Crypto Veteran Launches $250M Fund to Snap Up Blockchain Startups

Arthur Hayes’ Maelstrom is making a bold move into crypto acquisitions, targeting over $250 million to buy mid-sized blockchain companies.

The family office is focusing on firms that provide trading infrastructure, analytics, and other essential services, aiming to link traditional finance and digital assets more closely.

The fund, called Maelstrom Equity Fund I, plans to invest $40–75 million per deal annually, using special purpose vehicles to back companies that generate consistent revenue. Co-founder Akshat Vaidya emphasizes that the goal is to offer founders “clean, cash-heavy exits” while providing investors – like pension funds and family offices – a more reliable way to deploy capital in crypto than conventional VC options.

This expansion comes as the crypto industry sees a wave of high-value acquisitions following the FTX collapse. Deals like Ripple’s $1.25 billion Hidden Road purchase, Coinbase’s $2.9 billion Deribit acquisition, and Ripple’s $1 billion GTreasury buyout demonstrate growing confidence in the sector.

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Maelstrom, launched publicly in 2023, blends venture capital and private equity approaches, aiming for long-term positions across private and public markets. The firm leverages the expertise of Hayes, Vaidya, and former Haveli Investments manager Adam Schlegel to identify high-conviction opportunities. In parallel, the office continues funding Bitcoin development through grants, reinforcing its commitment to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.