Arthur Hayes, CEO of the crypto trading platform BitMEX, has weighed in on the growing influence of DeepSeek AI, CEO of the crypto trading platform BitMEX, has weighed in on the growing influence of DeepSeek AI. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) on January 27, Hayes suggested that DeepSeek AI might shift investor focus away from U.S.-centric financial markets toward global alternatives.
While OpenAI dominates the conversation around open-source AI in the U.S., Hayes believes the emergence of global competitors like DeepSeek could prompt investors to look beyond U.S. stocks, bonds, and assets. The rise of DeepSeek and other AI counterparts is positioning investors to diversify into financial options not heavily influenced by U.S. policies.
A New Global Player in AI
DeepSeek AI, founded in May 2023 by Liang Wenfeng—a hedge fund manager and AI expert—is already making waves. With full backing from Wenfeng’s quantitative hedge fund, High-Flyer, the company has started challenging giants like OpenAI, Google, and Meta by offering faster and more affordable AI solutions. As of January 2025, DeepSeek’s app surpassed ChatGPT in app store downloads, marking a significant shift in AI consumption.
What makes DeepSeek stand out is its cost-effectiveness. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT charges a $20 monthly subscription, DeepSeek’s services are priced 20 to 30 times lower, making it an appealing choice for a broad user base. This price disparity, combined with DeepSeek’s rapid rise, positions the company as a serious competitor in the AI landscape.
AI’s Impact on Global Financial Choices
Hayes, who has a background in traditional finance with stints at Deutsche Bank and Citi, sees the spread of AI solutions like DeepSeek as a catalyst for change. He argues that as more AI platforms emerge globally, investors may begin to rethink their investment strategies. Instead of relying on U.S. assets, they might shift their focus to markets that aren’t under the U.S.’s financial and political influence.
This could further accelerate the movement toward decentralized financial options, including cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional financial markets, which are often subject to the whims of U.S. policy, crypto offers a borderless, decentralized alternative that could serve as a hedge against geopolitical instability or economic uncertainty in the U.S.
Crypto: A Global Hedge Against Traditional Markets
In this new landscape, crypto offers a compelling option. Its agnostic nature—free from the control of any single nation—makes it a potential safe haven for investors seeking diversification outside U.S. markets. Crypto’s borderless access to assets means investors can spread their portfolios across a variety of assets, unaffected by the policies of a single country.
As Hayes points out, traditional finance is increasingly looking to crypto. According to Financial News, 47% of hedge funds have already included crypto in their portfolios, and derivatives are being used to gain exposure to the market. The increasing popularity of cryptocurrency as a hedge is reflected in the performance of crypto markets. In December 2023, South Korea’s cryptocurrency market outperformed its stock market by 22%, signaling that digital assets are gaining ground even in traditionally conservative financial markets.
The Rise of Crypto Investors
The growing adoption of cryptocurrency is undeniable. Data from Security.org shows that 65 million individuals are now investing in crypto, with an additional 14% planning to invest in the future. As more investors consider the global implications of their portfolios, the question is not whether this shift will happen, but when.
While AI is undeniably at the center of this transformation, the current market conditions paint a mixed picture. According to Coingecko, the total market cap of AI-related crypto tokens sits at $36.3 billion, reflecting a drop of over 12% in the last 24 hours. Despite this dip, the long-term trajectory seems clear: AI and crypto are becoming increasingly intertwined, and the rise of platforms like DeepSeek may accelerate this shift toward decentralized, global financial alternatives.