IG Group Acquires Australian Crypto Exchange Independent Reserve for $117M

UK-based online trading firm IG Group has expanded its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region with the acquisition of Australian cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve. The deal, valued at A$178 million ($117 million), grants IG an initial 70% stake, with an option to acquire the remaining 30% based on performance metrics in 2027 and 2028.

Independent Reserve, a regulated platform operating in Australia and Singapore, offers trading for 34 digital assets and reported a near-doubling of revenue to A$35.3 million in the year to June. The exchange's established regulatory compliance and technological infrastructure were cited as key factors in the acquisition.

"This marks a strategic leap in IG's crypto ambitions for the region," said Matt Macklin, IG's Managing Director. The move signals growing institutional interest in APAC's digital asset markets, though neither party disclosed specific integration plans for the exchange's existing coin offerings.