Brett Harrison, the former president of FTX US, has secured $35 million in venture funding for his new startup, Architect Financial Technologies (AX). The funding round, led by Miami International Holdings and Tioga Capital, values the company at approximately $187 million.
The core mission of Architect is to launch a regulated exchange that applies innovative design principles from cryptocurrency markets—specifically the mechanics of perpetual futures contracts—to traditional financial assets like stocks and foreign exchange. Unlike crypto-native platforms, AX will not list contracts linked to digital assets, focusing instead on bringing "crypto-market efficiency to regulated global finance."
The platform aims to offer institutional traders benefits such as 24/7 trading, deeper liquidity, more transparent pricing, and sophisticated perpetual futures products for traditional markets. This move highlights a growing trend of crypto-inspired financial innovation migrating into established asset classes. Coinbase Ventures recently identified real-world-asset perpetuals as a key area of focus for 2026, noting emerging demand for derivatives that offer synthetic exposure to macroeconomic data and commodities.
A significant challenge for Architect will be navigating the heavily regulated landscape of traditional securities and forex markets, overseen by bodies like the SEC and CFTC. Furthermore, the venture, linked to a former FTX executive, must overcome scrutiny and build trust with institutional players following the FTX collapse. The company has not yet announced a specific public launch date, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
