Equilend Named Best Financial Services Firm of the Year (United States): Building a Connected Future for Securities Finance

October 27, 2026

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Equilend has been named Best Financial Services Firm of the Year (United States) in The Strategist – 2026 awards, recognizing a period of accelerated evolution for a company long associated with leadership in securities lending. Under CEO Rich Grossi, Equilend is broadening from a category-defining trading and post-trade presence into a more connected, technology-driven platform designed to serve the full securities finance trade lifecycle—while also expanding into adjacent products, markets, and digital-first workflows.

From securities lending strength to full lifecycle connectivity

Securities finance is increasingly defined by complexity: fragmented workflows, disconnected data, and rising expectations for automation, transparency, and control. Equilend’s strategy under Grossi focuses on addressing that complexity by connecting the components that historically operated independently—trading, post-trade processing, books and records, data and analytics, and digital solutions—on a more unified technology and data foundation.

For market participants, that connectivity matters. When trading decisions, operational processes, and data insights can align more seamlessly, firms are better positioned to improve execution, reduce friction, and adapt to change across asset classes and jurisdictions.

Leadership that balances long-term vision with execution

A distinguishing element of Equilend’s recent momentum is the leadership style driving it. Grossi’s approach is described internally as combining a clear strategic direction with rigorous execution—an orientation shaped by experience across technology, product, finance, operations, and CEO leadership. That breadth has helped Equilend pursue transformation without losing sight of commercial realities, client outcomes, and operational readiness.

Rather than limiting change to incremental feature releases, Equilend has aimed to expand what it can be to the industry: a partner that supports more workflows, more markets, and more use cases, while strengthening the connective tissue—data, automation, and interoperability—that makes scale possible.

Market impact: growth, scale, and industry recognition

The results of that execution show up in both performance and third-party recognition. Equilend’s trading venue has surpassed 40 million trades and $50 trillion in annual notional value, and the company reports growth outpacing the broader industry growth rate. In 2026, Equilend also earned three Securities Finance Times Industry Excellence Awards, winning Trading System of the Year, Americas Data Provider of the Year, and Asian Data Provider of the Year.

For a sector where trust, reliability, and precision are non-negotiable, these milestones signal more than expansion—they reflect sustained operational performance at scale, supported by continued investment in technology and data capabilities.

Platform evolution: trading, post-trade, data, and digital

Equilend’s evolution is anchored in a platform thesis: clients want fewer handoffs, fewer reconciliations, and more consistent insight throughout the trade lifecycle. The company’s direction emphasizes a connected set of capabilities that includes NGT, Spire, 1Source, and growing Data & Analytics offerings.

Key areas Equilend is prioritizing

Lifecycle integration across trading through post-trade and supporting records
Data and analytics to support decision-making and benchmarking across regions
Automation to reduce manual touchpoints and operational risk
AI and machine learning as a forward-looking investment focus for smarter workflows
Digital solutions, including innovation tied to tokenized securities and digital assets

This platform emphasis also aligns with Equilend’s recent rebrand, described as positioning the company as one platform built to connect every corner of the securities finance industry—from trading through post-trade, data, and digital assets.

1Source: a distributed ledger “single source of truth” now live

One example of Equilend’s push toward shared infrastructure is 1Source, described as a distributed ledger single source of truth for the industry. The solution is now live with BNY, Goldman Sachs, and National Bank of Canada, underscoring the market’s appetite for tools that strengthen data consistency and reduce reconciliation burdens between counterparties.

In practical terms, a trusted shared record can support operational efficiency and resiliency—benefits that become increasingly important as firms expand activity across products, regions, and settlement models.

Expanding the opportunity set: repo, new markets, and digital assets

Equilend’s ambitions also extend beyond its traditional securities lending strengths. The company has expanded into additional products and workflows, including repo, and continues innovation efforts tied to tokenized securities and digital assets. Equilend also entered institutional digital asset lending alongside Digital Prime Technologies, reflecting a strategic interest in where securities finance and digital markets may increasingly intersect.

Geographically, Equilend reports expansion into Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Taiwan, reinforcing a strategy built for global market needs—especially important for clients balancing cross-border activity, evolving regulatory expectations, and regional liquidity dynamics.

Growth accelerated through acquisitions, investments, and partnerships

Equilend’s recent trajectory also reflects a deliberate mix of organic innovation and inorganic acceleration. Under Grossi’s leadership, the company acquired Trading Apps to expand front-office automation capabilities and acquired Finadium to extend research, advisory, and consultancy strengths. The stated goal: move faster, broaden expertise, and serve clients more comprehensively across the securities finance ecosystem.

This multi-pronged approach—build, buy, invest, partner—mirrors what many high-performing financial technology leaders adopt when market conditions are shifting and the competitive advantage increasingly depends on speed, integration, and depth of capability.

Culture and credibility: recognition as a Great Place to Work

Transformation at scale requires more than a roadmap; it requires people who can execute it. Equilend was certified a Great Place to Work for 2026–2027 across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and India, signaling investment in culture alongside investment in products and technology.

In a sector where expertise is scarce and change is constant, organizational strength can become a durable differentiator—especially when paired with a clear strategy and the discipline to deliver.

Why The Strategist honors Equilend in 2026

Equilend’s recognition as Best Financial Services Firm of the Year (United States) reflects a combination of scale, innovation, and relevance. The company is not only executing in its core domain, but also building a more connected foundation for how securities finance operates—one that meets today’s demands while preparing for the next generation of market structure, data expectations, and digital workflows.

For executives and operators navigating growth and transformation, the Equilend story offers a practical leadership lesson: successful evolution does not always require reinvention. It often means identifying what already works, connecting it in new ways, investing boldly in where the market is heading, and empowering teams to deliver measurable outcomes.