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Deribit CEO Confirms Strategic Investment Inquiries, Rules Out Takeover Report

The crypto options platform is reportedly working with FT Partners to assess takeover bids.

business handshake (shutterstock)
business handshake (shutterstock)

What to know:

  • Kraken had weighed an offer for Deribit, but did not proceed with the offer.
  • The firm could be valued at $4 billion- $5 billion or even more, the report said.

Crypto derivatives platform Deribit, has received potential acquisition interest, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

The report added that the firm is working with Financial Technology Partners to review the opportunities.

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Deribit CEO Luuk Strijers told CoinDesk that the options platform had appointed FT Partners as an advisor for general advisory services and potential secondaries, back in 2023.

"The interest in Deribit is due in part to the fact that we have continued to be the overwhelming market-leading exchange for digital asset options trading," Strijers said.

"In short, Deribit has not been put up for sale. Over time, we have received interest in strategic investments from a variety of parties, which we will not disclose," Strijers added.

The firm may valued at $4 billion- $5 billion or more, the report said, citing a person with knowledge of the matter. The report also added that crypto exchange Kraken had reviewed buying Deribit, but did not proceed with an offer.

A Kraken spokesperson declined to comment on the report.

The current bull run in the crypto market seems to have reignited M&A activity with major players like Moonpay and Chainalysis having announced two large acquisitions this week.

UPDATE (Jan. 15, 08:05 UTC): Adds comment from Kraken spokesperson.



Parikshit Mishra

Parikshit Mishra is CoinDesk's Regional Head of Asia, managing the editorial team in the region. Before joining CoinDesk, he was the EMEA Editor at Acuris (Mergermarket), where he dealt with copies related to private equity and the startup ecosystem. He has also worked as an Senior Analyst for CRISIL, covering the European markets and global economies. His most notable tenure was with Reuters, where he worked as a correspondent and an editor for various teams. He does not have any crypto holdings.

Parikshit Mishra, Regional Head of Asia, CoinDesk at Consensus Hong Kong 2025.(CoinDesk)