In a landmark move that reflects Wall Street’s deepening interest in digital assets, Cantor Fitzgerald, one of the most prominent names in global finance, has announced the launch of a new $3 billion investment firm focused exclusively on Bitcoin and digital asset infrastructure. Spearheaded by Brandon Lutnick, Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, the venture is called 21 Capital and marks a significant alignment of institutional capital with the fast-evolving world of decentralized finance.
The initiative is being backed by a powerhouse consortium that includes Tether, SoftBank, and Bitfinex, creating one of the most ambitious institutional crypto plays to date.
What Is 21 Capital?
21 Capital is a newly established digital asset investment platform created to bridge traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). Inspired and named after Bitcoin’s finite supply cap of 21 million coins, the firm will not only acquire large holdings of Bitcoin, but also develop institutional-grade investment products across the crypto landscape. Its key focus areas are to include-
- Direct Bitcoin acquisitions
- Tokenized financial products
- Secure custody solutions
- Structured digital asset investment vehicles
Unlike venture capital funds or speculative trading platforms, 21 Capital is designed as a Bitcoin infrastructure vehicle—offering long-term strategic exposure tailored to institutional investors, wealth funds, and asset managers.
Who’s Funding It ?
The total capital commitment of $3 billion represents one of the largest coordinated investments into Bitcoin by an institutional alliance. The funding structure is as follows:
| Investor | Amount | Role |
| Tether | $1.5 billion | Stablecoin issuer, providing liquidity and crypto-native exposure |
| SoftBank | $900 million | Global tech investor with a strong blockchain/AI focus |
| Bitfinex | $600 million | Major crypto exchange, bringing infrastructure and trading access |
This collaboration signals a convergence of traditional finance, digital liquidity providers, and crypto-native platforms, a triad that could change the game on about how institutional players interact with Bitcoin.
Why does it matter?
1. Mainstream Legitimacy
Cantor Fitzgerald’s move into Bitcoin sends a powerful signal to the market. As a legacy firm with more than 75 years in financial services, its entry into digital assets, alongside SoftBank and Tether, marks a decisive moment in mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies signalling a new era of crypto legitimacy.
2. Institutional On-Ramps
21 Capital’s goal is to provide regulated, secure, and compliant pathways for institutions to gain exposure to Bitcoin. This has been something institutional investors have long craved. It will includes the development of:
- Bitcoin-backed yield products
- Regulated fund structures
- Sovereign-grade digital custody solutions
3. Bridging TradFi and DeFi
By leveraging Tether’s liquidity network, Bitfinex’s exchange infrastructure, and SoftBank’s global footprint, 21 Capital is uniquely positioned to act as a conduit between traditional investors and the Wall street infrastructure.
4. Bitcoin as a Reserve-Grade Asset
The scale of the investment reaffirms Bitcoin’s growing status is being positioned as a long-term reserve asset, on par with traditional stores of value like gold or U.S. Treasuries.
What Comes Next?
The launch of 21 Capital sets the stage for a number of potential developments, including:
- Introduction of Bitcoin ETFs and structured investment products.
- Collaborations with sovereign wealth funds and pension institutions.
- Deployment of tokenized debt and hybrid finance solutions.
- Rollout of secure Bitcoin custody for state-level and institutional actors.
This is a high-conviction bet on Bitcoin becoming core infrastructure for the global economy. And with firms like Cantor Fitzgerald and SoftBank behind it, this might be the turning point where crypto becomes a staple in institutional portfolios worldwide.
Final Thoughts
With backing from established giants like Cantor Fitzgerald and SoftBank, and operational synergy from Tether and Bitfinex, this initiative could mark a pivotal shift in how institutional capital interacts with blockchain-based assets. It may well represent the moment playing as turning point when crypto becomes embedded in the global financial system, becoming a staple in worldwide institutional portfolios.
