<p><strong>Akshat Vaidya – Managing Partner &amp; Co-Founder, Maelstrom</strong></p><p>Akshat Vaidya is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of <strong>Maelstrom</strong>, the family office founded by BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes. In this role, Akshat leads Maelstrom’s investment strategy across its multiple verticals, including venture investments, liquid markets, and private equity deals. He oversees the recently launched <strong>Maelstrom Equity Fund I</strong> (a US$250 million fund) which focuses on acquiring mid-sized, profitable companies in the crypto-infrastructure space.</p><p>Akshat’s journey into digital assets began over a decade ago. He first started buying Bitcoin in 2013 while still working in traditional finance. Before co-founding Maelstrom, he served as Head of Corporate Development and M&amp;A at <strong>BitMEX</strong>, where he led the exchange’s expansion through acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Earlier in his career, Akshat was an investor at <strong>Granite Creek Capital Partners</strong>, executing leveraged buyouts and growth investments in U.S. middle-market companies. He holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, combining a classic finance education with a forward-looking tech perspective.</p><p>Under Akshat’s leadership, Maelstrom has grown from a two-person family office into a multi-strategy investment platform. The firm now operates across venture capital, liquidity provisioning, and private equity initiatives. Akshat remains a champion of long-term value creation in a market often driven by hype and short cycles. He strives to bridge traditional financial rigor with digital-asset innovation, ensuring Maelstrom’s portfolio is built on strong fundamentals and sustainable growth. </p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshat-vaidya" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshatvaidya/</a></li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>Adam Schlegel – Partner &amp; Head of Private Equity, Maelstrom</strong></p><p>Adam Schlegel is a Partner at Maelstrom, where he leads the firm’s private equity strategy and heads its debut buyout vehicle, <strong>Maelstrom Equity Fund I</strong>. With over a decade of experience in traditional private equity and cross-border transactions, Adam brings institutional discipline to the evolving crypto-infrastructure space. He joined Maelstrom to expand its reach into buyouts of established crypto-industry companies, applying proven investment frameworks to this emerging sector.</p><p>In his previous roles, Adam built a strong foundation in global finance. He was an Investor at <strong>Haveli Investments</strong> – the Austin-based private equity firm founded by Brian Sheth (co-founder of Vista Equity Partners) – focusing on enterprise SaaS buyouts and growth-equity deals. Prior to Haveli, he served as an Associate at <strong>Baring Private Equity Asia</strong>, executing large cross-border transactions across the Asia-Pacific region. Adam began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst in <strong>Morgan Stanley’s Global Energy Group</strong>, where he gained experience in capital markets and corporate finance. He holds a Master of Arts in International Finance from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (with a minor in Chinese) from Swarthmore College.</p><p>At Maelstrom, Adam is driving the firm’s expansion into private equity by identifying and acquiring <strong>crypto-infrastructure and data analytics companies</strong> that meet specific criteria. Adam’s approach blends traditional buyout expertise with a deep understanding of how digital assets, stablecoins, and decentralized finance are transforming financial infrastructure worldwide. By applying classic private equity frameworks (e.g. rigorous due diligence, operational improvements, and long-term value creation plans) to crypto-enabled businesses, he aims to bridge the gap between conventional finance and the crypto economy. </p><ul><li><strong>LinkedIn:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schlegel" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-schlegel-2b5247b/</a><strong></strong></li></ul>