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FalconX Acquires 21shares to Strengthen Crypto ETF Business Amid Expanding Market

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FalconX, a leading digital assets trading firm, announced on Wednesday that it will acquire crypto investment manager 21shares for an undisclosed amount, marking a major expansion into the exchange-traded funds (ETF) market as cryptocurrency investment vehicles gain momentum globally.

The acquisition comes just weeks after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cleared the last hurdles for a wave of new spot cryptocurrency ETFs, extending beyond bitcoin and ether to assets like solana and dogecoin.

Founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder, 21shares manages over $11 billion in assets across multiple crypto investment products. The company is known for pioneering exchange-traded products that give traditional investors regulated access to digital assets.

FalconX, which reached an $8 billion valuation in a 2022 funding round, has facilitated more than $2 trillion in trading volume and serves over 2,000 institutional clients worldwide. The firm said it will use 21shares’ ETF experience and brokerage infrastructure to accelerate the development of regulated crypto investment products.

“With the SEC streamlining listing pathways, this sets them up to be both the pit crew and the driver as the market moves beyond only bitcoin and ether wrappers,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors.

Analysts say the deal positions FalconX at the forefront of the next wave of crypto ETFs, which are expected to diversify into multiple tokens as the market matures. However, potential challenges loom, including a possible U.S. government shutdown that could slow ETF approvals, and volatility following renewed U.S.-China trade tensions that recently triggered the crypto sector’s largest selloff ever.

By combining FalconX’s institutional trading reach with 21shares’ ETF management expertise, the merger could create one of the strongest players in the crypto-finance ecosystem, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital asset innovation.

Billionaire-Backed Bitcoin Firm OranjeBTC to List on Brazil’s B3 Exchange

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OranjeBTC, a Brazilian cryptocurrency firm backed by some of the biggest names in global finance and crypto, will begin trading on Brazil’s B3 stock exchange next week, marking a major step in the mainstream adoption of bitcoin-linked companies in Latin America.

The move positions OranjeBTC to directly challenge Méliuz (CASH3.SA), the first Brazilian firm to adopt a bitcoin treasury strategy.

BITCOIN AS CORE TREASURY ASSET

Founded by Guilherme Gomes, OranjeBTC aims to attract domestic investors who might not be able to hold digital assets directly due to regulatory restrictions.
“Certain investors are prohibited from buying bitcoins directly,” Gomes explained. “Through OranjeBTC, they’ll be able to gain exposure to bitcoin via the stock market.”

The company currently holds 3,650 bitcoins in its corporate treasury—worth more than $420 million at current prices—and plans to increase its reserves as it expands.

“Bitcoin will change financial systems as we know them,” Gomes said. “Our main focus is bitcoin at the highest level — building infrastructure, knowledge, and value around it.”

STRATEGIC INVESTORS AND BACKERS

Before its public debut, OranjeBTC attracted investments from high-profile figures and firms, including:

  • Ricardo Salinas, the Mexican billionaire and owner of Banco Azteca,

  • Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of Gemini,

  • FalconX, a leading crypto brokerage, and

  • Adam Back, a pioneering figure in bitcoin mining and CEO of Blockstream.

These heavyweight backers underscore growing institutional confidence in bitcoin-focused companies emerging from Latin America.

A REVERSE IPO STRATEGY

Instead of pursuing a traditional initial public offering, OranjeBTC is using a reverse IPO mechanism — listing its shares through Intergraus, an education-focused subsidiary already traded on B3.

This approach allows OranjeBTC to bypass the lengthy approval process typical of standard IPOs, speeding up its entry into public markets.

BITCOIN EDUCATION AND MARKET ACCESS

Beyond serving as an investment vehicle, OranjeBTC plans to use its education platform to help shareholders and retail investors better understand bitcoin markets and blockchain technology.

The company’s broader mission, according to Gomes, is to make bitcoin investment and knowledge accessible to everyday Brazilians, while building a strong local presence in the country’s fast-growing digital asset ecosystem.

With its debut on B3, OranjeBTC will become one of the few publicly traded companies in the world with bitcoin as its central treasury reserve, signaling a broader institutional shift toward digital assets in emerging markets.