- Cantor Equity Partners will launch 21 Capital with $200M cash and $3B in bitcoin from Tether, SoftBank, and Bitfinex.
- 21 Capital plans a $350M convertible bond and $200M private equity raise to expand bitcoin acquisitions and public presence.
- The initiative mirrors MicroStrategy’s bitcoin strategy and aligns with a pro-crypto stance under President Trump’s administration.
A new bitcoin-focused acquisition venture is forming with backing from Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether, Bitfinex, and SoftBank, aiming to acquire billions in digital assets. The project comes as the cryptocurrency sector prepares for expanded interest under the current U.S. administration.
Consortium Targets Large-Scale Bitcoin Acquisition
According to Bitcoin Magazine citing the Financial Times, Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether, and Bitfinex are partnering to launch a multibillion-dollar bitcoin acquisition vehicle. The project seeks to mirror MicroStrategy’s strategy of acquiring large bitcoin reserves through corporate restructuring and capital raises.
Brandon Lutnick, son of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, is spearheading the venture through Cantor Equity Partners. The vehicle, which raised $200 million in January, will form a new firm called 21 Capital. This initiative follows MicroStrategy’s widely observed model that led to tens of billions in bitcoin holdings and a substantial public valuation.
Major Crypto Players Pledge Billions in Bitcoin
The vehicle will receive $3 billion in bitcoin contributions from its backers, with Tether committing $1.5 billion. SoftBank and Bitfinex will contribute $900 million and $600 million respectively, based on people familiar with the matter. The consortium intends to convert those bitcoin holdings into equity shares in 21 Capital at a valuation of $85,000 per coin.
Tether and Bitfinex, which share corporate leadership and ownership, have remained active participants in market-shaping deals, even after settling previous regulatory inquiries in 2021. The structure of this new entity signals renewed ambitions to anchor crypto as a core financial asset in the public equity space.
Capital Strategy and Political Tailwinds
To bolster its acquisition capacity, 21 Capital plans to issue a $350 million convertible bond and pursue an additional $200 million private equity raise. This capital will be used to purchase more bitcoin and support the new firm’s expansion.
This is coming to fruition with the U.S. government now hinting at a more friendly cryptocurrency policy under President Trump. Cantor Fitzgerald led the advisory in a $775 million investment in Rumble, a video-sharing site popular with right-leaning audiences. Bitcoin reached almost $106,000 in the aftermath of Trump’s election and is still high, at the time of writing, Bitcoin trading at around $93,000.
While sources indicate the deal may still evolve or not finalize, preparations suggest a major push by some of the crypto industry’s most influential players to scale holdings and market presence rapidly.
