Anchorage Digital has made a significant move in the cryptocurrency sector by acquiring the Securitize For Advisors (SFA) platform. This acquisition marks a pivotal step in enhancing its offerings in crypto wealth management tailored specifically for registered investment advisors (RIAs). The deal underscores both firms” commitment to distinct institutional strategies within the rapidly expanding digital asset landscape.
As the first federally chartered crypto bank in the United States, Anchorage Digital has established itself as a key player in the market. The acquisition of SFA, a platform that has experienced remarkable growth—reportedly over 4,500% in deposits and assets under management in the past year—positions Anchorage to strengthen its wealth management capabilities. Notably, SFA had already entrusted 99% of its client assets to Anchorage Digital Bank, indicating a pre-existing relationship that has now been formally consolidated.
This acquisition aligns with Anchorage”s broader strategy focused on regulated stablecoins and enhanced custody services. Recently, the firm has been active in expanding its custody universe, adding support for 25 additional digital assets aimed at institutional clients, while maintaining a robust valuation exceeding $3 billion from its latest funding round.
Furthermore, Anchorage is also venturing into the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi) and developing operations around stablecoins compliant with the Genius Act. This includes integrations that facilitate on-chain liquidity access for clients within a regulated framework. Additionally, Anchorage Digital Ventures has been launched, targeting investments in Bitcoin, real-world assets (RWAs), and decentralized identity projects, which are increasingly important for institutional clients.
On the other hand, Securitize is shifting its focus back to its core mission of facilitating the tokenization of real-world assets. With over $4 billion in tokenized assets under management, Securitize collaborates with major financial players such as Apollo, BlackRock, Hamilton Lane, and KKR to issue tokenized funds and private credit products. Recently, Securitize and Apollo launched the ACRED tokenized private credit fund across multiple blockchain networks, utilizing Wormhole for interoperability.
As Securitize refines its focus, it has also secured full regulatory approval to operate a tokenized securities trading and settlement platform in the European Union. This positions Securitize uniquely as a licensed entity capable of providing tokenization infrastructure in both the US and EU markets. The company is also planning a public listing via a SPAC deal, targeting a valuation of $1.25 billion, with plans to tokenize its own equity in the process.
The combination of Anchorage Digital and the SFA platform presents RIAs with a streamlined, regulated pathway to engage with digital assets. This consolidation effectively covers custody, execution, and front-end tools under a federal banking charter, potentially simplifying compliance and mitigating operational risks for advisory firms that have previously navigated a fragmented service landscape or hesitated to allocate resources to cryptocurrency.
As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, such strategic acquisitions signal the increasing institutional interest in digital assets and the tools necessary for managing them effectively.
