity in trading technology, electronic markets, or market infrastructure, we can help. Get in touch today to explore how we can support your hiring needs and career ambitions in the evolving FinTech landscape.

As firms like OneChronos expand, the demand for professionals who can navigate complex trading environments will only grow. Harrington Starr remains at the forefront of this evolution, connecting the brightest minds in FinTech with industry-leading companies driving change.