Phantom Adds Ventuals Team to Boost Crypto Derivatives

Phantom, the well‑known crypto wallet, has announced the hiring of Alvin Hsia, Emily Hsia, and Aris Samad from Ventuals. The trio will join Phantom’s trading and data divisions, following Ventuals’ recent closure of its OpenAI and Anthropic futures markets.

Why the Move Matters

• Ventuals winding down: Earlier this month, Ventuals announced it was merging with another venture in the Hyperliquid network, ending a key experiment in on‑chain private‑company trading.
• Perpetual futures insight: These derivatives allow traders to speculate on price changes without an expiry date, offering continuous trading, high liquidity, and flexibility across many assets.
• Trend beyond crypto: Kalshi’s launch of perpetual futures after regulatory approval shows that always‑on derivatives are expanding into traditional finance.

Phantom’s Strategic Vision

• From wallet to full‑service app: Phantom has added swaps, staking, and derivatives to its portfolio.
• Focus on perpetual futures: The new hires are expected to accelerate development of trading products within the Hyperliquid ecosystem.
• Largest distribution partner: Phantom claims this status and plans to leverage its global liquidity and transparent on‑chain infrastructure.

Leadership Perspective

“Hyperliquid is a prime example of what open markets can achieve,” said CEO Brandon Millman. “The new hires will help Phantom go deeper into perpetual futures and open markets.”