FalconX Makes Power Play—Snaps Majority Stake in Monarq Asset Management

Crypto’s institutional land grab heats up as FalconX—the $8B-valued brokerage—tightens its grip on traditional finance. The move signals deeper crypto-traditional fusion—whether Wall Street’s old guard likes it or not.

Monarq’s compliance-heavy hedge fund structure now becomes a Trojan horse for digital assets. Expect more ’surprise’ acquisitions while traditional asset managers still think ’blockchain’ is a Microsoft Excel feature.

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.