Silvergate and EJF Launch Joint Venture Fund to Invest in Early-Stage Companies

Silvergate Capital and EJF Capital have launched a joint EJF Silvergate Ventures Fund to focus on investing in early-stage companies, the firms said in a statement Thursday. 

The amount of capital that will be deployed through the fund was not disclosed, but it will focus on fintech companies, digital assets, payments as well as banking and other financial technologies like banking-as-a-service. 

The fund will also address the urgent need for capital to support entrepreneurs looking to modernize the current financial system and reshape global commerce, Neal Wilson, EJF co-founder and co-CEO, said in a statement.

Silvergate is the banking partner of the majority of the world’s large digital asset exchanges. As a California state-chartered banking partner, it is the fiat ramp for American traders and, as a result, has over 750 clients. EJF Capital is an institutional alternative asset management firm that oversees more than $13 billion in assets under management.

“The financial industry is undergoing a transformation facilitated by the growth of digital currency and the adoption of blockchain enabled technologies,” Jonathan Bresler, partner and managing director at EJF Capital said. 

“As this ecosystem rapidly evolves into a subset of financial services with operational utility, significant investments will be required to build the infrastructure necessary to bridge the gap between the legacy financial system and the financial system of the future,” Bresler added.  

Neither companies were available for immediate comment when requested by Blockworks Thursday.

Silvergate’s stock was trading at $142.21, down 4.74, or 3.23%, on the day as of 3:41 pm ET on Dec. 16.

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