cryptobriefing.com
Key Takeaways
- Bakkt, a digital asset infrastructure company, plans to acquire Distributed Technologies Research.
- The acquisition will proceed via an all-stock transaction wherein Bakkt will issue shares of Class A common stock to DTR shareholders.
Crypto services company Bakkt is set to acquire stablecoin payments provider Distributed Technologies Research Ltd. (DTR) through an all-stock transaction, the company said Monday.
Bakkt has entered into an agreement to acquire Distributed Technologies Research Ltd., strengthening our global stablecoin settlement and programmable payments infrastructure.
The transaction supports Bakkt’s evolution into a unified financial infrastructure platform and… pic.twitter.com/LknM40aUI2
— Bakkt (@Bakkt) January 12, 2026
Shares of Bakkt rose approximately 10% following the announcement, per Yahoo Finance.
Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the acquisition would strengthen Bakkt’s global stablecoin settlement and programmable payments platform.
The move, backed by Intercontinental Exchange, Bakkt’s largest shareholder, also targets expanding the company’s capabilities in payments and banking, enhancing its financial infrastructure for potential broader applications by 2026.
Bakkt CEO Akshay Naheta said in a statement that integrating DTR into Bakkt finalizes a long-planned strategy to build a single global financial infrastructure platform, merging Bakkt’s regulatory foundation with DTR’s technology to deliver new efficiencies for merchants, financial institutions, and users worldwide.
According to Mike Alfred, who serves on the board and the special committee, the acquisition “will allow Bakkt to consolidate a critical piece of its stablecoin settlement infrastructure and prepares the company to launch its neobanking strategy with multiple distribution partners in the coming months.”
Bakkt plans to change its corporate name to ‘Bakkt, Inc.’ and continue trading under the ticker ‘BKKT’ on the New York Stock Exchange.
Originally launched as a Bitcoin futures trading platform, Bakkt has broadened its business to include crypto payment solutions and trading services.
In May 2025, Bakkt outlined plans to integrate DTR’s technology as part of a broader architecture, positioning its regulated infrastructure as a bridge between traditional and decentralized finance. The partnership enables access to DTR’s ION Network, supporting stablecoin-based cross-border payments and AI-driven on-chain applications, while combining TradFi compliance with blockchain programmability and efficiency.