Arthur Hayes: A Leading Influence in Crypto's Evolving Landscape
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, played a pivotal role in pioneering the modern crypto derivatives market.
In recent years, he has re-emerged as one of the industry's most consistently influential macro thinkers.
Currently serving as chief investment officer at Maelstrom, Hayes focuses on thesis-driven investing while maintaining an active social media presence.
His public persona on X combines detailed macroeconomic commentary, market calls, literary references, and trolling, reflecting his multifaceted approach.
He was an early advocate for AI-adjacent tokens and championed Zcash (ZEC), which saw a rise of more than 450% over the past year.
At Maelstrom, Hayes merges long-term geopolitical analysis with short-term market instincts, arguing that crypto's next phase will be shaped by AI infrastructure, privacy technology, and nation-state monetary experiments.
His essays, characterized by irreverence and dark humor, portray him as a professor, trader, and chaos agent.
Although no longer running a major exchange, Hayes remains a durable and influential voice within the crypto industry.
This profile is part of CoinDesk's Most Influential 2025 list.
