Hayes Sees Longevity as Next Frontier, Bets Big on Stem Cell Breakthroughs

Arthur Hayes, the founder of BitMEX, who recently received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, is now channeling his focus into longevity research, particularly through a significant investment in a stem cell venture. The pardon, which cleared Hayes of charges related to BitMEX's violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, has not altered his professional trajectory significantly, as he already resides in Singapore and remains engaged in both crypto commentary and alternative asset investments. Hayes, who has been undergoing stem cell treatments for over a year, has taken a large stake in a stem cell company operating clinics in Mexico and Thailand. He envisions a future where stem cell therapies become more mainstream and accessible globally, with regulatory environments continuing to evolve in favor of such treatments [1].

Hayes is not alone in redirecting his efforts toward life extension and biotech innovation. Notable figures in the crypto and tech industries, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan, have also invested in longevity research and startups. Hayes himself is an advisor to Upexi Inc., a firm that hoards Solana tokens, indicating a broader trend among crypto leaders to apply their capital and influence to fields they perceive as underdeveloped or overly regulated [1].

The crypto landscape itself is evolving with the rise of digital asset treasury companies (DATs), which have attracted significant attention by amassing crypto holdings on their balance sheets. These firms are now holding approximately $110 billion in Bitcoin, according to CoinGecko, and are expanding their portfolios to include smaller, less liquid tokens. Hayes’ family office, Maelstrom, has backed several DATs, though one of its general partners, Akshat Vaidya, has cautioned that the rapid growth of this sector could become a risk to the broader crypto market if not managed carefully [1].

Simultaneously, the Trump administration has also embraced the DAT model. Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, raised over $2 billion earlier in the year to purchase Bitcoin. A separate Las Vegas-based firm, Alt5 Sigma Corp., has announced plans to raise $1.5 billion for a crypto acquisition, focusing on World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token. The Trump family’s involvement in the space has extended further, with the president and first lady launching their own memecoins, though these have experienced significant price volatility. Despite the price declines, Hayes views the political engagement with crypto as a sign of broader legitimacy for the asset class [1].

Hayes remains cautiously optimistic about the future of DATs, emphasizing that those who can attract passive index money from U.S. institutional investors will be the most successful. He warns, however, that if these companies fail to achieve the necessary market capitalization and trading volume, they could face discounts on their token holdings, which would complicate their exit strategies. This perspective aligns with broader market skepticism around the sustainability of the current crypto rally, particularly as macroeconomic indicators and regulatory developments continue to influence investor sentiment [1].

The Trump pardon has also raised questions about the broader implications for the crypto industry, particularly in a landscape where regulatory scrutiny is intensifying. Hayes, who has maintained a presence in Singapore, is not deterred by potential regulatory challenges and continues to position himself as a forward-looking investor in both digital assets and longevity technology. His actions reflect a growing trend among crypto veterans to diversify their influence beyond finance, entering fields where they believe they can drive innovation and redefine industry norms [1].

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[1] BitMEX Founder, Pardoned by Trump, Joins Longevity-Hacking Craze (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-20/bitmex-founder-pardoned-by-trump-joins-longevity-hacking-craze)