Bitfinex partners with Citadel-backed broker Hidden Road to woo institutional traders

Citadel Securities-backed brokerage firm Hidden Road has partnered with Bitfinex, just two weeks after cutting ties with Bybit.

Bitfinex will now be offering access to crypto for institutional investors who use the services of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage firm backed by Citadel Securities.

In a Jun. 13 press release, the crypto exchange said that through the partnership, Hidden Road’s “extensive institutional investor base” will gain access to Bitfinex’s list of supported crypto. While the terms of the partnership weren’t disclosed, the exchange highlighted that institutional investors will benefit from services such as peer-to-peer financing, over-the-counter markets, and margin trading.

Michael Higgins, Hidden Road’s global head of business development, commented on the partnership, saying the integration with Bitfinex “underscores our efforts to enhance access and choice, and we are happy to offer our counterparties access to this preeminent venue.”

The partnership comes just a few weeks after reports surfaced saying that the London-headquartered brokerage firm had stopped offering its clients access to trading on Bybit, citing a “disagreement” between the two companies over Bybit’s know-your-customer and anti-money laundering procedures.

Founded in 2018 by Marc Asch, Hidden Road provides cross-margining and margin financing across cash, cleared derivatives, and over-the-counter swaps products. The firm also offers prime brokerage services with a focus on crypto.

In 2022, Hidden Road raised $50 million in a Series A funding round led by Castle Island Ventures. Other investors included Citadel Securities, FTX Ventures, Uncorrelated Ventures, Greycroft, XBTO Humla Ventures, Wintermute, and Coinbase Ventures.