LMAX Group is expanding its institutional footprint with the launch of the omnia exchange, a new venue designed to connect FX markets and digital assets on a single infrastructure.
Summary
LMAX introduces unified multi-asset trading venue
Institutional exchange operator LMAX Group has unveiled Omnia Exchange, a platform built to let clients trade FX, crypto, stablecoins and other digital assets in one place. The company announced the launch on Tuesday, positioning the venue as an institutional-grade multi asset exchange with global reach.
According to LMAX, Omnia provides what it calls a “unified multi-asset infrastructure layer”. The new venue allows users to trade any supported asset directly against any other, with trading available 24/7 and no restrictions on size or type. Moreover, the design is aimed at institutional workflows rather than retail order flow.
Blockchain and traditional settlement rails combined
One of Omnia’s core features is settlement flexibility. Trades can be settled over traditional rails, such as existing banking networks, or through blockchain instant settlement, allowing near-immediate on-chain delivery of assets where supported. However, LMAX emphasized that both routes are intended to meet the standards required by institutional participants.
This hybrid approach seeks to address a long-standing operational gap between fiat FX markets and digital assets. That said, it also responds to demand from clients who want the speed of on-chain transfers while maintaining the controls, reporting and compliance frameworks of established capital markets infrastructure.
LMAX’s institutional crypto footprint
LMAX has become a significant player in institutional crypto trading through its existing LMAX Digital business. The group reported $8.2 trillion in institutional crypto trading volume last year, underscoring the scale of demand from banks, funds and other professional counterparties.
Whereas LMAX Digital operates as an institutional crypto execution venue and custodian focused primarily on crypto-FX pairs, Omnia is designed to go further. A spokesperson said via email that the new platform aims to bring FX, crypto, stablecoins and other digital assets under one roof, enabling any asset to be traded directly against any other, rather than limiting flows to crypto versus fiat pairs.
Cross-asset connectivity and liquidity
The lmax omnia platform is intended to act as an fx crypto integration platform, making it possible to route orders and manage risk across currencies and tokenized instruments from a single venue. Moreover, by concentrating flows in one place, LMAX is targeting deeper cross asset liquidity for institutional clients.
This approach aligns with a broader industry trend, where crypto trading platforms target institutional market participants by offering access to both digital and traditional instruments. However, Omnia’s focus on direct pairings between any supported assets seeks to differentiate it from venues that still segment trading by asset class.
Bridging traditional and digital capital markets
LMAX CEO David Mercer framed the launch in strategic terms, saying Omnia “crosses the rubicon” between traditional markets and digital marketplaces. In a statement, Mercer described the venue as “the foundation for a new paradigm in capital markets” that allows institutions to exchange any asset, at any time and from any location.
“By opening access to wholesale FX and digital asset markets globally, we are removing barriers, reducing friction and unlocking liquidity,” Mercer said. Moreover, he argued that institutions could “exchange value as simply as sending a message,” which he claims will create what he called “hyper-efficient capital.”
Stablecoins and institutional access
A recent deal between LMAX Group and Ripple to integrate Ripple’s RLUSD into the group’s infrastructure highlights the role of stablecoins in this strategy. The partnership signals that stable-value tokens are increasingly viewed as tools for stablecoin institutional access rather than solely for crypto-native activity.
This focus on tokenized cash instruments complements LMAX’s institutional trading crypto business and reflects demand for on-chain settlement options in wholesale markets. However, it also positions Omnia to serve clients that want to move between FX, stablecoins and other digital assets without leaving an institutional framework.
Positioning in the institutional crypto landscape
The launch of the omnia exchange comes as more players race to build infrastructure for institutional crypto trading platform offerings that combine regulated market practices with digital asset technology. LMAX is betting that its history in FX and its existing institutional client base can help it capture a meaningful share of this growing segment.
Overall, by unifying trading and settlement for FX, cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets, LMAX aims to lower operational barriers and deepen liquidity for large market participants, while preserving the controls and standards expected in global capital markets.
