Portofino Technologies, a cryptocurrency trading firm, has ambitious expansion plans for 2025, including the potential opening of new offices in New York and Singapore. The Switzerland-based company, which focuses on electronic market making, OTC trading, and token services, aims to solidify its position in the crypto market.
Leonard Lancia, CEO of Portofino Technologies, revealed the company’s strategy in an exclusive interview with CoinDesk. The firm is already regulated in several jurisdictions, including the UK, Switzerland, and the British Virgin Islands. Portofino also plans to expand its licenses under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into effect on December 30th of last year.
To support its growth, Portofino has made several key hires recently. Dipak Shah has been appointed as the head of over-the-counter (OTC) trading, based in London. Shah previously worked at Nomura as head of FX Options trading and has prior experience at Wall Street banks Citi and Goldman Sachs. “While clients and liquidity provision remain our number one priority we have and want to make investments in trading and technology talent to build and scale our business,” Shah said in emailed comments.
The company’s focus is to be a dominant player in electronic market making, OTC trading, and token services. Shah added, “We have already hired many high calibre individuals in London, with further expansion planned in Asia and New York in terms of trading personnel.”
Founded in 2021 by former Citadel Securities leaders Leonard Lancia and Alex Casimo, Portofino secured $50 million in equity funding in late 2022. The firm reported over $100 billion in trading volume in 2024. The company is also in the process of rebuilding following some departures last year, as CoinDesk previously reported.
