Bitcoin Alpha Competition: Finalists Compete for $1 Million in Seed Funding
Introduction
Three fund managers have made it to the final stage of the Bitcoin Alpha Competition, vying for the chance to win $1 million in seed funding for their Bitcoin fund. The winner, who will be announced at the Bitcoin Amsterdam Conference, will also receive the necessary operational infrastructure to launch and run their fund strategy. Samara Alpha Management, in partnership with Bitcoin Magazine PRO, reviewed over 150 applications from traditional finance and digital asset fund managers to select the final three contenders: Andrey Aakelyan (Theta Digital), Jaron Abbott (Armor Strategy), and Maximilian Pace (Animus Technologies). Let’s take a closer look at each finalist’s fund strategy.
Finalists’ Fund Strategies
Andrey Aakelyan – Theta Digital
Theta Digital focuses on taking discretionary long or short positions in Bitcoin futures at varying timescales. Their approach aims to achieve incremental alpha denominated in BTC, while preserving the fund’s value through systematic risk management.
Jaron Abbott – Armor Strategies
The Armor Strategy utilizes a portfolio of indicators to quantitatively describe and measure the psychological behavior of panic selling in its early stages. By aggregating signals and translating them into predictions, Armor Strategies aims to extract alpha from impending price moves.
Maximilian Pace – Animus Technologies
Animus Technologies has developed an AI platform that generates data-driven trading strategies for cryptocurrencies. This systematic solution, developed over the past six years, aims to reduce market volatility and enhance investor returns over market cycles.
The Vision of Samara Alpha Management
In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Roy Tse, Chief Risk Officer at Samara Alpha Management, shared his thoughts on the competition and the firm’s entry into the Bitcoin ecosystem. Tse expressed the belief that there are managers out there who can add significant value to the Bitcoin space. He emphasized Samara’s belief in the power of Bitcoin and its potential impact on the world.
Tse explained that with the emergence of market opportunities in the cryptocurrency space, similar to the early days of other traditional finance businesses, there is potential for novel financial strategies to succeed. However, the challenge lies in setting up the required infrastructure in a new market like Bitcoin and digital assets. Samara Alpha Management aims to alleviate these pressure points by providing the necessary infrastructure through their Samara seeding platform, which offers a complete solution for fund managers to set up and operate a Bitcoin investment management company.
The million-dollar prize for the Bitcoin Alpha Competition is a significant milestone, but Tse noted that the true excitement lies in the seeding platform itself. Samara Alpha Management is focused on increasing adoption and helping managers bring their ideas to life by providing a technology platform that simplifies the setup process. The platform includes various functionalities such as fund administrator connectivity, risk management functions, liquidity management functions, and more.
Closing Thoughts
As the Bitcoin Alpha Competition approaches its climax, the Bitcoin Amsterdam Conference on October 13th will reveal the winner who will receive $1 million in seed funding and full access to Samara’s fund management platform. This competition highlights the growing interest and investment in the Bitcoin ecosystem, as fund managers strive to generate alpha in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency market. The innovations and strategies brought forward by the finalists demonstrate the potential for groundbreaking approaches in leveraging Bitcoin for investment opportunities.
