Robinhood Closes $200M Bitstamp Acquisition, Marks Major Crypto Expansion

Robinhood Markets has officially completed its $200 million acquisition of Bitstamp , the world's longest-running cryptocurrency exchange, in a deal that dramatically expands the retail trading platform's crypto capabilities and global reach, according to an announcement on Monday.

The acquisition, first announced in June 2024 , brings together Robinhood's user-friendly trading platform with Bitstamp's 14-year track record of serving both retail and institutional crypto customers across Europe, the UK, US, and Asia.

The completion of this acquisition comes at a time when cryptocurrency markets are experiencing renewed institutional interest and regulatory clarity in many jurisdictions. Robinhood's move to acquire a globally-licensed exchange positions the company to capitalize on this trend while diversifying its revenue streams beyond US retail trading.

Strategic Transformation for Robinhood

The deal represents Robinhood's largest acquisition to date and marks a significant shift in the company's crypto strategy. Bitstamp brings more than 50 global crypto licenses, a ready-made institutional client base, and new infrastructure for lending, staking and "crypto as a service" to Robinhood's ecosystem.

"The acquisition of Bitstamp is a major step in growing our crypto business," said Johann Kerbrat, general manager of Robinhood Crypto. "Bitstamp's highly trusted and long standing global exchange has shown resilience through market cycles. By seamlessly coupling customer experience with safety across geographies, the Bitstamp team has established one of the strongest reputations across retail and institutional crypto investors."

The acquisition immediately provides Robinhood with its first institutional crypto business, something the company has been seeking to develop as it expands beyond its retail trading roots.

Proven Track Record

Founded in 2011, Bitstamp has established itself as one of the most trusted names in cryptocurrency trading, operating offices in Luxembourg, the UK, Slovenia, Singapore, and the US. The exchange has weathered multiple crypto market cycles and built a reputation for reliability and security.

"As the world's longest running cryptocurrency exchange, Bitstamp is known as one of the most-trusted and transparent crypto platforms worldwide," said JB Graftieaux, CEO of Bitstamp. "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."

Bitstamp's institutional offerings include reliable trade execution, deep order books, industry-leading API connectivity, crypto-as-a-service solutions, institutional lending, and staking services—all areas where Robinhood previously lacked presence.

Global Expansion Strategy

The acquisition significantly accelerates Robinhood's international expansion plans. With Bitstamp's extensive licensing portfolio covering over 50 jurisdictions, Robinhood gains immediate access to customers across the EU, UK, and Asia without having to navigate complex regulatory approval processes independently.

"Through this strategic combination, we are better positioned to expand our footprint outside of the US and welcome institutional customers to Robinhood," Kerbrat added.

This global reach positions Robinhood to compete more effectively with established international crypto platforms like Binance, Coinbase, and other major exchanges that have long dominated markets outside the United States.

Robinhood has indicated that Bitstamp will continue operating under its existing brand and structure, maintaining the same level of service, security, and reliability that customers have come to expect. The integration will focus on combining Robinhood's user experience innovations with Bitstamp's institutional-grade infrastructure and global compliance capabilities.

Both companies' customers can expect continuity in their trading experience while benefiting from the combined entity's enhanced capabilities and expanded product offerings.