Caladan, a leading $50 billion cryptocurrency market maker and trading firm based in Singapore, is expanding its operations to the United States by opening a new office in New York City. This strategic move comes as the U.S. regulatory environment becomes more welcoming to digital assets, driven by recent policy shifts under the Trump administration that have eased restrictions and promoted clearer frameworks for crypto innovation.
Caladan plans to allocate at least 5% of its global headcount to its U.S. operations, aiming to bridge the trading infrastructure and liquidity between Asia and the growing institutional crypto market in the U.S. The New York office will serve as a hub for institutional partnerships, regulatory engagement, and the expansion of Caladan's market-making and decentralized finance (DeFi) capabilities.
The firm is actively pursuing broker-dealer registration and FINRA membership to align with regulatory requirements and ensure long-term compliance. To support this push, Caladan has appointed experienced leaders with backgrounds at Coinbase, BlackRock, Cowen Digital, and Bank of America, bringing Wall Street-grade expertise to their crypto-native strategies.
This expansion reflects a broader institutional resurgence in U.S. crypto markets, encouraged by developments such as the reversal of previous enforcement actions, pro-crypto leadership at the SEC, and supportive legislation like the GENIUS Act for stablecoin regulation. By establishing a strong presence in the U.S., Caladan aims to enhance market efficiency, provide improved execution and liquidity solutions, and tap into the increasing demand from U.S.-based institutional investors.
Caladan's move also signifies growing cooperation and integration between Eastern and Western crypto markets, providing clients access to global liquidity and faster, more reliable execution services. Overall, this bold step emphasizes Caladan's long-term commitment to the U.S. as a key growth region amid evolving regulatory clarity.
