Citadel Securities is expanding its office footprints in Singapore and Sydney by 40% and 65%, respectively, to accommodate its growing Asia-Pacific workforce and prepare for nearly round-the-clock trading in U.S. equities. Announced by Asia-Pacific head Vikesh Kotecha, the move aims to bolster regional client service capacity as major exchanges like Nasdaq and Cboe prepare to launch 23-hour weekday trading next month, news agency Reuters reported.
To support surging regional volumes and extended overnight U.S. trading hours, the market maker plans to hire additional traders, technologists, researchers, and support staff across its Asia-Pacific hubs next year. So far this year, Citadel Securities has added nearly 100 regional employees, with roughly half in Hong Kong and the rest distributed across Singapore, Sydney, Gurugram, and Tokyo, bringing its total Asia-Pacific headcount to approximately 400 out of a global staff exceeding 1,800.
The latest real estate additions follow Citadel Securities securing an extra half floor at Two IFC in Hong Kong, its largest regional base. The firm has also broadened its Asian product suite this year by launching U.S. investment-grade credit and structured products, while applying to establish an onshore securities brokerage in China.
Citadel Securities’ buildout reflects a wider race among global quantitative trading firms to scale up across Asian financial hubs amid rising institutional demand and structural shifts toward 24-hour market activity, a model pioneered by cryptocurrency markets and reinforced when CME Group rolled out 24/7 crypto futures and options trading in May. The push toward always-on markets coincides with Citadel Securities’ own deepening footprint in digital assets, following its $400 million strategic investment in Singapore-headquartered Crypto.com in July and its liquidity-providing operations across institutional crypto venues.
Rival market makers are making similarly aggressive moves in Hong Kong, with IMC recently unveiling a new systematic equities hub at Two IFC, Jane Street more than doubling its local office footprint this year, and Susquehanna planning to triple its space in the city. While overnight sessions currently account for roughly 1% of total U.S. trading volume, Citadel Securities anticipates significant growth during Asian market hours once extended exchange schedules take effect.
