Brazilian Crypto Asset Manager Hashdex Pursues US Expansion Following 2 Key Hires

Brazil-based crypto asset manager Hashdex is pursuing a U.S. expansion after hiring a pair of executives to focus on growing its $1 billion footprint.

Former Morgan Stanley executive Matthew Flood will lead business development of its U.S. operations, with startup veteran Jack Song directing communications, the company said Tuesday.

Both positions were created to accelerate the company’s growth in that market, Hashdex said. It will also lean into pre-existing relationships with U.S. investing companies to create crypto products that appeal to more traditional investors.

Before joining Hashdex, which is best known in Brazil for having launched several crypto ETFs, Flood served as a business development executive at Morgan Stanley and previously held positions in the bank’s Wealth Management division, as well as at UBS Asset Management and Mercer Consulting.

Song, the head of corporate communications, will also be chief of staff in the U.S.

Previously, Song specialized in global technology communications and worked with companies such as transportation-focused Lime, Grabango and venture-backed startups, Hashdex said.

In June, Hashdex partnered with U.S.-based asset manager Victory Capital to launch crypto investment products in the U.S. market. Victory Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index Fund, the first product released, was a private fund aimed at accredited investors, Hashdex added.

As head of Hashdex’s business development in the U.S., Flood “will focus on expanding U.S. distribution and fund product access along with Hashdex’s partner, Victory Capital,” the company stated.

In February, Hashdex also teamed up with the Nasdaq stock exchange to create the Nasdaq Crypto Index and launch the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF.

On the Brazilian stock exchange, B3, Hashdex already listed the Nasdaq Hashdex Bitcoin Reference Price Index Fund, a fully bitcoin-based ETF that seeks to neutralize carbon emissions, and an ether-backed ETF. In Brazil, it also launched a bitcoin-backed fund aimed at qualified investors.

Hashdex said it has more than 250,000 investors that use its products globally. In May, the company raised $26 million from Brazilian venture capital firm Valor Capital Group SoftBank, Coinbase Ventures and other local investors.