Jignesh Shah: The Visionary Who Revolutionised India’s Financial Markets

A Vision Beyond Conventional Markets

In the mid of 1990, India’s financial market structure needed a complete overhaul. The markets had the potential for  exponential growth, but there was still no  world-class platform that could handle the scale and speed of trading to be able on the world stage. This was the point at which Jignesh Shah realised his transformative vision.

 With this dream in his eyes, in 1995, he founded FTIL, the company that pioneered the word "fintech solutions" before the term gained global traction. Jignesh Shah’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model empowered FTIL to build institutions that connected urban and rural economies, making financial markets accessible to all. Shah’s foresight wasn’t just about creating trading platforms or exchanges; it was about bridging economic divides, empowering farmers, traders, and small businesses, and fostering prosperity at every level.

Recognition on the World Stage

Jignesh Shah’s pioneering work earned him worldwide recognition. He was named among the ‘Top 30 Global Innovators in e-Finance’ by Institutional Investor in 2008 and featured in the ‘Dominant Financial & Futures Industry Leaders’ list by the Futures Industry Association (FIA), Washington.

His success inspired many governments and organisations around the world to collaborate with 63 moons in building their own financial exchanges. Through these partnerships, Shah’s ideas and systems influenced economies far beyond India’s borders.

The Innovator of Modern Financial Markets

Shah is often called the ‘Innovator of Modern Financial Markets’, a title that perfectly captures his impact. His approach went beyond profit-making; it was about empowerment through technology. He created IP-centric access terminals to financial markets and multi-asset exchanges across the globe,  basing them on the formidable foundations of innovation, transparency, and scalability.

These innovations changed how exchanges operated, especially in emerging economies. From commodity trading to other financial derivatives, Shah’s systems helped bring structure, accessibility, and fairness to markets that were once fragmented and opaque.

Empowering People Through Markets

A significant part of Shah’s mission has always been inclusion. He understood that markets can be powerful tools for social and economic development. His projects under the 63 moons focused not just on financial success but also on enabling participation from small traders, rural entrepreneurs, and underserved communities.

By introducing technology and digital systems in trading, Shah helped democratise financial access, making opportunities available to millions who were earlier excluded from the mainstream economy.

A Legacy of Vision and Transformation

The vision and willpower of Jignesh Shah have been truly path-breaking. From his youth of being an entrepreneur with an audacious idea, he has travelled the path of a global citizen who redefined and revitalised India's financial markets glory. He embodies India's essence of modernity: ambition, progressiveness, and purpose. 

Still, his vision guided FTIL, now 63 moons technologies limited, forming platforms for financial inclusion and economic development. What started as a dream to modernise India's markets has become a legacy.He did not build exchanges, but built ecosystems. Jignesh Shah has been an architect of India's market infrastructure, an economic and social innovator who saw opportunity where others saw challenge, and in so doing has made India a leader of global market infrastructure.