In a significant shift within the cryptocurrency landscape, French blockchain analytics firm Kaiko has announced its acquisition of Vinter, a European crypto index provider. This strategic procurement aims to bolster Kaiko’s position in the burgeoning European exchange-traded product market, coinciding with a notable increase in institutional interest for regulated crypto financial products.
The announcement was made on November 12, 2024, highlighting Kaiko’s intention to meet the “growing institutional demand” stemming from the successful introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. earlier this year. The CEO of Kaiko, Ambre Soubiran, commented on the significance of this acquisition, noting its role in expanding their product offerings and enhancing their global client outreach.
The acquisition of Vinter marks Kaiko’s third and largest acquisition to date, part of an ongoing trend of consolidation in the crypto industry aimed at improving market integrity. Soubiran emphasized that such moves are crucial as the industry evolves, and there is an pressing need for trustworthy indices that cater to institutional investors.
Kaiko has a track record of strategic acquisitions; in April 2022, they acquired data firm Kesitys to enhance their quantitative analytics capabilities. Additionally, their acquisition of Napoleon Index from CoinShares in June expanded their product portfolio further. Founded in 2014, Kaiko has been at the forefront of aggregating, normalizing, and distributing crypto market data to various stakeholders, including institutional investors and exchanges. With a total of $91.1 million raised over three funding rounds, Kaiko has garnered support from prominent investors such as ConsenSys Mesh and HashKey Capital.
Kaiko’s commitment to growth and market integrity sends a clear message to the industry that they are prepared to lead in a regulated environment. As the demand for crypto financial products grows, this acquisition of Vinter positions Kaiko as a formidable player in creating reliable benchmarks and indices tailored to the needs of institutional clients.
