As market volatility, infrastructure investment and AI adoption converge, trading has become more stressful, and more automated, than ever. New survey data from Tradeweb, demonstrates how e-trading, data and AI are shaping the next generation of traders. Traders Magazine spoke with Troy Dixon, Co-Head of Global Markets, Tradeweb, to discuss the survey data in depth – from the surge in e-trading adoption from 11% to 62% in just five years, to the rise of AI-driven workflows, trader retraining, and the growing divide between “Next-Gen” traders and their peers.
What’s driving the jump from 11% to 62% e-trading adoption in just five years?
Over the last five years, electronic adoption has accelerated across multiple asset classes, driven by a combination of technological innovation and changing trader behavior. New automated trading protocols – including tools such as Tradeweb’s Automated Intelligent Execution (AiEX) tool and the growth of portfolio trading – have fundamentally improved efficiency, scalability, and execution quality.
At the same time, the rise of multi-asset trading strategies has increased the need to link execution across products and manage risk holistically. Electronic markets are particularly well suited to this shift, enabling traders to access liquidity across asset classes, coordinate execution, and respond more effectively to cross-market dynamics.
Furthermore, traders now have access to far more sophisticated pre- and post-trade data and analytics, which has increased confidence in electronic workflows. As an example, in U.S. credit markets, electronic market share was relatively low a decade ago but has risen sharply in recent years as portfolio trading became a core protocol. We’re now seeing a similar pattern repeat in other products, including U.S. Treasuries and swaps.
Ultimately, the shift reflects a broader behavioral change: traders are increasingly prioritizing speed, transparency, and data-driven decision-making – all of which are best supported through electronic markets.
How are firms approaching trader retraining in coding and automation — top-down mandate or trader-led?
What we’re seeing is that retraining is rarely a rigid, top-down mandate. Instead, it’s increasingly a collaborative and trader-led evolution, supported by firms at an organizational level.
In our findings, nearly two thirds of traders cite developing new skills and knowledge as a top priority to remain competitive, and many firms are responding by providing access to training in areas such as data analysis, automation tools, and basic coding. Importantly, this isn’t about turning traders into engineers overnight. It’s about giving them enough fluency to better understand their tools, integrate data more effectively, and collaborate more closely with technologists.
Firms that strike this balance – empowering traders while investing in modern workflows – tend to see stronger adoption and better outcomes than those taking a purely top-down approach
Why do 33% of traders say this is the most stressful period ever — is it the tech change or performance pressure?
It’s a combination of both, but the pace of change is the defining factor. Traders are operating through ongoing market volatility while simultaneously adapting to new technologies, protocols, and data expectations – all at once.
The data shows that technology can play a stabilizing role in this environment. Traders who are more engaged with e-trading and AI tend to report higher job satisfaction, stronger productivity, and better work-life balance, indicating that the right tools help traders manage complexity more effectively. This implies the stress isn’t caused by technology itself, but by the challenge of keeping up without the right tools or support.
In that sense, automation and data-driven workflows act as enablers – supporting better decision-making, improving efficiency, and helping traders turn fast-moving, complex markets into something more manageable rather than more stressful.
Where is AI saving traders 30+ minutes daily, and how are they using that time?
AI is delivering the biggest time savings in pre-trade analytics and workflow automation. By helping traders surface the right data at the right moment – whether that’s liquidity signals, pricing context, or execution insights – AI reduces the need to manually filter and interpret large volumes of raw information. This allows traders to move faster and make more informed decisions, particularly in volatile or complex markets.
Traders with a more positive relationship with AI report stronger business outcomes. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement, they see it as a productivity-enhancing partner that streamlines routine tasks, supports better execution, and helps identify new trading opportunities.
The result isn’t efficiency for its own sake, but a better use of trader expertise – with insight delivered more quickly, decisions made more effectively, and time freed up for higher-value activity.
What specific edge are “Next-Gen” traders gaining over peers in client retention and win rates?
Next-Gen traders stand out because they combine electronification, data reliance, and a positive relationship with AI – and the performance gap is meaningful. They report higher client retention (97% vs. 81%), stronger win rates (90% vs. 81%), and better reputations among clients and peers.
Their edge comes from being able to respond faster, price more consistently, and provide deeper market insight, especially in volatile or complex conditions. By leveraging data and AI as decision-support tools – rather than seeing them as threats – they’re able to focus more on execution quality and client outcomes.
With 55% expecting to be entirely e-trading in five years, what happens to those who don’t adapt?
Traders who don’t adapt risk becoming less competitive and less efficient as markets continue to electronify. Electronic trading isn’t about replacing relationships or judgment – it’s about enhancing them with speed, transparency, and data-driven insight. Traders who remain heavily reliant on manual or voice-only workflows may struggle to keep pace with peers who can access liquidity more efficiently, analyze outcomes more rigorously, and scale their activity.
That said, adaptation doesn’t mean abandoning human expertise. The most successful traders are those who blend technology with experience, using electronic tools to free up time for higher-value decision-making and client engagement.
