Arthur Hayes, Chief Investment Officer

Former: Co-Founder and CEO @ BitMEX

Arthur co-founded BitMEX in 2014, pioneering the cryptocurrency derivatives industry and leading the invention of the perpetual swap — which is now the most widely traded crypto financial product of all time, with volume in the tens of trillions of dollars. As a thought leader in the crypto space and co-founder of a profitable unicorn himself, he enjoys working with up-and-coming founders and advising projects directly. Arthur began his career as an equity derivatives trader for Deutsche Bank and Citigroup. He holds a BS in Economics from UPenn’s Wharton School of Business.

Akshat Vaidya, Head of Investments

Former: Head of Corp Dev @ BitMEX

Akshat led the team responsible for M&A, venture/strategic investments, post-deal integration and capital markets capabilities for BitMEX before departing in 2022 to focus on Maelstrom. He likes to work closely with founders on identifying product-market fit and preparing projects for the next round of investment. Akshat began his investing career executing buyouts and growth-stage investments in US-based middle-market companies. He holds a BS in Economics from UPenn’s Wharton School of Business.

PenguinRoi, Research Advisor

PenguinRoi conducts in-depth, technical research — including on everything from macroeconomic topics to new protocols — that feeds into Maelstrom’s thesis generation. PenguinRoi began his career at a Big Three management consulting firm. He holds a BS in Economics from UPenn’s Wharton School of Business.

Ekoyo Atkins, Public Policy Director

Former: Founder and CEO, Intergenerational Management

 
Ekoyo Atkins is a political strategist, diversity and inclusion enthusiast. For over a decade, Ekoyo has developed pathways and curriculum to ensure equitable access and opportunities for BIPOC youth, HBCU graduates, and marginalized communities within the realm of politics and philanthropy. As the Policy Director for Maelstrom Fund, Ekoyo oversees financial education initiatives. Ekoyo is especially committed to developing curriculum and implementing programming that promotes technology driven financial literacy among the next generation of diverse leaders.