Robinhood, a popular online trading platform, announced on June 6, 2024, that it will acquire European cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp for approximately $200 million. The deal is expected to close in the first half of next year and is subject to regulatory approval.
Bitstamp was founded in 2011 and has over 50 active licenses and registrations across the globe, bringing customers from Europe, Asia, and the US to Robinhood's platform. The acquisition will help grow Robinhood's cryptocurrency business, which has surged in recent quarters. The expansion comes as Robinhood's existing crypto business has drawn scrutiny from regulators.
Robinhood Crypto General Manager Johann Kerbrat stated that the acquisition of Bitstamp is a major step in growing the company's crypto business and that Bitstamp's highly trusted and long-standing global exchange has shown resilience through market cycles. The deal will allow Robinhood to expand its footprint outside of the US and welcome institutional customers to its platform.
The acquisition marks Robinhood's first institutional business, as it looks to compete with larger crypto trading firms like Binance and Coinbase. Bitstamp CEO JB Graftieaux stated that bringing Bitstamp's platform and expertise into Robinhood's ecosystem will give users an enhanced trading experience with a continuing commitment to compliance, security, and customer-centricity.
Robinhood reported a profit of $157 million or 18 cents per share for the first quarter of 2024, driven in part by high crypto trading volumes. The company's revenue from its crypto business more than tripled in the first quarter compared to a year earlier to $126 million.