Bitcoin

Arthur Hayes’ Maelstrom Targets $250M for Debut Private Equity Fund in Crypto Sector

Published

1 month ago

October 17, 2025

In a bold move amid the resurgent cryptocurrency market, Arthur Hayes’ family office, Maelstrom, is seeking to raise $250 million for its inaugural private equity fund focused on acquiring small to medium-sized crypto companies. This development signals growing investor confidence in blockchain infrastructure as the industry matures beyond its volatile early stages.

Fund Details and Strategy

The new vehicle, dubbed Maelstrom Equity Fund I, plans to deploy between $40 million and $75 million per acquisition, targeting four to six profitable firms in the crypto space. The fund will prioritize cash-generating companies in areas such as trading platforms, infrastructure providers, and data analytics services. This acquisition strategy aims to consolidate and scale mid-tier players, potentially fostering innovation and stability in the ecosystem.

Maelstrom’s approach comes at a time when the crypto market is experiencing a revival, with Bitcoin and other digital assets posting significant gains in 2025. By focusing on established, revenue-positive businesses rather than early-stage ventures, the fund seeks to mitigate risks associated with the sector’s inherent volatility.

Background on Arthur Hayes and Maelstrom

Arthur Hayes, the co-founder and former CEO of BitMEX—one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency derivatives exchanges—has been a prominent figure in the crypto world since stepping down in 2020. His family office, Maelstrom, has already made waves with venture investments in various blockchain projects. This shift to private equity represents an evolution in Hayes’ investment playbook, moving from seed funding to buyouts of more mature entities.

Hayes’ track record includes navigating regulatory challenges and market cycles, positioning Maelstrom as a savvy player in the space. The fund’s emphasis on acquisitions could help smaller crypto firms access capital and expertise, accelerating their growth in a competitive landscape.

Market Implications

This fundraising effort underscores a broader trend of institutional interest in crypto infrastructure. As traditional finance increasingly intersects with blockchain, funds like Maelstrom’s could drive consolidation, leading to fewer but stronger players in areas like analytics and trading services. Analysts suggest that successful acquisitions might yield high returns, especially if the acquired firms benefit from synergies within Maelstrom’s portfolio.

While details on limited partners and timelines remain sparse, the $250 million target reflects ambitious goals. If fully raised, it could mark one of the larger private equity plays in crypto this year, potentially inspiring similar funds from other industry veterans.

As the crypto sector continues to evolve, initiatives like Maelstrom Equity Fund I highlight the transition from speculative trading to building sustainable businesses. Investors and entrepreneurs alike will be watching closely to see how this fund shapes the future of digital assets.

Disclaimer

The content on CoinReporter.io is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and risky. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. CoinReporter.io and its authors are not liable for any losses resulting from actions based on this website’s content.

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Bitcoin

Philippines Solidifies Status as Asia’s Leading Crypto Powerhouse

Published

6 minutes ago

November 18, 2025

Coin Reporter Correspondent

The Philippines has quietly become the most crypto-native nation in Asia.

While Singapore and Hong Kong compete for institutional headlines, and Thailand courts blockchain tourists, the Philippines has built the deepest grassroots adoption on the continent, with over 18 million active crypto users in a population of 115 million, a penetration rate that now surpasses even South Korea.

Real-World Use Cases Drive Mass Adoption

Two engines power the surge:

Remittances
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sent home nearly $40 billion in 2024. An increasing share now arrives instantly and at near-zero cost via stablecoins on platforms like PDAX, Coins.ph, and global players such as Binance and Maya. GCash, the country’s super-app with 90 million registered users, began rolling out direct crypto top-up and cash-out features nationwide in Q3 2025.
Play-to-Earn & Gaming Economies
The Axie Infinity boom of 2021 was only the beginning. Today, thousands of local and foreign-developed web3 games continue to pay out millions of dollars monthly to Filipino players. Entire communities in provinces like Cavite and Cebu have built sustainable income streams from gaming guilds and scholarship programs.

Institutions Follow the People

Traditional finance is no longer watching from the sidelines:

UnionBank became the first universal bank in Southeast Asia to offer direct crypto trading and custody to retail clients through its app
BPI and Metrobank now allow instant fiat on-ramps to licensed exchanges
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued 18 Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licences, more than any other ASEAN country, while maintaining one of the most pragmatic regulatory frameworks in the region

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. stated earlier this year: “We regulate to protect, not to block. Crypto is already part of the Filipino financial reality.”

A Blueprint for Emerging Markets

The Philippines model, high retail adoption first, followed by progressive regulation and rapid institutional integration, is now being studied by regulators in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Nigeria.

Local exchanges report that average user holdings have matured from speculative altcoins to stablecoins and Bitcoin, with monthly trading volumes regularly exceeding $4 billion across licensed platforms.

Industry leaders point to one statistic as proof of irreversible momentum: over 40% of GCash users have now transacted with crypto features at least once, a level of mainstream penetration that most developed markets can only dream of.

From remittance corridors to rural gaming guilds, the Philippines didn’t wait for permission to embrace digital assets. Instead, it forced the system to adapt, and in doing so has built what many now call the most vibrant, organic crypto economy in Asia.

The message to the rest of Southeast Asia is clear: when adoption leads, everything else follows.

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