New Market Trading (NMT), a wealth management firm that claims to be the first to move the investment account itself onto the blockchain, has announced the appointment of Ajdin Kahrović as Chief Technology Officer. The announcement coincides with the firm's public launch, placing Kahrović at the helm of its technical operations from day one.
Kahrović brings over 11 years of engineering leadership experience across fintech, Web3, and decentralized finance (DeFi). He previously architected defi.app, scaling it from inception to over $40 billion in cumulative trading volume, 10,000 daily active users, and a $500 million valuation. During his tenure, he led an eleven-person engineering team and oversaw the development of blockchain architecture, smart contracts, DeFi protocols, backend systems, and cloud infrastructure.
Frank Hepworth, Founder and CEO of New Market Trading, emphasized the importance of the CTO role in a statement: “The CTO seat at New Market Trading carries real weight. Our clients hold their own assets, but the smart contracts the platform introduces need to be secure and audited. Ajdin has already built and scaled this kind of infrastructure at defi.app, past $40 billion in cumulative volume, and he leads engineers as well as he designs architecture. I hired him to own our technology completely. That is why he is here.”
NMT's core value proposition is security. Clients own their investment accounts directly on the blockchain via ERC-4337 smart account technology. The NMT team holds a scoped, delegated permission to execute trading strategies but cannot withdraw or redirect funds. This architecture is not just a feature; it is the foundation of the client relationship. As CTO, Kahrović will lead all engineering efforts, set the technical roadmap, and ensure the security and reliability of the platform as it scales.
Kahrović expressed enthusiasm about his new role: “I’m excited to join Frank and the New Market Trading team as we build a platform that enables onchain wealth to be managed securely, in a truly self-custodial and censorship-resistant way. Our mission is to help investors own the highest-performing, fully managed crypto portfolios, whilst preserving the original benefits of crypto: sovereignty and independence. Exciting times lie ahead, and I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
Kahrović's appointment ensures that as NMT grows, the engineering foundation is designed and maintained by someone who has already carried similar responsibility in production, at volume, and under real market conditions. His technical philosophy aligns with NMT's founding principles: infrastructure that is censorship-resistant, open-source, privacy-preserving, and secure.
New Market Trading offers clients access to over 10,000 onchain assets, yield products, and active strategies that traditional providers cannot match. The account minimum is $100,000. The firm's launch comes amid growing interest in self-custodial solutions, as seen with other platforms like Jito's recent JTX launch and Bitget's dual-track system.
Industry observers note that NMT's approach could appeal to high-net-worth investors seeking both professional management and the security of self-custody. However, the firm faces competition from established players and must navigate regulatory scrutiny. The appointment of a seasoned CTO like Kahrović signals a commitment to technical excellence, which could be a differentiator in a crowded market.
As the platform scales, Kahrović's experience with defi.app will be critical in maintaining performance and security. His track record suggests he is well-equipped to handle the challenges of managing a platform that handles significant trading volume. The firm's focus on security and self-custody aligns with broader trends in the crypto industry, where trust and transparency are paramount.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
