Robinhood Acquires WonderFi, Crypto Crime Hits Paris, Upbit Lists NXPC

Robinhood Expands into Canada with $179 Million Acquisition of WonderFi

Robinhood Markets has announced a significant move to expand its international presence by acquiring Canadian crypto firm WonderFi for $178.98 million, as reported by CoinDesk and SiliconANGLE. The all-cash deal values WonderFi shares at 36 Canadian cents each, representing a 41% premium over their previous closing price. WonderFi operates two major Canadian crypto platforms, Bitbuy and Coinsquare, which together manage over CA$2.1 billion in assets under custody.

According to CoinDesk, trading volume on WonderFi increased by 28% to C$3.57 billion in fiscal 2024. The acquisition is expected to intensify competition in the Canadian crypto market, particularly against established players like Coinbase and Wealthsimple Crypto. Robinhood’s head of crypto, Johann Kerbrat, highlighted WonderFi’s strong brand portfolio and its appeal to both beginner and advanced crypto users. The deal is anticipated to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approval, with WonderFi’s leadership team remaining in place and Robinhood’s Canadian headquarters in Toronto serving as the hub for the new partnership.

Acquirer	Target	Deal Value	Premium	Assets Under Custody	Trading Volume (2024)
Robinhood	WonderFi	$178.98M	41%	CA$2.1B	C$3.57B

Summary: Robinhood’s acquisition of WonderFi for $179 million marks a major step in its global expansion, bringing two leading Canadian crypto platforms under its umbrella and setting the stage for increased competition in the region. (Sources: CoinDesk, SiliconANGLE)

Attempted Kidnapping of Crypto CEO’s Family in Paris Highlights Rising Risks

On May 13, 2025, an armed gang attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO and co-founder of French crypto exchange Paymium, in Paris’ 11th district. According to France 24 and Cointelegraph, four masked men attacked the family in broad daylight, trying to force the woman and her child into a van. The woman’s partner was assaulted while intervening, but the woman managed to grab one of the attackers’ handguns and throw it away. The victims’ screams attracted passers-by, prompting the attackers to flee. All three victims suffered light injuries and were hospitalized.

This incident is part of a troubling trend of violent attacks targeting crypto entrepreneurs and their families in France. Earlier in the year, David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, was abducted and had his finger cut off by kidnappers demanding a large ransom in cryptocurrency. In another case, a man was kidnapped to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom, with police arresting seven suspects after a raid. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has warned that crypto assets risk becoming a safe haven for criminal and terrorist financial transactions.

“If you’re in crypto and still flaunting it online, you’re not just stupid, you’re putting your family in danger,” said Michael Englander, CEO of Plasbit, as quoted by Cointelegraph.

May 13, 2025: Attempted kidnapping of Paymium CEO’s daughter and grandson in Paris
January 2025: Ledger co-founder David Balland abducted and mutilated
May 2025: Kidnapping of a man to extort ransom from his crypto-millionaire son

Summary: The attempted kidnapping in Paris underscores the growing physical risks faced by crypto entrepreneurs and their families, with several high-profile abductions and ransom demands reported in France this year. (Sources: France 24, Cointelegraph)

Upbit to List Nexpace (NXPC), the New MapleStory Universe Token

South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit, is set to list Nexpace (NXPC), the native token of Henesys L1, which powers Nexon’s MapleStory Universe, according to CryptoNinjas. Trading pairs will include Korean Won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT). NXPC deposits and withdrawals will be supported exclusively on the Avalanche C-Chain network, and strict compliance with South Korea’s crypto travel rule will be enforced.

Nexpace (NXPC) serves multiple functions within the MapleStory blockchain ecosystem, including payment of gas fees, minting and trading NFTs, reward distribution for user-generated content, and conversion to the NESO utility token. Upbit has announced several trading limitations for the launch: no buy orders in the first 5 minutes, only limit orders for the first 2 hours, and a minimum sell price to be announced. Trading will commence only after sufficient liquidity is secured, and deposits from unverified wallets may face delays.

NXPC is the native token of Henesys L1 for MapleStory Universe
Trading pairs: KRW, BTC, USDT
Deposits/withdrawals: Avalanche C-Chain only
Initial trading restrictions: No buy orders for 5 minutes, limit orders only for 2 hours

Summary: Upbit’s listing of NXPC highlights the growing intersection of gaming and blockchain, with the token offering real utility within the MapleStory Universe and strict compliance measures in place for its launch. (Source: CryptoNinjas)

Bitget Protection Fund Maintains $561 Million Average Value in April 2025

Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, reported that its Protection Fund maintained an average value of $561 million throughout April 2025, according to GlobeNewswire. The fund peaked at $617 million and reached a low of $496 million during the month, reflecting its resilience amid market fluctuations. The Protection Fund, launched in 2022 with an initial allocation of $300 million, has more than doubled in size, supporting Bitget’s commitment to user security and risk mitigation.

Bitget’s security framework includes monthly Merkle Tree audits, ISO 27001:2022 certification, SSL encryption, and an advanced risk control system. The platform has remained breach-free since 2018 and boasts a AAA security rating. Bitget serves over 120 million users in more than 150 countries and regions, and its Protection Fund is a key layer of defense against market instability.

Month	Average Value	High	Low	Initial Allocation (2022)
April 2025	$561M	$617M	$496M	$300M

Summary: Bitget’s Protection Fund demonstrated strong stability in April 2025, maintaining an average value of $561 million and reinforcing the platform’s reputation for robust security and risk management. (Source: GlobeNewswire)

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