Barbadian tech visionary and former diplomat Gabriel Abed has landed a key leadership role in a landmark $1 billion cryptocurrency investment initiative, according to Bloomberg.

Gabriel Abed, who currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Binance—the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange—has been named Vice Chairman of a new digital asset venture backed by a heavyweight team of global business leaders, including former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

The investment vehicle, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) known as M3-Brigade Acquisition V Corp., is seeking to raise $1 billion to build a diversified portfolio of major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana. The move marks a significant shift from the typical single-token focus seen in other crypto strategies and reflects a broader vision for institutional participation in the evolving digital asset landscape.

Abed’s appointment underscores his growing international clout in the blockchain and fintech arenas. A trailblazer in the Caribbean tech space, Abed is widely recognized for his early advocacy of central bank digital currencies and his role in positioning Barbados at the forefront of digital finance. He also served as Barbados’ first Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2021 to 2024.

The newly announced SPAC is being spearheaded by Reeve Collins, co-founder of stablecoin issuer Tether Holdings SA, and a former Blackstone dealmaker. Jaime Leverton, the former CEO of Canadian crypto mining firm Hut 8, will lead the company as CEO. The project is being advised by Cantor Fitzgerald LP, with final details of the venture—including its official name—still under wraps as fundraising continues.

This bold multi-token approach distinguishes the initiative from Bitcoin-only strategies like those championed by Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy or Japan’s Metaplanet. It also comes on the heels of a controversial executive order signed in March by U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve alongside a separate digital asset fund.

Gabriel Abed’s journey—from Queen’s College in Barbados to Ontario Tech University and later into the upper echelons of global tech diplomacy—continues to reflect the rising influence of Caribbean innovation in the world of digital finance. His latest role may further cement his place as a central figure in shaping the future of crypto investment at a global scale.

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