Following our recent recognition as Digital Assets Solution/Fund Manager of the Year at the WealthBriefing Awards, Tommaso Mancuso, President and Global Head of Investments, and Andrew Ballinger, Director of Investment Operations, were featured in the latest edition of Acclaim. We have reposted the article here, where they discuss the development and evolution of QMAP.
The 3iQ Managed Account Platform (QMAP) is the digital asset industry’s first comprehensive hedge fund managed account platform, providing investors with access to actively managed strategies in a secure, transparent, and efficient framework.
QMAP offers access to top-tier managers selected through a rigorous, multi-month due diligence process by 3iQ’s Hedge Fund Solutions Group. It also provides mandate flexibility, enabling clients to invest in individual managers or diversified combinations through a single, streamlined subscription process.
A core differentiator is operational control and security. 3iQ retains full legal ownership of assets, while third-party managers operate under “trade-only” permissions within sub-accounts. This enables near real-time liquidity and reduces risks such as fraud, side pocketing, and investor lock-ups. The platform is supported by institutional-grade infrastructure, including leading service providers, pre-negotiated trading terms, and tri-party escrow arrangements, minimising counterparty risk and avoiding exposure of assets on exchanges.
QMAP also delivers high levels of transparency and real-time reporting. Investors benefit from daily position-level visibility and consolidated risk monitoring across spot, derivatives, and lending exposures, allowing for more effective risk management.
Commitment to client service and problem-solving
A defining example of 3iQ’s client-first approach was the on boarding of a sovereign-backed institutional investor committing significant seed capital over three years. This required an extensive and highly technical due diligence process across risk, operations, governance, and investment frameworks.
The entire team collaborated to respond thoroughly and transparently. Portfolio managers, risk specialists, and operations staff worked together to refine documentation, stress-test assumptions, and enhance reporting. This effort not only secured the mandate – an industry first – but also strengthened the firm’s institutional framework for all clients.
Role of collaboration in success
Collaboration has been central to QMAP’s development. 3iQ works closely with custodians, banks, prime brokers, and exchanges to design and implement tri-party and off-exchange solutions, while maintaining strong partnerships with third-party hedge fund managers. The firm co-develops solutions such as off-exchange settlement and trading rails, improving counterparty risk management and enabling greater institutional participation. At the same time, it provides managers with flexible trading infrastructure, allowing them to operate without unnecessary constraints. This complementary approach allows managers to focus on generating alpha while 3iQ ensures operational strength.
Key challenges ahead and positioning for the future
Managers face the challenge of balancing agility with discipline in an increasingly volatile environment. Rapid shifts in market structure, liquidity, and macro conditions can quickly erode previously attractive strategies. 3iQ addresses this by allocating to managers whose strategies are designed to perform across market regimes and who demonstrate consistent risk discipline. Equally important is infrastructure. Counter party selection, custody models, and off-exchange trading solutions are critical to resilience. As alpha becomes more competitive, operational robustness and manager quality will be key differentiators.
About 3iQ Digital Asset Management
Founded in 2012, 3iQ is a leading digital asset manager focused on institutional-grade investment solutions. The firm pioneered QMAP and launched some of the first Bitcoin and Ethereum ex change-traded products listed on major global exchanges, while integrating staking into ETF strategies. In 2024, Monex Group acquired a majority stake in 3iQ, supporting its continued global growth and innovation in digital asset investment management.
