QFEX Raises $9.5M and Launches 24/7 Leveraged Trading for US Stocks and Forex

Steady attention without excessive speculation.

From Idea to Launch

QFEX was started by Cambridge math graduates Annanay Kapila and Joshua Wharton. They wondered why crypto can trade all day with perpetual contracts but traditional assets cannot. The team, with experience at Citadel, Jump Trading, Jane Street, Optiver, and others, built a platform in secret, supported by Y Combinator. QFEX now offers up to 50x leverage on US stocks, commodities, forex, and indices, without brokers, expiry dates, and with fast execution.

The company raised $9.5 million in seed funding at a $95 million valuation. The launch opens 24/7 access to traditional assets for institutions and retail, inspired by crypto trading models.

Platform Details and Risks

QFEX lets traders use crypto-style perpetual contracts on traditional assets without owning the underlying securities. Settlement and regulation still follow standard TradFi rules, so users trade safely within existing frameworks while enjoying always-on leverage. The platform is built for both retail and institutional participants, with fast execution and no brokers slowing down trades.

Key risks remain. High leverage can lead to big losses, and regulators could change the rules for 24/7 perpetual trading on US stocks and other real-world assets. Adoption will depend on how quickly traders, institutions, and regulators embrace this new model.

What Readers Should Watch Next

• Daily trading volume and open interest on US equity perpetuals. The first $50 to $100 million days will show if retail traders are joining.
• Official roadmap or token updates on X or Discord. Many hybrid exchanges announce governance tokens within 30 to 60 days of launch.
• Institutional pilot programs. Look for onboarding by Citadel, Jump alumni networks, or General Catalyst portfolio firms.
• Regulatory signals from CFTC or SEC. Early comments on 50× RWA perpetuals could speed up or pause growth in this market.