The Story of DRW: From Chicago Pit Trading to Global Powerhouse

How Don Wilson turned a small Chicago prop shop into a $10B leader in systematic trading and cryptocurrency.

DRW was founded by Don Wilson in 1992 at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. It started with Eurodollar options trading and grew into a global proprietary trading firm focusing on quantitative modeling, technology, and market analysis.

DRW has offices in Chicago, New York, London, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and beyond. They expanded through strategic acquisitions, including portfolios from Lehman Brothers in 2008 and Chopper Trading in 2015.

DRW entered crypto markets early, spinning out Digital Asset Holdings. Cumberland, its crypto arm, has handled hundreds of millions in digital assets. DRW faced scrutiny from the CFTC in 2013, but the case was dismissed in 2018, confirming its trading practices.

DRW shows the value of combining data, technology, and human insight. It highlights disciplined risk management, strategic growth through acquisitions, and the need to innovate early. Systematic thinking and investment in talent can turn a small operation into a global powerhouse.