Alexander Gerko, born in Moscow, Russia, on December 3, 1979, is a self-made British billionaire and the brilliant mind behind the quantitative trading powerhouse, XTX Markets. His background is rooted in intense intellectual rigor; he grew up in a middle-class family in Moscow and showed an 'exceptional mathematical talent' from an early age, even aspiring to win a Fields Medal.

Gerko's education was formidable: he holds a Bachelor's, a Master's, and a PhD, all in Mathematics, from Moscow State University. He later secured a Master of Economics from the New Economic School. In 2006, realizing he might not reach 'world-class status' as a pure academic, he made the decisive shift to finance, relocating to London to apply his quantitative skills to the markets. He officially renounced his Russian citizenship in 2022 and is now a British citizen.

Alexander Gerko began his finance career in 2004, trading equities at Deutsche Bank before transitioning to foreign exchange (FX) trading. In 2009, he joined GSA Capital, a quantitative hedge fund, where he built and expanded the currency trading desk. However, his entrepreneurial ambition demanded complete control over profits for reinvestment, leading him to negotiate a spin-off.

In January 2015, Gerko launched XTX Markets, naming it after a mathematical concept used in linear regression. XTX Markets is an algorithmic trading company that uses advanced models to act as an electronic liquidity provider, trading price differences across global venues. The firm rapidly grew into a financial powerhouse, handling almost '$300 billion in daily volume' across equities, currencies, and commodities. This astonishing growth transformed Gerko into one of the wealthiest individuals in the UK, earning him the status of the UK's biggest taxpayer in 2023, contributing an immense £664.5 million to public finances.

Alexander Gerko is one of the UK’s most active philanthropists, channeling his giving toward the development of mathematics, science, and social mobility, reflecting the intellectual foundation of his success. Since 2020, he has committed large sums to education and research, with total donations approaching '$400 million'.

• Axiom Maths ('Mathematics Education for Social Mobility and Excellence'): He founded this charity to provide out-of-class math clubs, aiming to bring the opportunity he had as a child to young people in the UK from under-represented backgrounds.
• AI-Math Research: He recently gave a $10 million gift to initiatives (Lean FRO and Mathlib) focused on applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to formal mathematical research. This strategic giving 'flips the script', funding the fundamental mathematical engines that enable AI.
• Humanitarian Aid: XTX Markets and Gerko contributed at least £20 million to aid Ukraine following the Russian invasion, following his outspoken criticism and renunciation of his Russian citizenship.