ShapeShift Acquires KeepKey in a Move to Provide Seamless Crypto Exchange
Thursday,17/08/2017|07:15GMTby
Colin Firth
Shapeshift hopes that the acquisition will help it to provide an easy exchange mechanism, improving volumes.
KeepKey
In a development that marks the growing maturity and innovation of the market, Swiss digital currency exchange Shapeshift AG has acquired KeepKey Holder LLC, a digital wallet maker, in an all-Bitcoin deal.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed but this acquisition has been innovative in more than one way - this is probably the first major acquisition deal to be completed purely using bitcoins.
One of the major drawbacks of the crypto industry is the fact that the sending and receiving of cryptocurrency requires a digital wallet which is always located online.
So, a user has to create a wallet with a digital wallet provider and then move to the exchange to send or receive digital currency to that wallet. This is not only a cumbersome process, it also exposes the client and the wallet to a lot of security risks.
Providing a Smooth Exchange
Shapeshift hopes to overcome this problem by having both the wallet and the exchange in the same place and by using a hardware wallet, thus providing a seamless experience to its clients and also improving the security of these digital assets.
The Chief Operating Officer of Shapeshift, Erik Voorhees, said: "Amid heightened interest in the concept of digital currencies, a simple, user-friendly Cold Storage wallet with the ability to facilitate trading or exchanging for another crypto-currency is key to wider adoption.”
Digital currencies are usually stored online on a laptop or similar such instrument, which opens them up to possible theft and hacking. The company hopes to overcome this problem by using a cold-storage wallet - storing the digital assets offline will reduce the risk of them being stolen.
Shapeshift believes that the KeepKey wallet will be able to help them provide a smooth experience for its users, and improve its volumes and margins.
In a development that marks the growing maturity and innovation of the market, Swiss digital currency exchange Shapeshift AG has acquired KeepKey Holder LLC, a digital wallet maker, in an all-Bitcoin deal.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed but this acquisition has been innovative in more than one way - this is probably the first major acquisition deal to be completed purely using bitcoins.
One of the major drawbacks of the crypto industry is the fact that the sending and receiving of cryptocurrency requires a digital wallet which is always located online.
So, a user has to create a wallet with a digital wallet provider and then move to the exchange to send or receive digital currency to that wallet. This is not only a cumbersome process, it also exposes the client and the wallet to a lot of security risks.
Providing a Smooth Exchange
Shapeshift hopes to overcome this problem by having both the wallet and the exchange in the same place and by using a hardware wallet, thus providing a seamless experience to its clients and also improving the security of these digital assets.
The Chief Operating Officer of Shapeshift, Erik Voorhees, said: "Amid heightened interest in the concept of digital currencies, a simple, user-friendly Cold Storage wallet with the ability to facilitate trading or exchanging for another crypto-currency is key to wider adoption.”
Digital currencies are usually stored online on a laptop or similar such instrument, which opens them up to possible theft and hacking. The company hopes to overcome this problem by using a cold-storage wallet - storing the digital assets offline will reduce the risk of them being stolen.
Shapeshift believes that the KeepKey wallet will be able to help them provide a smooth experience for its users, and improve its volumes and margins.
Crypto Industry in 2025: Five Defining Trends – And One Prediction for 2026
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
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Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
