Bakkt Names Akshay Naheta Co-CEO, Partners with DTR for Stablecoin Payments

Bakkt appointed Akshay Naheta as co-CEO alongside Andy Main and announced a partnership with Distributed Technologies Research (DTR). This collaboration aims to integrate stablecoin payments with Bakkt’s existing trading infrastructure, potentially reshaping cross-border transactions in the digital asset space.

Stablecoin Integration to Expand Bakkt’s Offerings

Naheta, a seasoned executive with extensive experience in finance and technology, will reportedly assume his new role on March 21, 2025. His background includes senior positions at SoftBank, where he played a key role in investments involving ARM, Auto1, and Nvidia.

More recently, he founded DTR to improve global payment systems through stablecoins. According to the company, his expertise in blockchain Blockchain Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned). In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data, making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamp Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned). In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data, making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamp Read this Term and financial markets makes him a valuable addition to Bakkt’s leadership.

Bakkt’s new commercial agreement with DTR seeks to merge the strengths of both companies. The firm expects DTR’s stablecoin infrastructure to complement its crypto trading and brokerage services by providing more efficient payment solutions.

Pending regulatory approvals, the initiative is also expected to unlock new revenue streams while enhancing the speed and reliability of global transactions.

Regulatory and Market Implications

Naheta echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the role of stablecoins in shaping the future of finance. "I founded DTR with the vision that stablecoins provide unparalleled efficiency and utility in shaping the future of payment systems," he said.

"The partnership between Bakkt and DTR will capitalize on their respective strengths, and I am excited to work with both teams as we begin to address the growing demand from customers for fast and efficient crypto infrastructure and payment solutions in the U.S. and globally."

As the partnership moves forward, Bakkt is currently preparing to navigate the regulatory landscape surrounding stablecoins. The integration of DTR’s technology is subject to approvals, and the broader adoption of stablecoin-based payments Payments One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonl One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonl Read this Term will depend on evolving market and regulatory conditions.

Despite these challenges, Bakkt expressed optimism about the move, describing it as a major step toward positioning it as a key player in institutional crypto trading and payments. By combining Naheta’s leadership with the strategic DTR partnership, the company is now aiming for growth in an increasingly digital financial ecosystem.