Hamilton Locke is delighted announce the completion of the acquisition of Independent Reserve, one of Australia’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, by London Stock Exchange-listed IG Group Holdings plc on 30 January 2026 for an initial enterprise value of A$178 million. This transaction represents a significant milestone for Australia’s digital asset sector and demonstrates the growing maturity of the cryptocurrency market.
Independent Reserve, a longstanding client of Hamilton Locke, has established itself as a premier cryptocurrency exchange, offering trading in 34 digital assets in multiple currencies, serving retail and institutional customers, with permissions to operate in Australia and Singapore.
Commenting on the transaction, Hamilton Locke Partner Jo Ruitenberg said: “Advising the Independent Reserve team on this significant transaction and seeing it complete has been an absolute pleasure. We are excited for Independent Reserve’s next chapter now they’ve join forces with IG Group and to continue to support them on their growth journey across APAC and the Middle East.”
The team at Hamilton Locke was led by Partner Jo Ruitenberg, with support from Lawyers Alexandra Meissner and Ally Frizelle, as well as specialist advice from Partner Jaime Lumsden and Senior Associate Nicholas Pavouris.
We congratulate the Independent Reserve and IG Group teams and look forward to seeing their continued success in the future.
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