Prime Broker Cuts 10% of Staff, Bloomberg Says

FalconX, the digital asset prime brokerage that acquired crypto ETF issuer 21shares last November, has laid off roughly 10% of its global workforce as it prepares for a prolonged downturn in the cryptocurrency market, Bloomberg reported Monday.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said FalconX is also reshaping its strategy in Singapore by focusing on crypto derivatives trading and plans to withdraw its license application with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The company intends to maintain its presence in Asia while expanding its European business.

FalconX employed about 350 people across the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong before the layoffs.

Cointelegraph contacted a FalconX spokesperson for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

The reported workforce reduction adds FalconX to a growing list of crypto companies scaling back operations during the market downturn, joining exchanges including Coinbase, Crypto.com, Luno and Gemini, and infrastructure provider BitGo.

Related: Ethereum Foundation sacks 20% of workforce amid strategic restructuring

Crypto exchanges pivot beyond spot trading

Crypto exchanges have been under pressure as Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets retreated from last year’s highs, weighing on trading volumes and retail participation. As Cointelegraph reported, some analysts believe Bitcoin has yet to reach a market bottom, suggesting the industry could face continued headwinds.

Bitcoin was last trading below $64,000, roughly 50% below its October peak above $126,000.

In response, many exchanges are expanding beyond spot trading. According to a recent CoinGecko report, the “crypto TradFi” sector,  which includes tokenized assets, derivatives and other traditional financial products, grew fivefold to $6.6 billion between January 2025 and June 2026.

Tokenized stocks and commodities have emerged as leading drivers of crypto TradFi growth. Source: CoinGecko

Coinbase’s latest earnings underscore that shift. Although the company missed earnings expectations, it reported that 88% of second-quarter net revenue came from businesses other than spot Bitcoin trading, with derivatives, prediction markets and tokenized assets playing an increasingly important role.

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