NEW YORK – Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci has announced that he will be investing in a cryptocurrency software company founded by Brett Harrison, the ex-chairman and CEO of the now-defunct FTX exchange in the United States.
In an email, Scaramucci said he will be donating his own money to the business as a show of support.
Bloomberg reported last month that the firm, which is estimated to be worth up to $100 million, was seeking funding.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the company had plans to create a software for crypto traders that could be used to develop algorithms and access different crypto markets.
“Anthony Scaramucci has been a true mentor and friend to me since I entered the crypto industry two years ago,” Harrison said when questioned by Bloomberg News. “I’m proud to have him as an investment partner and I’m sure his guidance will be invaluable as we embark on this new journey.”
In September, the venture capital unit of Sam Bankman-Fried’s now-defunct crypto empire announced it had purchased a 30% stake in Skybridge Capital from Scaramucci, with the firms agreeing to expand their venture investments and digital asset collaboration.
However, when FTX’s decline to bankruptcy became apparent, Scaramucci and Skybridge said they would be buying back the stake.
Scaramucci then revealed that he had done some checks, but “it wasn’t enough.”
Harrison had been an FTX US employee for 17 months before resigning in September. Before that, he had been at Citadel Securities and quantitative trading firm Jane Street.
A spokesperson for Bankman-Fried declined to comment, but Harrison’s Twitter thread about his experience at FTX US prompted comments from Scaramucci and information about the investment.
The spokesperson did not respond to a follow-up question about the investment. —Bloomberg
