Crypto Bear Market Triggers Rise in M&A Activity

In 2018 there was a rapid decline in initial coin offerings, a slowdown in blockchain business launches, and a bearish crypto market. During this period, companies with good liquidity have been scaling up and strengthening by acquiring startups. 

 M&A Deal Frenzy in 2018

There’s been something of a deal frenzy involving cryptocurrency and blockchain-related companies seeing mergers and acquisitions (M&A), which have increased by 200 percent in 2018. M&A is the lifeblood of Wall Street and this activity is expected to continue to accelerate within the cryptosphere as we head into 2019. 

In an interview with news.Bitcoin.com, Danish Saxo Bank founder Lars Seier Christensen revealed that he is actively searching to acquire crypto businesses, saying: “I am also looking at a couple of serious fund vehicles that do extensive research across the space. Because of course there will be some gold nuggets that have been dragged down unfairly in this bear market as happens in all bear markets.” 

According to JMP Securities’ head of blockchain and digital assets investment banking, Satya Bajpai, the industry is witnessing a “land grab” for innovative technology, access to new markets, intellectual property, and talented employees through M&A, reports CNBC. 

The most recent data from JMP Securities and data from Pitchbook shows 115 deals have already been announced globally this year, with roughly 30 more expected by the end of this year. This compares with just 47 mergers and acquisitions that were completed in all of 2017. 

Rundown of Key M&A Deals From 2018

There have been a number of key crypto and blockchain acquisitions this year, with one of the most active companies being Coinbase. The California-based exchange has not allowed diminished trade volumes to keep it from actively acquiring startups. Earlier this year, there were also rumors about a potential acquisition of Coinbase by Facebook, though this appears to have been little more than speculation. 

Coinbase acquired decentralized ERC20 trading platform Paradex. The company also acquired Earn.com for an estimated $100 million, a platform that lets users receive cryptocurrency for answering emails and completing tasks. 

Another notable acquisition involved Goldman Sachs startup Circle which acquired cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex.

Coinsource, a Texas-based cryptocurrency ATM operator, became the first digital asset ATM provider to be granted a Bitlicense in the state of New York.

Japanese insurance group Sompo Holdings acquired a 10 percent stake in Bitpesa, a Kenyan digital currency exchange and payments company.

Trade.io acquired British brokerage firm Primus Capital Markets for an undisclosed amount to offer BTC-backed Forex trading.

Consensys, the software company established by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, acquired struggling space startup Planetary Resources.

Japanese mega ecommerce and internet company Rakuten Inc. entered the crypto space by acquiring an existing crypto exchange to fast-track its wat into the Japanese cryptocurrency market.

Shapeshift completed the acquisition of Bitfract, a software firm which operates a service that allows users to swap from one cryptocurrency to many in an instant.

Ernst & Young, one of the major global accounting firms, acquired technology assets and related patents from Elevated Consciousness.

Blockchain research and development firm Nchain announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the Bitcoin Cash-centric startup Handcash.

Chinese bitcoin company BTCC was acquired by a Hong Kong-based investment fund.

It seems the market downturn that has pervaded through 2018 has been the ideal time for large corporations to snag a good deal and secure a stake in the future of the rapidly developing crypto space.