- Deribit reveals $4-$5 billion acquisition bids with Financial Technology Partners.
- Total trading volume hit $1.2 trillion in 2024.
- Crypto M&A intensifies after post-Trump win, with $1.2 billion in Q4 deals.
Deribit, one of the largest crypto derivatives exchanges, is evaluating bids and exploring strategic opportunities. Estimated to be worth between $4 billion and $5 billion, the platform has enlisted Financial Technology Partners (FT Partners) to explore full acquisition bids. This move comes as the platform posted exponential growth, doubling its trading volume to $1.2 trillion in 2024.
Since its inception in 2016, Deribit piqued market interest by doubling its options trading volume last year, reaching $743 billion. This growth is attributed to increased institutional demand amid market volatility. Recent reports shows that Deribit’s initial collaboration with FT Partners focused on secondary stock sales. However, discussions have expanded to include full acquisition bids. Amid speculation about a potential sale, the platform clarified that no formal process has begun. The company remains open to strategic investment, underscoring its appeal to global buyers.
The crypto industry has seen a surge in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. record deals. In Q4 2024, industry-wide M&A deals hit $1.2 billion, increasing threefold annually. Some of the high-profile acquisitions include FalconX’s acquisition of derivatives startup Arbelos Markets and Chainalysis expanding through targeted acquisitions.
Trump’s Pro-Crypto Policies: A Catalyst for Deribit
These deals come amid broader optimism about crypto-friendly policies under President Trump’s administration. Industry experts believe the incoming administration and a new SEC chair could fuel M&A growth by lifting regulatory hurdles.
Recently, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley suggested that new policies could “unfreeze” the M&A landscape, allowing large corporations to jump into the space to exert their market control.
Another notable development is Deribit’s commitment to regulatory compliance. As part of restructuring its operations, the company launched Deribit FZE in Dubai to cater to institutional clients while maintaining its Panamanian base for retail investors. Overall, its potential sale could reshape the crypto landscape, highlighting the growing significance of derivatives in risk management.
