Breaking news

Robinhood Buys One Of The Largest Crypto Exchanges For $200 Million

200 million dollars. Such an offer is being prepared by Robinhood Markets, co-owned by the Bulgarian Vlad Tenev, for the purchase of one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world – Bitstamp. 

KEY FACTS 

  • Trading platform Robinhood Markets announced it has agreed to buy crypto exchange Bitstamp for about $200 million in cash, accelerating its broader foray into digital assets to become a full-fledged financial services provider, the company said.
  • This is Robinhood’s largest deal to date. Before the start of trading, the shares of the company, co-owned by Bulgarian Vlad Tenev, rose by 3.4%.
  • The acquisition of Bitstamp, founded in 2011 with 50 active licenses and registrations worldwide, puts Robinhood in direct competition with industry giants such as Binance and Coinbase. The exchange has offices in Luxembourg, UK, Slovenia, Singapore and the US and has more than 50 active licenses and registrations worldwide, as well as clients in the EU, US, UK and Asia.
  • This acquisition will introduce Robinhood’s first institutional business and expand the company’s global expansion.
  • The deal is expected to boost Robinhood Crypto’s growth.

IMPORTANT QUOTE

“The acquisition of Bitstamp is an important step in the growth of our crypto business. Bitstamp’s highly reliable and long-standing global exchange has shown resilience through market cycles,” Johan Kerbrat, vice president and general manager of Robinhood Crypto, told Reuters.

ACCENT

The deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025, comes as Robinhood’s crypto business is experiencing rapid growth but also faces regulatory hurdles in the US. The company said it intends to continue communicating with regulators as the deal moves forward.

BIG NUMBER

69%. That’s how much growth Robinhood’s shares have reported since the beginning of the year. Analysts expect the company is poised for higher earnings amid a resurgence in retail trade and greater cryptocurrency adoption.

Abu Dhabi Unveils Dh13-Billion Plan To Lead as the World’s First Fully AI-native Government by 2027

Abu Dhabi is setting ambitious goals for the future, announcing a Dh13-billion strategy that aims to make its government operations entirely powered by artificial intelligence (AI) by 2027. With this move, the emirate aspires to become the world’s first fully “AI-native” government, with automated processes and complete adoption of cloud computing technologies.

The Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027, led by the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE), is a transformative initiative to enhance public service delivery, optimize government functions, and drive sustainable economic growth. Along with technological advances, the strategy will create over 5,000 jobs, boosting the local economy and contributing more than Dh24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP.

The core objective of this initiative is to embed AI, cloud technologies, and data-driven insights into the very DNA of the government. “By incorporating these cutting-edge technologies, we will optimize our operations, improve public services, and ultimately support sustainable economic growth,” said Ahmed Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of DGE.

Key aspects of the strategy include the establishment of a unified digital enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, which will improve government efficiency and streamline processes. As part of the “AI for All” program, the initiative will also focus on empowering citizens by training them in AI applications, ensuring a highly skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Moreover, the government is committed to implementing over 200 AI-driven solutions across various public services, ensuring that these innovations reach all facets of governmental operations. Alongside the technological advancements, comprehensive cybersecurity measures will be introduced, with new digital guidelines aimed at maintaining the highest standards of security.

This move is not only a strategic shift towards a fully digital government but also a bold step towards positioning Abu Dhabi as a global leader in the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in the public sector.

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