Leonard Lancia Guides Portofino Technologies Through Ambitious Global Expansion

Portofino Technologies, the Switzerland-based crypto market maker co-founded by Leonard Lancia, is charting a bold growth trajectory heading into 2026 and beyond. In an exclusive conversation, Lancia outlined the firm’s strategic priorities and revealed concrete plans to strengthen its footprint across multiple continents while deepening expertise in its core business segments.

Strategic Vision Across Three Core Business Segments

The market maker is targeting leadership positions in three interconnected domains: electronic market making, over-the-counter (OTC) trading, and token services. This multi-pronged approach reflects a deliberate effort to capture value across different segments of the institutional crypto landscape. The company’s goal is to establish itself as the go-to counterparty for sophisticated players seeking liquidity, execution quality, and specialized market access.

New Leadership Appointments Shape Trading Operations

Recent senior hires underscore Portofino’s commitment to scaling its operations with top-tier talent. The company appointed Dipak Shah as head of OTC trading, based in London. Shah brings substantial Wall Street and Asian market experience, having previously served as head of FX options trading at Japanese investment giant Nomura. Before that, he held positions at major institutions including Goldman Sachs and Citi, giving him deep expertise in institutional client relationships and complex derivatives markets.

“While clients and liquidity provision remain our number one priority, we have made strategic investments in trading and technology talent to build and scale our business,” Shah noted. The firm is recruiting high-caliber professionals across London and planning further trading personnel expansion into Asia and New York, signaling serious commitment to geographic diversification.

Geographic Expansion and Regulatory Advancement

Portofino is actively considering new office locations in both New York and Singapore—two critical hubs for digital asset trading. These moves align with the firm’s objective to be closer to major liquidity pools and institutional client bases across different time zones.

On the regulatory front, the company holds licenses in the U.K., Switzerland, and the British Virgin Islands. It is now pursuing additional authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into effect in late 2024. This proactive compliance posture positions Portofino to serve European institutional clients with full regulatory certainty.

Pedigree and Proven Track Record

Leonard Lancia and co-founder Alex Casimo established Portofino in 2021, leveraging their combined experience from Citadel Securities, one of the world’s most respected market making operations. The firm secured $50 million in equity funding during late 2022, validating investor confidence in its business model. In 2024, Portofino facilitated over $100 billion in trading volume, demonstrating considerable market traction despite recent organizational changes.

The company is rebuilding momentum after experiencing staff departures in the previous year, making its aggressive expansion plans a strategic pivot toward renewed growth. With Leonard Lancia at the helm guiding both vision and execution, Portofino appears well-positioned to execute on its multi-year ambitions in electronic market making, OTC services, and token infrastructure.