totajla/shutterstock.com_2277066551
27 January 2025news

Relm launches exchange default solution

Relm Insurance has launched FALTAWEB3, a bespoke risk transfer solution that asset managers, broker/dealers or custodians can purchase to give their customers peace of mind in the event that they are unable to withdraw funds from exchanges due to an ‘exchange default’.

According to Realm this first of its kind solution provides policyholder protection against exchange defaults, encompassing ‘insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, or halting of account withdrawals’. With the frequency of such events increasing in recent years, Relm has developed FALTAWEB3 to provide commercial customers of exchanges with more confidence to invest and trade.

For FALTAWEB3, Relm will harness its proprietary data alongside insights from Agio Ratings, a credit rating firm with an established record of assessing exchange default risk. Agio Ratings’ rigorous quantitative approach flagged high risk at FTX and several other exchanges that subsequently defaulted. “Exchange risk is notoriously difficult to hedge, even for the most sophisticated risk managers. We’re excited to support Relm’s vision to broaden access to coverage in the event of an exchange default,” said Ana de Sousa, chief executive of Agio Ratings.

“This new solution further solidifies our alignment with innovators in the digital asset space,” said Joseph Ziolkowski (pictured), Relm’s chief executive and founder. “Insurance should be an enabling force for the maturing crypto economy. FALTAWEB3 was built from deep industry engagement, ensuring that we meet the unique needs of market participants handling significant volumes of fiat and crypto across exchanges.”

To address this critical exposure with greater flexibility, Relm can also leverage its alternative reinsurance infrastructure to enable self-insurance options and the utilisation of third-party capital to underwrite larger limits. Relm offers a bankruptcy-protected, turn-key captive insurance option for commercial entities reliant on exchanges, allowing them to participate in underwriting profits. Additionally, Relm said that it can quickly establish reinsurance sidecars, deploying third-party capital — denominated in fiat or digital assets — to create regulated reinsurance capacity absent in the traditional market.

“Through direct engagement with stakeholders and cutting-edge technology partners, Relm continues to redefine the possibilities of risk transfer solutions," added Claire Davey, Relm’s head of product innovation and emerging risk. "FALTAWEB3 exemplifies our commitment to identifying emerging risks and utilising data-driven insights alongside regulated insurance infrastructure to create products that address gaps in the traditional insurance market and provide confidence to a growing digital asset economy."

This news comes after Relm announced the launch of its US MGA, licensed in 50 states, and the hiring of industry veteran Keith Lavigne as head of underwriting – US.

Did you get value from this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.