Mandate profile
Licensed crypto exchange and broker buyer profile
Buyer profile: a global digital asset group acquiring licensed crypto exchanges and brokers with active users and robust compliance.
Retail and institutional venues, OTC desks and licence-holding entities are all in scope.
Mandate profile
Why digital asset groups buy licensed exchanges.
- Reference
- AQ-0476
- Sector
- Digital assets
- Region
- EU, UK, UAE, Singapore, LatAm
- Last reviewed
Regulation has changed the economics of crypto. With MiCA live in the European Union and licensing regimes tightening in the UK, UAE, Singapore and Latin America, a licence and a working compliance function are now among the most valuable assets in the industry. Buying one is usually faster than applying for one.
This profile covers licensed exchanges, OTC desks, retail and institutional brokers and crypto-asset service providers. Businesses with active trading volume, fiat banking rails and a compliance record that has held up to regulator review are the core focus. Smaller licensed entities with limited trading activity are also relevant when the licence is the main asset.
Buyers here plug acquired licences into a global platform, adding local payment methods, products and liquidity. That makes even modest regional exchanges strategically valuable.
Acquisition criteria
What this buyer is looking for.
Licences and trust are the core of this search. Five factors guide it.
Licensed and authorised
MiCA, VASP, DPT or equivalent authorisation in good standing.
Active users
Verified customers who trade regularly, not dormant sign-ups.
Compliance maturity
KYC, AML and travel-rule processes that satisfy regulators and banks.
Banking and custody
Reliable fiat rails and secure custody arrangements.
Scalable technology
Matching, wallet and onboarding systems that can grow.
Close, but not an exact match? Tell us anyway.
Share an overview
Target financial profile
The numbers this buyer type works to.
Typical ranges for this profile. Businesses outside a range are still assessed on their overall strength.
- Enterprise value
- US$5M–US$150M
- Licences
- MiCA CASP, FCA, VARA, MAS or equivalent
- Trading volume
- Consistent monthly volume preferred
- Banking
- Working fiat rails and safeguarding
- Typical valuation basis
- Licence value plus a multiple of revenue
- Consideration
- Cash; token or equity elements case by case
Deal structure and terms
Structure
Full acquisition, built around the licence and its change-of-control approval.
Regulatory timetable
Completion follows regulator approval of the new controller.
Compliance team
MLRO, compliance and risk staff typically retained.
Client migration
Clients usually stay on the acquired platform during the transition.
What makes a relevant business
A licence, live flows and a clean book.
The strongest candidates combine licences with real, recurring trading activity.
All of these are welcome
- Retail or institutional
- Exchange, broker or OTC desk
- Licence-only shells considered
- Founder-led or corporate
- Any licensed jurisdiction
Clean regulatory record
No unresolved findings with regulators.
Diversified revenue
Fees across spot, OTC, staking or payments.
Local market strength
A trusted brand in its home market.
Security track record
Strong security and audit history.
Market drivers
What keeps demand strong in licensed crypto exchanges and brokers.
MiCA passporting
One EU licence now opens the whole single market.
Institutional demand
Banks and funds want regulated counterparties.
Licence scarcity
Fewer, stronger licence holders as rules tighten.
How it works
You decide what is shared, and when.
Nothing goes to any buyer automatically. Every step after the first happens only if there is potential fit and you are comfortable going further.
- 1
Share an overview
Send a short, non-confidential summary using the form. Anonymous is fine at this stage.
- 2
Acquiry reviews fit
We compare it with this profile and the buyers we work with, and tell you plainly whether there is a match, usually with a few questions.
- 3
Agree what can be disclosed
If there is potential fit, we agree with you what can be shared, and with whom, before anything moves.
- 4
Detailed discussions
Deeper conversations progress under confidentiality arrangements put in place for that discussion.
Submit an opportunity
Think your business could fit AQ-0476?
Tell us a little about it. A short, non-confidential overview is enough, and you can leave the company name out. We review every submission ourselves and reply directly.
AQ-0476 is a mandate profile, not a named buyer. We match your overview against the buyers we work with and tell you honestly whether there is a fit.
- Reviewed by Acquiry, never sent to any buyer automatically
- Anonymous overviews welcome
- Owners and advisers both welcome
FAQ
Before you send anything.
What does this mandate profile describe?
It sets out what a global digital asset group looks for in an acquisition: the target profile, deal size, structure and regions shown above.
What is Acquiry’s role?
Acquiry works on the buy side. Profiles like this one set out the criteria acquirers in this segment use to assess targets.
Will you consider a licence-holding entity with limited trading?
Yes. Clean, authorised entities in key jurisdictions are of interest even with modest activity.
How are regulatory approvals handled?
Change-of-control filings are built into the timeline from day one with your compliance advisers.
Is a licence without trading volume relevant?
Yes. Licensed entities with limited activity fit where the licence and compliance setup are sound.
Are OTC desks in scope?
Yes. OTC, brokerage and exchange models all fit this profile.
Which licences matter most?
MiCA CASP authorisations, FCA registration, Dubai VARA and Singapore MAS licences are the most sought after.