Cantor Fitzgerald Plans $3 Billion Bitcoin Initiative with SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex
In a bold move signaling renewed confidence in digital assets, Cantor Fitzgerald is reportedly preparing to launch a $3 billion bitcoin investment venture alongside major partners SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex. The Financial Times broke the story, citing individuals familiar with the matter.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Cantor’s current Chair and CEO, Brandon Lutnick. His father, Howard Lutnick, previously held the CEO position before stepping down earlier this year to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under the Trump administration.
At the heart of this project is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called Cantor Equity Partners, which raised $200 million earlier this year. That capital is set to fund the creation of a new investment entity named 21 Capital.
According to the FT, the funding breakdown for the venture includes a $1.5 billion bitcoin contribution from Tether, $900 million from Japanese investment giant SoftBank, and $600 million from crypto exchange Bitfinex. Both Tether and Bitfinex are controlled by the same parent company.
The reported structure of the deal would see these bitcoin contributions converted into shares of 21 Capital, priced at $10 per share—effectively pegging bitcoin’s valuation at an ambitious $85,000. This model is reminiscent of Michael Saylor’s playbook at MicroStrategy, which became a high-profile corporate bitcoin holder by leveraging equity and debt issuance to purchase crypto. MicroStrategy now holds over 538,000 BTC, and its stock has surged more than 150% in the past year.
Beyond the crypto-for-equity conversion, Cantor’s vehicle reportedly plans to raise an additional $350 million through a convertible bond, along with a $200 million private equity placement, to further expand its bitcoin holdings.
While details are expected to be officially announced in the coming weeks, sources caution that the deal could still be modified or withdrawn.
This news arrives as the broader crypto market experiences renewed enthusiasm amid a friendlier regulatory climate under the Trump administration, which has pulled back on enforcement actions and promised more accommodating crypto policies.