AFTAs 2025: Best trading infrastructure initiative—Connamara Technologies

Overview

EP3 from Connamara Technologies is an integrated, end-to-end exchange infrastructure solution designed to allow new exchanges for crypto, predictions, sports and energy to launch quickly and cost-effectively. It includes all critical operational components—trade matching, clearing, settlement, market surveillance, reporting, risk management, administration and market access—within a single, scalable, high-performance application. EP3 is cloud-native, modular, and asset-agnostic, designed to support a wide range of asset classes and trading mechanisms.

Premise  

EP3 was originally conceived and incubated at Connamara Systems, founded in 1998, but was officially launched as part of a spinoff in 2022. EP3 represents the accumulated knowledge and experience from successful deliveries to new exchanges and marketplaces since 2008. Exchange operators rely on the firm’s legacy of proven exchange technology when choosing an exchange platform and matching engine offering flexibility and reliability.

Measurables  

Since 2022, EP3 has been licensed by 11 exchanges and clearinghouses around the globe. Customers include:

• ForecastEx (IBKR-owned US-regulated predictions exchange and clearinghouse)
• BEE4 (Brazilian-regulated tokenized SME exchange)
• ZeroHash (crypto and stablecoin transfers)
• Railbird Exchange (US-regulated sports predictions exchange)
• ElectronX (US-regulated energy derivatives exchange and clearinghouse)
• Figure (decentralized marketplace for tokenized assets)
• ArchitectX (perpetual futures exchange applicant)

Product roadmap

The breadth and speed of innovation in the capital markets over the past five years is unprecedented. Until recently, crypto, tokenized assets, event contracts and other new asset classes were not considered investable or tradable assets in the same way that stocks, bonds and futures are. But these new assets have now earned a seat at the table and new exchanges exclusively focused on these new assets are growing appreciably. As an exchange technology provider to these venues, EP3’s challenge is to provide a competitive advantage to these new players with faster performance, solid reliability around the clock and exceptional security. Importantly, increased regulation of these nascent markets will require enhanced functionality to meet a host of recent compliance and regulatory standards. EP3’s product roadmap for 2025 and beyond is specifically designed to address all of these needs.

Why they won

Connamara Technologies wins the category for the best trading infrastructure initiative in this year’s AFTAs thanks to its outstanding EP3 exchange infrastructure offering designed to allow a variety of new exchanges to launch quickly and cost-effectively. The platform—featuring trade matching, clearing, settlement, market surveillance, reporting, risk management, administration and market access—provides user-firms with an integrated infrastructure that removes the operational and financial barriers that often prevent new exchanges from launching. EP3 is designed specifically to help new operators enter the market and scale quickly as their trade volumes grow thanks to its ability to support all the above-mentioned functions, while end-users gain access to emerging asset classes on venues built with tried-and-tested technology and safeguards. EP3’s cloud-native and asset-agnostic design ensures that exchanges can adapt to evolving trading models while maintaining stability and security around the clock. The firm’s track record across global predictions, crypto, tokenization and energy markets shows how the solution supports credible, well-regulated venues, ultimately improving market quality and expanding investment opportunities for all market participants regardless of their location.

Maureen Downs, co-founder and chair of Connamara Technologies, won the trailblazer (lifetime achievement) award (vendor) category in the 2025 Women in Technology & Data Awards. Click here to view an interview with Maureen.