In this Member Spotlight, we feature Cumberland, a prominent member of the Global Synchronizer Foundation (GSF). As the digital asset arm of DRW, Cumberland is playing a crucial role in advancing blockchain technology and institutional adoption in the financial ecosystem.
What is your company, your role and why did you join the GSF?
As the digital asset arm of DRW, Cumberland is at the forefront of bridging TradFi and the emerging blockchain ecosystem. We provide spot and derivatives liquidity to institutions in the cryptoasset markets, while also building the technology and infrastructure that will enable greater institutional adoption of blockchain technology.
Don Wilson, CEO of DRW, had a vision to leverage blockchain technology to improve efficiency, reduce systemic risks, and enable better margin and risk management in TradFi markets. He partnered with Yuval Rooz to found Digital Asset Holdings (now Digital Asset), the company that initially developed Canton’s underlying technology.
Cumberland’s involvement in blockchain goes beyond providing liquidity; we are building the technological foundation that allows for the institutional adoption of this transformative technology.
Why are you excited about Canton Network for your business?
We’re excited about the Canton Network because it offers a unique combination of privacy and composability, two key features that are critical for the efficient functioning of TradFi markets. In TradFi, systemic risks often stem from poorly managed collateral and undercollateralized positions, and Canton addresses these concerns by enabling collateral mobility—the ability to move assets like cash or treasuries instantly and securely, 24/7. This creates new, more efficient ways of managing margin and mitigating risks across the entire financial system.
Additionally, Canton’s ability to offer configurable privacy ensures that sensitive information—like equity trades or margin postings—remains protected, which is essential for institutions in TradFi. While transparency is a hallmark of the crypto world, TradFi requires a level of confidentiality to ensure security and competitive integrity. Canton strikes the perfect balance by offering the privacy needed for traditional market players while enabling the benefits of blockchain technology.
What are you building and how will it create value for the ecosystem?
Our role as a liquidity provider is integral to the broader adoption of blockchain technology in the financial ecosystem. By offering spot and derivatives liquidity, we enable seamless trading for institutions, ensuring that they can participate in blockchain-driven markets without encountering barriers to entry. We believe that networks like Canton are key to fostering the next wave of institutional adoption of blockchain technology.
As more institutions adopt platforms like Canton, we’ll continue to provide the essential liquidity that allows these markets to thrive and scale effectively, driving the evolution of both crypto and TradFi markets in parallel.
About the Global Synchronizer Foundation
Global Synchronizer Foundation’s mission is to foster the development and growth of the Global Synchronizer in the Canton Network and facilitate its governance. The GSF provides transparency and member engagement in decisions made by the operators (Super Validators) of the Global Synchronizer to ensure a reliable, fair, and trusted service for the Canton Network. Blockchain applications in the Canton Network can use the Global Synchronizer to enable atomic transactions across sovereign blockchains without sacrificing privacy or control.