FalconX Acquires Arbelos Market to Expand Derivatives Reach

FalconX, a leading crypto brokerage firm, has acquired Arbelos Markets, a crypto derivatives platform, in one of the first major crypto deals of 2025. 

The announcement was made by FalconX CEO Raghu Yarlagadda on Jan. 3 via an X post, shortly after Bloomberg reported the news. While financial details remain undisclosed, a Dec. 31 Bloomberg report suggested the deal involves a mix of FalconX stock and cash.

Source:  X

This move strengthens FalconX’s position in the institutional market by integrating Arbelos’ trading platform with FalconX’s robust balance sheet and regulatory readiness, Yarlagadda explained.  

The acquisition aims to cater to the growing institutional demand for crypto derivatives, offering capital efficiency, deeper liquidity, and 24/7 trading access. Yarlagadda emphasized that this deal lays the groundwork for the next phase of crypto market growth, calling a transparent derivatives market vital for institutional confidence.  

Founded in 2018, FalconX has facilitated over $1.5 trillion in trading volume across 400 tokens for 600 institutions globally. Arbelos Markets, launched in 2023 by Joshua Lim and Shiliang Tang, brings expertise from major trading firms like Galaxy Digital and LedgerPrime.  

Despite challenges like the FTX collapse and regulatory hurdles, FalconX continues to expand its global footprint, operating from key financial hubs like Silicon Valley, London, and Singapore. 

This acquisition reflects FalconX’s vision to drive long-term growth in the crypto space. By combining strengths, FalconX and Arbelos Markets aim to shape the future of institutional crypto trading.