Inference Research has launched as an AI-native quantitative trading firm positioned at the intersection of digital assets and traditional finance, alongside the anticipated closing of a $20 million seed funding round led by Avenir Group.
The company describes itself as a quantitative “franchise” built to capitalize on the convergence of blockchain-driven markets and institutional finance, pairing what it calls sovereign AI infrastructure with institutional trading discipline. Inference Research said it aims to address core market challenges, including asset pricing and liquidity provision, as AI and blockchain continue to reshape global finance.
Inference Research was founded by Luke Li, previously co-founder and head of trading at Amber Group. The firm said the seed capital will be used to scale its infrastructure and accelerate hiring, with a focus on building a team of quants, engineers, and researchers.
Avenir Group, the lead investor, is described as originating from Mr. Li Lin’s family office and focused on integrating traditional finance and digital assets through investment, incubation, and operations. The group said its investment activity spans digital assets, trading and financial services platforms, PayFi infrastructure, and real-world assets, and also described itself as Asia’s largest institutional holder of bitcoin ETFs.
KEY QUOTE:
“Inference Research represents a compelling step forward in quantitative finance, blending institutional-grade discipline with AI-native innovation. This approach aligns closely with our mission to bridge traditional finance and digital assets, fostering resilient infrastructure and institutional adoption. We are proud to support Luke Li and the Inference Research team through strategic investment and incubation, contributing to a more unified and efficient global financial ecosystem.”
Jacob Zhong, Managing Partner, Strategic Investment & Partnerships, Avenir Group
