# Acquisition Related Articles

Metaplanet eyes ‘100K Bitcoin’ goal as it becomes the third-largest BTC holder globally

Metaplanet has become the world's third-largest public Bitcoin holder after acquiring 5,075 BTC in Q1 2026, bringing its total holdings to 40,177 BTC. This move displaced Bitcoin miner MARA, which previously held the third spot. The Japanese firm aims to accumulate 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and 210,000 BTC by 2027. However, achieving the 2026 target would require nearly $4 billion in additional capital, far exceeding the $550 million raised in Q1. Despite its strategic growth, Metaplanet currently faces a $1.5 billion unrealized loss on its Bitcoin investments due to market conditions. If it maintains its average quarterly purchase rate of 5,000 BTC, it could soon overtake the second-largest holder.

ambcrypto04/04 00:03

Two Acquisitions in One Day: OpenAI Buys 'Narrative', Anthropic Buys 'Barriers'

On April 2, OpenAI and Anthropic each announced an acquisition, reflecting their divergent strategies as both target an IPO by late 2026. OpenAI acquired tech talk show TBPN to shape public AI discourse and support its revenue base, which is 60% consumer-driven from ChatGPT subscriptions. In contrast, Anthropic purchased AI biotech startup Coefficient Bio for approximately $400 million in stock, continuing its focused strategy of deepening enterprise capabilities, particularly in high-switching-cost sectors like life sciences. Over the past three years, OpenAI completed 15 acquisitions across diverse fields including hardware, media, and healthcare, spending over $7.7 billion on disclosed deals, such as the $6.5 billion purchase of Jony Ive’s AI hardware firm. Anthropic made only three acquisitions, each precisely strengthening its product stack: Bun for coding infrastructure, Vercept for autonomous agents, and now Coefficient Bio for biotech R&D pipelines. Anthropic’s enterprise-focused revenue (80% of total) drives its strategy to lock in clients with vertical integration, as seen in its sequenced moves into life sciences and healthcare. Meanwhile, with a higher reliance on consumer subscriptions, OpenAI is investing in narrative influence—TBPN aims to boost ad revenue and steer public AI conversation. Both companies are on accelerated IPO paths: Anthropic eyeing a $60+ billion offering led by Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, and OpenAI targeting a ~$1 trillion valuation. Their acquisitions underscore distinct priorities—Anthropic builds industry-specific moats, while OpenAI amplifies its public story.

marsbit04/03 10:07

$405M Bitcoin buy puts Metaplanet behind only Strategy and XXI – Details!

Metaplanet has become the world’s third-largest public Bitcoin treasury holder after acquiring an additional 5,075 BTC in Q1 2026 for approximately $405 million. The purchase, executed at an average price of $79,898 per Bitcoin, brings the company’s total holdings to 40,177 BTC, with a cumulative cost basis of nearly $4.18 billion. This strategic accumulation reflects Metaplanet’s long-term confidence in Bitcoin despite recent market volatility. The announcement follows a 3% dip in Bitcoin’s price, which fell to around $66,000 after former U.S. President Donald Trump made remarks about escalating military actions in Iran, triggering a brief market sell-off. Despite the short-term decline, Bitcoin showed signs of stabilization, with buying interest returning and technical indicators like the RSI recovering from near-oversold levels. Metaplanet now trails only behind MicroStrategy (762,099 BTC) and Twenty One Capital (43,514 BTC), surpassing other major holders like MARA Holdings. The company’s continued Bitcoin-focused strategy highlights its growing influence among non-U.S. publicly listed firms with significant cryptocurrency treasuries.

ambcrypto04/03 06:31

Franklin Templeton Acquires CoinFund Affiliate, Accelerating Traditional Finance's Rush for Crypto Assets

Franklin Templeton, a global investment giant with over $1.5 trillion in assets under management, has established a new independent cryptocurrency division called Franklin Crypto. This move coincides with the acquisition of 250 Digital, a crypto investment management firm spun out from CoinFund. Although the acquisition amount was not disclosed, the deal is expected to close in Q2 of this year. The announcement is part of a broader trend of traditional financial institutions accelerating their entry into the crypto space. Recent examples include Mastercard's $1.8 billion acquisition of stablecoin infrastructure startup BVNK and Stripe's acquisition of the stablecoin project Bridge. Industry experts predict that crypto-related mergers and acquisitions will exceed $37 billion by 2026. Franklin Templeton’s new division will expand its existing crypto and blockchain venture operations and broaden its digital asset investment platform. The firm’s global head of digital assets currently manages around $1.8 billion. Company executives noted growing institutional and younger investor interest in crypto, signaling a convergence of traditional and digital asset investing.

marsbit04/02 04:50

Stripe Rises, PayPal Falls: The New King of Payments Ascends the Throne

Stripe, the global payments infrastructure giant, surged to a $159 billion valuation in February 2026, marking a 74% increase from the previous year. It processed $1.9 trillion in annual transaction volume, accounting for 1.6% of global GDP. In contrast, PayPal, the legacy payments leader, faced stagnation with just 4.3% revenue growth in 2025, a sharp decline in core checkout growth, and flat active user numbers. Reports emerged that Stripe is considering acquiring PayPal. Stripe’s success is driven by strategic bets on next-generation technologies: it acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge and crypto wallet provider Privy, and co-developed the Tempo blockchain, capable of over 100,000 TPS. It also partnered with OpenAI to create the Agent Commerce Protocol, enabling AI agents to conduct micro-payments via stablecoins. These moves position Stripe at the center of AI and crypto-powered transaction growth. Meanwhile, PayPal struggled with innovation. Its stablecoin PYUSD held less than 0.5% market share, and its management acknowledged execution failures. While PayPal remains a cash-generating business with 439 million active accounts, it has been slow to adapt to shifting industry paradigms. The divergence highlights a fundamental strategic difference: Stripe is building the infrastructure for the future of payments—on-chain settlement, AI economies, and programmable money—while PayPal has been optimizing within an outdated framework. The industry is now racing toward stablecoin and blockchain-based payments, a transition Stripe began leading nearly two years ahead of competitors like Visa and Mastercard.

marsbit04/01 06:39

Stripe Rises, PayPal Falls: The New King of Payments Ascends the Throne

Stripe, the global payments infrastructure giant, has surged to a $159 billion valuation, marking a 74% increase, while announcing $1.9 trillion in annual transaction volume. Concurrently, legacy leader PayPal is exploring a potential sale after reporting stagnating growth, with Stripe considered a possible acquirer. Stripe’s success stems from strategic expansion beyond payment APIs into crypto and AI-driven finance. It acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge and wallet provider Privy, and co-developed the Tempo blockchain, capable of 100k TPS. Its partnership with OpenAI introduced machine payments for AI agents, positioning Stripe at the forefront of AI economy transactions. In contrast, PayPal faces declining growth in core checkout services and minimal traction with its PYUSD stablecoin. Its traditional fee-based model conflicts with emerging stablecoin economies, and slow innovation has left it vulnerable to competitors. The divergence highlights a fundamental shift: Stripe is building the next-generation financial infrastructure—on-chain payments, stablecoin settlement, and AI commerce—while PayPal struggles to adapt within its existing framework. The payment industry’s future lies in embracing crypto and AI, and Stripe’s early bets have given it a decisive advantage.

Odaily星球日报04/01 06:32

Early Kalshi Employee: Whoever Controls the Traffic, Controls the Market

An early employee of Kalshi argues that in prediction markets, control over user traffic—not exchange infrastructure—is the primary source of power. The article analyzes how Robinhood, a dominant retail distributor, can redirect user orders between regulated exchanges like Kalshi and ForecastEx with no change in user experience. Key evidence includes a sudden shift of 35% of NBA game trading volume from Kalshi to ForecastEx in a single night, triggered by Robinhood. Similarly, weather markets saw ForecastEx capture over 60% of volume immediately after Robinhood began routing orders there, without affecting Kalshi’s baseline traffic. The piece also highlights how Robinhood’s distribution massively amplified demand for new products like parlays, which grew from zero to nearly 300 million contracts per week after Robinhood integration. The author admits to initially underestimating Robinhood’s incentive to vertically integrate by acquiring its own CFTC-regulated exchange—a move mirrored by competitor Underdog. In prediction markets, where users are retail and trade sizes small, liquidity depth is not a moat. The real leverage lies with who controls the flow of users.

marsbit03/25 16:18

Sen. Elizabeth Warren flags MrBeast’s $200M deal over crypto access for minors

Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns over MrBeast's (Jimmy Donaldson) company, Beast Industries, acquiring the Step fintech platform, which enables minors to invest in cryptocurrency under parental supervision. In a letter sent on March 23, Warren demanded details about Step’s crypto investment plans for young users, citing its alleged history of allowing under-18 trading. She also questioned Step’s partnership with Evolve Bank & Trust, which recently lost $96 million in customer funds, and referenced prior accusations of MrBeast’s involvement in crypto pump-and-dump schemes. Warren emphasized Beast Industries' lack of experience in financial services and its entry into a highly regulated market. The company responded by acknowledging the letter and expressing willingness to engage.

ambcrypto03/25 00:31

Sweden’s H100 targets European no. 2 spot with 3,500 BTC expansion!

ambcrypto03/24 06:42

Saylor Signals New Bitcoin Buy as Strategy’s Bitcoin Holdings Fall Around 10%

Michael Saylor has indicated that his company, MicroStrategy, is planning another Bitcoin purchase, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy despite recent market downturns. The company, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, has significantly accelerated its buying, acquiring over 43,000 BTC in March alone for a total of $3.04 billion. This buying occurs as Bitcoin faces pressure from geopolitical tensions, causing its price to drop to around $67,725. Consequently, MicroStrategy's holdings are currently at an unrealized loss of approximately 10%, with an average acquisition cost of $75,696 per Bitcoin. Despite these paper losses, the company reaffirms its long-term belief in the cryptocurrency.

TheNewsCrypto03/23 07:24