Robinhood Completes $200 Million Acquisition of Crypto Exchange Bitstamp, Marking Major Global Expansion

Deal brings world's longest-running crypto exchange Bitstamp under Robinhood umbrella, opening doors to institutional markets and global

Written by: Arslan Butt • Tuesday, June 3, 2025 • 2 min read

Robinhood Completes $200 Million Acquisition of Crypto Exchange Bitstamp, Marking Major Global Expansion

Quick overview

Robinhood has acquired Bitstamp for $200 million, significantly expanding its presence in the institutional crypto market.
The acquisition provides Robinhood with over 50 licenses and registrations, enhancing its product offerings and regulatory clarity.
Bitstamp's established infrastructure and client base will allow Robinhood to serve a broader range of crypto users, including institutions.
Robinhood's CEO emphasizes future growth through tokenization of real-world assets and remains open to further acquisitions to accelerate market penetration.

Following its $200 million all-cash purchase of Bitstamp, the longest-standing bitcoin exchange worldwide, Robinhood Markets, Inc. This vital action represents a significant rise of Robinhood’s crypto footprint outside of its US retail beginnings, thereby joining the institutional crypto market and producing a strong global presence over Asia, the UK, and Europe.

A Landmark Deal for Global Expansion and Institutional Reach

Originally decided upon in June 2024, the purchase brings under Robinhood’s crypto arm over 50 licenses and registrations in addition to an established institutional customer. Originally founded in 2011, Bitstamp claims over 5,000 institutional and 50,000 retail clients; majority of its trading activity originates from the institutional sector. Previously absent areas where Robinhood formally enters institutional crypto flows are providing new infrastructure for lending, staking, and “crypto-as- a-service offers specialized for hedge funds, fintechs, and registered investment advisers.

General Coordinator of Robinhood Crypto Johann Kerbrat stressed that this acquisition represents a strategic blend of capabilities rather than a “pivot” allowing Robinhood to make use of Bitstamp’s strong offers like order books, strong APIs, and institutional services. This speeds its development outside US retail trading into a global company, therefore removing the need for Robinhood to develop these talents from start-up.

Synergies in Regulatory Clarity and Product Offerings

The timing of this transaction is especially wise since more governments provide more legislative clarity in line with rising institutional interest in the bitcoin markets. Particularly in Europe, where crypto regulations are clearer than the hazy approach in the US, Bitstamp’s long-standing compliant reputation and extensive licencing portfolio in more than 50 countries gives Robinhood a critical regulatory on-ramp.

The deal enhances Robinhood’s range of products as well. Bitstamp improves Robinhood’s user-friendly retail platform with deep order books, institutional-grade API access, and proven track record of dependable trade execution. Moreover, bitstamp’s current institutional lending and staking programs—including recent UK Ethereum and Cardano staking launches—will immediately expand Robinhood’s product portfolio. From institutions needing solid custody and settlement systems to aggressive traders seeking extra features, this helps Robinhood to serve a broader spectrum of crypto users.

Future Outlook: Tokenization and Further Acquisitions

Robinhood CEO Vladimir Tenev has underlined as the key future focus for the company’s crypto products tokenizing real-world assets—especially private equity. Tenev believes that this “great unlock” will enable the crypto industry to overcome several problems in secondary market transactions and open significant financial value.

Completing the Bitstamp transaction in accordance with Robinhood’s past acquisition of WonderFi, a Canadian cryptocurrency platform, underlines its proactive development strategy. Johann Kerbrat claims that if another crypto purchase will significantly accelerate the market penetration or product development by at least eighteen months to two years, Robinhood is still open for new acquisitions.

Positively responding to the news, Robinhood (HOOD) concluded June 2 trading up 2.77% to $67.98 with more gains in after-hours trading. This demonstrates investor confidence in Robinhood’s deliberate efforts based on Bitstamp’s robust infrastructure and global footprint, therefore transforming it into a global crypto powerhouse. The integration will mostly focus on preserving Bitstamp’s present operations while considering deeper synergies to mix Bitstamp’s institutional capability with developments in user experience.

Check out our free forex signals
Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
Open a FREE Trading Account

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More

Arslan Butt

Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)

Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.