B2C2 Taps Schroders Veteran to Capture Asia's Booming Crypto Wealth

Woofun AI reports that institutional crypto liquidity provider B2C2 has appointed Jason Lai, the former chairman of Schroders Wealth Management Asia, as a senior adviser based in Singapore. This strategic hiring is designed to deepen the firm's relationships with family offices, funds, and asset managers throughout the Asia-Pacific region, signaling a targeted push into high-net-worth private wealth channels.

Lai brings extensive experience from Asia's private wealth sector, having founded Thirdrock Group, an independent wealth and asset management firm, in 2009. The business was acquired by Schroders in 2019, after which Lai assumed the role of CEO for the firm's Asian wealth management unit before transitioning to chairman. He officially retired from Schroders in 2026, positioning him to leverage his decades of industry connections for B2C2's new regional strategy.

Established in 2015, B2C2 operates as an institutional crypto market maker and liquidity provider, serving a diverse client base that includes banks, exchanges, brokers, hedge funds, and asset managers. The firm utilizes proprietary trading technology to deliver continuous liquidity and execution across spot, derivatives, structured products, and over-the-counter markets. The appointment coincides with a broader trend of traditional wealth managers and family offices in Asia increasing their exposure to digital assets. Boston Consulting Group estimates that total assets under management in the region will reach $99 trillion by 2029, with Singapore and Hong Kong identified as key financial centers driving this growth.

Woofun AI data shows that globally, roughly one-third of family offices already have exposure to cryptocurrencies, according to Goldman Sachs. Asia is increasingly becoming the focal point where crypto's retail scale and institutional ambitions intersect. APAC recorded the world's fastest growth in onchain activity for the year through June 2025, with transaction volume surging 69% to $2.36 trillion, according to Chainalysis. India led global adoption rankings, while Singapore and Hong Kong are competing to establish themselves as regulated digital-asset hubs, making the region a critical battleground for firms seeking to court traditional financial institutions and wealthy investors.

Lai's appointment follows a series of strategic hires by B2C2 in Asia under APAC CEO David Rogers, including the recent addition of Laura Teo as Singapore country head. B2C2 is 90% owned by Japan's SBI Holdings, integrating the liquidity provider into the financial group's broader expansion into digital assets. The firm is now targeting further growth in payments, wholesale liquidity, and specialized services for family offices as part of its regional strategy. The crypto market maker has held takeover talks with several potential acquirers over the past 18 months, according to five people with knowledge of the matter.

This strategic pivot underscores the increasing importance of robust liquidity and execution infrastructure for traditional financial institutions and wealthy investors entering the digital asset space. As regulatory frameworks mature in key hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong, the convergence of private wealth and crypto liquidity is likely to accelerate, reshaping the institutional landscape across Asia-Pacific.