Global Trading Giants Expand India Derivatives Presence Amid Talent Rush

Major global trading firms including Citadel Securities, IMC Trading, Millennium, and Optiver are significantly expanding their operations in India's rapidly growing derivatives markets, driven by the country's dominant 60% share of global equity derivatives trading volumes. These firms are aggressively hiring, with IMC Trading planning to increase its India team by over 50% to more than 150 employees by 2026, while Optiver aims to grow to 100 employees by the end of 2025. Citadel Securities maintains a smaller team in India but has increased capital allocation and continues to recruit talent. This surge in activity has sparked intense competition for skilled traders, leading to salary increases for junior traders, which have more than doubled in the past three years. The growth in trading volumes and talent demand has also prompted Indian stock exchanges such as NSE and BSE to upgrade technology and increase co-location capacity to support faster trade execution. The expansion is partly fueled by expectations that India's large domestic consumer and investor base will shield the market from global disruptions caused by trade policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.