Expanding European footprint through Deutsche Digital Assets acquisition: Archax makes the move.
Archax, a UK-based digital asset exchange, has made a significant stride in its international expansion with the acquisition of Deutsche Digital Assets (DDA), a German-based asset manager. The deal, completed in July 2025, is valued at $70 million and significantly strengthens Archax's regulatory capabilities in Europe.
DDA specializes in crypto exchange traded products (ETPs) and maintains distribution networks across European banks and institutional asset managers. This acquisition extends Archax's regulated presence into Germany and France, providing coverage for two major and regulation-driven European markets.
The acquisition grants Archax new BaFin licenses that bolster regulatory compliance and service offerings like portfolio management and advisory. These licenses complement its existing UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registrations. This enhances Archax’s ability to offer regulated digital asset services, including crypto ETPs, to institutional investors across Germany, France, and other European markets.
The deal also adds approximately $70 million in assets under management (AUM) to Archax, strengthening its market position and regulatory compliance in key EU financial centers. Moreover, DDA's crypto ETP expertise integrates seamlessly with Archax's platform, expanding its institutional product capabilities.
Archax's CEO and co-founder, Graham Rodford, believes the acquisition of DDA strengthens the company's aim to have one of the most extensive regulatory structures in the digital asset industry. He stated, "This acquisition is a pivotal step in our international expansion and regulatory strengthening, positioning us as a leading European digital asset platform with close supervision from major financial authorities."
The strategic timing of the acquisition proves beneficial as the UK market opens to crypto ETPs following the Financial Conduct Authority's approval of the first professional investor listings earlier this year. Archax positions itself to serve both institutional and professional investors seeking digital asset exposure.
This acquisition marks Archax's third strategic acquisition in recent months. Previously, the company acquired Spanish broker KSCM in late 2024 and purchased a Globacap's US broker-dealer and alternative trading system earlier this year. The rapid expansion of Archax reflects its strategy to build a comprehensive regulatory infrastructure across major markets.
In summary, the acquisition impacts Archax by:
- Expanding its regulated footprint into Germany and France and extending reach into other high-growth European markets.
- Granting new BaFin licenses that bolster regulatory compliance and service offerings like portfolio management and advisory.
- Integrating $70 million AUM and crypto ETP expertise, strengthening institutional product capabilities.
- Enhancing trust and access to institutional banking and asset management clients through regulatory endorsement.
- Supporting Archax’s strategy of bridging traditional finance and digital assets with a broad regulatory and product ecosystem.
This acquisition positions Archax as one of the most comprehensively licensed digital asset firms in Europe, capable of serving investors seeking compliant exposure to digital currencies and tokenized real-world assets.
- Archax's acquisition of Deutsche Digital Assets (DDA) adds €70 million in assets under management (AUM), increasing its market position and regulatory compliance in key EU financial centers.
- The deal extends Archax's regulated presence into Germany and France, providing coverage for two major and regulation-driven European markets.
- DDA's crypto exchange traded products (ETPs) expertise integrates seamlessly with Archax's platform, expanding its institutional product capabilities.
- Archax now holds new BaFin licenses that bolster regulatory compliance and service offerings like portfolio management and advisory, complementing its existing UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registrations.
