Crypto M&A Heats Up as Big Banks and Fintechs Race to Scale: Citizens
Citizens reports that crypto M&A is accelerating as firms buy blockchain infrastructure to scale amid regulatory clarity and demand.Summary
U.S. bank Citizens anticipates an acceleration in mergers and acquisitions across the digital assets sector, driven by the technical complexity, talent shortages, and compliance demands that favor acquiring over building capabilities. Traditional firms and digital-native companies are aggressively pursuing acquisitions to gain scale, customer reach, and regulatory credibility. Recent examples include reports of Mastercard nearing a deal for ZeroHash and Coinbase for BVNK. Furthermore, regulatory momentum in the U.S., spurred by acts like the GENIUS Act, has shifted the environment from "hostile" to supportive, fueling adoption. Tokenization is a key driver, with Citizens projecting the market could generate nearly $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030. As competition intensifies and legacy systems risk disintermediation, Citizens expects this M&A wave to initiate a consolidation cycle in the digital-asset economy.
(Source：CoinDesk)