IG Group completes acquisition of Independent Reserve to expand regulated crypto operations in APAC and Middle East
IG Group has completed its acquisition of Australian crypto exchange Independent Reserve after receiving regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. IG acquired a 70% stake for about USD 72.4 million, bringing Independent Reserve’s licensed Singapore operations, custody, spot trading and institutional services under IG’s control. IG says the deal will ensure continuity of service for existing users and avoid material operational disruption. The acquisition aims to integrate Independent Reserve’s compliance-focused infrastructure into IG’s online trading platform and roll out new crypto trading solutions targeted at the Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, with product launches planned in Singapore, Australia and the UAE in H2 2026. The move strengthens IG’s regulated crypto footprint in high-growth regional markets and leverages Independent Reserve’s local licences and operational experience amid ongoing industry consolidation and regulatory focus in Asia.
Neutral
The acquisition is primarily strategic and regulatory rather than product-specific, so its direct price impact on any single cryptocurrency is limited. Integration of Independent Reserve’s licensed, custody and spot trading services into IG’s platform reduces execution and custody risk for users and may increase institutional and retail trading flow in APAC and the Middle East over time. In the short term, markets are unlikely to react strongly price-wise to this corporate transaction because it does not change token supply, protocol fundamentals or add immediate new trading products — IG has signalled product rollouts in H2 2026, a long horizon. Over the medium to long term, better-regulated access and expanded distribution through a large retail derivatives broker could increase trading volumes and liquidity on spot venues, which can be constructive for cryptocurrency market activity in the affected regions. Overall, the news is supportive of market structure and adoption (positive for volumes/liquidity) but neutral for immediate price moves of specific tokens.