Galaxy Digital plans to raise US$250 million for loans to cryptocurrency companies
The digital bank, founded by Michael Novogratz, a former Goldman Sachs partner, will reportedly close the first round of fundraising in March
Galaxy Digital, the cryptocurrency bank founded by former Goldman Sachs partner Michael Novogratz, is raising at least US$250 million for a credit fund to offer US dollar loans to cryptocurrency companies, according to people familiar with the matter.
The bank will be offering loans to the firms and asking for cryptocurrency assets, properties and even machines that mine cryptocurrencies as collateral.
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.
Galaxy will close a first round of fundraising in March, two of the people familiar with the matter said.
Novogratz’s firm already lends to cryptocurrency businesses using its own balance sheet.
It has also backed cryptocurrency-lending start-ups through its investment firm Galaxy Digital Ventures, leading a US$52.5 million fundraiser for New York-based start-up BlockFi last year.
However, demand from borrowers has grown so much that Galaxy now wants to launch its own fund, two of the people said. It will be run out of Galaxy’s asset management arm.
A spokeswoman for Galaxy declined to comment on the fund.