AKJ Group

John D’ Agostino, our new director in AKJt and head of strategy at Coinbase institutional unit, was quoted in The Wall Street Journal, discussing crypto banking. In short – crypto funds were 6X more likely to be denied basic banking functions than non-crypto funds.  While the survey did not speak to reasons why, those of you who are in the asset management business know it is unlikely that banks would refuse such low risk business as subscription/redemption and operating accounts without external influence. This appears to be coming out now due to FOIA requests and banking executive testimonials.   Happy holidays!

In today's Financial Times' PWM, our Chief Strategy Officer, Oskar Åslund, captures the crypto community’s excitement following the US election. "An SEC under new leadership, providing regulatory clarity rather than regulation by enforcement? Serious talk about the US building a strategic BTC reserve? Santa Claus is truly coming early this year." With increasing institutional adoption and advancements in #tokenisation, we’re on the edge of a new chapter in finance. Read the full article in the comments below. #Finance #Crypto

We are happy to share an insightful article written by our very own Oskar Åslund, featured in the Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management. Oskar explores the evolving role of wealth managers in the digital asset landscape. He assesses whether private banks should engage with cryptocurrency through ETFs or dive deeper into direct on-chain asset management, navigating the challenges of this fast-paced industry. 🌐💼 Key insights: -Crypto ETFs, like IBIT from BlackRock, serve as accessible bridges, offering a safe way for wealth managers to dip into crypto. -More sophisticated strategies are offered by crypto hedge funds, for those looking to take a more active approach. -However, through #tokenization, the future of financial assets will be on the blockchain. At some point, wealth managers will need to move on-chain. With global wealth shifting to tech-savvy generations and the blockchain economy rapidly maturing, now is the time to place your bets. 🪙🔑 Link to the full article can be found in the comments section below. #DigitalAssets #Blockchain #CryptoHedgeFunds

AKJ Presents to the Norwegian Tax Authority on Tokenization Last week, Oskar Åslund and Torstein Thinn had the pleasure of returning to Torstein's previous employer, Skatteetaten, for their annual two-day crypto seminar. It was a fantastic opportunity to share AKJ Group's vision for our Hedge- and Crypto fund platform, emphasizing how tokenization of the entire ecosystem is a key driver for our platform's growth going forward. The experience was truly rewarding – seeing how Torstein's old team has grown, catching up with great colleagues in the space, and witnessing firsthand the serious approach the Tax administration is taking towards the world of digital assets. It's clear that the crypto space is evolving rapidly, and it's heartening to see regulatory bodies keeping pace. Large Kudos to Marius Johansen and the rest of the team! Morten Myrstad did an excellent job moderating the seminar, representing the dedicated digital asset news outlet Kaupr. His insights and questions added significant value to the discussions. We were joined by other prominent figures in Norway's crypto scene: - Torbjørn Bull Jenssen from K33 and Arcario shared his visionary and thought-provoking views on the general digital asset space, setting a perfect frame for the day. - Andre H Johnsen from Klein Group AS and aurora3 took us on a fascinating journey through the development of payment channels. From the early days to today's bank and credit situation, and the exciting potential for blockchain in the future. - The dedicated crypto law firm Advokatfirmaet Reese Legal AS, represented by founder Hanne Reese Holm and Njaal Søstumoen, closed the seminar. They delved into the challenges of correctly reporting transactions in the ever-evolving cryptospace, showcasing their solutions developed in close collaboration with Kryptosekken AS. It's inspiring to see how our small but dedicated community is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in digital assets and tokenization. The conversations and connections made during these events are invaluable. What are your thoughts on the future of tokenization? How do you see it reshaping our financial ecosystem beyond simple asset representation? #Tokenization #DigitalAssets #Crypto #BlockchainInnovation #FinTech #Hedgefund #Cryptofund

Oskar and Anders discuss the growing convergence of crypto and traditional finance in today's Financial Times' Banking Risk and Regulation section, pointing to the recent success of bitcoin ETFs as a leading indicator. They emphasize the need for regulators to embrace this new reality, predicting that the adoption of crypto services by traditional banks will only help to expand the long-term potential of the asset class.

We're excited to share that AKJ won the HFM award for Best Hedge Fund Platform this year: our eighth win since 2016, proving yet again the inherent excellence of our team!

In the most recent Financial Times article Anders highlights cryptocurrency's remarkable resilience in the face of recent market turbulence. Despite challenges, he remains optimistic about its enduring appeal to investors, emphasizing its potential as a hedge against inflation and de-dollarization. Enjoy your read!

Neal has authored a piece in Financial Times PWM where he discusses the growing adoption of crypto in the U.S. and the emerging role of Congress to establish guardrails. He also addresses the potential impact of the upcoming presidential election on the evolution of the sector. Enjoy! https://lnkd.in/dH-NtErm

Here is the English version of last week's article featuring Anders in the Norwegian Financial Times: Finansavisen!

Anders is featured in the Norwegian Financial Times: Finansavisen!   In the article, Financial Giants - BlackRock and Fidelity are highlighted for their significant investments in the cryptocurrency market, particularly Bitcoin, through their ETFs. Anders shares his insights on this development. Have a read!