Source: Fortune
Summary
MoonPay, a global fiat-to-crypto conversion firm, has acquired North Capital Investment Technology, a Utah-based brokerage firm, for over $60 million in an all-stock deal. North Capital offers back-end brokerage services and tools for tokenizing assets. The acquisition is intended to help MoonPay build a regulatory foundation for tokenized real-world assets. North Capital holds SEC licenses that cover broker-dealer transactions, ATS trading, and investment advisory services. The move comes as tokenized stocks gain traction, with the SEC recently allowing their offering under an “innovators exemption.”
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
MoonPay buys a brokerage firm for $60 million.
North Capital has SEC licenses that cover trading and advisory services.
The SEC allows tokenized stocks under an innovators exemption.
The move signals growing interest in blockchain-based securities.
Author: Evan Null
Blockchain Meets Wall Street
The trend of packaging stocks and other assets as tokens on the blockchain has emerged as a major financial story in 2026. Firms like Robinhood and Kraken have ramped up their offerings of tokenized securities, and MoonPay has now entered the field as well. The company announced it has acquired North Capital Investment Technology, a Utah-based firm that offers back-end brokerage services as well as tools to tokenize debt, equity, and other assets.
MoonPay’s Strategic Move
MoonPay did not disclose the financial terms of the North Capital acquisition, but a person familiar with the deal told Fortune the company paid over $60 million in an all-stock deal. North Capital built its business around offering services like custody and secondary market sales. Earlier this year, it rolled out an initiative alongside the blockchain firm tZero to offer tokenized assets on the alternative trading systems (ATSs).
Regulatory Foundations
The person familiar with the deal said North Capital’s extensive portfolio of SEC licenses was a key factor in MoonPay’s decision to purchase the company. Those licenses cover activities like broker-dealer transactions, ATS trading, transfer agent services, and investment advisory. The licenses are likely to help MoonPay add services to help its clients manage tokenized stocks.
Tokenized Stocks Gain Momentum
While tokenized stocks are still a tiny sliver of the overall equities market, the category is growing fast. Last week, blockchain-based securities received a boost when the Securities and Exchange Commission deemed that companies can offer tokenized stocks under an “innovators exemption.” This allows companies to offer them without fear of violating certain SEC regulations.
The Road Ahead
MoonPay’s acquisition of North Capital signals a growing interest in blockchain-based financial products. The company aims to build a regulatory foundation for tokenized real-world assets, using North Capital’s capabilities to connect different parts of the financial system through modern, programmable infrastructure. The move is part of a broader trend where traditional financial services are being reimagined through blockchain technology.
