The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which require management to make estimates and assumptions regarding measurements including the fair value of trading assets and liabilities, allowance for doubtful accounts, goodwill and intangibles, compensation accruals, capitalized software, income tax, tax receivable agreements, leases, litigation accruals, and other matters that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated on both a basic and diluted basis. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is calculated by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing the net income available for common stockholders by the diluted weighted average shares outstanding for that period. Diluted EPS includes the determinants of the basic EPS and, in addition, reflects the dilutive effect of shares of common stock estimated to be distributed in the future.

The Company grants restricted stock awards ("RSAs") and restricted stock units (“RSUs”), certain of which entitle recipients to receive nonforfeitable dividends during the vesting period on a basis equivalent to the dividends paid to holders of common stock. As a result, the unvested RSAs and participating unvested RSUs meet the definition of a participating security requiring the application of the two-class method. Under the two-class method, earnings available to common shareholders, including both distributed and undistributed earnings, are allocated to each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends declared and participating rights in undistributed earnings, which may cause diluted EPS to be more dilutive than the calculation using the treasury stock method.

The Company conducts securities borrowing and lending activities with external counterparties. In connection with these transactions, the Company receives or posts collateral, which comprises cash and/or securities. In accordance with substantially all of its stock borrow agreements, the Company is permitted to sell or repledge the securities received. Securities borrowed or loaned are recorded based on the amount of cash collateral advanced or received. The initial cash collateral advanced or received generally approximates or is greater than 102% of the fair value of the underlying securities borrowed or loaned. The Company monitors the fair value of securities borrowed and loaned, and delivers or obtains additional collateral as appropriate. Receivables and payables with the same counterparty are not offset in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Interest received or paid by the Company for these transactions is recorded gross on an accrual basis under Interest and dividends income or Interest and dividends expense in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

In a repurchase agreement, securities sold under agreements to repurchase are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at contract value, plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. It is the Company's policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities with a fair value approximately equal to the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. For reverse repurchase agreements, the Company typically requires delivery of collateral with a fair value approximately equal to the carrying value of the relevant assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. To ensure that the fair value of the underlying collateral remains sufficient, the collateral is valued daily with additional collateral obtained or excess collateral returned, as permitted under contractual provisions. The Company does not net securities purchased under agreements to resell transactions with securities sold under agreements to repurchase transactions entered into with the same counterparty.

The Company has entered into bilateral and tri-party term and overnight repurchase and other collateralized financing agreements which bear interest at negotiated rates. The Company receives cash and makes delivery of financial instruments to a custodian who monitors the market value of these instruments on a daily basis. The market value of the instruments delivered must be equal to or in excess of the principal amount loaned under the repurchase agreements plus the agreed upon margin requirement. The custodian may request additional collateral, if appropriate. Interest received or paid by the Company for these transactions is recorded gross on an accrual basis under Interest and dividends income or Interest and dividends expense in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Receivables from and payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations primarily represent amounts due for unsettled trades, open equity in futures transactions, securities failed to deliver or failed to receive, deposits with clearing organizations or exchanges, and balances due from or due to prime brokers in relation to the Company’s trading. Amounts receivable from broker-dealers and clearing organizations may be restricted to the extent that they serve as deposits for securities sold, not yet purchased. The Company presents its balances, including outstanding principal balances on all broker credit facilities, on a net-by-counterparty basis within receivables from and payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations when the criteria for offsetting are met.

In the normal course of business, a significant portion of the Company’s securities transactions, money balances, and security positions are transacted with several third-party brokers. The Company is subject to credit risk to the extent any broker with whom it conducts business is unable to fulfill contractual obligations on its behalf. The Company monitors the financial condition of such brokers to minimize the risk of any losses from these counterparties.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs. The recognition of “block discounts” for large holdings of unrestricted financial instruments where quoted prices are readily and regularly available in an active market is prohibited. The Company categorizes its financial instruments into a three level hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy level assigned to each financial instrument is based on the assessment of the transparency and reliability of the inputs used in the valuation of such financial instruments at the measurement date based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).

The fair value option election allows entities to make an irrevocable election of fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain eligible financial assets and liabilities. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are recorded in other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The decision to elect the fair value option is determined on an instrument by instrument basis, which must be applied to an entire instrument and is irrevocable once elected.

Derivative instruments are used for trading purposes, including economic hedges of trading instruments, are carried at fair value, and include futures, forward contracts, and options. Gains or losses on these derivative instruments are recognized currently within Trading income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Fair values for exchange-traded derivatives, principally futures, are based on quoted market prices. Fair values for over-the-counter derivative instruments, principally forward contracts, are based on the values of the underlying financial instruments within the contract. The underlying instruments are currencies, which are actively traded.

The Company may use derivative instruments for risk management purposes, including cash flow hedges used to manage interest rate risk on long-term borrowings and net investment hedges used to manage foreign exchange risk. The Company has entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements in order to manage interest rate risk associated with its long-term debt obligations. Additionally, the Company may seek to reduce the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on its net investment in certain non-U.S. operations through the use of foreign currency forward contracts. For interest rate swap agreements and foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedges, the Company assesses its risk management objectives and strategy, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item and the risk exposure and how effectiveness is to be assessed prospectively and retrospectively. The effectiveness of the hedge is assessed based on the overall changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps or forward contracts. For instruments that meet the criteria to be considered hedging instruments under ASC 815, any gains or losses, to the extent effective, are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and Other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The ineffective portion, if any, is recorded in Other, net on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Company presents its hedging derivatives balances on a net-by-counterparty basis when the criteria for offsetting are met. Balances associated with hedging derivatives are recorded within Receivables from/Payables to broker-dealers and clearing organizations on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Cash flows associated with such derivative activities are included in cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Property and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation, except for the assets acquired in connection with acquisitions using the purchase accounting method, which were recorded at fair value on the respective date of acquisitions. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of the underlying assets. Routine maintenance, repairs and replacement costs are expensed as incurred and improvements that appreciably extend the useful life of the assets are capitalized. When property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in income. Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. Furniture, fixtures, and equipment are depreciated over three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the term of the lease.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement. Operating leases are included in Operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and Operating lease liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Operating lease ROU assets are assets that represent the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Finance leases consist primarily of leases for technology and equipment and are included in Property, equipment, and capitalized software and Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate, based on the information available at the commencement date of the lease, in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU assets are reduced by lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company's lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for operating leases and amortization of the finance lease ROU asset is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease expense related to the leasing of corporate office space is recorded in Operations and Administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Lease expense related to the leasing of data centers and other technology is recorded in Communication and Data Processing on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Certain of the Company's lease agreements contain fixed lease payments that contain lease and non-lease components; for such leases, the Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. The Company nets its sublease income against corresponding lease expenses within Operations and Administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the underlying net tangible and intangible assets of the Company’s acquisitions. Goodwill is not amortized but is assessed for impairment on an annual basis and between annual assessments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is assessed at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment.

The Company assesses goodwill for impairment on an annual basis on July 1 and on an interim basis when certain events occur or certain circumstances exist. In the impairment assessment as of July 1, 2020, the Company assessed qualitative factors as described in ASC 350-20 for each of its reporting units for any indicators that the fair values of the reporting units were less than their carrying values. No impairment was identified.

Commissions, net, which primarily comprise commissions and commission equivalents earned on institutional client orders, are recorded on a trade date basis. Under a commission management program, the Company allows institutional clients to allocate a portion of their gross commissions to pay for research and other services provided by third parties. As the Company acts as an agent in these transactions, it records such expenses on a net basis within Commissions, net and technology services in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Company provides order management software (“OMS”) and related software products and connectivity services to customers and recognizes license fee revenues and monthly connectivity fees. License fee revenues, generated for the use of the Company’s OMS and other software products, is fixed and recognized at the point in time at which the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. Connectivity revenue is variable in nature, based on the number of live connections, and is recognized over time on a monthly basis using a time-based measure of progress.

Interest income and interest expense are accrued in accordance with contractual rates. Interest income consists of interest earned on collateralized financing arrangements and on cash held by brokers. Interest expense includes interest expense from collateralized transactions, margin and related lines of credit. Dividends on financial instruments owned including those pledged as collateral and financial instruments sold, not yet purchased are recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest is recognized on an accrual basis.

Brokerage, exchange, clearance fees and payments for order flow, net, comprise the costs of executing and clearing trades and are accrued on a trade date basis in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. These costs are net of rebates, which consist of volume discounts, credits or payments received from exchanges or other marketplaces related to the placement and/or removal of liquidity from the order flow in the marketplace. Rebates are recorded on an accrual basis. Payments for order flow represent payments to broker-dealer clients, in the normal course of business, for directing their order flow in U.S. equities to the Company.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of the appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit for each such position that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. Many factors are considered when evaluating and estimating the tax positions and tax benefits. Such estimates involve interpretations of regulations, rulings, case law, etc. and are inherently complex. The Company’s estimates may require periodic adjustments and may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes as resolution of income tax treatments in individual jurisdictions typically would not be known for several years after completion of any fiscal year.

Assets and liabilities of operations having non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated at period-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at weighted average exchange rates for the period. Gains and losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements, net of related tax effects, are reflected in Accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity. The Company's foreign subsidiaries generally use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. The Company also has subsidiaries that utilize a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, primarily comprising its subsidiaries domiciled in Ireland, which utilize the Euro and Pound Sterling as the functional currency, and subsidiaries domiciled in Canada, which utilize the Canadian dollar as the functional currency.

The Company may use derivative instruments for risk management purposes, including cash flow hedges used to manage interest rate risk on long-term borrowings and net investment hedges used to manage foreign exchange risk. For instruments that meet the criteria to be considered hedging instruments under ASC 815, any gains or losses are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and Other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, to the extent they are effective.

Share-based awards issued for compensation in connection with or subsequent to the Company's initial public offering in April 2015 (the “IPO”) and certain reorganization transactions consummated in connection with the IPO (the “Reorganization Transactions”) pursuant to the Virtu Financial, Inc. 2015 Management Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Amended and Restated 2015 Management Incentive Plan”) and pursuant to the Amended and Restated Investment Technology Group, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan, dated as of June 8, 2017 (the “Amended and Restated ITG 2007 Equity Plan”), are in the form of stock options, Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), RSAs and RSUs, as applicable. The fair values of the Class A Common Stock and RSUs are determined based on the volume weighted average price for the three days preceding the grant. With respect to the RSUs, forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The fair value of RSAs is determined based on the closing price as of the grant date. The fair value of share-based awards granted to employees is expensed based on the vesting conditions and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, or, in the case of RSAs subject to performance conditions, from the date that achievement of the performance target becomes probable through the remainder of the vesting period. The Company records as treasury stock shares repurchased from its employees for the purpose of settling tax liabilities incurred upon the issuance of Class A Common Stock, the vesting of RSUs or the exercise of stock options.

A variable interest entity (“VIE”) is an entity that lacks one or more of the following characteristics: (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently and (ii) the equity holders have the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact its economic performance, the obligation to absorb the losses of the entity and the right to receive the residual returns of the entity.

The Company has interests in two joint ventures (“JV”) that build and maintain microwave communication networks in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The Company and its JV partners each pay monthly fees for the use of the microwave communication networks in connection with their respective trading activities, and the JVs may sell excess bandwidth that is not utilized by the JV members to third parties. As of December 31, 2020, the Company held noncontrolling interests of 10% and 50%, respectively, in these JVs.

Fair Value Measurement - In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which modified the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Disclosure requirements were eliminated for the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Disclosure requirements were modified for liquidation of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value, and for measurement uncertainty disclosures. Disclosure requirements were added for changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2020. The updated disclosures are included in Note 12 "Financial Assets and Liabilities".

Consolidation - In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Targeted Improvements to Related Party Guidance for Variable Interest Entities, which modified how VIEs are assessed for consolidation purposes under ASC Topic 810, Consolidation. Under the update, indirect interests held through related parties in common control arrangements should be considered on a proportional basis for determining whether fees paid to decision makers and service providers are variable interests. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2020, and it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments - In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) -Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU amends several aspects of the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including replacing the existing incurred credit loss model and other models with the Current Expected Credit Losses model (“CECL”). Under CECL, the allowance for losses for financial assets that are measured at amortized cost reflects management’s estimate of credit losses over the remaining expected life of the financial assets. Expected credit losses for newly recognized financial assets, as well as changes to expected credit losses during the period, would be recognized in earnings, and adoption of the ASU will generally result in earlier recognition of credit losses. Expected credit losses will be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount, and credit losses will be generally recognized earlier than under previous U.S. GAAP.

The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method of adoption. The ASU impacts only those financial instruments that are carried by the Company at amortized cost such as collateralized financing arrangements (repurchase agreements and securities borrowing/ lending transactions) and receivables from customers, broker-dealers and clearing organizations. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company applied the collateral maintenance practical expedient to its collateralized financing arrangements, including Securities borrowed and Securities purchased under agreements to resell, which are subject to collateral maintenance provisions where the borrower is required to continually adjust the amount of collateral securing the financial asset as a result of changes in the fair value of the collateral. Interest accrued on Securities borrowed is recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. When the fair value of the collateral is less than the amortized cost basis of the financial assets, the Company evaluates whether an allowance for credit losses is necessary for the unsecured amount of the amortized cost basis, limited to the difference between the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date and the amortized cost basis of the financial assets.

Financial assets measured at amortized cost that are not eligible for the collateral maintenance practical expedient consist of commissions and fees receivable due from customers, recorded in Receivables from customers on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, commissions and fees receivable due from broker-dealers and clearing organizations, unsettled trades and securities failed to deliver, recorded in Receivables from broker-dealers and clearing organizations on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, as well as any unsecured amounts for instruments applying the practical expedient. The Company continually monitors collections and payments from its clients and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is based on an estimate of the amount of potential credit losses in existing receivables. The Company determines this allowance based on a review of aging schedules and past due balances, and considers the short-term nature of credit exposure, counterparty credit quality, historical experience and current customer and economic conditions. The provision is recorded as bad debt expense within Operations and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The allowance was immaterial as of December 31, 2020.

Income Taxes - In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The ASU removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The ASU also amends other aspects of the guidance relating to the accounting for franchise taxes, enacted changes in tax laws or rates, the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill, and other tax-related items. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year; early adoption is permitted. Most amendments within the ASU are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. The Company does not expect the new standard to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Reference Rate Reform - In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which is designed to ease the potential burden in accounting for the transition away from LIBOR. The ASU applies to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued and replaced with alternative reference rates as a result of reference rate reform. The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The ASU is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating the impact of the ASU, but does not expect it to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Convertible Instruments - In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The ASU simplifies accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts in an entity's own equity and updates selected EPS guidance. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.