It appears the gentlemen of Washington have, at last, deigned to pay attention to these… digital assets. And, as is so often the case when the governing powers stir, a flurry of activity has ensued! Crypto companies, feeling perhaps a newfound confidence (or merely sensing an opportunity for profit 🧐), engaged in a remarkable £8.6 billion worth of transactions in the year 2025 – the busiest such period on record, if one is to believe the reports.

Dealmaking in this curious sphere reached a most impressive £8.6 billion across 267 transactions.
Those substantial firms – Coinbase, Kraken, and Ripple – appear particularly zealous in their acquisitions.

According to the Financial Times-a publication generally reliable, though prone to overstating the importance of commerce-citing data from a source called PitchBook, no fewer than 267 ‘deals’ transpired. These included outright purchases, strategic investments, and a general consolidation of forces. An increase of 18%, one is informed, over the previous year! The total value, a staggering £8.6 billion, is quite four times the paltry £2.17 billion of 2024. Truly, a remarkable escalation.

Chief amongst these engagements was the acquisition of a ‘derivatives trading platform’ – the very phrase sounds delightfully complicated – by Coinbase, for the sum of £2.9 billion in May. One can only imagine the hushed tones in the boardrooms as such a figure was discussed.

Kraken, not to be outdone, made a bid of £1.5 billion for a ‘retail futures trading platform’ called NinjaTrader (a most apt name, one must concede, given the stealthy nature of finance). This was lauded as the grandest ‘integration’ between the traditional world of finance and this new, digital frontier. And Ripple, that purveyor of ‘blockchain payments’, secured a ‘crypto prime broker’ called Hidden Road for £1.25 billion. One wonders if these brokers are, in fact, prioritizing secrecy.

A Season for Public Offerings

Indeed, 2025 saw a veritable rush of companies rushing to offer their shares to the public. An admirable display (or perhaps a desperate gamble) as Wall Street witnessed eleven such listings, raising a very handsome £14.6 billion. A stark contrast to the meager £310 million raised in 2024, from a mere four offerings.

The most prominent of these debuts was that of Circle, a ‘stablecoin issuer’ (whatever that may be!), which graced the New York Stock Exchange in June, valued at £16.7 billion. Close behind came Bullish, supported by Mr. Peter Thiel, with a valuation of £13 billion. One suspects Mr. Thiel knows a good venture when he sees it.

Other notable participants included Figure Technologies and a platform called eToro, dedicated to ‘social trading’-a concept which sounds suspiciously akin to gossip influencing investment. And still others, like Kraken and BitGo, are preparing for a similar fate, anticipating their entry onto the public stage next year.

The Influence of Regulation

“It has been, by a considerable margin, the busiest year we have seen in this realm,” declared a Mr. Charles Kerrigan, a partner at a law firm called CMS, to the Financial Times. He further posits that this pace will continue, as the shifting regulatory landscape encourages more established financial institutions to dabble in this rather speculative market. 🙄

Industry observers attribute this current excitement to a wave of regulatory changes undertaken by a most pro-crypto administration led by President Donald Trump. One is given to understand he has enacted certain ‘policy shifts’-including an Act called GENIUS (the very name smacks of astonishing confidence)-and established a ‘national crypto reserve’. Furthermore, the Securities and Exchange Commission has abandoned several lawsuits brought against companies like Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken. A most unexpected turn of events, wouldn’t you agree? 🙃

2025-12-24 11:02

Crypto Mania! 💰 Deals Reach Record High!

A Season for Public Offerings

The Influence of Regulation

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