New York-based investment platform Republic has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian crypto trading firm INX Digital Company (INXDF) for up to $60 million, the companies announced on April 4. The deal, which is expected to close within eight months, values INX between $48.9 million and $60 million, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
The agreement involves Republic purchasing all outstanding shares of INX through a subsidiary, offering a 457% premium over INXDF’s closing price on April 3. Following the announcement, INXDF’s stock surged over 180%, climbing close to $0.10 per share at press time.
The move signals Republic’s expanding interest in the tokenized finance space, particularly in regulated digital assets. With INX folded into its operations, Republic aims to provide a full-service investment platform that includes access to both traditional securities and on-chain tokenized offerings.
“This is a defining moment for INX and the future of digital finance. Joining forces with Republic accelerates our vision of a fully regulated, tokenized economy that empowers investors globally.” said INX founder and CEO Shy Datika.
INX’s existing platform enables users to trade both cryptocurrencies and digital securities, including on-chain equity from companies like Nvidia. The platform operates under a regulatory framework that is rare in the crypto world, offering compliance-first digital asset services across North America and select global markets.
From Strategic Partnership to Acquisition
The acquisition builds on a prior relationship between the two firms. In June 2023, Republic made a $5.25 million strategic investment into INX, acquiring about 9.5% of the company. That partnership was aimed at advancing both firms’ shared goals in Web3 infrastructure, tokenization, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Now, the deal gives Republic full ownership of INX, providing what both companies describe as a “seamless pathway” to raise capital, list tokenized securities, and offer investors regulated secondary market trading.
“This acquisition is about more than just expansion—it’s about reshaping access to financial markets. Republic and INX are building the infrastructure that bridges traditional finance with blockchain, creating new opportunities for investors at every level. We’re proud to bring our expertise together to make tokenized investing more accessible, compliant, and scalable,” added Andrew Durgee, Co-CEO of Republic.
What This Means for the Industry
The deal highlights growing interest from traditional investment platforms in the world of tokenized assets and real-world asset (RWA) markets. Tokenization, often touted as the next frontier of blockchain innovation, allows for fractional ownership of assets like real estate, stocks, and commodities—bringing greater liquidity and access to traditionally illiquid markets.
Republic’s acquisition of INX marks one of the first major moves by a U.S.-based investment platform into regulated secondary trading of tokenized assets. It positions the firm to compete with other players like tZERO, Securitize, and Prometheum, all working to bridge the gap between Wall Street and blockchain.
Republic currently provides crowdfunding, venture investment, and digital asset opportunities to both retail and accredited investors. Its move into regulated crypto trading could help bring more institutional trust and retail access into the digital securities space.
