According to Odaily, the collapse of major crypto-friendly banks last year has posed significant challenges for the cryptocurrency market. Hedge funds and other crypto investors have found it increasingly difficult to transfer funds at the speed required by most exchanges. In response, a growing number of cryptocurrency brokerage firms, such as FalconX, and trading companies, including GSR and B2C2, have stepped in to offer short-term financing solutions. These firms ensure that their clients' transactions can be settled immediately, generating substantial returns in the process. Several crypto brokers are acting as shadow banks, providing short-term loans to bridge timing mismatches and charging annual interest rates as high as 25%.