OPNX, a new exchange founded jointly by members of the Three Arrows Capital (3AC) and Coinflex teams, has revealed the venture capital firms that are backing the project. The announcement came in the form of a video posted by the company on April 21, in which CEO Leslie Lamb thanked some of the major backers of the project, including AppWorks, Susquehanna (SIG), DRW, MIAX Group, China Merchant Bank International, and Token Bay Capital.
Despite the announcement, OPNX has faced criticism in the crypto community due to its association with the bankrupt 3AC hedge fund. Some firms have claimed they may refuse to associate with anyone who helps fund the new exchange. However, the company behind the project has defended itself, arguing that it will help make customers of failed crypto ventures whole again. According to early fundraising documents, OPNX will allow traders to buy and sell claims against bankrupt firms such as 3AC and FTX. The exchange aims to create a secondary market for these claims, allowing investors to potentially profit from them.
The backers of OPNX have previously funded various tech and financial projects. For example, SIG was one of the early backers of TikTok, and MIAX Group owns a U.S.-regulated equities and options exchange. AppWorks is also listed on Crunchbase as a partial owner of Uber.
However, at least one of the firms mentioned in the video has denied funding the project. DeFi trading firm Nascent stated that it bought Coinflex tokens issued by the company’s previous incarnation but did not participate in a funding round for OPNX.
Three Arrows Capital was a crypto hedge fund founded in 2012. In June, it was issued a notice of default by Voyager Digital after allegedly failing to pay 15,250 Bitcoin (BTC) and 350 million USD Coin (USDC) that had been loaned to it. The hedge fund filed for bankruptcy on July 1, and some creditors have accused the founders of being “on the run” or hiding from the bankruptcy court.
Despite these controversies, OPNX seems determined to move forward with its plans. By creating a secondary market for claims against bankrupt firms, the exchange aims to provide a new avenue for investors to potentially profit from these types of investments. However, it remains to be seen how successful the venture will be, especially given the backlash it has received from some corners of the crypto community
Overall, the emergence of OPNX highlights the growing interest in crypto-related investment opportunities, as well as the potential risks and rewards of these types of investments. As the crypto market continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more projects like OPNX emerge, each with their own unique opportunities and challenges.