Houlihan Lokey Strengthens FinTech Advisory Business With Digital Assets Expert Chris McMillan
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, has expanded its FinTech advisory capabilities with the appointment of Chris McMillan as a Managing Director in its FinTech Group. Based in Charlotte, McMillan will focus on the rapidly developing digital assets sector, bringing extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and strategic advisory services to the firm’s growing practice.
McMillan’s appointment adds specialized expertise in blockchain and digital assets at a time when financial institutions, technology companies and other businesses are evaluating how emerging technologies can influence payments, financial services, capital formation and digital commerce.
His experience spans investment banking, strategic advisory and technology-focused transactions. Before joining Houlihan Lokey, McMillan founded 3V Capital Partners, a boutique advisory firm serving technology companies with M&A, capital markets and strategic advisory services. The firm’s areas of focus included blockchain and digital assets, artificial intelligence infrastructure and software.
Earlier in his career, McMillan served at Credit Suisse, where he was Head of Blockchain and Co-Head of Internet Investment Banking. His combination of traditional investment-banking experience and specialized knowledge of blockchain technology will support Houlihan Lokey’s efforts to expand its advisory coverage of digital assets.
Expanding Digital Assets Expertise
Digital assets have become an increasingly important area of the financial technology ecosystem. Companies operating in the sector include blockchain infrastructure providers, cryptocurrency businesses, stablecoin platforms, digital asset exchanges, tokenization companies and other technology businesses developing blockchain-based financial applications.
At the same time, traditional financial institutions have increasingly explored blockchain technology for applications involving payments, settlement, custody, tokenization and other financial services.
These developments create a complex advisory environment for companies and investors. Businesses operating in digital assets may need advice on acquisitions, strategic partnerships, capital raising, corporate development and other financial decisions. Traditional financial institutions may also require strategic guidance as they determine how blockchain technology fits into their existing products and services.
McMillan’s appointment gives Houlihan Lokey a senior adviser with experience across these areas.
Chris McMillan Brings Investment Banking Experience
McMillan joins Houlihan Lokey after building a career around technology, capital markets and strategic transactions.
Most recently, he founded 3V Capital Partners, where he provided advisory services to technology companies. The firm focused on several technology segments, including blockchain and digital assets, AI infrastructure and software.
His work at 3V Capital provided exposure to companies operating at the intersection of technology and financial markets. It also involved advising businesses on transactions and strategic decisions as they developed their corporate and capital structures.
Before establishing 3V Capital Partners, McMillan spent time at Credit Suisse in senior leadership positions.
At Credit Suisse, he served as Head of Blockchain and Co-Head of Internet Investment Banking. His blockchain role gave him direct exposure to the development of the digital assets sector and the financial and strategic issues facing companies operating in the space.
His Internet Investment Banking responsibilities also provided experience advising technology and internet businesses on investment-banking matters.
Supporting Companies in the Digital Assets Sector
As Managing Director within Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech Group, McMillan will focus on digital assets.
His responsibilities are expected to include advising companies and other clients on strategic opportunities within the sector. His background in M&A, capital markets and strategic advisory gives him experience across several transaction types that may be relevant to digital asset businesses.
M&A activity can allow companies to acquire technology, expand into new markets or strengthen existing capabilities. Capital-markets transactions can provide funding for growth and expansion, while strategic advisory can help management teams evaluate broader corporate opportunities.
For digital asset companies, these decisions can involve additional considerations because the sector continues to evolve alongside changes in technology, market structure and regulation.
McMillan’s experience in both traditional investment banking and blockchain-focused advisory work positions him to address these issues within Houlihan Lokey’s broader FinTech platform.
Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech Group
Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech Group is part of the firm’s broader technology and financial services advisory platform.
The group consists of nearly 40 finance professionals and covers a broad range of financial technology businesses globally. The team combines industry expertise with senior-level financial advisory capabilities across different FinTech verticals.
The firm’s approach recognizes that financial technology sits at the intersection of technology and financial services. Companies in the sector can therefore require knowledge of both industries when considering strategic transactions.
Digital assets represent one component of this wider FinTech ecosystem.
Other areas of financial technology include payments, banking technology, financial software, lending technology, wealth technology, insurance technology and other technology-enabled financial services.
By adding McMillan, Houlihan Lokey is expanding its senior-level coverage of blockchain and digital assets within this broader practice.
Connecting FinTech and Traditional Financial Services
One of the areas highlighted by Houlihan Lokey is the increasing interaction between digital assets and traditional financial institutions.
Banks, asset managers, payment companies and other financial services organizations have been examining potential uses of blockchain technology across their businesses. These can include digital payments, tokenized assets, blockchain-based settlement infrastructure and other applications.
For established financial institutions, incorporating blockchain technology can involve strategic, operational and financial considerations.
Companies may need to evaluate whether to develop capabilities internally, partner with technology providers or acquire businesses with specialized expertise.
M&A and strategic advisory experience can be relevant to each of these decisions.
Houlihan Lokey said McMillan’s relationships and knowledge across the blockchain ecosystem will support the firm’s work with financial services companies as they incorporate blockchain technology into their products and services.
Leadership Highlights Sector Expertise
Alec Ellison, Global Head of Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech Group, said McMillan brings an understanding of the digital assets ecosystem together with experience in strategic advisory.
Ellison also pointed to McMillan’s relationships across the blockchain sector as an important addition to the firm’s capabilities.
According to Houlihan Lokey, the appointment will help the FinTech Group expand its digital assets coverage while also supporting collaboration with the firm’s Financial Services banking team.
This collaboration is relevant as traditional financial institutions explore blockchain applications. Digital asset companies and established financial institutions increasingly operate in overlapping areas, creating opportunities for strategic transactions and partnerships.
McMillan’s Perspective on Joining Houlihan Lokey
McMillan said he was pleased to join Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech Group and highlighted the firm’s advisory platform and focus on providing strategic guidance to clients.
He said the firm’s global platform provides an environment in which clients can evaluate opportunities in the digital assets sector.
McMillan also emphasized his intention to collaborate with colleagues across Houlihan Lokey as the firm continues expanding its work with clients in the sector.
His comments reflect the broader role of digital assets within the financial technology market and the need for specialized advisory services as companies consider strategic opportunities.
Digital Assets Continue to Evolve
The digital assets sector has developed considerably over the past several years, expanding beyond cryptocurrencies into a wider ecosystem of blockchain-based technologies and financial applications.
Blockchain infrastructure is increasingly being explored for uses that include payments, asset tokenization, settlement and financial data management. Digital asset companies have also expanded their offerings to serve institutional and corporate customers.
These developments have created new strategic questions for businesses.
Companies may need to determine how digital assets fit into their long-term business models, whether they should pursue acquisitions or partnerships and how they can access capital to fund expansion.
For investors, the sector presents a range of companies operating across different parts of the digital financial ecosystem.
An adviser with experience across technology, capital markets and financial services can provide relevant expertise as these businesses evaluate transactions.
M&A and Capital Markets Experience
McMillan’s background is particularly relevant because his experience covers both M&A and capital markets.
M&A advisory can help companies evaluate acquisitions, mergers, divestitures and other strategic transactions. Capital-markets expertise can support businesses seeking financing or considering different approaches to raising capital.
Digital asset businesses may require both types of advice as they move through different stages of development.
Early-stage companies may focus on raising capital and establishing their market position. More established businesses may consider acquisitions, strategic partnerships, public-market transactions or other forms of corporate activity.
McMillan’s experience across these areas expands the range of services that Houlihan Lokey can provide to clients in the sector.
A Broader Technology and Financial Services Platform
Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech Group operates within a broader firm that combines technology and financial services expertise.
The financial technology sector increasingly overlaps with traditional financial services. Payment companies may compete or partner with banks, digital asset companies may provide infrastructure for financial institutions, and software businesses may become embedded in core financial processes.
This convergence means companies often face strategic questions that extend across traditional industry boundaries.
Houlihan Lokey’s FinTech platform is designed to address these dynamics by combining sector expertise with financial advisory capabilities.
McMillan’s appointment strengthens that approach by adding a senior professional with direct experience in blockchain and digital assets.
Recognition in Global FinTech M&A
Houlihan Lokey also highlighted its position in the global FinTech M&A market.
According to the firm, PitchBook ranked Houlihan Lokey as the No. 1 M&A adviser for global FinTech transactions in 2025.
The firm views FinTech as one of the most rapidly developing areas within the technology sector. Continued innovation across financial services has created demand for advisers capable of understanding both technological developments and financial-market considerations.
The addition of McMillan expands the firm’s expertise in one of the sectors undergoing significant technological and financial development.
Strengthening Advisory Capabilities for Digital Assets
McMillan’s arrival represents an expansion of Houlihan Lokey’s specialized digital assets advisory capabilities.
His background includes leadership in blockchain investment banking, Internet investment banking, M&A, capital markets and strategic advisory. That experience provides a combination of financial and technology expertise that can be applied to companies operating throughout the digital assets ecosystem.
The appointment also gives Houlihan Lokey another senior-level resource for working with traditional financial institutions that are evaluating blockchain technology.
As banks and other financial services organizations explore digital assets, the strategic decisions involved can extend from partnerships and investments to acquisitions and technology development.
With McMillan joining as a Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey is expanding its ability to advise clients in the digital assets sector while reinforcing the connection between its FinTech and Financial Services practices.
His appointment brings together experience from Credit Suisse, 3V Capital Partners and the broader technology and capital-markets ecosystem.
For Houlihan Lokey, the addition is part of its continued investment in financial technology advisory services. For clients, the expanded team provides access to expertise covering M&A, capital markets and strategic advisory within a sector where financial services and emerging technologies increasingly intersect.
As digital assets continue to develop alongside broader financial technology, companies may face increasingly complex decisions involving capital, partnerships, acquisitions and business strategy. Houlihan Lokey’s expanded FinTech Group, supported by McMillan’s sector experience, is positioned to provide advisory services across these areas as clients evaluate opportunities within the evolving digital assets landscape.
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