Welcome to Derivatives Decoded where we explore the cutting-edge world of digital asset derivatives. Each episode features discussions with leading traders, quants, and risk managers about innovative strategies and emerging products in digital asset futures, options, and swaps. We cover topics from advanced trading algorithms to regulatory shifts impacting institutional derivatives trading. Join us for essential insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of digital asset derivatives.
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EP 11 — Why true prime brokerage doesn't exist in crypto without top-five bank balance sheets | Adam Guren (00:39:17)
Adam Guren built Hunting Hill Global Capital from a $10M friends-and-family fund in 2012 to $650M in AUM today, with 90% of risk now in crypto derivatives. Starting as an ETF arbitrage trader at a prop shop in 2005, he spotted GBTC's closed-end fund premium in 2016 and never looked back. As one of the few SEC-registered, New York-based managers trading crypto derivatives since the early days, Adam breaks down the infrastructure gaps that still prevent institutional capital from flowing freely between TradFi and crypto—and why those barriers are finally starting to crack.
Topics Discussed:
Why Bank of New York's custody only supports Bitcoin and Ethereum, creating operational friction for active trading strategies
The missing prime brokerage infrastructure: why true cross-margining and balance sheet don't exist without top-five US banks
Digital asset treasury companies trading at 100%+ premiums: yield generation mechanics that ETFs and brokerages can't replicate
Cash-and-carry trades in perpetuals and futures as the primary yield generation mechanism across market-neutral strategies
Stablecoin yield shifting from illegal to standard practice in twelve months due to regulatory clarity post-election
Asset management consolidation accelerating: reverse solicitation from both crypto natives seeking scale and TradFi entering the space
Running eight-person team across five strategies: two market-neutral alpha, active index long-only, over-collateralized BTC/ETH credit, and strategic venture
The tokenization question: will Deribit and Coinbase overtake traditional exchanges, or will NYSE acquire crypto-native venues
T+0 settlement and 24/7 operations as structural advantages that TradFi infrastructure cannot replicate without years of rebuilding
Operating lean with senior talent through three crypto cycles using TradFi risk management discipline
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EP 10 — $3.5 billion in bitcoin-backed loans with zero liquidations: The institutional underwriting framework (00:55:14)
Two Prime built one of the largest bitcoin-backed lending operations in the US by doing what collapsed lenders didn't: lending exclusively to institutions with provable bitcoin reserves. CEO Alexander Blume and CIO Nathan Cox explain their credit framework that's processed $3.5 billion in loans with zero liquidations across 40 margin calls, how they structured products using derivatives to eliminate margin call requirements entirely, and why their systematic trading strategies generating 8-10% bitcoin-denominated yields became the second pillar of their $2.5 billion business. Their approach reveals what institutional-grade infrastructure actually requires when managing other people's bitcoin.
Topics Discussed:
Credit infrastructure scaling $100M to $1.5B in loan origination within nine months using over-collateralization and institutional-only underwriting
Structured loan products engineered with derivatives overlays to eliminate margin call requirements while maintaining LTV discipline
Institutional borrower selection criteria: public companies with transparent bitcoin holdings versus retail credit risk vectors
Systematic strategy architecture combining CTA-style trend following, mean reversion, and volatility positioning for bitcoin yield generation
Custom OMS/EMS/PMS build requirements for simultaneous execution across 30-40 separately managed accounts with randomized order routing
Why separately managed account structure became product-market fit for public companies avoiding pooled investment vehicle tax events
Digital Asset Treasury categorization framework separating legitimate businesses from desperate pivots based on operational track record
Bitcoin-only collateral thesis rejecting ethereum and altcoins despite demand based on institutional volatility profile analysis
Institutional DeFi barriers that higher yields cannot overcome: custody gaps, AML/KYC requirements, and SOC compliance failures
Deribit liquidity concentration at 87% options flow and why competitive threats haven't materialized despite predictions
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EP 9 — Cross-Asset Prime Brokerage: How Hidden Road Bridges Traditional Finance and Digital Assets (00:56:59)
Institutional traders need infrastructure that works across both traditional and digital asset markets. Michael Higgins explains how Hidden Road built pension fund-backed prime brokerage that processes $15 billion daily across CME futures and crypto venues, proving sophisticated cross-asset infrastructure can serve institutional flow regardless of market type.
With regulatory capital requirements making crypto unviable for traditional banks, Hidden Road created an alternative model that positions counterparty credit risk as an investable asset class for institutional capital. When FTX collapsed, their exchange risk spread protection made clients whole immediately, demonstrating that properly structured institutional infrastructure works in digital assets.
Topics Discussed:
Alternative funding models for institutional digital asset infrastructure
Cross-margining opportunities between traditional and crypto derivatives
Real-time risk management across fragmented institutional trading venues
Evolution of counterparty relationships from unregulated entities to institutional-grade operations
Integration challenges and opportunities between 24/7 digital markets and traditional business-hour settlement
Institutional adoption patterns and infrastructure requirements for sophisticated trading operations
Strategic rationale behind major infrastructure acquisitions in digital asset prime brokerage
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EP 8 — MarketVector's Martin Leinweber on Building the Coin 50 Index for Institutions (00:25:33)
The absence of primary listing exchanges in crypto creates challenges that most institutional players underestimate until they attempt to build derivative products at scale. Director of Digital Asset Research & Strategy Martin Leinweber’s transition from traditional bond portfolio management to crypto indexing at MarketVector gives us unique insights into how institutional infrastructure must evolve to support sophisticated crypto derivatives trading.
His experience developing the Coin 50 index for Coinbase International highlights the complex technical and regulatory considerations required to create settlement-grade pricing data across fragmented crypto markets.
Martin discusses how the technical infrastructure required to maintain real-time index calculations across hundreds of exchanges operating 24/7 presents challenges not found in traditional markets, particularly when exchanges experience outages or flash crashes that can corrupt settlement prices.
Martin and Ash explore how consolidation pressures from traditional finance players entering crypto will compete with the natural decentralization tendencies of DeFi protocols, potentially creating parallel ecosystems with different liquidity profiles and regulatory frameworks. Martin's vision of tokenized traditional assets converging with native crypto assets in decentralized wallets represents a shift in how institutional portfolio management may operate within the next decade.
Topics discussed:
The technical challenges of aggregating reliable pricing data from fragmented crypto exchanges without standardized listing protocols or API specifications.
Exchange vetting methodologies that apply traditional finance risk assessment frameworks to evaluate crypto venues for institutional-grade index construction.
How the Coin 50 index achieves 90% crypto market coverage with just 50 components while maintaining Bitcoin at a 50% weight cap for institutional risk management.
The convergence of centralized exchange consolidation with DeFi protocol proliferation and its implications for future liquidity distribution.
Real-time index calculation infrastructure requirements for 24/7 crypto markets, including outlier detection and exchange outage contingency protocols.
Regulatory framework evolution across jurisdictions and the shift from case-by-case token approvals to quantitative rule-based approaches for crypto basket products.
The integration of tokenized traditional assets with native crypto assets in decentralized wallet environments and its impact on institutional portfolio construction.
Market structure bill implications for US crypto derivatives markets and the potential expansion beyond single-token products to institutional basket strategies.
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EP 7 — Deribit's Luuk Strijers on the Strategy Behind Their Global Expansion (00:37:55)
The institutional crypto derivatives market has quietly evolved into a sophisticated ecosystem demanding infrastructure standards that most platforms simply cannot deliver. Luuk Strijers, CEO of Deribit, has spent six years building the technical and operational foundation that now serves 75-80% of institutional derivatives volume globally. Their recent decision to accept Coinbase's acquisition offer after years of rejecting suitors highlights how the institutional adoption thesis is finally materializing at scale.
Luuk also tells Ash about his journey from Amsterdam capital markets through Singapore Exchange to crypto derivatives leadership, providing unique insight into what traditional institutions actually require from digital asset infrastructure. His explanation of portfolio margining implementation, multi-jurisdictional regulatory strategy, and the operational discipline required to maintain institutional trust offers practical guidance for anyone building in the institutional crypto space.
Topics discussed:
The infrastructure complexity of processing billions of order book updates monthly across thousands of instruments during volatile market conditions and why platform performance remains the primary differentiator for institutional adoption.
Portfolio margining implementation that enables cross-instrument risk offsetting through volatility and price shock modeling, fundamentally changing capital efficiency for institutional options strategies.
The strategic geographic progression from Amsterdam to Panama to Dubai, driven by regulatory clarity requirements rather than tax optimization, and how jurisdictional decisions impact institutional client acquisition.
Why derivatives contracts create "marriage-like" ongoing obligations lasting up to a year, demanding entirely different operational standards, custody solutions, and risk management frameworks compared to spot trading platforms.
The technical architecture evolution from basic exchange infrastructure to dedicated hardware across 15 server racks, including multicast connectivity, AWS integration, and market maker protection systems that automatically manage order flow during extreme volatility.
Custody partnership strategy spanning seven institutional-grade providers, addressing the third-party money management requirements that separate institutional from proprietary trading operations.
The disciplined product focus that sacrificed retail volume opportunities and meme coin listings to maintain derivatives excellence, and why this specialization created unassailable competitive advantages.
Hub-and-spoke regulatory expansion model with Dubai as the central liquidity pool and regional licensing spokes in Europe, Brazil, and Asia, designed to maintain centralized liquidity while meeting local compliance requirements.
The M&A decision framework that led to accepting Coinbase's offer after years of rejections, including balance sheet requirements, regulatory advantages, and product suite completion that enables full institutional ecosystem coverage.
Operational risk management lessons from security incidents and the Three Arrows Capital exposure, demonstrating how institutional platforms must maintain higher operational standards due to long-term contractual obligations rather than transactional relationships.
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EP 6 — Bitwise’s Matthew Hougan on Converting Bitcoin Volatility Into Income Opportunity (00:33:17)
The cryptocurrency landscape has been radically transformed, but Matthew Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, believes markets are still underpricing the implications. In this candid conversation with Ash on Derivatives Decoded, Matthew reflects on how regulatory obstacles previously forced Bitwise to dedicate enormous resources just to basic operations like banking relationships and legal defenses. He shares examples of being unable to open basic banking accounts despite backing from elite VCs like Khosla and General Catalyst, and the extraordinary legal costs that felt like "building ski houses for multiple lawyers."
Now, with these headwinds becoming tailwinds, Matt explains why institutional adoption, derivatives innovation, and on-chain growth are all primed for simultaneous acceleration. He provides a compelling framework for understanding Bitcoin's fundamental value as a service rather than a traditional asset, while pointing out that derivatives open interest hitting all-time highs despite price pullbacks signals where the market is heading next.
The conversation provides an insider's perspective on what major financial advisors are demanding next, why income generation on Bitcoin holdings could become one of crypto's largest markets, and why the real opportunity in tokenized assets isn't bringing traditional assets to TradFi but providing real-world assets to the growing $3 trillion crypto economy.
Topics discussed:
How custody, trading ecosystems, and regulatory frameworks have systematically de-risked crypto investing over seven years, removing existential barriers that limited growth.
Understanding Bitcoin as a service (digital wealth storage without banks) with value driven by growing demand against limited supply, in contrast to alt-coins driven primarily by cash-flow mechanisms.
Why strategies leveraging Bitcoin volatility through derivatives overlays, staking, and lending potentially represent a larger addressable market than the entire Ethereum ecosystem.
Why tokenizing traditional assets for TradFi investors is overhyped, while providing tokenized real-world assets for the $3 trillion crypto economy is an underhyped opportunity.
How derivatives are emerging as the key mechanism for abstracting away platform and counterparty risks that still make institutions uncomfortable with direct crypto exposure.
Why even well-funded startups with elite backers couldn't secure basic banking relationships, and why the current administration's approach represents unprecedented regulatory relief.
Despite record ETF launches, major wealth management platforms and brokerages are still in early approval stages, with approximately 60% of top teams unable to access Bitcoin ETFs.
The progression from beta-based exposure through ETFs to income-focused products, volatility-based exposures like VIX-equivalents, and eventually sophisticated alpha-capture strategies.
Developing products that leverage widely acknowledged features of crypto markets — volatility and inefficiency — into structured investment vehicles suitable for institutional allocators.
EP 5 — MNNC Group’s Shiliang Tang on Why Digital Asset Trading Firms Need Strategic Consolidation (00:36:46)
"Build or buy?” In crypto, that question just got a lot more complicated, explains Shiliang Tang, Advisor to FalconX and Founder & General Partner at MNNC Group, in this episode of Derivatives Decoded. Shiliang tells Ash about his journey building and selling two major trading operations in the volatile digital asset space, bringing a battle-tested perspective on institutional trading few can match.
From his early days in electronic volatility trading at traditional firms to spotting the massive arbitrage opportunities in 2017's crypto markets, Shiliang also shares how he navigated multiple market cycles, built sophisticated voltrading operations during infrastructure gaps, and ultimately positioned Arbelos for a strategic acquisition in an increasingly competitive landscape. His insights on the ongoing consolidation wave, the tightening of alpha in derivatives, and why prime brokerage remains critically underdeveloped provide institutional listeners with actionable intelligence on market structure evolution.
Topics discussed:
Why fragmentation is unsustainable in crypto markets and how the space is following traditional finance's path toward fewer, more comprehensive service providers offering multiple business lines.
How Arbelos Markets identified Falcon X as an ideal acquisition partner based on existing infrastructure, distribution capabilities, and complementary strengths in handling derivatives operations.
A strategic approach to identifying core differentiation areas (pricing models, research, client service) to keep in-house while outsourcing commoditized functions (back office, execution, data collection).
How specialized service providers like Kemet have dramatically reduced the 0-to-1 timeline for launching trading operations compared to 2017-2020, while simultaneously increasing competition.
Why liquid markets now offer better risk-adjusted returns than venture investments, with public tokens trading at valuations comparable to early-stage private funding rounds.
Why true institutional prime brokerage remains elusive in crypto due to credit limitations, with most services now being fully collateralized following 2022's collapses.
How traditional market forces and monetary policy now directly impact crypto markets, suggesting the four-year cycle pattern will fade as institutional participation increases.
Projections for continued market weakness through Q3-Q4 as the administration engineers a "soft recession landing" before potential Fed rate cuts could trigger a strong crypto market recovery.
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EP 4 — Arca’s Jeff Dorman on Why Bank Custody Services Could Transform Digital Assets (00:35:58)
From redefining prime brokerage models to navigating the complexities of T+0 settlement, this episode of Derivatives Decoded features Jeff Dorman, Chief Investment Officer at Arca, delivering an institutional playbook for the future of digital asset market structure. Drawing from his experience as a credit trader during the 2008 financial crisis, Jeff gives Ash a compelling analysis of why traditional prime brokerage and risk management frameworks need fundamental rethinking for digital assets, not just adaptation.
His firm's survival through multiple market cycles while managing over $500M in assets demonstrates the value of rigorous counterparty risk management and fundamental analysis in an industry that has seen numerous institutional failures. As one of the few firms applying traditional valuation frameworks to digital assets, Arca's approach to categorizing and analyzing digital assets offers unique insights for institutional investors navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
Topics discussed:
Advanced analysis of why T+0 settlement fundamentally breaks traditional prime brokerage models, requiring institutions to completely rethink capital efficiency and counterparty risk management rather than simply adapting existing frameworks.
Detailed examination of the infrastructure gap in digital asset markets: while deceptively similar to traditional finance on the surface, key differences in settlement, custody, and collateral management create unique challenges for institutional capital deployment.
Quantitative analysis of DEX market share growth (1% to 15-20%) coupled with a sophisticated examination of why institutional capital remains sidelined despite clear technological advantages.
Framework for institutional valuation of digital assets through multi-factor analysis: quantifiable financial value, measurable utility value, and correlative social value.
Comparative analysis of execution venue selection, examining how capital efficiency and collateral management requirements drive institutional traders to optimize across IBIT options, Deribit, and other venues based on specific portfolio constraints.
Technical examination of operational infrastructure evolution, from basic portfolio tracking to institutional-grade systems, highlighting remaining gaps in cross-venue position management and risk analytics.
Detailed analysis of how the SAB 121 repeal and potential bank custody services could reshape institutional market structure, with specific focus on implications for trading operations and risk management.
EP 3 — Galaxy Digital’s Jason Urban on Building Trust and Infrastructure in Digital Asset Derivatives (00:32:44)
In this episode of Derivatives Decoded, Ash speaks with Jason Urban, Global Head of Trading at Galaxy Digital, who brings his expansive insights on the evolving landscape of crypto trading and the burgeoning options market.
He discusses the importance of regulation in fostering a secure environment for digital assets, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines that encourage innovation. Jason also highlights the role of institutional interest in driving growth within the sector and the significance of building trust through robust infrastructure.
Topics discussed:
The impact of regulatory changes on the crypto industry and how they can foster innovation while ensuring security for investors and institutions alike.
The growing importance of options trading in the crypto market and its potential to attract new institutional investments into the digital asset ecosystem.
The role of trust in the crypto space and how Galaxy Digital aims to build strong relationships with clients through transparent practices.
The significance of infrastructure in supporting digital asset trading and how Galaxy Digital is developing solutions to enhance trading experiences.
Insights into the competitive landscape of crypto trading and how Galaxy Digital differentiates itself from other players in the market.
The challenges of cross-margining in digital assets and how Galaxy Digital is working to implement effective solutions for institutional clients.
The importance of collaboration between regulators and industry players to create a balanced framework that supports innovation while protecting investors.
EP 2 — Abra’s Robert Wallden on Cross-Margining Strategies for Enhanced Capital Efficiency (00:36:25)
In this episode of Derivatives Decoded, Ash speaks with Robert Wallden, Head of Trading at Abra. Robert shares his insights on the dynamic world of crypto trading and derivatives, discussing the critical importance of navigating market sentiment and how traders can adapt quickly to volatility.
Robert also explores cross-margining strategies, highlighting their role in optimizing capital efficiency across various trading strategies. Robert emphasizes the necessity of building internal tools to manage risks effectively in the digital asset ecosystem. Additionally, he describes how traditional trading principles are being reimagined for the crypto landscape and what it means for the future of trading.
Topics discussed:
The importance of navigating market sentiment and quickly adapting trading strategies in response to volatility within the crypto landscape.
How cross-margining strategies can optimize capital efficiency across various trading portfolios, enhancing overall performance in both crypto and traditional finance.
The role of internal tools in managing risks effectively, allowing traders to gain better insights and control over their trading operations.
The evolution of trading practices from traditional finance to the digital asset ecosystem, highlighting key differences and similarities.
The significance of building strong relationships with clients and understanding their needs to provide effective trading and liquidity solutions.
The challenges of raising capital as a first-time founder and the strategies employed to navigate early-stage funding conversations.
How the integration of technology and data analytics is transforming trading strategies and decision-making processes in the crypto market.
The impact of regulatory clarity on institutional participation in the crypto space and how it shapes market dynamics.The necessity of continuous learning and adaptation in the fast-paced world of crypto trading, emphasizing the importance of staying informed about market trends.
EP 1 — Arbelos Markets’ Josh Lim on Risk Management Strategies in the Crypto Market (00:46:19)
In our very first episode of Derivatives Decoded, our host, Founder & CEO of Kemet Trading, Ash Ashmawy, speaks with Josh Lim, Co-founder of Arbelos Markets. Josh shares his insights on the dynamic world of digital assets and the challenges faced by participants in the crypto market. He emphasizes the importance of effective risk management strategies to navigate volatility and ensure sustainable growth.
Josh also discusses the critical role of building trust within the industry, highlighting how collaboration among service providers can foster innovation and attract institutional participants. With his extensive experience, Josh provides valuable perspectives on the future of digital assets and the evolving landscape of finance.
Topics discussed:
How the crypto market is changing, including emerging trends and the increasing interest from institutional investors.
The unique hurdles faced by both newcomers and seasoned players in the rapidly changing crypto environment.
The necessity of implementing effective risk management strategies to navigate the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market.
How trust is essential for fostering relationships and encouraging participation among institutional investors in digital assets.
The significance of collaboration within the industry to create innovative solutions that address common challenges faced by participants.
The competitive nature of the crypto market and how participants can differentiate themselves to gain an edge.
The differences between retail and institutional investors, and how their approaches to the market vary.
The potential for increased institutional engagement in the crypto space and what that means for the industry’s growth.
The role of technology in enhancing market access and efficiency, which is crucial for participants in the digital asset space.
Unique strategies that can help participants effectively navigate the complexities of the crypto market.
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