D2X Becomes First in EU to Obtain MiFID MTF Licence for Crypto Derivatives, Secures Series A Led by Point72 Ventures

Fortino Capital

AMSTERDAM, March 14 – D2X, a Netherlands-based crypto derivatives exchange for institutions, has secured a $10 million Series A led by Point72 Ventures. Other participants in the round included GSR Markets alongside existing investors Fortino Capital, Tioga Capital, Jabre Capital Partners, Picus Capital, and TRGC.

The investment comes as D2X reaches a pivotal milestone by becoming the first entity in the EU to obtain a MiFID MTF license for crypto derivatives. Granted by the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM), the license authorizes D2X to operate a regulated trading venue for cash-settled crypto futures and options.

Set to launch in Q2 this year, D2X will be the first in Europe to list regulated crypto derivatives 7 days a week. Through a partnership with a Tier-1 EU credit institution, the trading venue facilitates off-exchange collateral accounts. By bringing together features from traditional finance and crypto, D2X meets the growing institutional demand for digital assets, reinforced by connectivity from Talos and liquidity from market-makers, such as Flow Traders.

With the support of prominent investors and a first-mover advantage in the region, D2X is well-positioned to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional finance for institutions. The MiFID II license will also allow D2X to operate under the upcoming MiCA regime.

Frederic Colette, incoming Chief Executive Officer at D2X, commented: “With the approval of our MiFID licence, we are aiming to set a new benchmark for reliability in the digital assets space. D2X is paving the way for financial institutions to safely enter the crypto derivatives market, and we are dedicated to ensuring their security and success every step of the way.”

Theodore Rozencwajg, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer at D2X commented: “Financial institutions face a tough choice when deciding where to trade. Regulated trading venues have limitations in trading hours and capital efficiency while crypto-native exchanges present credit risk and remain largely unregulated. D2X solves this and we are thrilled to launch later this year – a pivotal moment in our ambition to pioneer next-generation market infrastructure.”

Adam K. Carson, Partner at Point72 Ventures commented: “Point72 Ventures is thrilled to support D2X on its mission to revolutionise the crypto derivatives market. Their dedication to providing a regulated trading venue for institutions, coupled with their innovative approach, has the potential to make transformative changes in the industry. We’re excited to be part of this journey.”

 

About D2X

D2X is launching the first regulated (MiFID II) crypto futures & options trading venue out of the Netherlands to facilitate the institutional adoption of the asset class. Operational 7-days-a-week, D2X facilitates off-exchange collateral accounts in partnership with a Tier-1 EU credit institution. The company aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem. Its initial product listing is set to feature cash-settled EUR-denominated BTC and ETH derivatives. For more information, please visit d2x.com.

Media Contact
Tanya Levchenko
Marketing & Communications Specialist
+31 202 26 2321
press@d2x.com

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Digital Currency Group acquires leading cryptocurrency exchange, Luno

Balderton

DCG will help fuel Luno’s global growth in Africa, Asia, Europe, and beyond. Luno will continue to operate as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary of DCG.

Digital Currency Group (DCG), a global enterprise that builds, buys, and invests in blockchain companies, today announced the acquisition of Balderton portfolio company, Luno.

Balderton first invested in Luno in September 2017.

Led by co-founder and CEO Marcus Swanepoel, Luno has become a digital asset powerhouse in many emerging and frontier markets, providing digital asset education, knowledge, and investment tools for individuals in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The past seven years have been an incredibly exciting journey for Luno – so far helping millions of our customers get access to crypto for the first time

Luno co-founder and CEO Marcus Swanepoel

Marcus Swanepoel , co-founder and CEO, Luno speaks to Hiroki Takeuchi, co-founder and CEO, GoCardless and Bram de Zwart, co-founder and CEO, 3D Hubs at the Balderton CEO Collective Summit in 2018.

Luno has helped broaden the global crypto investment community and 2020 has been a record year so far in growth in its customer base.

The company is committed to upgrading the world to a better financial system, believing that legacy systems were built for a non-digital age, ignoring the needs of modern individuals and adding unnecessary inefficiencies and gatekeepers. The world now has access to new technologies like Bitcoin and Ethereum that will fundamentally change how the world views and uses money.

Having the full backing of DCG just as we’re experiencing such a pivotal moment of growth in the industry is not just an exciting and important milestone for Luno, but more importantly, it will significantly accelerate our ability to reach our goal to help upgrade 1 billion people to a better financial system by 2030.

Luno co-founder and CEO Marcus Swanepoel

The Luno leadership team will remain entirely intact and Swanepoel will lead acquisition efforts in his role as CEO.

The company will maintain key regional offices in Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, Jakarta, and Johannesburg, and will continue to focus on the existing geographies where it operates across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The Luno team has also developed an aggressive road map for future growth and will ultimately compete with financial services firms all over the world.

Luno is actively hiring for positions all over the world. See their open positions here

You can also read the blog post on the acquisition from Luno CEO, Marcus Swanepoel, here.

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