Crypto tycoon Li Lin is relocating a specialized trading team of approximately 20 professionals from his single-family office, Avenir Group, to Bitfire Group Holdings Ltd. The move is designed to enhance Bitfire’s ability to serve private banking clients and institutional investors throughout the Asian region. Li, who holds a 30% stake in Bitfire, is the primary shareholder of the wealth management firm, which was known as Sinohope until a recent rebranding effort.
Bitfire Chief Executive Officer Livio Weng confirmed the transition in an interview on April 21, 2026, stating that the firm is acquiring both the personnel and the proprietary trading systems from Avenir Group. The transferred team includes professionals spanning investment research, trading execution, and risk control. This integration is intended to scale Bitfire’s digital asset management offerings as it targets high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and listed companies.
The core of the team’s operations involves a proprietary AlphaBTC strategy. According to Weng, this strategy seeks to exceed the standard performance of holding Bitcoin by utilizing sophisticated options contracts. The strategy is designed to generate alpha in various market conditions, providing a yield-enhanced alternative to simple spot exposure. Bitfire reported that it has already received approximately $500 million in initial investment interest from family offices and listed companies following the announcement of the team’s arrival. The firm plans to expand this trading strategy to include Ethereum and stablecoins later this year.
Avenir Group serves as the primary vehicle for managing the personal wealth of Li Lin. Li, a prominent Chinese crypto entrepreneur, gained significant recognition and built his early fortune as the founder of Huobi Group. As of December 31, Avenir Group reported holding more than $900 million in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The family office currently identifies as Asia’s largest institutional holder of these specific securities.
The strategic shift comes as Bitfire seeks to pivot its business model toward asset management and private banking services. By absorbing a proven trading team from Li’s private office, the firm aims to provide sophisticated financial products that mimic the strategies used by major cryptocurrency whales. The acquisition includes the full suite of risk management protocols developed by Avenir to navigate the inherent volatility of digital asset markets.
Bitfire’s expansion into these specialized strategies follows a broader trend of institutional adoption within the region. The firm’s leadership indicated that the $500 million in preliminary interest reflects a growing demand for yield-generating products among corporate entities and wealthy families. The transition of the 20-person team is expected to be completed immediately, with the new trading desk operating under Bitfire’s regulatory framework.