Inference Research

Inference Research is an AI-native quantitative trading firm operating at the intersection of digital assets and traditional finance. The company was founded by Luke Li, who was previously the Co-founder and Head of Trading at Amber Group. In February 2026, Inference Research announced its launch and the anticipated closing of a $20 million seed funding round. The round was led by Avenir Group, an investment group that originated from Mr. Li Lin's family office.

The firm's business model is centered on leveraging sovereign AI infrastructure and institutional trading discipline to address market challenges such as asset pricing and liquidity provision. Inference Research operates across digital assets, traditional markets, and other emerging frontiers. The capital from its seed round is intended to scale its infrastructure, accelerate the development of its proprietary AI systems, and recruit a team of quantitative analysts, engineers, and researchers.

The strategic partnership with Avenir Group, a firm dedicated to integrating traditional finance and digital assets, provides Inference Research with resources to pursue long-term growth and institutional-grade resilience. This collaboration aligns with both firms' mission to bridge the gap between the two financial worlds, fostering resilient infrastructure and institutional adoption.

Keywords: quantitative trading, AI-native, digital assets, traditional finance, quantitative finance, asset pricing, liquidity provision, blockchain markets, institutional trading, sovereign AI, crypto trading, fintech, algorithmic trading, financial technology, capital markets, investment management, high-frequency trading, HFT, market making, digital currency