Wintermute Wins SEC Approval to Trade Equities and ETF Blocks
Crypto market maker Wintermute has secured SEC approval to expand into equities and ETF block trading, marking a major regulatory milestone.
Wintermute, one of the world's leading cryptocurrency market makers, has received approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to trade equities and exchange-traded fund blocks, according to a report from CoinDesk. The green light marks a significant regulatory milestone for the London-based firm and signals growing institutional crossover between traditional finance and the digital asset sector.
The SEC approval positions Wintermute to compete directly in equity markets alongside established Wall Street players, expanding well beyond its crypto-native roots. Block trading — the buying and selling of large quantities of securities in a single transaction, typically off public exchanges — is a domain long dominated by major investment banks and institutional brokers, making Wintermute's entry notable.
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The move comes at a time when crypto-native firms are increasingly seeking legitimacy and diversification through regulatory channels in the United States. Wintermute's expansion into regulated equities trading could open new revenue streams and deepen its relationships with institutional clients who operate across both traditional and digital asset markets.
Analysts watching the space say that approvals like this one reflect a broader shift in how U.S. regulators are engaging with crypto-origin firms that demonstrate compliance-ready infrastructure. While the SEC has historically taken an adversarial posture toward much of the crypto industry, licensing decisions of this nature suggest a nuanced, case-by-case approach may be emerging for firms willing to meet traditional regulatory standards.
Continue reading at CoinDesk.
