TradingBlock, a Chicago-based online brokerage focused on active and professional traders, said it will join Nant Global Finance, Inc., a newly formed capital markets platform that aims to modernize public-market infrastructure using blockchain-enabled settlement technology, subject to final FINRA approvals.
The companies said TradingBlock customers should see no immediate changes to platforms, tools, or account relationships. TradingBlock will continue operating as a regulated broker-dealer while gaining access to NANT’s broader ecosystem of regulated market participants and infrastructure, which includes broker-dealers, transfer agents, exchanges, and blockchain-enabled settlement capabilities.
Founded in 2003, TradingBlock offers electronic trading access to U.S. equities, options, and futures, positioning its platform around advanced order routing, customizable interfaces, and options-focused tools built for sophisticated strategies. The firm said its product approach is rooted in trading-floor experience from the Chicago Board Options Exchange, with an emphasis on execution customization and flexible platform design.
The brokerage also highlighted its U.S.-based trade desk support, staffed by trading professionals, as a differentiator for users who require fast, hands-on assistance. TradingBlock serves individual traders as well as small institutions, asset managers, hedge funds, and registered investment advisors through web and mobile offerings.
The transaction is intended to pair TradingBlock’s trading technology and active-trader customer base with NANT’s ambition to create an integrated, regulated market structure that can support greater transparency and operational efficiency over time. The companies said the combined structure could enable exploration of digital securities trading, potential use of tokenization where permitted, and evaluation of alternative settlement approaches while remaining within existing regulatory frameworks.
TradingBlock said it was recently named Benzinga’s “2025 Best Brokerage for Options Trading,” and characterized the move as a continuation of its efforts to broaden professional-grade market access while investing in innovation.
NANT said it is supported by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and that the Los Angeles Times is a strategic shareholder and marketing partner. NANT also cited a portfolio of blockchain-related intellectual property and a leadership team with experience in capital markets modernization.
The companies did not disclose financial terms. They said TradingBlock will continue to operate as it does today as required approvals are completed, while working alongside NANT on longer-term initiatives intended to expand market access and improve efficiency for participants across the platform.
KEY QUOTES:
“TradingBlock has always believed that better technology and broader access lead to better markets. Joining NANT allows us to continue serving our customers exactly as we do today, while positioning TradingBlock to thoughtfully evolve alongside a modern, regulated market infrastructure.”
Jere Wickert, CEO, TradingBlock
“TradingBlock brings a deep trading heritage and a technology-first culture to the NANT ecosystem. As we build a fully integrated capital markets platform, TradingBlock will play an important role in delivering innovative, compliant trading access for active and professional investors.”
Mark Elenowitz, CEO, Nant Global Finance
