Cantor Fitzgerald Joins Forces with SoftBank, Bitfinex, and Tether for $3 Billion Bitcoin Venture

Highlights:

• Cantor Fitzgerald, SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex are teaming up on a $3 billion Bitcoin-focused plan. 
• Lutnick’s 21 Capital is looking to mirror MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy through a public market debut.
• Bitcoin’s fluctuating price continues to attract institutional investors aiming for early adopter gains.

Cantor Fitzgerald, a prominent investment banking firm, is reportedly collaborating with SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex to establish a $3 billion Bitcoin investment project, as reported by the Financial Times on April 23, citing three sources close to the matter. The move comes as Bitcoin trades close to record levels, with investors eager to tap into the next stage of the crypto market.

Brandon Lutnick currently leads Cantor, holding the roles of chairman and CEO. He assumed leadership earlier this year following the departure of his father, Howard Lutnick, who stepped down to take on a new role as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Trump administration.

In January, Lutnick’s special purpose acquisition company, Cantor Equity Partners, secured $200 million in funding to formally establish its new venture, 21 Capital. As reported by the Financial Times, Tether plans to invest $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin into the venture, while Japanese investment giant SoftBank is expected to contribute another $900 million in Bitcoin. Bitfinex, the crypto exchange owned by the same company as Tether, plans to supply $600 million worth of Bitcoin.

Additionally, Lutnick’s entity plans to raise $350 million through a convertible bond and another $200 million through a private equity placement to acquire more Bitcoin. The deal reportedly specifies that SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex will convert their Bitcoin contributions into shares of 21 Capital at $10 per share, which values each Bitcoin at $85,000.

*CANTOR NEARS $3B CRYPTO VENTURE WITH SOFTBANK AND TETHER: FT

Brandon Lutnick is partnering with SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex to create a multibillion-dollar bitcoin acquisition vehicle, according to three people briefed on the matter.

The vehicle raised $200M in January and…

— db (@tier10k) April 22, 2025

21 Capital Aims to Mirror Saylor’s Strategy

The FT report says the deal will be announced soon, but it may change or be canceled. Cantor’s potential Bitcoin move comes as the Trump administration introduces more favorable policies for the crypto industry.

21 Capital plans to replicate the success of Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin investment strategy by creating a “publicly listed alternative,” as reported by the Financial Times. Saylor’s strategy involved issuing stocks and speculative debt to acquire Bitcoin, leading to a current holding of 538,200 BTC. Strategy’s Bitcoin investments played a key role in its Nasdaq-100 listing. Despite recent volatility in tech stocks, its share price has still seen a 159% increase over the past year, according to Google Finance data.

Institutional Interest in Bitcoin Surges

The timing aligns with a wider rise in institutional interest in cryptocurrency. After Trump’s election win in November, Bitcoin’s price surged past $108,000, before fluctuating and stabilizing around $92,000. Several public companies, including Japanese investment firm Metaplanet, US retailer GameStop, and Bitcoin miner MARA Holdings have followed Strategy’s lead in showing interest in BTC.

Companies’ growing interest in Bitcoin signals its rising legitimacy as a strategic asset, which could drive long-term adoption. This pattern supports a positive outlook for BTC, driven by rising demand and limited supply. While short-term fluctuations may continue, long-term growth looks promising.