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CLC, AFFIN BANK Launch Malaysia’s First Actively Managed Digital Asset Fund

Reported by Businesstoday
Jun 10, 2024· 3 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Cross Light Capital (CLC) and Affin Bank Berhad have launched Malaysia's first actively managed digital asset fund, lodged with Securities Commission Malaysia and distributed through AFFIN INVIKTATM, marking a significant regulatory milestone for crypto fund accessibility in the region.
  • • The fund offers diversified exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain-exposed equities, and other digital asset classes, targeting sophisticated investors seeking alternative portfolio diversification with a minimum investment of US$1,000 and fee structure of up to 5% initial sales charge plus 2% annual management fee.
  • • CLC's actively managed approach positions the fund as a strategic hedge against geopolitical risk and monetary instability in a multipolar environment, with stated investment theses centered on Bitcoin as a store of value, decentralized finance adoption, and smart contract utility through Ether exposure.
  • • The fund's launch through a major Malaysian bank signals institutional-grade infrastructure development for digital assets in Southeast Asia and represents a pathway for retail and high-net-worth clients to access professionally managed crypto exposure within a regulated framework.
Summary
Cross Light Capital and Affin Bank Berhad have announced the launch of Malaysia's first actively managed digital asset fund, a significant development in regulated cryptocurrency investment infrastructure across Southeast Asia. The fund, which carries regulatory approval from Securities Commission Malaysia, will be distributed to clients through AFFIN INVIKTATM, Affin Bank's investment platform, enabling institutional and sophisticated retail investors to gain exposure to digital assets through a professionally managed vehicle.

The fund structure provides diversified access to multiple digital asset categories, including Bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrency holdings alongside equity investments in blockchain-exposed companies. The minimum investment threshold is set at US$1,000, with a fee arrangement comprising up to 5% initial sales charge and 2% annual management fees. This pricing structure aligns the fund with institutional alternative investment standards while remaining accessible to qualified individual investors.

Jason Lee, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Cross Light Capital, articulated the fund's investment rationale as addressing contemporary macroeconomic and geopolitical dynamics. According to Lee, the actively managed approach enables sophisticated navigation of digital asset markets, positioning Bitcoin as a monetary hedge and store of value, while emphasizing decentralized finance potential and smart contract adoption through Ethereum exposure. Lee explicitly framed digital assets as a geopolitical and monetary hedge within an increasingly multipolar global environment, reflecting institutional investor concerns regarding currency stability and reserve asset diversification.

The partnership between CLC and Affin Bank represents a credibility-enhancing collaboration, combining a specialized digital asset manager with a major Malaysian financial institution's distribution infrastructure and regulatory standing. This structure addresses traditional barriers to cryptocurrency fund adoption among conservative institutional investors by embedding digital asset exposure within a established banking relationship and compliance framework. The fund's positioning as a "triple play" investment vehicle—combining multiple digital asset categories and exposure mechanisms—suggests a layered risk approach designed to appeal to diversification-focused portfolio managers seeking non-correlated alternative returns.

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Sources

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AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

Businesstoday CLC, AFFIN BANK Launch Malaysia’s First Actively Managed Digital Asset Fund