NYSE Owner ICE in Talks to Invest in MoonPay at Nearly $5 Billion Valuation

Core Insights - Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is negotiating an investment in crypto payments firm MoonPay, potentially valuing the company at approximately $5 billion, a 47% increase from its previous valuation of $3.4 billion [1][2]. Group 1: Investment and Valuation - The potential valuation of MoonPay reflects a significant increase, coming shortly after the company received approval from the New York Department of Financial Services [2]. - ICE's investment is part of its strategy to expand into emerging financial technologies, complementing its existing crypto platform, Bakkt, and a recent $2 billion investment in Polymarket [3]. Group 2: Regulatory Developments - MoonPay is transitioning from a cryptocurrency on-ramp provider to a full-service digital asset custodian, enabled by a Limited Purpose Trust Charter that allows it to expand custody and crypto services in New York [5]. - This regulatory milestone positions MoonPay in competition with established players under New York's stringent digital asset licensing requirements, which include anti-money laundering protocols and consumer protection standards [6]. Group 3: Leadership Changes - MoonPay has appointed Caroline Pham, the acting chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), as its chief legal officer, signaling a focus on regulatory compliance [7].