What is a volatility trader?

Volatility traders are financial professionals who specialize in trading instruments that profit from changes in market volatility rather than the direction of price movements. They often use derivatives like options, futures, or volatility indices to take positions based on their forecasts of how much an asset's price will fluctuate. Their strategies may involve complex mathematical models and risk management techniques to hedge or exploit changing market conditions. Volatility traders are commonly found in investment banks, hedge funds, and proprietary trading firms.