The Future of Institutional Crypto Trading

Talos CEO and Co-Founder, Anton Katz, sits down with Alex Thorn from Galaxy Digital on the Galaxy Brains podcast to discuss institutional crypto trading, adoption and technology. 

Catch the full episode →

Key takeaways

• Talos is building crypto infrastructure for institutions, from pre-trade to post-trade.
• Institutional adoption is real especially as the regulatory environment shifts.
• Regulation is evolving from a barrier to an enabler.
• Tokenization is the future with stablecoins and on-chain treasuries leading the way.
• DeFi isn’t fringe anymore—it’s where institutions are finding innovation and edge.

Summary

Anton introduces Talos

Anton's journey in crypto started in the early days of questionable trading interfaces, trollboxes and no phone numbers to call when something broke. Enter Talos, a platform purpose-built to give institutional players the same sophistication in crypto that they came to expect from traditional capital markets. From exchange connectivity and algorithmic execution to post-trade settlement and portfolio management, Talos aims to be the one-stop shop for institutions entering digital assets.

The institutions are (finally) coming

Anton explains that in the last 6 months Talos has onboarded traditional asset managers that together represent $14 trillion in assets. Driven by increasing regulatory clarity,  these institutions are moving but with steady deliberation – across a 12 to 18-month horizon – building compliance structures, securing the right technology, integrating legacy systems, and working with security and legal teams. Institutions will mature the asset class and make it stronger.

Regulation: from barrier to catalyst

While recent years saw fragmented and unfriendly US policy, such as SAB 121, there’s growing momentum for a clearer framework, one that protects consumers while fostering innovation. We’re seeing the change from the White House to the legislature to the regulators. 

All assets will be digital assets

Blockchain provides capabilities that traditional systems can’t offer: seamless global access, real-time settlement, instant auditability, and programmatic compliance. While the infrastructure and demand aren’t quite there yet for equities, Anton is seeing steady growth in stablecoins, tokenized treasuries, and even the first signs of meaningful on-chain derivatives markets. Talos aims to provide the infrastructure that supports the digitization of capital markets.

Institutional DeFi is just getting started

While centralized exchanges still dominate for liquidity, institutions are increasingly turning to DeFi for early access to new tokens, yield opportunities, and portfolio tracking. Talos has responded by integrating DeFi protocols directly into its platform, enabling clients to execute trades, manage positions, and monitor risk across both centralized and decentralized markets.

Looking ahead

The future of finance won’t look like the past. The next evolution in markets may not just digitize current assets but reimagine how they’re issued, traded, and governed. But institutions don’t pivot overnight. In the meantime, Anton sees the momentum building, and Talos is helping build the rails that will carry it forward.