A ship sinking by the minute towards the abyss by incompetent management - Quantitative Researcher AKUNA CAPITAL Employee Review

1.0
19 Sept 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

None at the moment after founder took a step back

Cons

Akuna used to be vibrant, competent, hopeful and I really saw a future with some of the most capable and hard working people I've met during the interview process. All those people have left over the years, due to dissatisfaction with compensation, disappointment with senior management, and/or exhaustion from extreme nepotism. The CEO, who is a narrow-minded expert at office politics, focused on firing people with different (but better) opinions and promoting "his guys" who are mostly young and arrogant traders who hasn't seen better. Strategic decisions are lackluster and all efforts are directed internally at a larger slice of the pie despite the pie shrinking significantly in size. While the entire industry is moving towards greater automation and more quantitative approaches, these empowered manual traders who know no math and write no code are making long-term decisions pushing the firm in the opposite direction. Akuna has close to zero senior quantitative talent at the moment after a few of the best minds left this year, and the only such talent remaining is likely only staying due to reasons extraneous to the job itself. More than half of the quants would quit today if they did not have visa/status concerns. You should stay away if you have any career ambitions.

Explore other reviews about AKUNA CAPITAL

5.0
11 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The Training: Still one of the best "Trader 101" programs in the industry. The focus on options theory and market making is rigorous. The People: You’re surrounded by high-IQ quants and devs. Low ego at the junior level. Perks: baristas, great views, and a casual "wear what you want" culture that isn’t just PR.

Cons

Meritocratic (mostly): PnL speaks. If your desk makes money, you’re generally left alone to build. Cons: * Opacity: Bonus calculations and career progression feel like a black box. There’s a noticeable "inner circle" culture at the top. Work-Life Volatility: It’s prop trading, so hours are expected, but the "always-on" expectation for global shifts can be taxing without the commensurate pay bump seen elsewhere.

4.0
4 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong quantitative culture, smart colleagues, and meaningful exposure to options market making and trading problems. The work can be technically interesting and gives researchers ownership over models, signals, and Work-life balance can vary significantly depending on team and market conditions. The environment may feel intense, and communication or mentorship can depend heavily on the specific desk, manager, and business priorities.strategy development.

Cons

Compensation may be below expectations. Project ownership can also be limited depending on the team, with some researchers having less autonomy over direction, prioritization, or long-term strategy development.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All