NEW YORK — September 1, 2026
Executive Summary
Granite River Trading (GRT) has formally launched as a principal digital-asset trading firm, naming co-founder Josh Gibson as Chief Executive Officer and confirming its senior leadership team. Operating across centralized exchanges, decentralized venues and emerging on-chain markets, GRT connects to more than 25 trading venues and is building a global trading operation spanning systematic, discretionary, OTC, RWA and prediction markets.
Announcement Overview
Granite River Trading has formally launched with Josh Gibson appointed Chief Executive Officer and co-founders and senior trading executives in place. The firm trades its own capital across more than 25 venues, combining systematic and discretionary strategies with activity in OTC markets, RWA exchanges and prediction markets. GRT operates globally through a distributed team providing continuous coverage across major trading sessions. The firm is also investing in technology, senior talent and hiring across business development, trading and compliance as it expands its principal digital-asset trading operations.
Key Announcement Details
- Announcement Type: Formal Launch & Executive Appointment
- Announcing Entity: Granite River Trading (GRT)
- Announcement Date: Sept. 1, 2026
- Dateline: NEW YORK
- Executive Appointment: Josh Gibson, Chief Executive Officer
- Company Type: Principal Digital-Asset Trading Firm
- Trading Model: Principal Trading
- Trading Venues: 25+ venues
- Market Coverage: Centralized, decentralized & on-chain markets
- Additional Markets: OTC, RWA & prediction markets
- Operating Scope: Global
- Trading Coverage: Every major trading session
- Strategies: Systematic & discretionary
- Senior Leadership: Josh Gibson, Juan Marquez & Kalon Jarvis
- Hiring: Business development, trading & compliance
Firm Launch and Leadership Team
Granite River Trading, or GRT, has formally commenced operations as a principal digital-asset trading firm, alongside the appointment of co-founder Josh Gibson as Chief Executive Officer and the confirmation of its senior leadership team.
The firm operates as a principal trader, deploying its own capital across a range of digital-asset markets rather than operating solely as an intermediary.
Its trading activity covers:
- Centralized exchanges
- Decentralized venues
- Emerging on-chain markets
- OTC markets
- Real-world asset (RWA) exchanges
- Prediction markets
GRT currently maintains active connectivity to more than 25 trading venues and expects the scope of its market activity to expand as the firm scales.
Global Trading Operations
GRT operates globally through a distributed team designed to provide continuous coverage across major trading sessions.
The firm’s operating model combines trading personnel, technology and market infrastructure across different regions, allowing its activities to continue through the major periods of global market activity.
Its strategy mix includes both systematic and discretionary trading, giving the firm the ability to operate across different approaches within digital-asset markets.
Josh Gibson Appointed Chief Executive Officer
Josh Gibson, a co-founder of Granite River Trading, has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer.
In his new position, Gibson will oversee:
- Firm strategy
- Commercial growth
- Global expansion
Gibson brings nearly 20 years of financial-markets experience to the role and is described by the company as a crypto veteran. Earlier in his career, he was an early employee at GSR, where he spent five years.
His appointment places responsibility for GRT’s strategic direction and expansion with one of the firm’s founding leaders as the business establishes its global principal trading operation.
Senior Leadership Team
GRT has assembled a senior leadership group with experience across market making, engineering, derivatives trading, algorithmic strategies and proprietary trading.
Juan Marquez, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Juan Marquez, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, previously served as Head of Engineering at Keyrock.
At Keyrock, Marquez led the engineering team responsible for the firm’s market-making platform. At GRT, he is responsible for the firm’s technology function and contributes to the development of the infrastructure supporting its trading operations.
Kalon Jarvis, Head of Trading
Kalon Jarvis, Head of Trading, brings close to two decades of derivatives trading experience.
His previous senior roles include positions at Auros and Cumberland (DRW). His experience includes:
- Derivatives trading
- Algorithmic trading
- Proprietary trading strategies
Jarvis leads GRT’s trading activities as the firm develops its operations across multiple digital-asset venues and market structures.
Technology and Market Infrastructure
GRT’s launch comes with an emphasis on proprietary technology and trading infrastructure.
The firm has developed connectivity spanning more than 25 trading venues, covering centralized and decentralized markets as well as emerging on-chain environments.
Its infrastructure is designed to support trading across multiple market types and strategies while maintaining the firm’s principal-first operating model.
The company’s leadership has identified technology and disciplined execution as central elements of the firm’s approach as digital-asset markets continue to develop.
Market Environment and Firm Development
GRT’s launch comes during a period of consolidation across digital-asset trading, according to the company.
During this period, the firm has focused on strengthening its technology capabilities and adding senior industry talent. Rather than treating the market environment solely as a period of contraction, GRT has used it to build its operating foundation and expand its leadership capabilities.
The company describes its current position as lean and well capitalized, with a focus on technology, trading discipline and experienced personnel.
Josh Gibson on GRT’s Approach
Josh Gibson, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Granite River Trading
“A lot of firms have pulled back over the past year. We have done the opposite. We are lean, we are well capitalised, and we have been able to bring in people who would not normally be on the market. Digital-asset markets are maturing quickly, and the firms that endure will be the ones with real technology and real discipline behind them.”
Juan Marquez on Technology and Trading
Juan Marquez, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Granite River Trading
“GRT is built on world-class technology and a disciplined, principal-first approach to trading. We have brought together a team with genuine market-making pedigree, and we are only getting started.”
Kalon Jarvis on Infrastructure and Risk
Kalon Jarvis, Head of Trading, Granite River Trading
“Having traded through several cycles, what stands out here is the discipline. GRT has built the infrastructure to price and execute across venues at scale, and the risk framework to do it consistently.”
Hiring and Global Expansion
As it scales its operations, GRT is actively recruiting across several functions.
Current hiring areas include:
- Business development
- Trading
- Compliance
The recruitment effort forms part of the firm’s broader global expansion as it develops its principal digital-asset trading business and extends its operational capabilities.
About Granite River Trading
Granite River Trading (GRT) is a global principal digital-asset trading firm providing professional liquidity across centralized exchanges, decentralized venues and emerging on-chain markets. The firm operates across every major trading session through a distributed global team and combines proprietary trading technology, quantitative strategies and experienced market-making talent.
GRT’s operations span systematic and discretionary trading as well as OTC markets, RWA exchanges and prediction markets, with active connectivity to more than 25 trading venues.
Media Contact
For additional information, visit graniteriver.io.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement
