InTick, the listed derivatives block trading network, has launched its block matching platform, which is now live and supporting the exchange of active futures block orders. The platform was activated during the June ICE Gilt and Eurex Fixed Income futures rolls, allowing participants to execute complex listed derivatives strategies through an automated and centralised system.
The launch marks a significant step forward in addressing inefficiencies in a market segment that has remained largely manual and opaque. Traditionally, futures block trading has required intensive pre- and post-trade information exchange, with limited access to centralised pricing and independent matching.
“There was some healthy scepticism around whether we’d ever reach this point, but now that we’re live, we’re seeing real engagement,” says InTick’s co-founder & COO, Ben Parker, in conversation with TradingTech Insight. “Blocking is clearly a pain point, particularly in terms of productivity. Our launch has sparked renewed interest from the buy side, many of whom were waiting for a working solution before getting involved.”
The InTick platform offers electronic, all-to-all client matching across equity and fixed income futures via a consolidated order book. It allows participants to publish and match axes across multiple contracts, enhancing visibility and improving access to liquidity.
The development has also drawn positive attention from exchanges. Co-founder & CEO James Goater notes that the company had initially been cautious about the potential operational complexity of scaling across multiple venues: “We were initially concerned that each exchange might require a completely different process, but in fact, most operate in broadly similar ways. That consistency, coupled with strong support from the exchanges themselves, has made it easier for us to scale quickly and efficiently.”
“One interesting effect of our platform is how it can help reconnect liquidity that’s been split by Brexit,” says Parker. “For example, trades that used to happen seamlessly are now divided between agency desks in London and Paris, for example. InTick allows those flows to cross again, helping to rejoin fragmented markets.”
InTick is authorised as an FCA Appointed Representative and operates as a centralised hub for price discovery in listed derivatives block trading. It supports both all-to-all trading and RFQ-based price discovery, enabling fully automated front-to-back workflows.
Importantly, the platform’s automation capabilities have resonated with sell-side participants who face growing operational demands during futures rolls and other high-volume periods.
“This isn’t about replacing sales traders, but rather about removing the low-value, repetitive tasks from their plates,” explains Goater. “We’re giving them space to focus on more complex, high-touch trades, while the platform handles the simpler, standardised flows with speed and efficiency.”
As interest builds across global regions, InTick says its future expansion will be guided by client demand, focusing first on exchanges with the highest volume of block trades.
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