MoonPay is expanding deeper into tokenized securities with an agreement to acquire Utah-based North Capital Investment Technology. The deal gives the crypto payments company access to established securities infrastructure as it builds its strategy around tokenized real-world assets.
MoonPay announced the agreement on September 23. Financial terms were not disclosed in the companies’ announcement, while separate reporting put the value of the all-stock transaction at more than $60 million. The acquisition still requires regulatory approval before it can close.
The Regulatory Infrastructure Prize
North Capital operates a range of regulated financial businesses that could strengthen MoonPay’s presence in U.S. securities markets. Its affiliates include SEC-registered broker-dealers, an alternative trading system, a transfer agent and an investment adviser.
The company has supported more than $8.7 billion in primary and secondary transaction volume. Its PPEX alternative trading system also lists more than 1,250 approved assets for secondary-market trading.
For MoonPay, those capabilities could provide the infrastructure needed to support tokenized securities without building every regulated function from scratch.
MoonPay Expands Beyond Crypto Payments
The acquisition follows MoonPay’s broader move into financial infrastructure. The company has been expanding beyond its core crypto payment services into tokenized assets, decentralized finance and stablecoin liquidity.
MoonPay launched its Trade platform earlier this year to connect banks and fintech companies with tokenized assets and onchain financial markets. It has also completed acquisitions aimed at expanding its trading, custody and financial-operations capabilities.
North Capital adds another important piece: regulated access to securities markets. That could become increasingly relevant as financial firms explore blockchain-based versions of stocks, funds and other assets.
The companies said their boards unanimously approved the transaction. North Capital would become a wholly owned MoonPay subsidiary after closing.
MoonPay CEO Ivan Soto-Wright said the combination could help connect financial markets through programmable infrastructure. The next major step will be regulatory approval, followed by the challenge of turning the newly combined infrastructure into meaningful transaction activity.
