Yesterday B2C2, a UK-based cryptocurrency institutional market maker, introduced it was acquired by SBI Monetary Providers, an SBI Holdings subsidiary.
Following a July investment of $30 million for a minority stake, SBI has elevated its stake to 90% after gaining clearance from the UK’s Monetary Conduct Authority (FCA). Other than the UK, B2C2 has a presence in the USA and Japan and in addition presents derivatives.
As an over-the-counter (OTC) liquidity supplier, most of B2C2’s shoppers are regulated brokerages, exchanges, banks and fund managers.
“B2C2 has an distinctive repute for its world-class services, very good know-how and useful shopper base,” mentioned Yoshitaka Kitao, President and CEO of SBI Holdings. “Their imaginative and prescient, experience and providing complement SBI’s, and we sit up for working in partnership as we increase our footprint throughout the worldwide markets.”
SBI’s VC Commerce subsidiary began utilizing B2C2 in September and SBI says its commerce volumes have elevated ten instances since then. In the meantime, for the reason that July funding, B2C2 claims its personal volumes have quadrupled.
Will Tether contact the mainstream monetary system?
Together with quite a few bulletins final week, the institutional take-up of cryptocurrencies is ramping up. Nonetheless, one trigger for concern is the continued use of the Tether stablecoin as the first ‘forex’ for buying and selling pairs. The stablecoin has by no means had a full accounting audit and the New York Lawyer Normal is investigating whether or not the stablecoin’s funds have been allegedly used to cowl up losses at crypto change Bitfinex.
It’s doable that the coin might at present be totally backed as claimed, however at one level that ‘backing’ included ‘loans made by Tether to 3rd events’ together with associates – a reality acknowledged by Tether for a time. This must be a significant reason behind concern. It was one factor when the cryptocurrency group relied on Tether, however it’s one other if it’s monetary establishments as Tether’s market capitalization now hovers round $20 billion.
This newest information follows the current announcement that SIX and SBI might be collaborating for a digital asset three way partnership in Singapore. In different information final week, U.S. insurer Mass Mutual made a $100 million funding in Bitcoin and a number of banks introduced their entrance into cryptocurrency buying and selling and custody. They embody Standard Chartered and Northern Trust for custody, BBVA for accredited investor buying and selling and custody in Switzerland and DBS Digital Exchange is focusing on the identical group in Singapore.
Nonetheless, the likes of DBS Digital Alternate is not going to be utilizing Tether in a shopper going through means, whereas B2C2 most definitely does.
