Prime Highlights
- Animoca Brands teams up with GROW to launch GROW Digital Wealth (GDW), offering both crypto and traditional investments to high-net-worth clients.
- The partnership gives independent financial advisors a fully regulated platform to provide diverse investment options.
Key Facts
- GDW holds Type 1, 4, and 9 licenses from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission, ensuring compliance and institutional standards.
- The initiative targets China’s market of over 3 million high-net-worth individuals with investable assets exceeding US$18 trillion.
Background:
Animoca Brands, a digital assets and blockchain company, has joined with GROW Investment Group (“GROW”), a top investment firm in China backed by Julius Baer. As part of the deal, Animoca Brands will invest in GROW Asset Management (HK) Limited, which will be renamed GROW Digital Wealth (GDW), the company’s main platform.
The partnership will let GDW offer crypto and traditional investments to rich clients. It will also help independent financial advisors (IFAs) provide clients with advanced technology, global investment options, and strong compliance.
GDW currently holds Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities), and Type 9 (asset management) licenses from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. This setup allows independent financial advisors (IFAs) across Asia to use a fully regulated, professional wealth management system.
Through the partnership, Animoca Brands will introduce crypto assets, including real-world assets (RWAs), while GROW will provide its selection of traditional investment products. This will let IFAs offer clients diversified portfolios that include both traditional and digital investments.
The initiative focuses on China’s growing asset management market, which has over 3 million high-net-worth individuals with investable assets of more than CNY127 trillion (about US$18 trillion). As investors look for higher returns, interest in overseas and alternative investments is increasing.
The two companies also plan to offer educational programs to help investors understand the mix of traditional and digital finance.
Animoca Brands’ Chief Business Officer, Alan Lau, said that Hong Kong is becoming a key center for regulated digital assets in Asia. Through the partnership with GROW, they plan to link their Web3 and real-world asset projects with a licensed wealth management platform to make digital assets more accessible.
GROW’s Founding Partner and Global Chief Investment Officer, William Ma, added, “The future of wealth management combines traditional and digital offerings with technology at its core. We are excited to collaborate with Animoca Brands on this innovative venture.”
As part of the agreement, Animoca Brands intends to acquire up to 15% equity in GDW, subject to final agreements and regulatory approvals.
