Crypto Data Platform The Tie completes its first acquisition, acquiring pledge service provider Stakin through "cash + equity" purchase

Known Crypto Data Platform The Tie Announces Completion of Acquisition of Stakin, a Staking Service Provider, marking The Tie’s first M&A since its founding. The deal was paid in a combination of cash and equity, with the specific amount undisclosed, funded from the company’s balance sheet and operational profits.

With this acquisition, The Tie officially establishes an Infrastructure Solutions division, bringing under its umbrella over $1 billion in delegated assets managed by Stakin and its expertise across more than 40 blockchain networks. This move signifies a strategic expansion for a company known for data and terminal services into the broader crypto infrastructure space, aiming to create a unified digital asset service portal for approximately 500 institutional clients.

Decoding the Deal: The Low-Key Data Giant’s First Move

For long-time observers of the crypto institutional services sector, The Tie’s acquisition of Stakin was both unexpected and logical. According to Joshua Frank, co-founder and CEO of The Tie, who shared details with The Block, negotiations began in August 2025 and the transfer was recently completed without regulatory approval delays. The specific deal size was not disclosed, but Frank emphasized that the entire purchase was funded from the company’s own resources—its balance sheet and accumulated operational profits—paying with a mix of cash and equity in The Tie. This financing approach signals that The Tie is a financially healthy, self-sufficient company.

Looking back at The Tie’s development, this financial robustness is evident. The company completed a $9 million Series A funding round in 2022, with a post-money valuation of $100 million, and has maintained net profitability since inception. In an industry heavily reliant on continuous risk capital infusion, The Tie’s core business serving hedge funds, asset managers, banks, and VCs demonstrates a sustainable business model. Using its own funds for this acquisition underscores its financial strength and strategic planning, rather than chasing hot capital trends.

Stakin, the acquired company, presents a typical “small but beautiful” startup profile. Headquartered in Estonia, it grew into a provider of non-custodial staking infrastructure across over 40 blockchain networks without external funding—completely bootstrapped—with delegated assets exceeding $1 billion. All 15 of its employees will join The Tie as part of the deal. Stakin’s addition brings tangible crypto-native asset management capabilities and extensive multi-chain coverage, which are crucial for The Tie’s transition from a “data provider” to an “infrastructure participant.”

The Tie and Stakin Business Key Data Comparison

The Tie (Acquirer):

• Core Business: Crypto market data, consulting, workflow tools (The Tie Terminal), compliance communications, institutional access and consulting.
• Client Base: About 500 institutional clients (hedge funds, asset managers, banks, VCs, etc.).
• Funding History: Raised $9 million in Series A in 2022, valuation at $100 million, profitable since then.
• Team Size: Approximately 75 full-time employees and contractors.
• Headquarters: USA.

Stakin (Target):

• Core Business: Non-custodial staking service provider.
• Assets Managed: Over $1 billion.
• Network Coverage: 40+ blockchain networks.
• Funding History: No external funding, fully bootstrapped.
• Team Size: 15 employees (all integrated into The Tie).
• Headquarters: Estonia.

Strategic Intent Analysis: Why Does a Data Platform Need Staking Services?

On the surface, acquiring a staking service provider by a market intelligence and terminal data company seems like a cross-industry move. However, a deeper look at The Tie’s leadership statements reveals a clear and profound strategic logic: building a “unified institutional digital asset gateway.”

The core advantage of The Tie lies in its distribution channels and client trust. Its flagship product, The Tie Terminal, is an essential tool for many institutional traders and analysts to access real-time market data and make investment decisions. Through this terminal, The Tie has established deep connections with top global crypto institutional investors. However, until now, these connections mainly involved “information flow.” After acquiring Stakin, The Tie can directly bundle and deliver “asset flow” services—namely, secure staking yields—to these existing clients. CEO Joshua Frank emphasizes that staking will become the first business line of its newly formed Infrastructure Solutions division and will be integrated into a broader institutional platform. This means clients can seamlessly access staking services—previously requiring separate vendors—within the familiar The Tie ecosystem, creating a closed loop of data, analysis, and asset management.

From a competitive differentiation perspective, Frank distinguishes The Tie from providers like Fireblocks and Talos. He notes that The Tie does not directly offer custody or order execution management systems; its core remains The Tie Terminal, a market intelligence and workflow tool. Therefore, this acquisition is not about encroaching on competitors’ turf but about building “moats” and “value-added services” around its core strengths. Staking, as a revenue-generating essential service, is an excellent way to increase client stickiness and per-client value. Co-founder and CEO of Stakin, Edouard Lavidalle, also states that the acquisition aims to “accelerate the next phase of digital asset adoption,” implying that more convenient, integrated institutional services will lower the barriers for traditional capital to enter crypto.

Furthermore, this may just be the beginning of The Tie’s infrastructure ambitions. Frank hints that future expansion could include decentralized bridges, oracles, RPC services, and permissioned chain infrastructure. A blueprint for an institutional service super-platform—centered on data terminals and supported by various infrastructure services—has begun to take shape.

Industry Trend Mapping: Integration and Expansion in the Institutionalization Wave

The acquisition of Stakin by The Tie is not an isolated event but a typical reflection of the current deepening institutionalization and mature consolidation phase in crypto. In recent years, with the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs and the passage of key legislation like the “Digital Asset Market Clarity Act” in the US, traditional financial institutions’ demand for digital asset allocation has surged. These “whales” no longer settle for simple spot trading; they require compliant, secure, reliable, and yield-generating financial-grade services.

Against this backdrop, M&A activity has become more active. Companies are no longer content with niche specialization but seek to acquire key capabilities quickly to offer comprehensive solutions. For firms like The Tie, which already serve as an “entry point” for institutional clients, expanding product lines horizontally to meet diverse needs is a natural move to consolidate market position and unlock existing value. Staking, as a fundamental and large-scale yield market under Proof of Stake consensus, naturally becomes a prime target.

On another level, this acquisition also reflects the deepening specialization and value reconfiguration within the crypto industry. Stakin, as a technically solid but potentially less widely known infrastructure provider, joining forces with The Tie, which has a strong client network, exemplifies a perfect combination of technical capability and market channels. This “tech team + distribution network” M&A model is common in traditional tech sectors and is now re-emerging in crypto, signaling the industry’s shift from a wild, innovative phase toward a mature stage based on comparative advantages and scale effects.

For Stakin’s clients, this acquisition is expected to bring more stable service prospects. Frank promises that operationally, Stakin will continue to run independently, with no immediate changes to infrastructure or customer service. Commercially, its services will be integrated into The Tie’s stronger brand and sales system, potentially gaining more resources and technical synergy over the long term.

Future Outlook and Challenges: The Road to a “Unified Gateway”

Acquiring Stakin is just the first step in The Tie’s long march toward building a “unified institutional gateway.” Looking ahead, this expansion path presents both opportunities and challenges.

The primary opportunity lies in cross-selling potential. How to effectively convert The Tie’s existing 500 terminal data clients into staking and future infrastructure service users is key to the success of this acquisition. The Tie needs to design seamless product integration processes and competitive commercial terms, making clients feel that “internal procurement” is more convenient and cost-effective than sourcing separately externally. Successful integration can significantly diversify revenue streams and improve profit margins.

The accompanying challenge is the increased complexity of operations. Managing a data platform and operating a staking network handling billions in assets requires risk management, compliance, and security capabilities at a much higher level. The Tie must ensure that, while integrating Stakin’s team, it also establishes institutional-grade operational, risk control, and compliance frameworks. Any service disruption or security breach could severely damage its hard-earned institutional reputation.

Additionally, the evolving regulatory environment remains a concern. Although the US has made legislative strides in stablecoin regulation, specific frameworks for staking services are still unclear globally. As an American company offering multi-chain staking services worldwide, The Tie must navigate increasingly complex cross-border regulations, posing high demands on its legal and compliance teams.

In the long run, if The Tie successfully absorbs this acquisition and steadily advances its infrastructure product roadmap, it could evolve from an excellent “data provider” into an indispensable “comprehensive service provider” within the crypto institutional ecosystem. Under the macro narrative of continuous institutional capital inflows, this positioning’s value will be amplified. However, all of this depends on smooth integration, excellent operations, and ongoing innovation. For The Tie and its newly appointed Stakin team, the real test has only just begun.

US Crypto Regulation Legislation Accelerates, Clearing Obstacles for Institutional Entry

The confidence of The Tie and other institutional service providers in expansion partly stems from the increasingly clear regulatory environment in the US and globally. In July 2025, the US achieved a milestone in crypto legislation, with the House passing three key bills.

The most central is the “Digital Asset Market Clarity Act,” which aims to clarify the regulatory responsibilities of the SEC and CFTC, establishing the “commodity” status for certain digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. If enacted, this law would greatly reduce regulatory uncertainty that has long plagued the industry and pave the way for traditional financial institutions’ compliant entry. This macro context is highly relevant to The Tie’s client base.

Meanwhile, the “Genius Act” (also known as the “US Stablecoin Innovation Act”) signed into law establishes a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins pegged to the US dollar, requiring them to be backed by USD or US Treasury short-term debt. This enhances the credibility of stablecoins as a medium of exchange and store of value, further strengthening the crypto market’s financial infrastructure. A more stable and compliant market environment will undoubtedly facilitate The Tie’s promotion of asset management services, including staking, to institutional clients.

These legislative developments point to a trend: crypto assets are rapidly being integrated into mainstream financial regulation. For companies like The Tie, regulatory clarity is not a constraint but a catalyst and safety net for growth. It enables institutional clients to evaluate and participate in crypto markets with more confidence, supporting The Tie’s “unified gateway” strategy at a fundamental level.