Warsaw Stock Exchange has announced an update to the implementation schedule for the GPW WATS system. The decision follows an analysis of the results of tests and dress rehearsals, as well as consultations with the System Implementation Committee. The WSE Management Board has set the production launch date of the new system for 5 October 2026, while the migration from the UTP system is planned for 3–4 October 2026. The updated schedule reflects an ongoing process aimed at ensuring the stability and security of the capital market infrastructure.
- 3–4 October 2026 – planned migration from the UTP system to GPW WATS
- 5 October 2026 – planned production launch date of the GPW WATS system
- The GPW WATS System Implementation Committee is composed of representatives of Exchange Members, KDPW/KDPW CCP, and the WSE
The decision to update the implementation schedule for the GPW WATS trading system was taken following an analysis of test results and dress rehearsals and in ongoing dialogue with market participants. It reflects a responsible approach to the deployment of new critical infrastructure in the capital market.
Both dress rehearsals were assessed positively and were conducted on a very large scale. In particular, the second rehearsal involved virtually all active market participants, both domestic and international, which made it possible to test the system under conditions closely reflecting real market operations. Hundreds of thousands of test transactions were executed and participants used the environment not only for migration testing but also for extensive functional testing of their own systems.
The coming period will be dedicated to final system validation, optimisation of selected components and further alignment of the migration process with the infrastructure of Exchange Members and post trade systems, in order to ensure the highest possible level of security and stability of the implementation.
GPW indicates that in the case of a trading system of this scale, the implementation date is not superior to the quality of implementation, trading stability and investor safety. Dress rehearsals serve as a tool for verifying the operational and technological readiness of the entire market environment and support data driven decision making.
– Tests are conducted to ensure that decisions on the system launch are based on data rather than schedule pressure. The priority remains to ensure a safe and stable implementation of the new solution. The objective is not rapid deployment at any cost, but deployment that guarantees quality and reliability. In the case of infrastructure critical to the capital market, safety and stability take precedence, while expanding the scope of testing and extending the preparation phase reduces the risk of disruptions after launch - said Sławomir Panasiuk, Vice President of the Management Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Current trading on GPW continues without disruption based on the existing UTP system. The updated GPW WATS implementation schedule does not affect the ongoing functioning of the market.
In the coming weeks, GPW will continue testing and operational work in line with the updated schedule. Market participants will receive detailed information on the next stages of preparations, including the scope of additional validation, planned testing activities and the conditions for transition to the production environment.
Over the past several months, a broad range of preparatory work has been completed, including infrastructure build out, system integration, preparation of documentation and a significant expansion of testing. At the same time, key supporting systems were developed or redesigned, effectively marking a transition from a prototype solution to a system ready for operation in the target market environment. In parallel with completing the functional scope of the trading system itself, intensive work was carried out to adapt and integrate a number of GPW side systems which together form a coherent architecture necessary for handling trading and market data distribution. Activities aimed at reducing technological debt were also undertaken, requiring substantial investment in infrastructure including a new data processing centre.
The GPW WATS project remains a strategic priority for the Exchange and is part of strengthening the technological foundations of the capital market. The implementation of the new trading platform is aligned with the process of building a stable and predictable trading environment that supports the development of services for market participants.
