The number of open-ended funds launched by Maples Group rose 30% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter, according to a new report from the financial services firm, which acts for about one-third of mutual funds registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.
The increase came as the wider hedge fund industry recorded $5.6 trillion in capital and $45.2 billion in net inflows during the quarter, figures cited by Maples Group from industry research. The company said the results continued a recovery that began in 2025 following cumulative outflows in 2023 and 2024.
US-based investment managers accounted for 54% of the funds Maples Group launched during the quarter, followed by managers based in the United Kingdom at 25% and Asia at 13%. More than 87% of investment managers were regulated, up from 82% in 2025, according to the report.
The report also showed a broad mix of investment strategies. Multi-strategy funds accounted for 27% of launches and funds of funds represented 8%. Macro strategies made up 25%, while equity strategies accounted for 22%. Relative-value strategies represented 8%, fixed-income and credit strategies 6%, and event-driven and other strategies each accounted for 2%.
Fund structures were similarly varied. Classic master-feeder arrangements accounted for about 25% of launches, while standalone funds and single-legged master-feeder structures each represented about 24%. Mini-master feeder structures accounted for 10%, with other master-feeder structures representing 17%.
Digital assets also featured more prominently during the quarter. The share of newly launched funds expressly permitted to invest in digital assets increased to 25%, from 19% in the first quarter. Maples Group linked the increase to growing interest in cryptocurrency and tokenised assets and cited a Cayman Islands statutory framework for tokenised funds that took effect in March. The report said 12 tokenised vehicles had been registered under the developing framework.
Maples Group also cited an AIMA and Marex survey in which 56% of responding emerging managers said their flagship fund was domiciled in the Cayman Islands, compared with 55% in 2024 and 54% in 2022. The report said the findings indicate the Cayman Islands remains the leading domicile for emerging hedge fund managers.
