Asia Trading Firm Caladan Targets US Market Amid Trump’s Pro-Crypto Pivot

Crypto Firm Caladan Expands to New York, Capitalizing on Regulatory Shift Under Trump Administration

Caladan, a Singapore-based crypto trading firm, has announced plans to open a representative office in New York City, becoming the latest institutional player to expand into the U.S. market. This strategic move comes as the Trump administration unwinds years of strict enforcement and signals a regulatory reset for the industry.

The firm will allocate at least 5% of its global headcount to the new U.S. office, with the goal of obtaining a broker-dealer registration and potential FINRA membership. To lead this effort, Caladan has assembled a three-member team with diverse experience across both crypto-native and traditional financial institutions, including Coinbase, BlackRock, Cowen Digital, and Bank of America.

Caladan's U.S. expansion is part of a broader strategy to link Asia's crypto market infrastructure with the growing institutional momentum in the United States. The firm aims to serve as a conduit for liquidity, regulatory dialogue, and cross-border strategy, with a focus on shaping the "rules-based future of crypto markets with full transparency and accountability," according to Julia Zhou, Caladan's COO.

The timing of Caladan's entry into the U.S. market aligns with the significant changes in the regulatory landscape under the Trump administration. Since taking office, President Trump has appointed a pro-crypto SEC Chair, dropped multiple lawsuits against digital asset firms, and reversed enforcement-heavy policies from the previous administration.

This shift in the regulatory environment has also paved the way for other crypto firms to return to the U.S. market. Nexo, a crypto lender that exited the U.S. in 2022 due to "regulatory dead ends," has announced its return, crediting the Trump administration's more favorable stance towards innovation.

The administration's pro-crypto initiatives, such as hosting a White House crypto summit and backing the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin framework that cleared the Senate, further demonstrate its commitment to fostering growth and innovation in the crypto industry.

As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, Caladan's expansion into the U.S. market, coupled with the regulatory changes under the Trump administration, highlights the industry's growing institutional momentum and the potential for further development in the years to come.