Citadel's $1.7 Billion Profit Reveals How Wall Street Exploits Everyday Americans

Citadel Securities raked in $1.7 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2025, a 70 percent surge from the previous year. Their net trading revenue hit $3.4 billion, up 45 percent, fueled by market volatility tied to new trade policies. These figures cement Citadel’s place as a titan of high-frequency trading, dominating markets with AI-driven algorithms that execute trades in milliseconds. Yet, while these numbers dazzle, they reveal a deeper issue: a financial system increasingly skewed toward the powerful few.

The wealth gap in America grows ever wider. The top 10 percent of households hold 67 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom half scrapes by with just 2.5 percent. Citadel’s massive profits, earned in just three months, highlight how the system rewards those at the top. For the average family, saving for a home or retirement, the market feels more like a casino where the house always wins. How did we let it get this bad?

Market volatility, spurred by tariff shifts and policy changes, has been a goldmine for firms like Citadel. Their ability to capitalize on rapid price swings underscores their unmatched scale and technological edge. But this success comes at a cost. Small investors and everyday Americans navigate a market where giants like Citadel set the rules, leaving the rest of us to pick up the scraps.

Citadel’s influence extends far beyond its profits. Together with firms like JPMorgan Chase, they control over 10 percent of U.S. equity trading volume. Their role as market makers—intermediaries in stock trades—lets them collect $1.19 billion in order flow payments in Q1 2025 alone. This concentration of power funnels wealth upward, sidelining retail investors and smaller firms. The system isn’t built for fairness; it’s designed to enrich the already powerful.

Advocates for equitable markets have sounded the alarm for years. When a few firms hold such sway, they don’t just participate in markets—they dictate their terms. This dynamic undermines the very idea of a free market. Everyday investors, from teachers to small business owners, deserve a system that works for them, not one that prioritizes the profits of a handful of giants.

Some defend this setup, arguing that firms like Citadel provide essential liquidity, keeping markets fluid and efficient. They push for deregulation, citing plans like Project 2025, which seeks to gut agencies like the SEC and CFPB. But this argument falls flat. Less oversight only strengthens firms already exploiting regulatory gaps, widening inequality and risking market stability. The evidence is clear: unchecked power doesn’t foster fairness—it erodes it.

Change is possible, but it starts with bold action. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, supported by 91 percent of voters, has championed efforts to curb exploitative fees that firms like Citadel profit from. Requiring greater transparency in financial institutions’ balance sheets and setting limits on market-making consolidation would level the playing field. Why should a few firms wield such outsized control over our economy? The public deserves better.

History offers a warning. For decades, a small group of financial institutions has tightened its grip on global corporate networks, creating a concentrated core of power. This isn’t just an American issue—it’s a global one. But the U.S. can lead by enforcing robust regulations, from antitrust measures to stronger consumer protections. These steps would safeguard small investors and ensure markets serve the broader public.

Critics of regulation claim it hampers innovation and growth, insisting firms like Citadel drive efficiency. Yet, when efficiency enriches the few while leaving most Americans behind, it’s not progress—it’s exploitation. The notion that deregulation will fix this ignores the harm caused by concentrated wealth. Fair markets require rules that prioritize people over profits.

The economic landscape is challenging. With U.S. 10-year Treasury yields above 4.5 percent and global debt at 256 percent of GDP, families face mounting pressures. Yet firms like Citadel thrive amid the turmoil, profiting off volatility while ordinary Americans struggle. This imbalance cannot stand. We need policies that curb market power and promote equity, ensuring wealth doesn’t just flow to the top.

Advocates for reform are pushing for tangible solutions: stronger oversight, fairer trading rules, and protections against predatory fees. The CFPB’s efforts are a step forward, but broader action is needed to break up market-making monopolies and empower consumers. These changes would create a financial system that works for everyone, not just the elite.

Citadel’s $1.7 billion profit is a stark reminder of what’s at stake. It’s time to demand accountability and build markets that serve the public good. Will we rise to the challenge, or let Wall Street’s titans keep calling the shots? The choice is ours, and the time to act is now.