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 is responsible for thesis generation, transaction execution and portfolio management for Maelstrom’s venture portfolio. He previously led the M&A team at BitMEX before departing in 2022 to cofound Maelstrom. Akshat works closely with founders on identifying product-market fit and preparing projects for the next round of investment. He began his investing career executing buyouts and growth-stage investments in US-based middle-market companies. Akshat holds a BS in Economics from UPenn’s Wharton School of Business.
Nick Andrianov, Head Trader
Former: Head Trader @ BitMEX
Nick is responsible for hedging and trading liquid positions for Maelstrom. Previously, he led the team at BitMEX responsible for managing and generating returns on firm inventory, as well as advising on the company’s strategic direction. Nick began his career trading equity derivatives and structured products for Deutsche Bank. He holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.
Kushagra Aryal, Venture Capital Analyst
Kushagra is responsible for supporting the full life cycle of research, diligence and transaction execution for Maelstrom. Previously, he interned as a Product Manager at PayPal, focused on B2B enterprise payments and e-commerce. In addition, he has interned in investing capacities at ArkStream Capital, Big Brain Holdings, and Evernew Capital and served on the Boards of Directors of Penn Blockchain and FranklinDAO. Kushagra 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
As Public Policy Director, Ekoyo oversees Maelstrom’s financial education initiatives. She is currently focused on implementing programming that promotes technology-driven financial literacy among the next generation of diverse leaders. Ekoyo brings a decade of experience developing pathways and curricula to ensure equitable access and opportunities for BIPOC youth, HBCU graduates, and marginalized communities within the realm of politics and philanthropy. She holds a BA from Hampton University and an MA from The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.