Optimal Market Technologies has introduced a new US listedoptions execution platform. The FINRA-approved broker-dealer is backed byglobal market makers Optiver and Virtu Financial, along with investors Akunaand BSC Ventures.Retail participation in US markets has increased, withself-directed investors now accounting for a notable share of equity andoptions trading. Broker platforms are evolving from administrative tools tosystems that support real-time decision-making, execution, and analytics. This shift affects product design, risk management, andrevenue models, particularly for derivatives and short-dated options, asbrokers adjust to investors making independent trading decisions.Retail Options Surge Drives New PlatformThe platform is expected to be commercially available in Q12026. It will serve retail options wholesalers, institutional broker-dealers,and large asset managers, with the initial rollout focused on wholesalers. Thelaunch comes amid rising options volumes. Optimal said it aims to address highcosts, limited competition, and inconsistent execution quality.The platform uses a “competition for order flow” (CFOF)model. Market makers compete for retail order flow based on execution quality,assessed name-by-name with monthly reallocation. Initial participants includeOptiver, Akuna, Belvedere Trading, and Group One Trading, with additionalmarket makers expected to join.Optimal Adds Liquidity Providers, Supports ExecutionOptimal Market Technologies is being established as astandalone entity, separate from RQD Clearing. RQD’s multi-asset clearing,custody, and execution platform underpins the new venue’s infrastructure.Brian Donnelly, founder and chief executive of OptimalMarket Technologies, said: “Over the coming months, we plan to add additionalliquidity providers so that clients can benefit from an even broader set ofcounterparties, all competing based on measurable execution quality.”The platform integrates via standard API or FIXconnectivity. With RQD acting as the clearing counterparty, it supportsclearing, post-trade processing, and regulatory reporting.This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.