In recent years, the front office of Capital Markets has undergone significant transformation, driven by advances in technology, data strategy, and automation. However, while data strategies and automation have helped firms compete, fundamental elements like market access and connectivity have remained relatively unchanged. With today’s rapid technological advancements, we have the potential to revolutionize Capital Markets Infrastructure, offering streamlined, dynamic, and data-driven access to trading platforms and data services.
At its core, there’s been very little development or innovation in how participants interact with core trading and market data infrastructure. Whilst technological developments such as DLT, Cloud and low-code APIs have offered some possibilities, they’ve generally been implemented on top of or in parallel to existing infrastructure and adding to rather than replacing the existing hash of interconnected systems and platforms built on static rules of engagement. In fact, as digital asset venues focus on institutional adoption, we’re seeing them add existing, traditional connectivity methods such as FIX interfaces.
Firms continue to rely heavily on manual operations and expert intervention to manage exchange APIs, onboarding, and the discovery and provisioning of new services. This reliance on expertise drives up costs and stretches limited resources, leaving front-office teams bogged down in operational maintenance.
The challenge is not one of vision or intent, but of capacity and delivery. Despite recognizing the need for change, firms often find themselves stuck in the cycle of “running the bank,” with limited capacity to innovate or drive strategic change. Constantly managing existing connectivity and services consumes valuable resources that could otherwise be redirected to forward-thinking initiatives.
To break out of this cycle, we need to embrace greater digitization and dynamic provisioning. These innovations have the potential to simplify and accelerate onboarding and change, making market infrastructure more agile, efficient, and accessible. Adopting more predictable and deterministic automation-led workflows would drive greater efficiencies and reduce one of the most significant barriers to entry for new market participants or venues.
Dynamic provisioning, in particular, will revolutionize the way firms interact with infrastructure. By abstracting away the complexities of individual connections, services, and APIs, firms can shift their focus from managing technical nuances to engaging with the markets they serve. For example, provisioning a new data feed or accessing a new market can become as simple as making a single request for the relevant service, with all underlying workflows and provisioning steps handled automatically. This approach not only accelerates access but also reduces operational risks and costs associated with managing complex, mission-critical infrastructure.
Emerging technologies like Generative AI present an exciting opportunity to accelerate this transition. AI can codify unstructured data (such as PDF-based API specifications, data policies, and connectivity guides) into structured, actionable formats that drive intelligent, agentic workflows. This enables firms to streamline manual processes such as exchange change assessments, client onboarding, and troubleshooting, allowing them to manage infrastructure more efficiently.
AI is not a replacement for expertise but an enabler that enhances productivity. By providing structured, contextual inputs, AI can generate intelligent insights and streamline workflows, helping firms achieve faster, more accurate outcomes.
Any attempt to modernize financial markets needs to take a phased, modular approach to deliver iterative benefits and navigate the complex dependencies of the ecosystem. In the same way modern APIs can be used to build an abstraction layer between legacy platforms, we can use operational middleware to deliver tangible benefits without the need for wholesale re-engineering. This hybrid approach enables greater flexibility, reduced time to market, and improved operational efficiencies.
As the industry moves towards a more dynamic, data-driven, and digital future, the benefits are clear: improved productivity, lower operational costs, and a greater focus on innovation. By breaking down barriers to access and simplifying connectivity, Capital Markets Infrastructure will become more accessible, enabling firms to unlock new opportunities and deliver greater value to clients.