From FTX to Architect: Brett Harrison’s $35M Bet on Bridging TradFi and Crypto Derivatives
In a significant development for the institutional crypto landscape, Brett Harrison, the former president of FTX US, has successfully secured $35 million in Series A funding for his new venture, Architect Financial Technologies. Announced on December 28, 2025, this substantial capital raise marks a pivotal step in Harrison's post-FTX endeavor to build a robust platform connecting traditional finance (TradFi) with the digital asset ecosystem. Architect is specifically designed to offer institutional-grade trading services, with a core focus on derivatives, alongside equities, futures, and digital assets. A key milestone for the platform is its recent regulatory approval from Bermuda to list perpetual futures contracts on traditional assets. This approval is a strong signal of the growing institutional interest and regulatory maturation necessary for sophisticated financial products that bridge both worlds. The launch of Architect, led by a seasoned executive from a major (though troubled) crypto exchange, underscores a broader trend of rebuilding and innovation in the sector. It highlights the continuous demand from professional investors for compliant, high-performance infrastructure that can handle complex instruments like derivatives. This move not only represents a notable comeback story but also reinforces the bullish thesis that the future of finance is increasingly hybrid, leveraging blockchain technology and crypto market dynamics within established regulatory and institutional frameworks. The $35 million war chest will likely accelerate platform development, compliance expansion, and client onboarding, positioning Architect as a potential key player in the next wave of institutional crypto adoption.
Former FTX US President Secures $35M for New Derivatives Platform
Brett Harrison, former president of FTX US, has raised $35 million in Series A funding for Architect Financial Technologies, a new venture aimed at bridging traditional finance and crypto markets. The platform will offer institutional-grade trading for derivatives, equities, futures, and digital assets.
Architect received regulatory approval in Bermuda to list perpetual futures on traditional assets, signaling growing institutional interest in crypto derivatives. The funding round included participation from Galaxy Ventures, ARK Investment, and Tioga Capital, among others.
Crypto derivatives continue to dominate trading volumes, accounting for nearly 75% of all crypto market activity. This growth brings both liquidity benefits and heightened volatility risks, particularly as institutional players enter the space.
Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison to Be Released Early in January 2026
Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, is set for early release from prison in January 2026—nearly 10 months ahead of her original two-year sentence. Updated Federal Bureau of Prisons records show Ellison, now 30, has been in community confinement since October 2025 after serving time at Danbury Federal Correctional Institution in Connecticut.
Her reduced sentence reflects good behavior credits and extensive cooperation with prosecutors investigating the collapse of FTX. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Ellison to 24 months in September 2024, alongside an $11 billion forfeiture order for her role in one of history's largest financial fraud cases.
Ellison's testimony was pivotal in convicting FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, her ex-boyfriend and former boss. She spent three days on the witness stand detailing the misuse of billions in customer funds. Prosecutors credited her with providing critical evidence, though Judge Kaplan emphasized that even extraordinary cooperation couldn't fully offset the scale of the fraud.
