Bitcoin News Today: Arthur Hayes invests in stem cell firm as crypto funds shift to longevity

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Thursday, Aug 21, 2025 5:00 am ET1min read
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Aime RobotAime Summary

- Arthur Hayes, ex-BitMEX co-founder, joins a stem cell firm's board and acquires major equity after a 2025 presidential pardon lifted his legal restrictions.

- His investment aligns with personal longevity goals and Maelstrom's strategy to support Bitcoin infrastructure while expanding into biotech ventures.

- The move reflects a broader trend of crypto investors like Vitalik Buterin and Brian Armstrong redirecting capital toward aging research and longevity startups.

- Hayes emphasizes the decision as both a health strategy and strategic diversification, highlighting evolving regulatory access to stem cell therapies in Mexico and Thailand.

- The integration of crypto capital into biotech raises questions about scientific validation but may accelerate innovation as traditional investors follow suit.

Arthur Hayes, the former co-founder of BitMEX and a high-profile figure in the cryptocurrency world, has recently taken a board seat and acquired a major equity stake in a private stem cell company where he has been receiving treatments for over a year [1]. His move follows a presidential pardon in March 2025, which removed his prior conviction under the Bank Secrecy Act, thereby clearing legal barriers to his involvement in public-facing roles [2]. The company, which is undergoing a rebranding, has clinics in Mexico and Bangkok, and Hayes has been a long-term patient there [3].

Hayes disclosed that his interest in the firm is driven by a personal goal of extending his healthy lifespan. “I want to live as long as possible, as healthy as possible,” he said in interviews with reporters [1]. At the same time, the investment aligns with the broader strategy of his family office, Maelstrom, which continues to support

Bitcoin
infrastructure and has launched grant programs aimed at improving Bitcoin's scalability and privacy [4].

This development is part of a growing trend among crypto investors to direct capital toward longevity and biotechnology. For instance,

Ethereum
co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made significant contributions to aging research through the Future of Life Institute and the SENS Research Foundation. Similarly, Brian Armstrong, CEO of
Coinbase
, co-founded NewLimit, a longevity-focused venture [5]. Hayes' transition from derivatives trading to biotech investment reflects both personal ambition and strategic diversification.

The company has not publicly commented on the change in leadership structure, and a spokesperson declined to provide further details. However, Hayes has emphasized that the decision was both a personal health choice and a strategic move by Maelstrom [6]. His involvement also highlights the evolving regulatory landscape, particularly in countries like Mexico and Thailand, where clinical access to stem cell therapies has become more accessible [7].

The integration of crypto capital into longevity biotech is raising new questions about investment risk, scientific validation, and ethical considerations. Nonetheless, the trend suggests that investors with a deep understanding of decentralized technologies are applying similar analytical frameworks to emerging areas of science and medicine. Hayes' dual role as both patient and investor could influence the direction and pace of innovation in the sector, particularly as more traditional capital follows.

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[1] Arthur Hayes stem cell investment: https://en.coinotag.com/pardoned-bitcoin-billionaire-arthur-hayes-may-take-board-seat-major-stake-in-stem-cell-firm-where-he-has-been-a-patient/