3-6-2025 – Robinhood Markets, Inc. has acquired Bitstamp, the world’s longest-running crypto exchange, for a substantial $200 million. This landmark deal, sealed entirely in cash, propels the California-based trading platform into new territories across Europe, the UK, and Asia, amplifying its institutional and retail crypto offerings with unmatched ambition.
A strategic leap across borders
Announced on June 2, the acquisition integrates Bitstamp’s robust infrastructure, which boasts over 50 licences and registrations, into Robinhood’s burgeoning crypto division. Bitstamp, headquartered in Luxembourg, commands a formidable client base, serving more than 5,000 institutional investors and 50,000 retail traders. Its institutional arm drives the lion’s share of its trading volume, generating $95 million in revenue over the 12 months ending April 30. In contrast, Robinhood’s crypto business reported a striking $252 million in revenue for the first quarter of 2025 alone, underscoring the scale of its ambitions.
The deal, unchanged from its initial agreement in June 2024, positions Robinhood to harness Bitstamp’s established network, instantly connecting its platform to Robinhood Legend and the Smart Exchange Routing system. This integration, already underway, promises seamless access to enhanced trading capabilities for users worldwide. However, the acquisition comes with a financial caveat: Robinhood anticipates incurring $65 million in Bitstamp-related costs over the remaining seven months of 2025.
I’m thrilled to share that Robinhood has completed its acquisition of Bitstamp—a major milestone in growing Robinhood Crypto. This partnership brings a globally scaled crypto exchange to Robinhood with customers across the EU, UK, US and Asia.
— Johann Kerbrat (@JohannKerbrat) June 2, 2025
A broader vision for crypto dominance
Robinhood’s acquisitive streak extends beyond Bitstamp. On May 13, the company secured Canadian crypto platform WonderFi for $179 million, a move designed to fortify its presence in the Canadian market. Johann Kerbrat, general manager of Robinhood Crypto, hinted at further expansion, telling CNBC on June 2 that the firm remains open to additional acquisitions that could accelerate its growth by “18 months or two years.” Such strategic moves reflect Robinhood’s relentless drive to redefine the crypto landscape.
The market has responded with cautious optimism. On June 2, Robinhood’s shares (HOOD) climbed 2.77% to close at $67.98, with an additional 0.44% gain in after-hours trading, according to Google Finance. This uptick signals investor confidence in the company’s aggressive expansion strategy.
Tokenization: The next frontier
Beyond acquisitions, Robinhood is setting its sights on the transformative potential of real-world asset tokenization. CEO Vladimir Tenev, speaking during the company’s first-quarter earnings call, described the tokenization of private equities as a “huge unlock” for both individual investors and corporations. By enabling secondary market transactions for tokenized shares in high-profile private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX, Robinhood aims to democratise access to investments previously out of reach. Tenev believes this innovation could unleash significant economic value, positioning the crypto industry as a cornerstone of financial evolution in the US.
