About Assay
Assay is an independent consulting practice for crypto and DeFi manager performance diligence. We are modeled on the role that GIPS Verifiers play in traditional finance — but built natively for crypto markets. We compute Time-Weighted Return per the Global Investment Performance Standards, test pre-registered benchmarks, review source evidence, and help allocators decide whether a reported track record is credible.
In the narrow sense. Morningstar built a multi-billion-dollar TradFi business across fund ratings, equity research, retirement-planning tools, advisor software, ETF analytics, and a half-dozen other product lines. Assay is starting with one narrower slice of that ecosystem: independent diligence on crypto strategy operators, paired with benchmark-relative performance comparisons. Not financial-advisor SaaS. Not retail brokerage tools. Not the entire massive machine — the verifier function, applied first through consulting engagements.
The TradFi precedent that maps best is actually narrower still: a verifier (the role ACA Group, Confluence Technologies, and Alpha FMC play in TradFi GIPS verification) coupled over time with a manager database (the eVestment / HFR / Morningstar role). The consulting work comes first because the methodology has to be credible before a directory is useful.
Michael has led GIPS compliance projects since 2009 and has architected and built GIPS systems for asset managers with more than $80B in AUM. He has professional experience in New York City building systems for Lehman Brothers, in Canada at BMO Nesbitt Burns and another large investment management firm, and in digital assets since 2011.
Michael studied Mathematical Sciences at the University of Waterloo and has been a CFA charterholder since 2012. He has also led AI software organizations including OpenWorm, the open-science project focused on integrative biological simulation, and Fling.AI, a Singapore-based AI startup. His experience spans GIPS methodology, institutional finance systems, crypto markets, and AI software leadership.
Consulting enquiries: [email protected]
Allocator access: [email protected]
Press: [email protected]
We have several open roles. If you have crypto-native fund administration experience or have built quant/risk infrastructure at an institutional manager, [email protected] wants to hear from you.
