Australian Exchange Acquires NZ’s Largest Crypto Platform in Major Market Shakeup

PRESS RELEASE 19.03.25

Rapidly growing Australian cryptocurrency exchange Swyftx is acquiring New Zealand’s Easy Crypto in a deal that will create one of the largest trading platforms in the trans-Tasman market.  

With over 350,000 users Easy Crypto is NZ’s largest cryptocurrency trading platform. More than $3.5 billion worth of transactions have been made on the platform since its launch in 2018 by siblings Janine and Alan Grainger. 

The platform has since expanded throughout New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, and has staff in Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia and Indonesia.     . 

The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, but the acquisition forms part of Swyftx’s wider international expansion strategy. The deal expands Swyftx’s footprint in New Zealand and gives it access to the fast-growing African crypto market.  

Brisbane-based Swyftx is one of Australia’s fastest-growing digital asset exchanges. It employs around 150 staff and since its launch in 2018 has supported more than NZD$40 billion in trade volumes across the ANZ region. 

The merging of Easy Crypto’s international customer base with Swyftx’s 800,000-plus customers creates Australasia’s second-largest platform by trading volume. 

Interest in cryptocurrency has surged since the US election, with President Donald Trump promising an administration friendly to cryptocurrencies.

Jason Titman, Swyftx CEO, said the deal would help accelerate the growth of both businesses over the next few years. 

He says “Easy Crypto’s global footprint and innovation across areas like stablecoins will help accelerate Swyftx’s growth into new markets and products.”

“Easy Crypto is a high-quality, trusted and innovative business in a market that will grow over the next few years.

“We have wanted to expand our presence in New Zealand for some time. Australasia needs a large, world-class homegrown exchange to compete with international offerings and this deal creates exactly that. 

“This acquisition brings together two of the top-rated exchanges in the ANZ region, with a rapidly growing customer base and a focus on promoting greater financial freedom. 

“Swyftx and Easy Crypto share a deep commitment to excellence in both customer experience and security and this will remain a top priority following the acquisition. 

“The long-term plan is for Easy Crypto to transition to the Swyftx platform, giving its customers access to a wider range of over 400 crypto assets and competitive fees.

“We plan to continue a physical presence in NZ. This deal is designed to create new opportunities for growth and innovation for both platforms, and it will allow us to take on the largest global players,” he says.

Easy Crypto co-founder Janine Grainger says while the sale of the company comes as digital currencies reach record heights, the move is the right one.

“I’ve been impressed with Swyftx’s growth and approach in Australia and our shared vision and values relating to customer experience, security and financial freedom made this partnership a natural fit.”  

“Our vision is to make crypto more accessible and to promote financial freedom and we look forward to joining forces with Swyftx to accelerate that vision. Together, we can give our customers access to even more products and innovation to support them in their journeys. 

“We would never have been able to achieve this milestone without our customers’ trust in our team and we can’t wait to deliver even more value to each of them as we continue to build a business that enables financial independence with a safe, easy, local service,” she says.

Titman says the Australian market is moving towards a stricter regulatory regime for cryptocurrency exchanges – a transition that will benefit its New Zealand customer base. He says the company’s trading activity has surged by over 1000% since the November US election and forecasts that regulation will support further growth. 

The move comes ahead of sweeping regulatory changes set to be introduced in Australia this year, designed to ensure greater protections for consumers within the crypto trading environment.

“Swyftx is already well advanced in our preparation for a regulated future. We’re strong supporters of robust rules and know that many potential investors are waiting for the introduction of regulations before they enter the market. Our analysis suggests anything up to 6.4m more Australians could enter the market when regulated. At that point, you are talking about a local market worth well in excess of NZ$143bn a year.”

“Australian crypto exchanges will likely need a financial services licence within the next year. As a result, we will be operating under the similar rules to traditional brokerages.”

Spartan Group acted as exclusive financial adviser to Swyftx, and Areta acted as exclusive financial adviser to Easy Crypto, in the transaction.