Deus X Capital, a crypto and fintech investment firm, has stopped operating and will formally unwind on Jan. 31, 2027, as its backers move in separate directions, the company told CoinDesk.
The firm was led by former Galaxy Digital executive Tim Grant. Chief Investment Officer Stuart Connolly will remain in place to oversee the transition and the formal wind-down. Deus X said some portfolio businesses will continue to operate with existing stakeholders still involved.
Backers split into separate investment vehicles
The Morton family investors behind Deus X are dividing their investment activity. Shane Morton is launching Darius, focused on artificial intelligence. Owen Morton and Jason Morton are setting up 95, with a focus on markets and fintech.
Grant, who previously ran Galaxy Digital’s Europe, Middle East and Africa business before joining Deus X, will become CEO of TensorX, an AI venture inside Darius owned by Shane Morton, one of Deus X’s founders and backers.
Grant told CoinDesk: "We want to be a prominent player in AI in Europe."
AI draws capital and attention away from crypto
Grant’s move to TensorX lines up with a wider shift in investor focus. AI is competing more directly with crypto for both attention and capital. Galaxy Research said in September that growing interest in artificial intelligence was pulling attention away from digital assets and adding to fundraising pressure for venture firms.
Returns, capital base and launch profile
Deus X said it had generated annual returns of 36.5% since inception, though it declined to disclose its total capital.
The family office-backed firm launched in October 2023 with $1 billion in existing investments and capital available for deployment. Its strategy covered private equity, venture capital and hedge fund allocations across digital assets, blockchain, fintech and institutional capital markets.
Portfolio companies and footprint
Its initial investments included stakes in Galaxy Digital and asset manager Hilbert Group, along with allocations to several hedge funds. The firm had a presence in Malta, London and the United Arab Emirates.
In September 2024, Deus X launched Solstice Labs to build institutional-grade decentralized finance products that could be accessed by a broader group of investors.
CoinDesk previously reported that the portfolio also included proprietary trading firm Alpha Lab 40 and crypto prime broker Cor Prime. Cor Prime launched with a $100 million risk-capital commitment from Deus X.