Wintermute Enters U.S. Market with New York Headquarters and Ron Hammond as Head of Policy

By: financefeeds|2025/05/16 17:00:17
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Wintermute has announced the opening of its U.S. headquarters in New York City, marking a significant move in the firm’s global expansion. The decision reinforces its operational footprint in North America and establishes a physical presence in what the company called “the capital of global finance.” The algorithmic trading and OTC firm will use its New York base to deepen relationships with U.S.-based counterparties and partners while broadening its role in regulatory engagement. As part of this expansion, Wintermute appointed Ron Hammond as Head of Policy and Advocacy. Hammond was previously Senior Director of Government Relations at the Blockchain Association and brings nearly a decade of experience in financial policy. “We believe we are well-positioned to lend our expertise on Capitol Hill” Ron Hammond, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Wintermute, commented, “I am thrilled to join Wintermute, a global powerhouse in digital asset markets, as it establishes a U.S. presence at this critical moment for the digital asset industry. With the regulatory climate in the U.S. becoming more constructive, we see tremendous opportunity to foster responsible innovation and deepen engagement with policymakers and industry stakeholders. I’m eager to work alongside the Wintermute team as it forges a new path in America.” Hammond began his policy career in 2016 as Financial Services Policy Lead for Congressman Warren Davidson. He later joined the Blockchain Association, where he authored legislative proposals, including the Token Taxonomy Act, a bipartisan initiative to create a regulatory framework for digital assets. The appointment reflects Wintermute’s intention to shape digital asset regulation through long-term participation rather than lobbying from the sidelines. The firm confirmed that Hammond will lead policy engagement across state and federal levels, contributing to legislative development and helping coordinate industry-wide responses to proposed rules. Evgeny Gaevoy, CEO of Wintermute, commented, “As the U.S. policy towards digital assets and blockchain innovation has become friendlier, we were determined to act fast and establish roots in the financial capital of the world, New York City. We’re eager to continue our growth and play an integral role in the U.S. market. As a neutral player with deep expertise in all areas of digital assets, we believe we are well-positioned to lend our expertise on Capitol Hill, which we have done recently in our meeting with the SEC Crypto Task Force, and with Ron joining, we will commence fulsome efforts in America.” Gaevoy added that Wintermute’s role across the digital asset ecosystem gives it a “policy-agnostic” advantage when engaging with regulators and lawmakers. The firm plans to use that neutrality to offer technical insights without promoting specific business models. Wintermute is also growing its U.S.-based business development and partnerships team and expanding hiring across key functions. The move comes as digital asset firms seek more formal engagement in Washington, driven by bipartisan interest in crypto market structure legislation and renewed attention to stablecoin frameworks. The company stated that its U.S. office would serve as a cornerstone for expanding services across North America, including localized support for OTC trading counterparties. Wintermute is already recognized globally for its liquidity services in crypto markets, and the firm has increased its involvement in regulatory consultation with global financial authorities. The New York launch reflects confidence in the U.S. as a growth market for institutional digital assets. As regulations move toward greater clarity, Wintermute’s positioning in both trading infrastructure and policy dialogue aligns it with firms anticipating mainstream adoption of tokenized financial instruments.

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On March 4, 2026, DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE American: DDC) today announced preliminary, unaudited full-year financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025. The company expects to achieve record revenue and record positive adjusted EBITDA, primarily driven by continued growth in its core consumer food business and overall margin improvement. The final audited financial report is expected to be released in mid-April 2026.


2025 Full-Year Financial Highlights


Revenue: Expected to be between $39 million and $41 million, reaching a new company high.


Organic Growth: Excluding the impact of the company's strategic contraction of its U.S. operations, core revenue is expected to grow 11% to 17% year over year.


Gross Profit Margin: Expected to be between 28% and 30%, reflecting continued operational efficiency improvements.


Adjusted EBITDA: The company expects to achieve a positive full-year result in 2025, a significant improvement from a $3.5 million loss in 2024, mainly due to rigorous cost controls and a higher-margin sales mix.


Core Consumer Food Business Performance


In 2025, DDC's core consumer food business maintained strong operational performance.


The company also disclosed Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA, a metric that further excludes costs related to its Bitcoin reserve strategy and non-cash fair value adjustments related to its Bitcoin holdings from adjusted EBITDA to more accurately reflect the core business performance.


In 2025, Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $5.5 million and $6 million.


Bitcoin Reserve Update


In the first half of 2025, DDC initiated a long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy, holding Bitcoin as its primary reserve asset.


As of December 31, 2025: The company holds 1,183 BTC.


As of February 28, 2026: Holdings increased to 2,118 BTC


Today's additional purchase of 65 BTC brings the company's total holdings to 2,183 BTC


DDC Founder, Chairman, and CEO Norma Chu stated, "We are proud to have closed 2025 with record revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating the steady growth of the company's consumer food business and the ongoing improvement in profitability. We are building a disciplined, growth-oriented food platform and strategically allocating capital to Bitcoin assets with a long-term view, aligning with our core beliefs. We believe that this dual-track model of 'Steady Consumer Business + Strategic Bitcoin Reserve' will help DDC create lasting long-term value for shareholders."


Adjusted EBITDA Definition
For the full year 2025, the company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" (a non-GAAP financial measure) as: Net income / (loss) excluding the following items:· Interest expense· Taxes· Foreign exchange gains/losses· Long-lived asset impairment· Depreciation and amortization· Non-cash fair value changes related to financial instruments (including Bitcoin holdings)· Stock-based compensation


About DDC Enterprise Limited


DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE: DDC) is actively implementing its corporate Bitcoin Treasury strategy while continuing to strengthen its position as a leading global Asian food platform.


The company has established Bitcoin as a core reserve asset and is executing a prudent, long-oriented accumulation strategy. While expanding its portfolio of food brands, DDC is gradually becoming one of the public company pioneers in integrating Bitcoin into its corporate financial architecture.


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