MoonPay acquires crypto deposit firm Glide in sixth deal this year
Crypto payments firm MoonPay has acquired Glide to integrate automated cross-chain routing technology, accelerating an aggressive acquisition strategy to consolidate digital asset infrastructure.
MoonPay has acquired Glide, a startup that facilitates cryptocurrency deposits across fragmented blockchain networks, marking the payment infrastructure firm's sixth acquisition this year. The all-equity transaction closed after discussions began late last year, though the financial terms remain undisclosed. All four Glide employees, including its two co-founders, will join MoonPay's operations.
For market professionals, Glide's appeal lies in its solution to a persistent infrastructure bottleneck in digital assets. Moving funds between different blockchains typically requires users to manually bridge or swap tokens, a process that introduces operational friction and significant security risks. Glide's routing technology bypasses this by automatically identifying and executing the fastest and lowest-cost path for transfers. These transactions are handled through self-custodial smart contracts, meaning users can accept deposits from any token, wallet, exchange, or card without relinquishing control of their assets.
Despite having only four employees, Glide has built notable throughput. The platform currently supports more than 100 tokens across 30 blockchain networks, processing over $100 million in annualized transaction volume. The company was founded in 2023 by two former employees of Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: $HOOD). Acquiring a team of this size that facilitates nine-figure transaction volumes highlights the capital-efficient, highly scalable nature of modern crypto infrastructure software.
The takeover fits into a broader consolidation strategy for MoonPay. The privately held company, which positions itself as the "PayPal of crypto," serves as a bridge between traditional banking systems and digital currencies. It has previously attracted backing from high-profile figures including Justin Bieber and Paris Hilton. By executing its sixth acquisition in a single year, MoonPay is aggressively diversifying its product suite to capture more value within the crypto payments pipeline.
For investors and executives tracking the digital asset sector, MoonPay's acquisition pace reflects a maturing market where established players are absorbing niche technical teams to consolidate infrastructure. As cross-chain interoperability becomes a baseline requirement rather than a novelty, owning the underlying routing technology provides a distinct competitive advantage in transaction routing and user retention.
