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Inference Research

Category: AI in Fintech

An AI-native quantitative trading firm that leverages advanced machine learning models to develop high-frequency and systematic trading strategies across digital assets and traditional financial markets. Inference Research was founded in 2025. The company is led by Luke Li. Based in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Team size: 1-10. Total funding raised: $20.0M. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include ["Avenir Group"].

Founded
2025
Headquarters
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Team size
1-10
Total funding
$20.0M

Value proposition

Bridges the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and digital assets by using AI-native infrastructure to generate alpha, provide liquidity, and manage risk with higher precision than traditional statistical models.

Products and solutions

["AI-Native Quantitative Trading Strategies","Automated Liquidity Provisioning Systems","Cross-Asset Market Making Engines","AI-Driven Risk Management Frameworks","Proprietary Signal Generation Pipeline"]

Unique value

Founded by Luke Li, a co-founder of Amber Group and former Morgan Stanley strat, the firm combines deep crypto-native liquidity expertise with institutional-grade quantitative rigor and a 'ground-up' AI architecture.

Target customer

Institutional investors, digital asset exchanges, liquidity pools, and global financial markets.

Industries served

["Quantitative Finance","Digital Assets / Cryptocurrency","Fintech","Capital Markets"]

Technology advantage

Unlike legacy quant firms that 'bolt on' AI to existing models, Inference Research builds its entire trading stack around AI-native logic, allowing for faster adaptation to volatile market regimes and complex data patterns in the digital asset space.

How they differentiate

Unlike legacy quantitative firms that integrate AI into existing frameworks, Inference Research utilizes a ground-up 'AI-native' architecture designed specifically for the convergence of digital assets and traditional finance (TradFi).

Main competitors

["Amber Group","Wintermute","Jump Crypto"]

Key partnerships

["Avenir Group (Lead Investor and Family Office of Huobi founder Li Lin)","Major Digital Asset Exchanges (for liquidity provisioning)","Institutional Custodians and Prime Brokers"]

Notable customers

["Institutional liquidity pools","Digital asset exchanges"]

Major milestones

["Founded in early 2025 by Luke Li (former Co-founder of Amber Group)","Secured $20M Seed funding led by Avenir Group in February 2025","Established core AI-native quantitative trading infrastructure"]

Growth metrics

Early-stage startup currently in the infrastructure and team-building phase following a $20M capital injection.

Market positioning

Institutional-grade AI-native liquidity provider and quantitative trading specialist.

Geographic focus

Global, with primary operations centered in Hong Kong and a focus on international digital asset markets.

Patents and IP

No registered patents disclosed as of February 2025; relies on proprietary algorithms and trade secrets.

About Luke Li

Luke Li was the Co-founder and Head of Trading at Amber Group, a leading global digital asset platform and crypto unicorn. Prior to Amber Group, he served as a Credit Strat in the Fixed Income Division (FID) at Morgan Stanley.

Official website: