Arthur Hayes' Family Office Aims to Raise $250 Million to Support Mid-Sized Crypto Companies

Arthur Hayes ‘Loves Tariffs,’ Says This Is Good for Bitcoin

Key Takeaways

Arthur Hayes’ family office, Maelstrom, is looking to raise $250 million for its first private equity fund focused on established crypto firms.
The fund plans to invest between $40 million to $75 million in each of four to six acquisitions, primarily in profitable off-chain businesses.
Institutional investors like pension funds and family offices will be targeted for commitments, with a goal of closing the fund by September 2026.
The initiative is launched as crypto mergers and acquisitions surge, reaching $10 billion in Q3 2025.
Hayes projects Bitcoin could reach $3.4 million by 2028, driven by Treasury yield policy changes.

Maelstrom, the family office founded by Arthur Hayes, who is also a co-founder of BitMEX, is reportedly seeking to raise at least $250 million for a new private equity fund focused on acquiring established firms within the cryptocurrency space. According to a Bloomberg report, this fund, called the Maelstrom Equity Fund I, aims to invest between $40 million and $75 million in four to six acquisitions.

The fund's investment strategy will primarily focus on profitable “off-chain” companies, like trading infrastructure providers and analytics platforms, rather than token-based projects. This approach is designed to reduce market volatility and regulatory risks, which have been notable concerns in the crypto industry.

Focus on Institutional Investors

The U.S.-registered fund is working towards a first closing by March 2026 and aims for a final close by September 2026. To reach its financial goals, the fund will seek commitments from institutional investors, including pension funds, family offices, and investment funds dedicated to the crypto sector. Akshat Vaidya, a co-founder and managing partner at Maelstrom, will oversee the fund alongside Hayes and new partner Adam Schlegel. Each transaction will likely be structured through a special-purpose vehicle (SPV), with Maelstrom acting as the anchor investor.

This fund's strategy revolves around acquiring companies at favorable valuations, improving their operations and cash flow, and then planning to exit those investments in four to five years.

Rising Crypto Mergers and Acquisitions

The fund's launch coincides with a significant rise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the digital asset sector, which saw total deal volume hit a record $10 billion in the third quarter of 2025, according to Architect Partners. High-profile deals, such as Coinbase's $2.9 billion acquisition of Deribit and Ripple's $1.25 billion purchase of Hidden Road, suggest a revival of confidence in the long-term profitability of the crypto market.

Although the overall fundraising landscape has cooled, Vaidya mentioned to Bloomberg that Maelstrom anticipates strong interest from investors eager to take advantage of the market's recovery and increasing institutional interest.

Arthur Hayes' New Ventures

Having been pardoned earlier this year by President Donald Trump after pleading guilty to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, Arthur Hayes is making a comeback as a notable player in the cryptocurrency investment landscape. He is most recognized for his innovation in perpetual swaps, a derivative product that revolutionized crypto trading, and for being instrumental in the design of Ethena’s synthetic dollar, which ranks among the top stablecoins globally.

With the establishment of the new Maelstrom fund, Hayes aims to extend his impact beyond trading into long-term ownership within crucial infrastructure of the crypto industry.

Bold Predictions for Bitcoin

In addition to his strategic investments, Hayes has made headlines with his bold prediction for Bitcoin, forecasting that the cryptocurrency could reach a staggering $3.4 million by 2028. His prediction is based on potential Treasury yield curve control policies and significant money printing scenarios, which he believes will fundamentally alter the global financial landscape.

🟢 @CryptoHayes predicts $3.4 million Bitcoin by 2028 based on Treasury yield curve control policies and massive money printing scenarios.#Bitcoin #Predictionhttps://t.co/DeV8BsWviO

Hayes argues that this scenario could lead to a "once in a century change" in global monetary architecture.