A16z-Backed Talos Trading Plans to Double APAC Workforce amid Surging Crypto Adoption
Talos Trading plans to double its APAC workforce within the next 12 months, focusing on key roles like business development and engineering.
The company’s expansion is driven by the APAC region’s major contribution to global crypto trading volumes.
Countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan, known for clear regulatory frameworks, are crucial to the Talos growth strategy.
Popular crypto trading software provider Talos Trading Inc is planning to expand aggressively in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Over the next 12 months, the company plans to double its workforce in the area, targeting roles in business development, client services, product management, and engineering.
This ambitious expansion comes as Talos recognizes the region’s dominance in the global crypto market, particularly in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan, where regulatory clarity has fostered robust crypto ecosystems.
“Asia punches above its weight in terms of contribution to the bottom line of global digital-asset companies,” noted Samar Sen, Talos’ APAC head, in a recent . He emphasized that many of Talos’ top clients, based on trading volume, are firms operating out of the APAC region. With the hiring drive, Talos aims to capitalize on the growing demand for institutional-grade digital-asset services in these markets.
While the United States has traditionally been seen as the global center for digital assets, recent regulatory crackdowns by the Securities and Exchange Commission () have pushed many companies to look eastward for growth opportunities.
Over the past year, many big names like OKX, , and GSR Markets have obtained permits in Singapore, taking advantage of the country’s crypto-friendly stance. Similarly, Hong Kong has introduced cryptocurrency-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as part of its progressive licensing regime.
The early adoption of crypto in the APAC region is also driving the surge in institutional interest. “The derivatives space in Asia sees much more sophisticated trading compared to the US and Europe,” Sen pointed out. In fact, while APAC operations typically contribute 10-15% of global revenue for firms in traditional finance, Talos reports that its APAC division is on par with its US and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) teams in terms of revenue generation, further noting the region’s importance.
About Talos
Founded in 2018, Talos has quickly gained a foothold in the crypto space, providing trading and settlement services to institutional clients. After and funding rounds between 2021 and 2022, the company achieved unicorn status. It has gained support from high-profile crypto industry giants like General Atlantic and Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
Notably, Talos offers a comprehensive technology infrastructure that allows clients to execute trades efficiently, aggregate prices from various sources, and streamline the entire trade lifecycle.
Booming APAC Market
The expansion into APAC aligns with broader trends in the region, where cryptocurrency adoption is booming. Countries like Singapore and Hong Kong are creating regulatory frameworks to support the development of virtual assets, while macro hedge funds and asset managers are increasingly entering the crypto space.
On the other hand, in countries like India, where the crypto regulatory environment is uncertain with massive tax burdens, crypto adoption also remains remarkably high.
“We’re now seeing more macro hedge funds and asset managers entering the digital-asset space as buyers,” said Sen. He also noted the growing involvement of banks in the sector, marking a shift from the early days when most traditional financial institutions were hesitant to engage with cryptocurrencies.
