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Crypto.com

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Crypto.com
Company typePrivate
IndustryCryptocurrency
FoundedJune 2016; 8 years ago (2016-06)
Founders
  • Bobby Bao
  • Gary Or
  • Kris Marszalek
  • Rafael Melo
Headquarters
1 Raffles Quay, #25-01 Singapore 048583[1]
ProductsCryptocurrency exchange, cryptocurrencies
Number of employees
4,000 (2022)
Websitewww.crypto.com Edit this at Wikidata

Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency exchange company based in Singapore that offers various financial services, including an app, exchange, and noncustodial DeFi wallet, NFT marketplace, and direct payment service in cryptocurrency. As of June 2023, the company reportedly had 100 million customers and 4,000 employees.[2]

Crypto.com's user base increased from 10 million users in early 2021[3] to 100 million by mid-2024,[4] while its workforce exceeded 4,000 employees.[5] Regarding sponsorships and marketing activities, Crypto.com attracted actor Matt Damon as a brand ambassador,[6] collaborated with the soccer club Paris Saint-Germain F.C.,[7] and secured the naming rights for the Staples Center, now known as the Crypto.com Arena, in a 20-year agreement valued at $700 million.[8]

History

The company was initially founded in Hong Kong[9] by Bobby Bao, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek, and Rafael Melo in 2016 as "Monaco".[10] In 2018, the company was renamed as Crypto.com following a purchase of a domain owned by cryptography researcher and professor Matt Blaze. Domain sellers valued the domain at US$5–10 million.[11][12]

Crypto.com is operated by Foris DAX Asia, a Singapore-based company[13] that's a subsidiary of Foris DAX MT (Malta) Limited.[citation needed]

The company which had 10 million users in February 2021, reported more than 50 million active users as of May 2022[3] and 80 million users as of June 2023.[14]

In January 2022, Crypto.com was the victim of a hack totaling US$15 million in stolen Ether. After some users reported suspicious activity on their accounts, the company paused withdrawals. Withdrawal services were later restored alongside a statement from the company that no customer funds were lost.[15]

On August 18, 2022, it was reported that Crypto.com had been quietly letting go of hundreds of employees, beyond its initial 5% layoff in June, due to the downturn in the cryptocurrency market.[16] By October 10, 2022, it was reported that Crypto.com had laid off over 2,000 employees (reportedly 30% to 40% of their staff) since May, due to the cryptocurrency market downturn.[17]

In November 2022, the partnership exchange's token, Cronos, lost approximately $1 billion in value.[18] The decline was caused in part due to concerns after the collapse of FTX, whose executive team was revealed to have used its native token, FTT, to prop up the balance sheet of a sister company and to have allegedly engaged in other fraudulent behaviors.[19][20] On 14 November, Marszalek, the firm's CEO, assured users that the exchange was functioning as normal.[18]

On June 9, 2023, Crypto.com announced plans to shut down its institutional exchange in the United States by June 21, citing low demand from large financial institutions. The company's main retail trading service was unaffected.[citation needed] The change caused speculation that the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles would be renamed, but the company denied this.[21][14]

In December 2020, Crypto.com acquired The Card Group Pty Ltd, securing an Australian Financial Service License. This acquisition was approved by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board, enabling Crypto.com to operate within Australia's regulatory frameworks.[22][non-primary source needed]

In December 2021, Crypto.com executed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire Nadex, a U.S.-based retail-focused, CFTC regulated online exchange, and the Small Exchange, known for offering simpler futures products.[23][24] In October 2024, Crypto.com filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after receiving a Wells notice from the same agency.[25]

Products

Cronos Token
Denominations
CodeCRO
Previous namesCrypto.com coin
Development
White paperWhitepaper
Initial releaseDecember 21, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-12-21)
Development statusActive
Ledger
Supply limit30,263,013,692
Valuation
Exchange rateFloating
Website
Websitecrypto.org

Crypto.com services include an app, exchange, wallet and NFT marketplace.[26][27][28][29]

In May 2022, they partnered with Shopify to allow businesses which use the e-commerce platform to accept payments in cryptocurrency.[30]

Promotional activities

Crypto.com signed actor Matt Damon to serve as the company's brand ambassador in October 2021.[26][31]

In March 2021, Crypto.com became a sponsor of the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team.[32] In May 2021, Crypto.com became the official sponsor of Italy's Coppa Italia soccer cup final.[33]

In June 2021, Formula 1 announced a $100 million sponsorship deal with Crypto.com, marking the first cryptocurrency sponsorship in the sport. This partnership included branding at F1 events and the introduction of a new award.[34][35][36]

In July 2021, Crypto.com became the UFC's official fight kit partner, including prominent branding on UFC fight kits worn by athletes during matches.  

In September 2021, the company became soccer club Paris Saint-Germain F.C.'s official cryptocurrency platform. The partnership included the release of exclusive non-fungible tokens on Crypto.com's NFT platform.[37]

In September 2021, the Philadelphia 76ers announced Crypto.com as their official jersey patch partner.[38][39]

In November 2021, the company acquired the naming rights to Los Angeles's Staples Center, renaming it Crypto.com Arena in a 20-year deal reported to be valued at US$700 million.[40][8][41]

At the same time, Crypto.com announced a sponsorship deal with CONMEBOL, becoming an official partner of Latin America's leading soccer competition, the Copa Libertadores.[42][43]  

In early 2022, the company announced a partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation to provide educational resources focused on blockchain-related topics to students of the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio.[44][45] In February 2022, the company acquired the naming rights for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix to become the official title partner of the competition.[46] In March 2022, Crypto.com became an official sponsor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[47][48]

In November 2022, the Australian Football League (AFL) partnered with Crypto.com.[49]

In April 2024, rapper Eminem promoted the Crypto.com exchange via twitter. He also provided the voice-over for the ad, which premiered on television during an NBA Playoffs game at the Crypto.com Arena.[50]

Regulations

North America

In North America, Crypto.com is licensed by Foreign MSB (Money Services Business) registrations with FINTRAC in Canada[51] and FinCEN in the United States for AML compliance. Additionally, the service holds Money Transmitter Licenses across various U.S. states, allowing it to operate as a payment and virtual asset service provider.[52]

In 2021, Crypto.com entered into a $216 million deal with IG Group, acquiring stakes in a US futures exchange and a binary trading group. This move aims to enable Crypto.com to offer derivatives and futures to US customers, an area often challenging for crypto exchanges due to the strict regulations surrounding these investment products. The acquisition includes the North American Derivatives Exchange (Nadex) and a 39% stake in Small Exchange, focusing on retail traders. This development is part of Crypto.com's broader strategy to comply with US regulations while expanding its service offerings.[53]

Australia

In December 2020, the company acquired an Australian Financial Service License by purchasing The Card Group Pty Ltd. This acquisition, approved by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.[54]

The Australian Financial Service License enables Crypto.com to expand its services in the Australian market, adhering to the country's financial regulations. This move also facilitates the introduction of new offerings, such as launching its debit card in Australia.[55]

Crypto.com holds regulatory licenses, including an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL)[56] and an Australian Credit License (ACL) issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The company is also registered with AUSTRAC for AML/CTF compliance, providing designated services such as issuing stored value cards, financial products, and operating as a digital currency exchange service provider.

Asia

The Monetary Authority of Singapore announced that it had given in-principle approval to the company for a Major Payment Institution License, allowing it to provide digital payment token services in the country.[57][58] In August 2022, Crypto.com acquired two South Korean startups - the payment service provider PnLink Co., Ltd and the virtual asset service provider OK-BIT Co., Ltd.[59][60] With these acquisitions, the company secured registration licenses to provide financial services under South Korea's electronic financial transaction act and as a virtual asset service provider.[61]

In June 2024, Crypto.com was recognized by Hong Kong's securities regulator as 'deemed to be licensed,' indicating that the exchange is close to obtaining full regulatory approval.[62]

Europe

The company received approval from the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority to be registered as a crypto asset service provider in August 2022.[63] In July 2022, it received regulatory approval to operate in Cyprus from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.[64] In September 2022, Crypto.com received the approval of the French authorities, and a month later announced plans to establish a European headquarters in Paris and invest 150 million euros in the French division.[65]

The company operates under the EMI (Electronic Money Institution) license and has passporting rights across various European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including France,[66] Slovenia,[67] Spain, Sweden, etc. Additionally, Crypto.com holds VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) registrations in several European countries,[68][69] adhering to the 5AMLD (Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive) regulations.

See also

References

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  2. ^ Pequeño IV, Antonio (2023-06-09). "Crypto.com Arena Keeping Controversial Name Despite Exchange Shut Down". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  3. ^ a b Chipolina, Scott; Agini, Samuel; Oliver, Joshua; Germano, Sarah (May 26, 2022). "Crypto and sports bet on winning combination to woo fans". The Financial Times.
  4. ^ "Crypto.com Surpasses 100 Million Global Users". crypto.com. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  5. ^ Daniel, Alex (18 August 2022). "Crypto.com, Genesis and Coinbase: The crypto winter has cost more than 4,000 jobs — here's who's cutting". FN London.
  6. ^ Echarri, Miquel (2022-07-26). "From Matt Damon to Gwyneth Paltrow: Celebrities who pushed crypto now paying for it in popularity". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
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  10. ^ Kaur, Jaspreet (November 17, 2021). "Who Owns Crypto.com, As Staples Center Re-Named in Landmark Deal?". hitc.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
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  40. ^ "Staples Center to become Crypto.com Arena in reported $700 million naming rights deal". ESPN. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
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  60. ^ "[보도참고] 가상자산사업자는 폐업‧영업종료 시에 대비하여 이용자 피해 최소화에 만전을 기해주시기 바랍니다". fsc.go.kr. 2021-09-13.
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  63. ^ Nicolle, Emily (August 17, 2022). "Crypto.com Receives Registration as UK Cryptoasset Provider". Bloomberg.
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