Crypto broker FalconX aquires majority stake in Monarq Asset Management

FalconX has taken a majority stake in the parent company of Monarq Asset Management, a multistrategy crypto hedge fund, marking a significant move into asset management for the digital asset prime broker.

The deal, whose terms were not disclosed, is part of FalconX’s broader strategy to expand beyond its current client base, which includes hedge funds, trading firms, and asset managers, according to Bloomberg reporting. 

FalconX, which offers trading, credit, and custody services, now aims to serve endowments, pensions, and family offices seeking crypto-focused investment solutions.

Monarq, formerly known as MNNC Group, is registered in the Cayman Islands and was launched by the team behind LedgerPrime. 

CEO Shiliang Tang, a former Wall Street volatility trader, stated that the FalconX partnership will help scale Monarq’s quantitative strategies and expand its institutional reach. 

Monarq currently manages several hundred million dollars using delta-neutral and directional strategies across centralized and decentralized platforms.

FalconX’s acquisition push 

This acquisition comes as FalconX accelerates its push into asset management amid anticipated consolidation in the digital assets space. In January, FalconX also acquired derivatives firm Arbelos Markets, co-founded by Tang. The company, valued at $8 billion in 2022, plans further acquisitions over the next year or two.

“We are actively engaged with potential acquisition targets,” said Austin Reid, FalconX’s global head of revenue and business. “We’re expecting a wave of consolidation in digital asset private markets.”

FalconX also recently partnered with Standard Chartered to expand its institutional crypto offerings. 

The partnership integrates banking and foreign exchange services, facilitating faster cross-border settlements and targeting expansion across Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S., while both companies foresee growth in the cryptocurrency market.