Key Takeaways
- • Marex has launched the first Institutional Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) indices on digital assets, the Marex Crypto Volatility Carry Indices, according to the firm's announcement.
- • The first family comprises two indices, one on Bitcoin and one on Ethereum, designed to harvest the risk premium between implied and realised volatility through a systematic, rules-based approach.
- • The indices use listed options and perpetual futures on Bitcoin and Ethereum available through Coinbase, which Marex selected for institutional-grade infrastructure, liquidity and 24/7 risk management support.
- • MSCI, through Compass Financial Technologies, serves as independent index calculation agent and index administrator, bringing benchmark-administrator rigour to the offering.
- • The product targets both traditional institutional investors and crypto-native allocators, with Marex acting as counterparty.
Summary
Marex has launched the first Institutional Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) indices on digital assets, introducing its Marex Crypto Volatility Carry Indices. The launch extends the Institutional QIS offering, which has traditionally given institutional investors systematic access to risk premia across established asset classes, into digital assets. According to the firm, the strategies are designed to capture the spread between implied and realised volatility through a systematic, rules-based process.
The initial family consists of two indices, one referencing Bitcoin and the other Ethereum. Walter Cegarra, Head of Institutional Solutions, Financial Products at Marex, said the team applied the same research, development and implementation rigour that defines Institutional QIS to the crypto asset class, creating a new diversifying risk premium for both traditional institutional and crypto-native investors. The strategies draw on Marex's capabilities across structuring, quantitative research, trading and market access.
For market infrastructure, Marex uses listed options and perpetual futures on Bitcoin and Ethereum available through Coinbase. Liz Martin, Head of Coinbase Institutional, said Coinbase is powering the QIS offering and helping bring QIS to crypto natives and to traditional institutional investors through Marex as counterparty. Marex cited Coinbase's institutional-grade infrastructure, liquidity and ability to support risk management on a 24/7 basis as reasons for the selection.
Marex has also appointed MSCI, through Compass Financial Technologies, as independent index calculation agent and index administrator. Guillaume Le Fur, Managing Director, Index at MSCI, said the firm was proud to bring the rigour of a benchmark administrator to the offering, building on MSCI's long history in QIS and previous work with Marex.
The announcement is a marketing communication and is not investment advice or an offer. The indices are not available to retail investors, and products linked to them carry risk of loss depending on their structure. Marex's wider Institutional QIS offering spans digital assets, commodities and equities, per the firm's related materials.
The initial family consists of two indices, one referencing Bitcoin and the other Ethereum. Walter Cegarra, Head of Institutional Solutions, Financial Products at Marex, said the team applied the same research, development and implementation rigour that defines Institutional QIS to the crypto asset class, creating a new diversifying risk premium for both traditional institutional and crypto-native investors. The strategies draw on Marex's capabilities across structuring, quantitative research, trading and market access.
For market infrastructure, Marex uses listed options and perpetual futures on Bitcoin and Ethereum available through Coinbase. Liz Martin, Head of Coinbase Institutional, said Coinbase is powering the QIS offering and helping bring QIS to crypto natives and to traditional institutional investors through Marex as counterparty. Marex cited Coinbase's institutional-grade infrastructure, liquidity and ability to support risk management on a 24/7 basis as reasons for the selection.
Marex has also appointed MSCI, through Compass Financial Technologies, as independent index calculation agent and index administrator. Guillaume Le Fur, Managing Director, Index at MSCI, said the firm was proud to bring the rigour of a benchmark administrator to the offering, building on MSCI's long history in QIS and previous work with Marex.
The announcement is a marketing communication and is not investment advice or an offer. The indices are not available to retail investors, and products linked to them carry risk of loss depending on their structure. Marex's wider Institutional QIS offering spans digital assets, commodities and equities, per the firm's related materials.
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