Deutsche Boerse’s Clearstream to Launch Bitcoin and Ether Custody Services

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Deutsche Boerse is set to offer cryptocurrency custody and settlement services to institutional clients starting next month, marking a major step into the crypto space. The company’s Clearstream division, known for its settlement services, will now provide custody for Bitcoin and Ether, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Key Details:

  • Launch date: April
  • Service offered: Custody and settlement for Bitcoin and Ether, with potential for adding more cryptocurrencies based on demand.
  • Sub-custodian: Crypto Finance, a subsidiary of Deutsche Boerse.

Expansion into Crypto

Deutsche Boerse, a major German exchange, began its foray into cryptocurrency services with the launch of a crypto trading platform for institutional investors in 2023. Offering crypto custody services is now part of Clearstream’s strategy to digitize financial markets, according to Jens Hachmeister, Clearstream’s head of issuer services and new digital markets.

Growing Crypto Adoption in Europe

The move comes after the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA) was introduced in 2023, setting clear rules for crypto activities across Europe. Clearstream’s new service is part of a broader trend of European financial institutions moving into digital assets, with Crypto Finance having secured a MiCA license in January.

Industry Comparison

Deutsche Boerse joins a growing list of global custody providers like Bank of New York Mellon and State Street, which also offer crypto custody services. BBVA, a Spanish bank, is another notable institution expanding into the digital asset space by offering Bitcoin and Ether trading in Spain.

The move to institutionalize cryptocurrency services reflects growing mainstream financial interest in crypto assets, especially with U.S. regulators easing rules for banks to engage with digital currencies.

GoTo Achieves First Full-Year Profit, Targets Strong Growth in 2025

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Indonesia’s largest tech conglomerate, PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GoTo), has reported its first-ever full-year underlying profit and forecasted significant growth for 2025. The company, which operates in ride-hailing, food delivery, logistics, and financial services, expects a sharp increase in its core earnings (adjusted EBITDA) next year.

Financial Milestones

  • 2024 underlying profit: 327 billion rupiah (~$20 million), reversing a 3.67 trillion rupiah loss from the previous year.
  • 2025 adjusted EBITDA forecast: 1.4 trillion to 1.6 trillion rupiah (~$85-97 million), signaling a sharp profitability surge.
  • Financial technology segment: Earnings soared 70% in 2024, driven by GoPay’s expanding user base and growing loan book.

CEO’s Outlook

GoTo Group CEO Patrick Walujo attributed the strong performance to rising user numbers and growing demand across its digital services. “We saw a significant increase in our user numbers throughout the year and expect this to continue into 2025,” he stated.

Merger Speculation

Amid industry consolidation rumors, GoTo was linked to a potential merger with Southeast Asian rival Grab. While the company denied any active talks, Walujo signaled openness to deals that enhance shareholder returns in the long term.

Backed by SoftBank Group and Singapore’s GIC, GoTo continues to solidify its position as a dominant player in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, with a strong focus on profitability and expansion in 2025.

French Tech Start-Up Bankruptcies on the Rise, Survey Reveals

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A new survey by industry research group ScaleX Invest has revealed a growing wave of bankruptcies among French tech start-ups, potentially challenging President Emmanuel Macron’s vision of Paris as a premier European tech hub.

During his first term, Macron championed the rise of France’s start-up ecosystem, highlighting initiatives like Station F and securing €110 billion in investment pledges during France’s global AI summit in February. However, the latest findings indicate that economic pressures and tightening funding conditions are leading to higher insolvency rates in the sector.

Key Findings of the Survey

  • 10.4% of the 1,487 tech start-ups analyzed face a high risk of bankruptcy.
  • The number of bankruptcies and insolvencies now exceeds the number of new Series A funding rounds.
  • Established start-ups are also struggling: The average failed company had raised €32.5 million, twice as much as in previous years, yet still couldn’t survive market conditions.

One example is Ynsect, a company specializing in insect-based ingredient production using robotics, which filed for a safeguard plan last year.

A Struggle for Funding

The declining valuations and stricter funding climate have made it increasingly difficult for even well-funded scale-ups to secure capital, said Edouard Thibaut, ScaleX Invest’s Chief Operating Officer.

This downturn in France’s tech sector coincides with broader economic concerns, including a global slowdown affecting financial markets. If the trend continues, it could undermine France’s ambitions of competing with Silicon Valley and other global tech ecosystems.