Citadel Securities is expanding its European operations with the opening of a new options trading office in Amsterdam, joining a growing number of trading firms establishing a presence in the Dutch capital. The Miami-based firm, founded by billionaire Ken Griffin, announced the new office will initially employ five people and house teams focused on trading, technology, and quantitative research to support its equity options business.
Amsterdam has become an increasingly attractive hub for equity derivatives trading, partially due to its deep talent pool and historic role in financial markets. The city hosts the world’s oldest stock exchange and has maintained a longstanding options exchange since 1978, one of the earliest in Europe. Dave Silber, Citadel Securities’ head of institutional equity derivatives, highlighted Amsterdam’s position as a strategic location for expanding the firm’s European footprint.
This latest move follows Citadel Securities’ earlier expansions across Europe, which accelerated in response to Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union. The firm opened a Dublin office in 2017 with a team of 16 employees, followed by a Paris office in 2021 that now employs 21 staff members. London remains Citadel Securities’ largest hub in Europe, with a workforce of around 300.
Citadel Securities is among several market-making firms deepening their presence in Amsterdam, alongside competitor firms such as Jane Street, Optiver, and IMC. The influx of trading firms reflects Amsterdam’s critical mass, which fosters easier access to skilled professionals and reinforces the city’s role in European-listed derivative markets.
The growth in options trading has been driven in part by increased participation from retail investors, who favor options for their leveraged exposure to stock price movements with relatively lower capital requirements compared to purchasing shares outright. Market makers like Citadel Securities have capitalized on this trend by deploying advanced technologies capable of processing large volumes of orders daily.
This year has been notable for record earnings among trading firms, fueled by increased market volatility linked to factors such as advancements in artificial intelligence and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Iran. In the first quarter of 2026, Citadel Securities reported trading revenues of $4.3 billion and net income of $1.9 billion, underscoring its leading role in the electronic trading landscape.