Architect Financial Technologies Raises $35 Million In Series A Funding

Listen to this article

Architect Financial Technologies has raised $35 million in a Series A funding round, led by Miami International Holdings, marking a significant step in expanding its operations within the financial technology sector.

Founded in 2023 by Brett Harrison, formerly president of FTX.US, Architect provides institutional trading technology, U.S. electronic brokerage services, and global exchange solutions. Its subsidiaries handle regulatory compliance, including Architect Securities LLC (FINRA-registered) for equities and options, Architect Financial Derivatives LLC (NFA-registered) for futures, and Architect Bermuda Ltd. (BMA-regulated) for AX operations. The company’s valuation post round stands at approximately $187 million, reflecting rapid progress from its $5 million pre seed and $12 million seed rounds.

Architect Financial Technologies, a Chicago-based fintech firm specializing in institutional trading infrastructure, has secured $35 million in a Series A funding round. This strategic investment, co-led by Miami International Holdings (MIAX) and Tioga Capital, underscores a growing appetite among investors for platforms that merge traditional financial derivatives with modern technological efficiencies. The round not only elevates the company’s valuation to around $187 million but also positions it to capitalize on the surging interest in perpetual futures contracts beyond cryptocurrencies, extending to asset classes like foreign currencies, interest rates, single stocks, stock indexes, metals, and commodities.

The $35 million Series A represents a pivotal milestone for Architect, following its $5 million pre seed in 2023 and $12 million seed in early 2024, cumulatively reaching $52 million in total capital raised. The investment was anchored by a consortium that blends established financial players with venture capital firms known for their focus on innovative tech and trading solutions. Key participants include:

• Lead Investors: Miami International Holdings (NYSE: MIAX), a prominent operator of securities and options exchanges, and Tioga Capital, a venture firm with expertise in financial technologies.
• New Investors: Galaxy Ventures (Nasdaq/TSX: GLXY), ARK Invest (known for its thematic investments in disruptive innovation), VanEck (a leader in asset management with a focus on digital assets and ETFs), Trumid (an electronic bond trading platform), Geneva Trading (a proprietary trading firm), and other undisclosed trading entities.
• Returning Investors: Coinbase Ventures (Nasdaq: COIN), Strobe Ventures, CMT Digital, and Third Kind Venture Capital, demonstrating continued confidence in Architect’s trajectory.
• Advisor: Broadhaven, a financial advisory firm specializing in capital raises for fintech and trading companies.

This investor lineup highlights a strategic alignment, with participants bringing not just capital but also domain expertise in trading, regulation, and market infrastructure. For instance, MIAX’s involvement could provide synergies in exchange operations, while ARK Invest and VanEck’s participation signals belief in Architect’s potential to disrupt traditional derivatives markets through technology driven efficiencies.

The funding’s structure appears designed to support rapid scaling, with an emphasis on institutional adoption. Brett Harrison, Founder and CEO of Architect, emphasized in statements that the capital will “initiate AX’s next critical phase of growth” with the backing of these partners, aiming to “catalyze a new era in global derivatives trading.” Such rhetoric points to ambitions beyond mere expansion, potentially reshaping how institutions engage with perpetual futures in a regulated environment.

The primary allocation of funds is toward accelerating the growth of AX, Architect’s flagship perpetual futures exchange, which debuted in November 2025 under Architect Bermuda Ltd., regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA). AX stands out as the first regulated centralized exchange offering perpetual contracts on traditional financial assets, addressing pain points like high costs, operational friction, and limited accessibility in derivatives trading. Eligible users include hedge funds, market makers, family offices, asset managers, insurance companies, and lenders in permitted jurisdictions, with a waitlist available for sophisticated individual traders via https://architect.exchange.

Strategically, this funding enables Architect to enhance its technological infrastructure, expand geographic reach, and bolster compliance efforts. The company has already integrated partnerships, such as with Connamara Technologies for its EP3® exchange platform, and connects to major venues like CME Group, Cboe, Nasdaq, and Coinbase Derivatives. Clearing and settlement are handled through RQD Clearing LLC, ensuring SIPC protection up to $500,000. By focusing on perpetual futures, contracts without expiration dates that allow for continuous holding and leverage, Architect aims to bridge the gap between crypto style trading mechanics and traditional finance, potentially attracting a broader institutional base amid rising trading volumes in tokenized assets and derivatives.

Market context adds depth to this move: Global derivatives markets have seen exponential growth, with perpetual futures popular in crypto for their flexibility but underrepresented in traditional assets due to regulatory hurdles. Architect’s regulated approach could mitigate risks associated with unregulated platforms, such as those highlighted in past industry upheavals. However, it also invites scrutiny on market volatility, as perpetual futures can amplify leverage related risks. Investors like Galaxy Ventures and Coinbase Ventures, with roots in crypto, likely see parallels to the evolution of digital asset exchanges, betting on Architect to pioneer similar innovations in fiat based derivatives.

Recommended: ZincFive Raises $30 Million In Series F Funding Round

Architect Financial Technologies Inc., established in 2023, operates as a software development entity focused on proprietary technology for financial infrastructure. Its mission centers on building 21st century tools for capital markets, encompassing equities, ETFs, futures, options, and tokenized assets. The firm differentiates itself through a suite of offerings:

• Brokerage Services: Multi asset brokerage for U.S. regulated equities, equity options, futures, and options on futures, provided via Architect Securities LLC (SEC-registered, FINRA/SIPC member) and Architect Financial Derivatives LLC (NFA-registered introducing broker, NFA #0556853). Features include full featured APIs, SDKs in languages like Rust, Python, and JavaScript, paper trading, execution algorithms, and customizable dashboards.
• AX Exchange: A global platform for perpetual futures on traditional assets, emphasizing reduced costs and complexity. It targets institutions seeking efficient access to markets like stock indexes, agricultural products, metals, currencies, interest rates, and cryptocurrencies.
• Order Execution Management System (OEMS): Institutional software for order entry, management, execution, and portfolio oversight, supporting connectivity to traditional and digital asset venues. Options include self hosted or managed deployments with multi language API support.
• Post Trade Solutions: Advanced reconciliation, real time P&L tracking, and transaction cost analysis for spot digital assets and derivatives.

The company’s regulatory framework is robust, with operations segmented across subsidiaries to comply with U.S. and international standards. This includes adherence to CFTC and NFA guidelines for futures, as well as BMA oversight for AX. Risk disclosures prominently warn of substantial losses in futures and options trading, aligning with industry norms.

Brett Harrison’s leadership adds a layer of intrigue; as former president of FTX.US, he brings experience from high profile crypto operations, though Architect pivots toward regulated, traditional finance integrations. The firm’s Chicago headquarters supports a tech savvy team, with community engagement via a Slack channel and API documentation at https://docs.architect.co/. Recent developments include the January 2025 selection of Connamara’s EP3® for exchange tech and a June 2025 blog comparing IBKR Python APIs.

In a competitive fintech landscape, Architect’s emphasis on perpetual futures for traditional assets positions it uniquely. Unlike crypto only exchanges, AX offers a regulated alternative, potentially appealing to risk averse institutions. The $187 million post money valuation reflects this promise, up from prior rounds, and aligns with broader trends in tokenized assets, evidenced by related developments like Figure Technologies’ AAA-rated on-chain mortgages.

However, challenges loom: Regulatory environments for derivatives remain stringent, with ongoing debates around leverage and market manipulation. The firm’s Bermuda-based AX may face jurisdictional limitations, restricting access in certain regions. Additionally, while investor enthusiasm is evident, sustaining growth will depend on user adoption and technological reliability. Social media discussions, including announcements from figures like Harrison himself in prior rounds, indicate community interest, but broader sentiment will hinge on AX’s performance metrics post-scaling.

Funding History Table

Investor Participation Table

This funding round not only bolsters Architect’s operational capabilities but also signals a maturing fintech ecosystem where traditional and innovative finance converge. As the company advances, its success could influence broader adoption of regulated perpetual futures, potentially setting new standards for efficiency and accessibility in global markets.

Please email us your feedback and news tips at hello(at)superbcrew.com