ST. CROIX. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on Wednesday announced plans to establish a financial-services hub in downtown Christiansted, branded "3rd Wall Street," aimed at drawing banking, investment, insurance, securities and fintech firms to the territory.
The district will operate within a federally designated Qualified Opportunity Zone and seeks to deepen St. Croix's ties to U.S. and international financial markets. The administration said the effort could generate careers, develop local expertise and create fresh economic activity for Virgin Islanders.
A public-private partnership between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Global Impact Assets LLC, an infrastructure-finance firm specializing in private-credit bond underwriting, will lead the initiative. Global Impact Assets plans to open operations on St. Croix and help develop a Virgin Islands-based bond market.
Bonds issued through the project are expected to carry the name "Hamilton Bonds," referencing Alexander Hamilton's historical ties to St. Croix. The proposed market would rely on underwriting and correspondent-banking operations headquartered in the territory.
Other financial-services companies are working through incorporation and registration, including those focused on international currency exchange and cross-border financial services, according to Government House.
Camilo Salomon, chairman and CEO of Global Impact Assets, is scheduled to visit St. Croix soon to work through implementation details.
The concept builds on earlier groundwork by Anthony Weeks, the Virgin Islands Special Economic Envoy to Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific Region and chairman and CEO of SEDI-CASE. What started years ago as a proposal for a Virgin Islands stock exchange has grown into a wider financial ecosystem, Bryan said.
The announcement does not yet disclose when bonds could be issued, which entities would issue them, their structure, or when the proposed financial market would launch. Government House indicated that participating firms, timelines and further details will emerge as agreements and regulatory processes move forward.
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