SkyBridge Capital

SkyBridge Capital is an alternative asset management firm offering exposure across hedge funds, private equity, public equity, and digital assets. Based in New York City, the firm manages private fund strategies alongside exchange-traded products focused on digital infrastructure and crypto ecosystem equities.

Leadership and corporate background

Founded in 2005 by Anthony Scaramucci, SkyBridge is led by Scaramucci alongside Partner, President and Co-Chief Investment Officer Brett S. Messing and Raymond Nolte. Prior to launching SkyBridge, Scaramucci co-founded Oscar Capital Management and worked in private wealth management at Goldman Sachs. Nolte joined the firm in June 2010 when SkyBridge acquired the Citigroup Alternative Investments Hedge Fund Management Group. In September 2022, FTX Ventures acquired a 30% minority stake in the firm.

Investment products and operational structure

SkyBridge structures its digital asset strategies across exchange-traded instruments and private placement vehicles. The firm acts as sub-adviser for the First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF (ticker: CRPT), an equity-based exchange-traded fund distributed through First Trust Portfolios LP. Through this vehicle, investors gain exposure to publicly traded companies operating within blockchain technology, mining, and crypto payment networks. For qualified purchasers and accredited clients, the firm runs private hedge fund products, including the SkyBridge Opportunity Fund, which allocate capital into direct crypto assets and private equity deals.

Regulatory status and milestones

SkyBridge Capital operates as an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm's total assets under management reached approximately $9 billion in 2015. Following market downturns across venture and crypto holdings, assets declined to approximately $2 billion as of March 2023. Beyond fund management, the firm founded the SkyBridge Alternatives Conference (SALT), a capital introduction and thought leadership convention holding events in Las Vegas, Singapore, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi.

Risks and structural trade-offs

Allocations in private alternative funds carry distinct liquidity and market risks. In 2022, fund investments experienced a 39% decline, leading the firm to reduce investor withdrawal limits and downsize staffing by March 2023. Investors face potential redemption gates during market downturns, exposure to high equity volatility in the underlying digital economy sector, and the regulatory uncertainty inherent in alternative crypto investments.