There was an important milestone in the cryptocurrency world. Robinhood, the US-based online investment platform, officially launched its international expansion in the crypto space by acquiring Bitstamp, one of the world's most established cryptocurrency exchanges, for $200 million. This acquisition is considered to be the most concrete step Robinhood has taken in its goal of reaching institutional crypto investors as well as retail investors.
Robinhood acquires cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp
Robinhood Markets has completed the acquisition of Bitstamp, a global cryptocurrency exchange. Bitstamp, which has offices in Luxembourg, the UK, Slovenia, Singapore and the US, was founded in 2011 and this acquisition is expected to significantly accelerate Robinhood Crypto's worldwide expansion. Bitstamp has more than 50 active licenses and registrations worldwide. It will therefore bring customers from the EU, UK, US, and Asia to Robinhood.
Bitstamp has a reputation for transparency and reliability, especially among institutional investors. With over 85 crypto assets listed, Bitstamp has long been seen as a safe haven for investors moving from traditional markets to crypto.
Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, said in a statement after the acquisition that by integrating Bitstamp's many years of experience into their platform, “a more secure and integrated crypto trading era” will begin. The all-cash deal marks Robinhood's strong entry into the institutional crypto trading space, which it has so far shied away from.
Opening new doors to Europe and Asia
Robinhood's move not only expands its product portfolio, but also accelerates the company's global growth strategy. The fact that Bitstamp already has an established and active user base in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Asian markets will allow Robinhood to quickly enter these regions. Thus, Robinhood aims to grow into a broader ecosystem targeting not only individual investors in the US, but also institutional players in Europe and Asia.
Bitstamp's deep liquidity pools, advanced API connections, and infrastructure for high-frequency trading will be integrated into Robinhood's crypto trading systems, enabling it to provide 24/7 uninterrupted service. This means that Robinhood will offer a more comprehensive and competitive platform for both individual and institutional investors.
“Bitstamp by Robinhood” era begins
Following the completion of the acquisition, Bitstamp will continue to operate under the name “Bitstamp by Robinhood”. While the brand's existing identity will be preserved, the technology infrastructure will be integrated with Robinhood systems to enhance user experience and product diversity. According to industry experts, this acquisition could be a harbinger of other crypto investments Robinhood will make in the future. It remains to be seen how Bitstamp will continue its operations after the Robinhood acquisition and how Robinhood will benefit from it.
