Australian crypto broker Swyftx has announced its acquisition of New Zealand-based crypto exchange Easy Crypto. This move comes as a result of positive changes in crypto policy in the United States, with Swyftx CEO Jason Titman citing President Trump’s recent messaging as a “tailwind” for the deal.

According to Titman, the acquisition was already in the works before Trump’s election, but the current climate of “sensible regulation” in the US has made it an even more attractive opportunity. He believes that this shift in policy will bring more liquidity to the market and put pressure on other governments to follow suit.

Titman also notes that the crypto industry has seen a lack of mergers and acquisitions in recent years due to regulatory uncertainty. However, with the current administration showing more support for the industry, he expects to see an increase in dealmaking in the coming months.

The acquisition will see Swyftx and Easy Crypto continue to operate as separate platforms, with plans for integration in the future. The combined workforce of the two companies will be just under 200 employees, and they will be based in Brisbane, Australia.

Easy Crypto CEO Janine Grainger sees the acquisition as a natural fit and believes it will create a strong regional player in the crypto market. She also notes that there is increasing interest in leveraging the industry to drive economic growth in New Zealand, where there is strong support for crypto.

The acquisition comes at a time when the crypto market is maturing, with a trend towards consolidation and the emergence of strong regional and global players. In Australia, a recent survey estimated that 3.9 million people currently own cryptocurrency, while in New Zealand, almost 50% of the population either own or are considering investing in crypto.

With the current support for the industry in both countries, Grainger believes that the region is poised for growth and that increasing levels of regulation will help to drive trust in the market. As the industry continues to evolve and mature, we can expect to see more mergers and acquisitions in the future.