Aquanow is a leading infrastructure provider that enables institutional and enterprise use-cases for digital assets. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Aquanow VP of Research Sebastian Davies to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Sebastian Davies’ Background
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to work at
Aquanow? Davies said:
“I started my career in traditional finance, working in equity research, derivatives, and investment strategy across both the sell side and buy side. I joined Aquanow early on, drawn by the opportunity to help shape the future of the digital asset industry through infrastructure development and investment. Today, I focus on the latter, where I help lead efforts across early-stage venture capital and structured credit.”
What Aquanow Does
What does Aquanow do at a high level? Davies shared:
“Aquanow is a digital asset infrastructure company helping financial institutions enable crypto through trading, payments, and other tailored solutions. We hold licenses and maintain strong relationships with regulators globally, and we are SOC 2 Type II certified. Alongside the core business, we’ve built an investment platform where I focus on early-stage venture and private credit.”
Investment Side Of The Business
What does the investment side of the business look like? Davies explained:
“We run two complementary mandates. On one side, we have a venture strategy focused on early-stage investments in digital asset infrastructure, data, and compliance technology. We’ve backed over 30 companies to date and work closely with founders to help them execute.”
“On the other side, we manage a monthly income fund that provides private credit to digital asset holders. Think of it as margin lending against crypto collateral, with use cases ranging from fintechs that offer borrow-lend products to foundations and high-net-worth individuals looking for liquidity without selling their tokens.”
Risk/Return
How do you think about risk and return in this space? Davies noted:
“On the credit side, we’re underwriting collateral we can price and margin daily. That gives us the ability to construct high-quality, short-duration loans with attractive yield potential. On the venture side, the risk is clearly higher, but we take a concentrated approach and focus on category-defining infrastructure where we can add strategic value. We understand return is what you receive for taking risk, so we balance the two accordingly.”
Highlights From Investment Work
What have been some highlights so far from your investment work? Davies pointed out:
“On the venture side, we’ve had some breakout successes and a few tough lessons. That’s to be expected in early-stage investing. What I’m most proud of is how many of our portfolio companies turn to us not just for capital, but for ongoing support—whether that’s product feedback, commercial introductions, or navigating market cycles.”
“On the credit side, launching and scaling the income fund has been a major highlight. It
brings together risk management, operational execution, compounding returns, and
trusted relationships—all things I care deeply about.”
Broader Aquanow Mission
How does your work tie back to the broader Aquanow mission? Davies described:
“The investment side complements Aquanow’s core infrastructure business. We stay close to the bleeding edge through our venture and credit activity, while the core business provides real-time insight into market needs. It’s a tight feedback loop that helps us allocate capital intelligently and inform broader strategy—all in service of enabling the future of finance through digital assets.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What sets Aquanow apart from others in the space? Davies affirmed:
“We’re one of the few firms that truly operate at the intersection of traditional finance and crypto. We have a global infrastructure business, positive relationships with regulators, and an in-house investment platform. That breadth gives us a unique vantage point and helps us move quickly but responsibly.”
Future Goals
What’s next for your team? Davies emphasized:
“On the venture side, we’re raising a second fund and continuing to support our founders
as they scale. On the credit side, we’re focused on fundraising and expanding our
network of borrowers. It’s an exciting time!”
Advice For Others
Any advice for others exploring digital asset investing? Davies concluded:
“Take the time to understand the plumbing. A lot of people focus on price action, but the
real innovation is happening under the hood. Whether you’re allocating capital or
building a product, understanding how the systems actually work will give you an edge.”
