January 2026
Performance News Trends Regulatory updates
Lessons from 2025 & signals for 2026.
This edition brings together perspectives from across private markets to explore how the alternative investment landscape is being reshaped as we move into 2026. Jack Inglis, CEO of AIMA, reflects on 2025 as a turning point for hedge funds, marked by strong performance and a more constructive regulatory tone that is laying the foundations for a pragmatic, risk-focused policy agenda across global markets, private credit and digital assets. Daniel Trentacosta of MUFG Investor Services examines how the rise of semi-liquid fund structures and a broader investor base is elevating operational excellence into a core competitive advantage, driven by automation and institutional-grade infrastructure. DIFC's Salmaan Jaffery charts the DIFC's rapid emergence as a top-five global hedge fund hub, underpinned by regulatory strength, talent, innovation and access to capital. In digital assets, Vin Molino of Crypto Insights Group argues that while crypto speculation cooled in 2025, it accelerated real-world adoption, positioning 2026 as a year of durable economic utility and institutional-grade alpha. Jonida Vesiu of CSC explores the long-term democratisation of private markets across the US, EU and UK; while Marex's Amy Cheung looks at global allocator thinking; and H-Squared's Max Heppleston explains why volatility and allocator scrutiny will favour hedge funds that genuinely hedge. In other sections, we hear from Prosek's Mark Kollar on the growing role of insurance balance sheets as a vital source of long-duration capital, and CAIA's Georgina Tzanetos on the need for discipline and transparency in an increasingly crowded alternatives universe. In our Money Maze Podcast interview we feature ARK Invest's Cathie Wood in conversation with Simon Brewer.
A Brodie Consulting publication in conjunction with Capricorn Fund Managers and RQC Group.
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