Online trading platform IG Group has acquired a majority stake in the Australian crypto exchange Independent Reserve for AU$109.6 million ($72.4 million). The deal aims to strengthen IG Group’s presence in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific crypto market and follows recent crypto rollouts in the UK and US.
Independent Reserve, one of Australia’s oldest regulated crypto platforms, allows trading in 34 cryptocurrencies in both Australian and Singaporean markets. IG Group’s managing director for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Matt Macklin, noted that the acquisition gives the company “immediate access” to a key regional market.
IG will initially acquire 70% of Independent Reserve, with an option to purchase the remaining 30% based on the exchange’s future performance. The total deal is valued at AU$178 million ($117.6 million) and is expected to close in early 2026, pending regulatory approval.
Independent Reserve’s CEO, Adrian Przelozny, stated that the transaction will provide the exchange with a larger platform for growth while maintaining its commitment to secure, regulated trading.
The acquisition comes as Independent Reserve reports strong growth. For the fiscal year ending in June 2025, the company saw an 88% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $23.3 million. Its monthly active users also jumped by 60% to around 11,600, with $1.12 billion in assets under custody.
Despite the news, IG Group’s shares were down 1.8% in today’s trading. The company expects the deal to boost its earnings starting in fiscal year 2027.
