Updated:
Global Digital Assets
Michael Gord founded Global Digital Assets in 2017 as a digital-asset merchant bank deploying capital into token and equity rounds across North America.
Global Digital Assets
Michael Gord launched Global Digital Assets (GDA) in 2017 in New York, initially as a bridge between institutional capital and early-stage blockchain protocols. The firm evolved from a consultancy into a merchant banking model that originates, structures, and invests in digital asset ventures. Gord brought a network built at TD Bank and as an early Bitcoin advocate, advising enterprises on blockchain integration before the ICO boom. GDA now operates from New York and Toronto, straddling two of North America's most active crypto regulatory and capital-markets hubs. GDA deploys capital across three distinct verticals: advisory and capital markets for token launches, direct venture investments in early-stage blockchain companies, and a proprietary asset management arm that runs liquid token strategies. The firm sponsors token offerings and private placements, functioning as both placement agent and principal investor. Confirmed engagements include advising on token generation events for layer-1 protocols and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, though specific portfolio names beyond public announcements remain limited. The firm typically targets pre-seed through Series A rounds, with check sizes inferred from its merchant-bank structure rather than a disclosed fund vehicle. GDA's advisory business operates adjacent to its investment arm, generating fee revenue that supports a lean permanent-capital base. The firm does not disclose total AUM or deployment figures, consistent with its structure as a privately held merchant bank rather than a regulated fund complex. The Toronto office, established in 2019, extends GDA's reach into Canada's crypto-friendly banking environment. The firm has historically participated in industry working groups and events like Consensus and the Blockchain Futurist Conference, signaling an operating posture that blends principal investing with ecosystem-building. What distinguishes GDA from pure VC funds is its merchant banking license and co-structuring capability: the firm advises token projects on economics, distribution, and exchange listing while simultaneously investing its own capital. This dual role aligns incentives but also concentrates exposure. The firm's permanent-capital structure — with no disclosed LP base — suggests it relies on founder and partner capital alongside advisory fees, a rare model even among crypto-native allocators.
General information
Firm type
Generalist
Year founded
2017
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
Toronto, Canada
Principals
Michael Gord
Founder & CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Global Digital Assets?
Michael Gord, founder and CEO, leads investment decisions. Gord built the firm on his background in enterprise blockchain consulting at TD Bank and as an early Bitcoin community organizer. The firm has not publicly named additional investment committee members or partners with check-writing authority.
How is Global Digital Assets structured — is it a venture fund or a merchant bank?
GDA operates as a merchant bank, not a traditional venture fund. It earns fees from advisory mandates and capital-markets services — including token generation events and private placements — while investing its own balance sheet directly. The firm does not disclose a blind-pool fund structure or limited partner composition.
Does Global Digital Assets invest in equity, tokens, or both?
GDA invests in both equity and tokens. The firm participates in token private placements and pre-public rounds, and also takes equity stakes in blockchain infrastructure companies. Its advisory arm structures token economics for projects, giving it access to token allocations that complement equity positions.
What sets GDA apart from other crypto venture firms?
GDA combines a licensed advisory and capital-markets practice with principal investing. This allows the firm to underwrite and distribute token deals as a placement agent, an activity most pure VC firms cannot perform. The dual mandate ties fee income to investment pipeline, though it also concentrates operational risk under one entity.
Where does Global Digital Assets invest geographically?
GDA focuses on North America, with offices in New York and Toronto. The firm has also engaged with international protocols through advisory mandates, but public disclosures point to a US- and Canada-centric deal flow. The Toronto office specifically leverages Canada's progressive digital-asset regulatory framework.
Does Global Digital Assets manage third-party capital or only proprietary?
GDA does not publicly market a fund to external LPs. Its asset management arm runs liquid token strategies, but the firm has not confirmed whether those vehicles include outside capital. The merchant banking model suggests a reliance on partner equity, advisory fees, and principal gains rather than management fees from third-party investors.
Is Global Digital Assets affiliated with any other financial institutions?
No public affiliations with parent banks, family offices, or asset managers are disclosed. Michael Gord's prior role at TD Bank provides institutional lineage, but GDA operates independently. The firm has not announced strategic partnerships with traditional financial institutions beyond advisory client relationships.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on asset managers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: