Inference Research
Inference Research is a Hong Kong-based AI-native quantitative trading firm founded in 2026 by ex-Amber Group co-founder Luke Li, deploying proprietary inference systems for systematic trading, market making, and liquidity provision across digital assets and traditional financial markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2026
- HeadquartersHong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Inference Research does
Inference Research is a Hong Kong-based quantitative trading firm founded in February 2026 by Luke Li, formerly Co-founder and Head of Trading at Amber Group. The company operates an AI-native trading franchise that deploys proprietary inference systems to process fragmented, high-volume market datasets in real time and convert them into trading signals across digital assets and traditional financial markets. Its product surface comprises three integrated offerings: AI-native quantitative trading (proprietary inference systems applied across research, modeling, execution, and risk management), a diversified multi-strategy portfolio (systematic strategies spanning global markets and multiple asset classes), and market making and liquidity provision across fragmented venues. The technology stack is described as architected around AI from inception rather than retrofitted with AI capabilities, with every layer of the firm intended to learn faster, adapt continuously, and operate with institutional-grade discipline.
The firm's revenue model is centered on proprietary-capital systematic trading, market making, and liquidity provision across digital assets and traditional markets, with go-to-market focused on direct institutional relationships and strategic partnerships. Pricing and AUM are not publicly disclosed, consistent with a prop-trading operating model. The company launched with a $20 million seed round led by Avenir Group (Li Lin's family office vehicle), which is positioned as both financial backer and strategic incubator bridging traditional finance and digital assets. Headcount is currently 11–50 employees, with active recruitment underway for quants, engineers, and researchers, and the firm states a global market footprint from its Hong Kong headquarters.
Inference Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Inference Research
- Legal name
- Inference Research
- Website
- https://infr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2026
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Inference Research is a Hong Kong-based AI-native quantitative trading firm founded in 2026 by ex-Amber Group co-founder Luke Li, deploying proprietary inference systems for systematic trading, market making, and liquidity provision across digital assets and traditional financial markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Inference Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantitative Trading Services
- NAICS
- Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (52316)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Quant Equity Long/Short (Equity Stat Arb / Factor / ML) (FSAHAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Quant Research & Systematic Strategies (FSACAGAF), Cross-Asset Electronic Market Making (HFT/Systematic) (FSACANAH), Model Deployment, Serving & Inference Platforms (HDAAABAF)
Keywords
Where Inference Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hong Kong
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Inference Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Quantitative Trading Revenue: The firm generates revenue through systematic trading strategies across digital assets and traditional finance markets, including market making and liquidity provision across global markets and multiple asset classes.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Inference Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Inference Research operates an AI-native quantitative trading franchise spanning digital assets and traditional financial markets. The firm deploys proprietary inference systems to process massive, fragmented datasets in real time, running systematic strategies across global markets and multiple asset classes, and providing market making and liquidity provision across fragmented venues.
Product overview
Inference Research offers a unified AI-native quantitative trading franchise with three integrated core offerings: AI-Native Quantitative Trading (leveraging proprietary inference systems for real-time data processing and trading intelligence), Diversified Multi-Strategy Portfolio (systematic strategies across global markets and asset classes for consistent alpha generation), and Market Making & Liquidity Provision (liquidity services across fragmented venues with disciplined risk management). These products work together as a comprehensive trading franchise combining sovereign AI infrastructure with institutional trading discipline.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AI-Native Quantitative Trading The firm's flagship offering, architected around AI from day one, leveraging proprietary inference systems to process massive, fragmented datasets in real time and transforming noise into actionable trading intelligence across global markets. Designed for institutional clients seeking AI-native trading infrastructure across research, modeling, execution, and risk management.
- Diversified Multi-Strategy Portfolio A portfolio of systematic strategies across global markets and multiple asset classes, designed to generate consistent alpha across market regimes while scaling capacity responsibly and managing risk at the portfolio level. Targets institutional investors seeking diversified systematic exposure.
- Market Making & Liquidity Provision Liquidity provision across fragmented venues and market structures, supported by robust trading infrastructure, disciplined risk management, and efficient execution. Focuses on pricing risk accurately, improving market connectivity, and scaling responsibly. Targets exchanges, OTC desks, and institutional counterparties requiring institutional-grade liquidity.
Companies that use Inference Research
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Inference Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Inference Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Inference Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wintermute: Wintermute is one of the largest crypto-native liquidity providers and systematic market makers globally. It is a direct peer to Inference Research in digital asset market making and proprietary trading across fragmented venues.
- QCP Capital: QCP Capital is an Asia-headquartered digital asset trading firm active in options, spot, and structured products. It is a relevant regional peer given Inference Research's Hong Kong base and digital asset focus.
- Jump Crypto: Jump Crypto is the digital asset arm of Jump Trading, a global quantitative trading firm. It directly competes with Inference Research in systematic crypto trading, DeFi market making, and cross-asset quantitative strategies.
- Amber Group: Amber Group is a global digital asset trading and liquidity provider founded by the same person (Luke Li) as Inference Research. It is the most direct comparable given overlapping focus on crypto market making, systematic strategies, and institutional digital asset trading.
- GSR Markets: GSR is a crypto-native market maker and systematic trading firm providing liquidity across digital asset venues. It competes with Inference Research in market making, options, and structured trading strategies.
Broad incumbents
- Two Sigma: Two Sigma is a large quantitative hedge fund applying AI/ML and engineering to systematic trading across global markets. It is comparable to Inference Research as a technology-first, AI-native systematic investment manager.
- Tower Research Capital: Tower Research Capital is a global quantitative trading firm specializing in high-frequency, market-making, and statistical arbitrage strategies across multiple asset classes. It is a comparable incumbent in systematic trading.
- Citadel Securities: Citadel Securities is a global market maker and systematic trading firm across equities, options, ETFs, and increasingly digital assets. It is a broad incumbent whose AI-driven trading and market-making capabilities overlap with Inference Research's ambitions.
- Jane Street: Jane Street is a global liquidity provider and systematic trader across asset classes. It is comparable to Inference Research as a broad multi-asset quantitative trading franchise with strong institutional infrastructure.
- Hudson River Trading: HRT is a global quantitative trading firm with strong AI/ML capabilities and broad multi-asset market-making and arbitrage strategies. It is comparable to Inference Research in technology-led systematic trading across fragmented venues.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Inference Research social profiles
Digital presenceInference Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Inference Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Inference Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Inference Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Inference Research
What does Inference Research do?
Inference Research operates an AI-native quantitative trading franchise spanning digital assets and traditional financial markets. The firm deploys proprietary inference systems to process massive, fragmented datasets in real time, running systematic strategies across global markets and multiple asset classes, and providing market making and liquidity provision across fragmented venues.
Is Inference Research a public or private company?
Inference Research is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Inference Research founded?
Inference Research was founded in 2026. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Inference Research based?
Inference Research is headquartered in Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does Inference Research make money?
One revenue line is on record: quantitative Trading Revenue.
Who are Inference Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wintermute, QCP Capital, Jump Crypto, Amber Group and GSR Markets. Broad incumbents are Two Sigma, Tower Research Capital, Citadel Securities, Jane Street and Hudson River Trading.
Does Inference Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Inference Research.
What industry is Inference Research in?
Inference Research's product category is Quantitative Trading Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAHAAAB, Quant Equity Long/Short (Equity Stat Arb / Factor / ML), with a secondary code of FSACAGAF, Quant Research & Systematic Strategies. Its NAICS code is 523 and its SIC code is 6200.