IEX Targets Q1 2026 Launch for New Options Exchange Amid Market Complexity

IEX Group is advancing plans to launch a 19th US options exchange by Q1 2026, challenging skepticism about its market value. "We asked ourselves the same question," admitted John Palmer, Head of Options at IEX, during a Trader TV interview. The MOVE responds to mounting inefficiencies in options trading—stale quotes, proliferating strikes, and volatile pricing—which IEX aims to address through proprietary technology.

The firm, founded in 2012, has steadily grown its equities market share to 2.5% since its 2016 exchange launch. Palmer and Ivan Brown, IEX’s Options Business Development lead, confirmed the new platform will leverage existing infrastructure that underpins their equities success. Market makers stand to benefit from enhanced execution protocols designed for today’s fragmented landscape.