Self-custody wallet provider Phantom has made a strategic talent acquisition, hiring the three core creators of Ventuals to accelerate its push into perpetual futures trading on Hyperliquid.
The Ventuals team — Alvin Hsia, Emily Hsia, and Aris Samad — previously built and operated private-company perpetual futures markets within the Hyperliquid ecosystem, including markets tied to OpenAI and Anthropic valuations. Ventuals recently shut down those products and wound down operations, with the team opting to join Phantom’s trading and data divisions.
Phantom CEO Brandon Millman confirmed the hires on June 30, 2026, stating that the move deepens the company’s commitment to Hyperliquid-based trading products. “Open markets have become a major focus for us,” Millman said, adding that Phantom has already become the largest distribution partner in the Hyperliquid ecosystem and plans to go “deep into perps.”
The hire comes as Phantom expands beyond its core wallet services into swaps, staking, and derivatives. With this acquisition, Phantom aims to strengthen its trading infrastructure and onboard more users into Hyperliquid’s decentralized derivatives markets. Millman praised Hyperliquid’s transparent onchain infrastructure and global liquidity, describing it as “one of the best examples anywhere of open markets.”
The perpetual futures market itself is experiencing broader attention. Traditional finance firms like Kalshi have also launched similar products after obtaining regulatory approval, highlighting the growing appetite for always-on derivatives. For Phantom, the addition of the Ventuals team is expected to speed up product development cycles and further integrate the wallet into the Hyperliquid ecosystem.
