The Boston-based firm is bidding to open up the secretive Wall Street-based world of algorithmic trading to the wider public.

Its platform provides free tools, market data and back-testing to help users code their own trading algorithms and run simulations to see how they would perform.

Members retain full ownership of their intellectual property and also have access to a community section where they can discuss concepts, challenges and execution with peers and experts.

Currently, members cannot use the algorithms they develop in the real world but Quantopian says it is building to the introduction of live trading later this year.

John Fawcett, founder and CEO, Quantopian, says: "At Quantopian, our goal is to dispel that secrecy and grow the quant community by a thousand fold. We welcome talented people from around the world into our community by providing access to the data, infrastructure and mentorship necessary to participate."