Maelstrom, linked to BitMEX’s Arthur Hayes, seeks $250 million for a private equity fund to acquire crypto companies. The fund aims to use $40-75 million per acquisition for up to six companies, with funding expected by September 2026. Focus will be on trading infrastructure and analytics platforms.

Investors in the fund want exposure to the high-cash flow, high-growth crypto sector. Hayes, along with Akshat Vaidya and Adam Schlegel, will run the fund. Hayes, previously facing criminal charges, received a pardon from US President Donald Trump in March.

Private equity interest in crypto companies is rising, with Ripple Labs acquiring GTreasury for $1 billion this year. Ripple’s acquisition strategy also includes a $1.25 billion deal for prime broker Hidden Road. Coinbase agreed to acquire options trading platform Deribit for $2.9 billion in May.

Read more at Cointelegraph: BitMEX Co-founder’s Family Office Seeking $250M for Private Equity Fund