Old Street Digital

Old Street Digital is an institutional crypto asset advisor that designs active, fundamental research–driven digital-asset strategies and model portfolios for institutional investors, launched in London in 2021 by a team including Gary Clarke, Nic Basson and Paul Ridley.[3][1]

High‑Level Overview

• Old Street Digital is positioned as an institutional crypto asset adviser and model‑portfolio provider that offers a range of active, fundamental research-driven strategies across the risk/return spectrum (e.g., Core Income, Active Growth).[3][3]
  - Mission: to bring “world‑class experience from traditional fund management” to crypto and provide institutional investors with research-led strategies and operational infrastructure for digital assets.[3]
  - Investment philosophy: active, fundamental research and model‑portfolio construction focused on diversified, risk‑aware exposure to cryptoassets and DeFi income opportunities rather than passive index tracking.[3][6]
  - Key sectors: native cryptoassets, decentralized finance (DeFi) income strategies (stablecoin yield), and markets accessible via centralized exchanges (futures/options) as part of growth allocations.[3]
  - Impact on the startup/ecosystem: by packaging institutional‑grade strategies, custody, settlement and compliance relationships, Old Street Digital aims to lower the operational and research barriers for allocators entering crypto and to channel institutional capital into professionalized crypto markets.[3]

Origin Story

• Founding year and team: Old Street Digital was incorporated in December 2021 in London and is publicly associated with founders/partners Gary Clarke, Nic Basson and Paul Ridley.[2][1]
  - How the idea emerged: the firm was created to transplant traditional active asset‑management practices—research, model portfolios and institutional operations—into crypto markets to serve institutional clients seeking regulated, professionally managed crypto exposure.[3][6]
  - Early traction / financing: the business raised seed funding reported at approximately £2.8 million to build an institutional asset manager offering active crypto strategies, signaling market interest and enabling product and team build‑out.[6]

Core Differentiators

• Institutional product packaging: offers model portfolios and named strategies (e.g., Core Income, Active Growth) aimed at institutions rather than retail investors.[3]
  - Research‑driven, active approach: emphasis on fundamental research and active portfolio management across different return/risk profiles instead of purely passive indexing.[3][6]
  - End‑to‑end operational relationships: presents a stack including EU‑registered custody, trade settlement, back‑office technology and regulated banking relationships to address institutional operational and compliance needs.[3]
  - Experienced team from traditional asset management: leadership drawn from traditional fund management backgrounds to bridge institutional investor expectations and crypto markets.[3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

• Trend alignment: Old Street Digital sits at the intersection of institutionalization of crypto and professionalization of DeFi/stablecoin yield products, benefiting from increasing demand from pension funds, family offices and asset managers for regulated crypto exposure.[3][6]
  - Why timing matters: launched after several market‑structure and custody improvements in crypto and amid growing regulatory focus, the firm aims to capture allocators transitioning from curiosity to allocation by offering familiar governance and operational safeguards.[3][6]
  - Market forces in their favor: rising institutional allocation, maturing crypto infrastructure (custody, settlement, regulated banking), and demand for income and diversification strategies support their product set.[3]
  - Influence on ecosystem: by packaging institutional strategies and relationships, Old Street Digital can accelerate capital flows into professionalized DeFi and token markets and set standards for how institutional products are constructed and operated in crypto.[3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

• What’s next: likely priorities include expanding strategy offerings, obtaining additional regulatory approvals or formal product wrappers for institutional distribution, scaling AUM, and deepening custody/prime‑broker relationships to support larger mandates.[3][6]
  - Trends to watch: institutional adoption of crypto, regulatory clarity (especially in the UK/EU/US), demand for yield vs. growth exposures, and the development of institutional infrastructure (custody, settlement, audited risk frameworks) will shape their growth.[3][6]
  - How influence might evolve: if they scale AUM and maintain strong operational partnerships, Old Street Digital could become a go‑to provider for allocators seeking active, research-led crypto strategies and help normalize institutional participation in DeFi income and native-asset allocations.[3]

Quick reminder: this profile is based on company filings, the firm’s website and press coverage summarizing their seed raise and positioning; for the latest product terms, regulatory registrations, assets under management or partner details, review Old Street Digital’s regulatory filings and client materials directly.[2][3][6]