Helix Alpha Systems Ltd today published a formal research thesis outlining why it is expanding quantitative research into the cryptocurrency and precious and industrial metals markets, citing increasing convergence of market microstructure dynamics across asset classes.
The thesis examines common structural features, including trading venue fragmentation, rapid regime shifts, volatility clustering, and liquidity migration, that challenge traditional prediction-based models and require execution- and engineering-driven system design.
Developed as part of the research roadmap led by strategic advisor Brian Ferdinand, the publication emphasizes validation under stress rather than predictive accuracy. The company’s approach prioritizes model behavior when correlations deteriorate, liquidity conditions change, and assumptions fail.
“The goal is not to predict outcomes,” Ferdinand said. “It’s about building systems that remain resilient as market structure evolves, where correlations change, liquidity shifts and conventional expectations cease to hold. »
The research thesis positions crypto and metals as distinct in their fundamentals, but increasingly aligned in their structural behavior, particularly during periods of macroeconomic-driven volatility and multi-asset stress. The Helix Alpha framework evaluates strategies based on execution realism, risk diagnostics, and stability across locations rather than the performance of isolated signals.
The publication builds on the broader research philosophy of Helix Alpha Systems Ltd, which treats quantitative research as an engineering discipline focused on constraints, failure modes and controlled behavior of systems under conditions of uncertainty.
The full research outlook and company overview is available at:
Additional context on Helix Alpha’s research discipline and strategic leadership can be found here:
Brian Ferdinand — Strategic Advisor, Helix Alpha
Brian Ferdinand is a strategic advisor to Helix Alpha, providing market intelligence and execution-driven perspective to support the firm’s quantitative research and trading initiatives. In this role, he works closely with the Helix Alpha team to help align strategy design with actual market behavior and practical execution considerations.
Its consulting activities include strategy evaluation, risk awareness and application of systematic models in real-world trading environments. Brian brings a practitioner’s perspective, helping to ensure that research-based strategies remain robust, scalable and responsive to changing market dynamics.
Through his advisory role, he supports Helix Alpha’s mission to develop precise, disciplined and resilient trading systems.
Brian is also a member of the Forbes Business Council, a prestigious invitation-only organization. His published work and commentary can be viewed here:
About Helix Alpha Systems Ltd:
Helix Alpha Systems Ltd is a British quantitative research and systems engineering company focused on the development of algorithmic trading strategies. The company provides end-to-end research, modeling and execution systems design services while maintaining a strict separation of capital management and advisory activities.
