Thomas Uhm is a finance professional with extensive experience in institutional sales and trading across various asset classes. After a 22-year career at the quantitative trading firm Jane Street, where he was a key figure in developing its cryptocurrency operations, he transitioned to the digital asset sector full-time in 2025 to become the Chief Commercial Officer of the Jito Foundation. ^{[1] [2]}

Education

Uhm attended the University of Illinois, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. ^{[2] [3]}

Career

Uhm began his finance career in 2003 when he joined Jane Street, a proprietary trading firm known for its quantitative approach. His initial role focused on trading American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). In 2006, he relocated to the firm's London office, expanding his international experience. Over his 22-year tenure, his responsibilities grew to encompass a wide range of asset classes, including equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and commodities. A significant part of his role involved serving as a liaison between the firm's trading desks and its institutional clients, where he was responsible for coordinating strategy, infrastructure, education, and execution.

In 2017, Uhm became a central figure in the development of Jane Street's cryptocurrency trading operations. As a member of the Global Crypto Institutional Sales & Trading team, he focused on building efficient markets and supporting both crypto-native firms and traditional financial institutions as they began to navigate the digital asset landscape. However, in 2023, Jane Street significantly reduced its involvement in the crypto sector, a decision Uhm attributed to regulatory challenges in the United States. Following this strategic shift, he briefly worked with exotic options within the firm. He has stated that this experience solidified his conviction that his professional passion was in the crypto industry.

In 2025, Uhm left Jane Street to join the Jito Foundation as its Chief Commercial Officer. The Jito Foundation supports the development of the Jito Network, a liquid staking protocol on the Solana blockchain. In his role, Uhm focuses on initiatives related to strategy, infrastructure development, and ecosystem engagement. He has said he was drawn to the organization after a survey highlighted Jito's strong reputation and popularity among Solana founders, aligning with his interest in contributing to projects that enhance market performance and provide user-focused solutions. ^{[2] [3] [7]}

Interviews

Journey into Crypto

On the Lightspeed podcast in May 2025, host Jack Cuban interviewed Uhm, who transitioned from being a leading figure in digital assets at Jane Street to the new Chief Commercial Officer at Jito. Uhm discussed his journey into the crypto world, including a period of re-education during which he listened to various podcasts to catch up on developments in the space. He detailed how he became interested in Jito after discovering a survey highlighting its appeal among Solana founders. Throughout the conversation, Uhm analyzed the different factors influencing institutional interest in crypto, particularly regarding the unique challenges posed by decentralization and the regulatory environment. He also examined Jito's potential impact on institutional investments within the Solana ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of addressing the specific needs of various institutional constituents to integrate cryptocurrency into traditional finance better. ^[5]

Fireside with Sullivan

At the Accelerate 2025 event in May, Uhm and Colleen Sullivan engaged in a fireside chat discussing Uhm's transition from Jane Street, where he worked for 22 years, to Jito as chief commercial officer. During his time at Jane Street, Uhm played a significant role in developing the firm’s cryptocurrency operations, which the company ultimately reduced its involvement in due to regulatory challenges in 2023. After briefly working in exotic options, Uhm realized his passion for crypto and chose to join Jito, drawn by its mission to enhance market performance and user-favored solutions. The discussion also touched on the evolving landscape of institutional involvement in cryptocurrency, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and infrastructure to facilitate efficient trading. Ultimately, it was stated that deeper markets would assist institutions in their investment strategies. Uhm concluded with humorous reflections on his new role reminiscent of a Robert De Niro film. ^[4]

FTX Podcast

In an archived episode of the FTX Podcast uploaded in May 2025, Uhm shared insights about his unusual career trajectory. Initially aspiring to be an actor, Uhm eventually transitioned into finance, largely due to unforeseen circumstances, and ultimately joined Jane Street in 2003 as it was gaining momentum. He described the firm’s unique employee-driven culture, which encouraged open communication and intellectual curiosity. Uhm also discussed the evolution of Jane Street, detailing its expansion into various asset classes, including cryptocurrency, starting in 2017. He emphasized the importance of building efficient markets and the firm’s focus on supporting institutional players in navigating the crypto landscape, particularly as institutional interest in crypto assets continues to grow. Throughout the conversation, Uhm highlighted the significance of intellectual humility and adaptability in both trading and personal career development. ^[3]