# Acquisition Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Acquisition", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Kraken parent Payward acquires Magic Labs’ wallet business

Payward, parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, has agreed to acquire the wallet-as-a-service business of Magic Labs. The deal will integrate Magic Labs' non-custodial wallet technology into Payward's B2B platform, Payward Services, expanding its enterprise infrastructure offering. This embedded wallet solution allows businesses to offer self-custodied wallets directly within their applications. Magic Labs' infrastructure has been used to create over 60 million wallets for more than 200,000 developers and facilitated over $10 billion in stablecoin transactions. The acquisition, with undisclosed financial terms, is expected to close in the coming weeks. Post-sale, Magic Labs will focus on its Newton platform for secure onchain transaction authorization.

cointelegraph07/27 16:51

Kraken parent Payward acquires Magic Labs’ wallet business

cointelegraph07/27 16:51

Circle Announces the Acquisition of Nearly 1,000 Patents in the Blockchain and Fintech Spheres

Circle, the issuer of USDC, has announced the acquisition of a patent portfolio from IBM, comprising nearly 1,000 patents across 680 patent families. The portfolio covers areas including blockchain, banking, financial services, insurance, corporate infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations. This purchase makes Circle a leader in the U.S. in terms of Web3-related patents, significantly expanding its intellectual property as it works to build future financial systems on the internet. The deal also opens avenues for potential collaboration between Circle and IBM, though specific details and the financial terms remain undisclosed. The patents acquired stem from a period when IBM was actively filing in the blockchain space, particularly around 2018-2019. According to analysis, IBM's patent filing strategy later shifted toward focusing on the quality and value of individual patents. Circle's leadership emphasized that this intellectual property is crucial for advancing its mission and expanding blockchain infrastructure for global financial systems. Following the announcement, Circle's stock price saw a 2.2% increase.

cryptonews.ru07/27 16:46

Circle Announces the Acquisition of Nearly 1,000 Patents in the Blockchain and Fintech Spheres

cryptonews.ru07/27 16:46

Bitmine Has Increased Its Corporate Ethereum Reserves

Bitmine Immersion Technologies continues to aggressively accumulate Ethereum (ETH) for its corporate reserves, despite the current market value of its holdings being significantly below its average purchase price. Last week, the company added 9,946 ETH. This follows a massive purchase of over 52,000 ETH in June, after which the pace of accumulation slowed but regular buying continued. The accumulation program began on June 30, 2025, marking a strategic shift for the company from primarily Bitcoin mining to building a major treasury based on Ethereum. Bitmine's stated long-term goal is to hold 5% of Ethereum's total supply. Following the latest purchase, Bitmine's reserves have grown to 5.8 million ETH. However, the company's average acquisition cost is nearly double the current market price, meaning its position is currently at an unrealized loss. Despite this, management remains committed to the strategy, viewing current prices as a temporary phase and not a reason to sell. This persistent accumulation solidifies Bitmine as one of the largest corporate holders of ETH and a significant influence on institutional demand for the cryptocurrency.

cryptonews.ru07/27 14:06

Bitmine Has Increased Its Corporate Ethereum Reserves

cryptonews.ru07/27 14:06

USDC issuer Circle to acquire nearly 1,000 IBM blockchain patents

Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has announced its acquisition of IBM's extensive blockchain patent portfolio. The deal involves over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents globally, a move that Circle states establishes it as the leading holder of blockchain patents in the United States. This intellectual property is intended to bolster Circle's foundation for building an internet-based financial system. While financial terms were not disclosed, Circle's stock price saw an increase following the announcement. IBM's blockchain efforts have historically focused on supply chain applications, though its patent filings in the area have slowed in recent years after a peak period in 2018-2019. Circle's leadership emphasized that acquiring IBM's pioneering innovations will enhance its ability to develop the infrastructure for global, internet-native finance.

cointelegraph07/27 13:20

USDC issuer Circle to acquire nearly 1,000 IBM blockchain patents

cointelegraph07/27 13:20

Stripe in Talks to Acquire OpenRouter: Is AI the New Focus of Future Payment Landscape?

Payment giant Stripe is reportedly in talks to acquire AI model routing platform OpenRouter, potentially valuing the startup at around $10 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. This move follows Stripe's recent strategic push into AI and crypto infrastructure over the past 18 months, including the acquisitions of stablecoin company Bridge, wallet infrastructure provider Privy, and the launch of its Tempo blockchain with a Machine Payments Protocol. These steps aim to enable AI agents to autonomously handle payments and transactions. OpenRouter, founded by OpenSea co-founder Alex Atallah, aggregates over 300 models from more than 60 providers, handling billions of inference requests. Its integration would complement Stripe's existing AI agent infrastructure—covering ordering, payment, and settlement—creating a comprehensive pipeline for AI-driven commerce. Stripe's goal appears to be positioning itself as the default infrastructure layer for AI-to-user interactions, akin to "AWS for money." The deal is not yet finalized and faces potential competition or disruption. However, it highlights a broader trend where major players like Circle and Google are also developing payment protocols for AI agents. While current on-chain AI agent payment volume remains a tiny fraction of overall stablecoin settlements, the industry is betting on this nascent market to drive future growth and validate the synergy between AI and blockchain.

Foresight News07/27 13:10

Stripe in Talks to Acquire OpenRouter: Is AI the New Focus of Future Payment Landscape?

Foresight News07/27 13:10

Is Nvidia About to Become a Shareholder of Upbit?

NVIDIA announced a $1 billion strategic investment in South Korean internet giant Naver, acquiring approximately 4.5% of its shares. The investment aims to bolster Naver's AI data center infrastructure, which will expand and utilize NVIDIA's hardware. This move gains significance for the crypto industry due to Naver's ongoing acquisition of Dunamu, the parent company of Upbit—South Korea's leading cryptocurrency exchange. The acquisition, valued at around $9.9 billion, is pending regulatory approvals, primarily from the Fair Trade Commission concerning potential antitrust issues. If finalized, Upbit would become a part of Naver's financial ecosystem. Therefore, while NVIDIA is not directly investing in Upbit, the transaction creates a potential indirect link between the chipmaker and the exchange, contingent upon the successful completion of Naver's acquisition of Dunamu.

Odaily星球日报07/27 12:04

Is Nvidia About to Become a Shareholder of Upbit?

Odaily星球日报07/27 12:04

Is NVIDIA Going to Become a Shareholder of Upbit?

NVIDIA announced a $1 billion investment in South Korean internet giant Naver, acquiring approximately 4.5% of its shares. This strategic move aims to bolster AI data center infrastructure in Korea through a partnership between Naver and Brookfield. The investment draws attention from the cryptocurrency sector because Naver's financial arm, Naver Financial, is in the process of acquiring Dunamu, the parent company of South Korea's leading crypto exchange, Upbit, in a share-swap deal valued around $9.9 billion. However, this acquisition has faced delays, primarily due to an ongoing antitrust review by South Korea's Fair Trade Commission. The regulator is assessing potential market concentration risks from combining Naver's internet dominance with Upbit's leading position in crypto trading. The completion date has been pushed back to December 31, 2026. Therefore, while NVIDIA is becoming a significant shareholder in Naver, it does not directly own a stake in Upbit. A potential indirect link exists only if Naver Financial's acquisition of Dunamu is successfully finalized, which remains uncertain pending regulatory approval.

marsbit07/27 11:23

Is NVIDIA Going to Become a Shareholder of Upbit?

marsbit07/27 11:23

2 Months, Valuation Soars from $8.8B to $68B! The Largest AI Model Hub OpenRouter May Be Acquired

Stripe is reportedly in talks to acquire AI model marketplace OpenRouter for a price nearing $10 billion, a dramatic increase from its $1.3 billion valuation just two months prior. The deal, which could be announced within a month, would see the payment giant absorb a key "router" or aggregation layer in the AI infrastructure stack. OpenRouter provides developers with a single API to access over 400 large language models (LLMs), automatically routing queries to the most suitable model based on cost, capability, and speed. This allows AI applications to optimize expenses while maintaining user experience. Founded in 2023 by ex-OpenSea co-founder Alex Atallah and Louis Vichy, OpenRouter has grown rapidly, reaching $50 million in annualized revenue by April and serving over one million developers. For Stripe, the acquisition of OpenRouter follows its late-2025 purchase of usage-based billing platform Metronome. The combined strategy aims to create an integrated suite for the AI economy: OpenRouter would handle model selection and routing, Metronome would manage granular usage-based billing, and Stripe's core platform would process payments. This positions Stripe to control a critical part of the AI application value chain, influencing which models get used while simplifying cost management for enterprise customers.

链捕手07/24 08:59

2 Months, Valuation Soars from $8.8B to $68B! The Largest AI Model Hub OpenRouter May Be Acquired

链捕手07/24 08:59

The Eternal Fragments of Money: Third-Party Payment Has No First Principle

"The Enduring Fragments of Money: Third-Party Payments Lack a First Principle" Stripe is reportedly attempting to acquire PayPal, marking a significant shift reminiscent of PayPal's merger with the original X.com 30 years ago. The article analyzes Stripe's strategic challenges and the broader payments industry landscape. Despite its initial success with a developer-friendly API model, Stripe missed its optimal IPO window during the pandemic and has since seen its valuation decline. Its attempts to expand through acquisitions and new ventures, particularly in stablecoins (like its OUSD project) and Agent-focused payments (ACP/MPP protocols), have faced headwinds. The author argues that the payment industry remains highly fragmented and is ultimately an adjunct to the traditional banking system. This structure limits the potential for any single player, including Stripe, to achieve complete dominance. While stablecoins and the future rise of autonomous Agent economies present potential growth avenues, they are not yet mainstream and still require integration with the existing financial system. For now, Agent-based transactions are largely used for speculative "volume boosting" rather than substantive business applications. Stripe's current move to acquire PayPal is seen as an attempt to bolster its weak consumer-facing (C-side) business after its stablecoin-focused strategies faltered. Meanwhile, PayPal is described as structurally outdated, unable to revive itself through new products like Venmo or PYUSD. The future of payments may lie not in payments themselves but in value-added services like more efficient settlement networks. The author suggests that companies like Stripe and Circle, which are building their own blockchains (Tempo, Arc) and stablecoins, are positioning themselves to eventually profit from high-efficiency settlement systems. These new networks could potentially bypass some traditional banking layers. In conclusion, the article posits that third-party payment is a perpetually fragmented battlefield where scale alone cannot ensure victory. Players must find new models, focusing on efficiency to compete with the entrenched banking system. Stripe's acquisition of PayPal represents a bet on this uncertain future.

链捕手07/21 15:30

The Eternal Fragments of Money: Third-Party Payment Has No First Principle

链捕手07/21 15:30

Behind the $53.4 Billion Proposal to Acquire PayPal: Stripe's Ambitions in Crypto Payments

Payment giant Stripe, reportedly alongside private equity firm Advent International, has made a $53.4 billion acquisition offer for PayPal. This potential deal, the largest in fintech history, is seen as a strategic move to advance Stripe's ambitions in the crypto payments sector. Stripe has been quietly building a comprehensive stablecoin ecosystem, acquiring infrastructure like stablecoin issuer Bridge and wallet service Privy, co-incubating the Tempo blockchain for payments, and backing the new Open USD (OUSD) stablecoin. However, it lacks direct access to a mass consumer base—a gap that PayPal, with its hundreds of millions of active accounts, Venmo app, and own PYUSD stablecoin, perfectly fills. The core motivation for the acquisition is speculated to be securing a massive distribution channel for Stripe’s stablecoin infrastructure. The integration could create a closed-loop system: Stripe serving merchants, PayPal/Venmo reaching consumers, and stablecoins facilitating low-cost, direct settlements, bypassing traditional card networks. This signals a strategic shift in the crypto industry, where competition is moving from building superior payment rails to capturing user-facing traffic portals. Key unresolved questions remain, including the future of PYUSD and Venmo's potential role as a front-end for the Tempo blockchain. While the deal's success is uncertain and faces challenges like cost-control priorities from Advent, its mere proposal underscores Stripe's long-term vision. A successful acquisition would not only reshape traditional finance but also significantly boost Tempo's position in the competitive blockchain landscape by giving it mainstream reach. Regardless of the outcome, Stripe's methodical buildup indicates its stablecoin-powered commercial empire is just beginning.

Foresight News07/20 02:12

Behind the $53.4 Billion Proposal to Acquire PayPal: Stripe's Ambitions in Crypto Payments