🚀 IG Group Makes $117M Power Move: Acquires Australian Crypto Exchange to Dominate APAC Markets

British trading giant IG Group just dropped $117 million to snap up a major Australian crypto exchange—marking its boldest play yet for Asia-Pacific dominance.

Strategic Expansion

This isn’t just another corporate acquisition. IG’s diving headfirst into crypto, betting big on Australia’s pro-innovation regulatory landscape and the region’s exploding digital asset demand.

Market Momentum

Traditional finance firms can no longer ignore crypto—not when retail and institutional investors are flocking to digital assets. IG’s move signals a industry-wide pivot toward embracing blockchain-based trading.

Global Implications

With this deal, IG isn’t just buying an exchange—it’s buying a foothold. Expect more legacy players to follow suit, scrambling to catch up before they’re left hedging against volatility the old-fashioned way.

And let’s be real—nothing says 'we believe in the future of finance' like spending nine figures on something bankers called a fad three years ago.

IG to Initially Acquire 70% of Independent Reserve

The company noted that it will initially acquire 70% of the Aussie-based company, with the option to buy the remaining 30% based on the performance in the financial year 2027 and 2028.

“Completion is subject to regulatory approvals from MAS in Singapore and FIRB in Australia and currently expected in early 2026,” the release read.

Further, the deal is expected to be accretive to cash earnings per share in the first full financial year post-closing.

In June, IG Group became the first UK-listed company to let UK retail investors trade BTC, ETH, XRP, and 35 other tokens. Under the new offering, the company’s retail clients will be able to trade 38 cryptocurrencies via a partnership with crypto platform, Uphold.

Besides, effective 2026, the UK will require crypto firms to collect and report detailed customer information on every trade and transfer, as part of a sweeping effort to strengthen oversight in the digital asset sector.