Blockchain
Global Fintech M&A continues two-year climb to defy broader M&A slowdown, says Hampleton Partners’ report

Embedded finance applications, crypto, blockchain and OpenAPI banking services surge
‘Potential recession won’t dampen Fintech M&A as it did in 2008’
London, UK – 14 September 2022. The latest Hampleton Partners’ Fintech M&A Report, reveals that global Fintech M&A rose sharply in the first half of 2022 with 591 recorded deals, defying the broader M&A slowdown.
The report, by the international M&A and corporate finance advisory firm for technology companies, showed a 46 per cent increase on 1H2021 numbers (406 Fintech deals), and a massive 70 per cent increase on 1H2019 pre-pandemic figures (348 Fintech deals).
Meanwhile, valuations remained steady: 1H2022 saw the trailing 30-month median revenue multiple at 3.1x – broadly in line with the levels seen in the past two years. The trailing 30-month median EBITDA multiple came in at 14.2x, still in the 13-15x range Hampleton has monitored since 2015.
Miro Parizek, founder and principal partner, Hampleton Partners, said: “Fintech is proving to be a very attractive target for financial and strategic dealmakers, defying the broader global M&A slowdown.
“As for the impact of any potential recession, there is one major difference between now and the previous real recession of 2008. This year, deployable private capital, including buyout, VC, growth and real estate, hit its highest level in history at $3.6 trillion – three times the figure in 2008.
“The availability of capital is driving buyers and investors to increase their acquisitions at a time when their pockets are full and high-growth Fintech companies are being sold at all-time affordable prices. Any potential recession won’t dampen Fintech M&A as it did in 2008.”
New technologies driving Fintech M&A
The Crypto & Blockchain segment experienced a significant jump in the number of deals in the past 12 months, with a total of 107 transactions recorded, a 75 per cent growth year over year.
As blockchain technology enables monetisation in the metaverse, companies are piling in to create digital assets. In February, investment firm Republic Realm paid a record $4.3 million for land in Sandbox, currently the largest metaverse platform. In May 2022, US-based Descrypto Holdings acquired OpenLocker, a provider of an online NFT trading portal & marketplace for $11 million.
Open banking APIs are expected to transform the market, following the introduction of European PSD2 regulation, requiring banks to offer APIs so that customer data can integrate more effectively with third-party services. Open banking features are expected to have 64 million users by 2024, a five-fold increase relative to 2020[1].
In May 2022, Yapily Limited acquired finAPI, a provider of open banking, data intelligence, Know Your Customer (KYC) and payment SaaS worldwide. Yapily has focused its efforts on official API integrations covering thousands of banks, consolidating its position in Germany and Europe.
Embedded finance provided by companies such as Stripe, Clearpay and Clear Bank, are on the rise. They embed payment and credit products in checkout seamlessly to satisfy customers’ needs. The global market for embedded finance is estimated to reach $7.2 trillion by 2030[2].
Healthy future for Fintech M&A
Miro Parizek continued: “Many Fintech companies raised significant investment capital recently. Some will grow and mature to become serial acquirers in their niches. Many other Fintechs will be sellers in what continues to be an attractive M&A market.
“As increasing numbers of private Fintech companies run out of money needed to fuel and maintain their operations, their options will be to raise capital from venture capital firms; sell to private equity or strategic acquirers; or entirely shut down business operations. These options make a sale appear attractive.
“At the same time, public companies with massive capital and PE with large amounts of dry powder, well financed late-stage high-growth private companies, and traditional financial services companies looking to remain relevant, are on the lookout for good assets in the sector.
“These two sides of the equation are bound to increase overall M&A activity in the Fintech sector.”
Hampleton Partners’ Fintech M&A Report analyses transactions, trends and activity across the Financial Management Solutions, Payments, Banking/Lending Technology, Crypto and Blockchain and Wealth & Capital Markets Technology segments.
Download the full Hampleton Partners’ Fintech M&A Market Report 2H2022: https://www.hampletonpartners.com/reports/fintech-report/
[1] McKinsey Report
[2] Forbes, 2022
ENDS
For interview requests, copy of the report or photography, please contact:
Jane Henry
Marylebone Marketing
[email protected]
+44 789 666 8155
Note to Editors:
Hampleton Partners’ M&A Market Reports are compiled using data and information from the 451 Research database (www.451research.com).
About Hampleton Partners
Hampleton Partners is at the forefront of international mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance advisory for companies with technology at their core. Hampleton’s experienced deal makers have built, bought and sold over 100 fast-growing tech businesses and provide hands-on expertise and unrivalled advice to tech entrepreneurs and companies which are looking to accelerate growth and maximise value.
With offices in London, Frankfurt, Stockholm and San Francisco, Hampleton offers a global perspective with sector expertise in: Artificial Intelligence, Autotech, Cybersecurity, Digital Commerce, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthtech, HR Tech, Insurtech and IT & Business Services.
Follow Hampleton on LinkedIn and Twitter.
For more information visit https://www.hampletonpartners.com.
Source: RealWire
Blockchain
EAT & BEYOND ANNOUNCES PROPOSED NAME CHANGE AND UPDATED INVESTMENT POLICY
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 30, 2025 (Fraser Edwards, Kyiv NFT, Spirit Blockchain Capital, Indian eHealth, Hedera)

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies continue to redefine industries—from competitive gaming and cultural heritage preservation to corporate finance, healthcare, and alternative tokens. Today’s briefing highlights five pivotal developments shaping the ecosystem: Fraser Edwards’s vision for trust in eSports; Ukraine’s wartime cultural preservation via NFTs; Spirit Blockchain Capital’s Q1 2025 operational report; India’s push for blockchain-enabled electronic health records (EHRs); and the rise of viral altcoins such as UniLabs, Sui, and Hedera Hashgraph. Together, these stories illustrate the themes of trust and identity, preservation and provenance, institutional maturation, public-sector innovation, and token diversification. In this op-ed–style round-up, we distill the essence of each story, cite sources, and offer analysis on how they advance Web3, DeFi, and NFT frontiers.
1. Rebuilding Trust in eSports: Can Blockchain Fix Competitive Integrity?
Source: CCN
Summary:
In a recent CCN interview, veteran trader and eSports investor Fraser Edwards argues that blockchain’s immutable ledgers can restore credibility in the rapidly commercializing world of competitive gaming. According to Edwards, match-fixing scandals and opaque prize-pool distributions have eroded fan confidence. By tokenizing tournament entries and payouts on public blockchains—complete with smart-contract–enforced escrow—organizers can guarantee that prize monies are distributed exactly as advertised, and that no post-match manipulation occurs. Tournament operators in Asia and North America are already piloting Ethereum-based payout dApps, aiming to increase transparency for players and sponsors alike.
Key details & analysis:
-
Smart-contract escrow: Funds are held in a time-locked contract that releases prize money only upon verifiable match results. This prevents disputes over referee decisions or delayed payments.
-
On-chain reputation: Player and team reputations can be tokenized via non-fungible reputation badges that accrue based on fair play and community votes—discouraging cheating.
-
Scalability concerns: High-traffic tournaments may require Layer 2 rollups or alternative chains (e.g., Polygon, Immutable X) to reduce gas costs and latency.
Opinion: Blockchain’s dual promise of provable fairness and programmable finance makes it uniquely suited to eSports. Yet adoption hinges on UX: seamless wallet integrations, minimal transaction fees, and clear regulatory guidance on esports tokens.
2. When Art Meets Blockchain: Ukraine’s Wartime Cultural Preservation
Source: The Kyiv Independent
Summary:
As monuments crumble under artillery fire, Ukrainian curators and technologists are partnering to mint NFTs representing lost or endangered artifacts. The Kyiv Independent reports that the National Art Museum of Ukraine has launched “Project Phoenix,” tokenizing high-resolution 3D scans of sculptures, manuscripts, and paintings. Proceeds from initial sales fund restoration and digital archiving efforts. Each NFT embeds provenance metadata—including GPS coordinates, curator notes, and condition reports—ensuring that future generations can verify authenticity and context, even if the physical artifact is destroyed.
Key details & analysis:
-
Metadata richness: Beyond simple ownership, NFTs store structured metadata—using ERC-721 metadata extensions—that capture curatorial insights and conservation logs.
-
Decentralized archives: IPFS and Arweave are employed to host ultra-high-resolution imagery, with on-chain hashes guaranteeing data integrity.
-
Community engagement: Fractional-NFT drops allow diaspora communities to collectively own tokens, strengthening cultural ties and crowdfunding preservation.
Opinion: Blockchain’s ability to immutable record heritage provides a lifeline for war-torn nations. However, ensuring that local institutions retain governance over metadata edits and future migrations is critical to avoiding “cultural colonialism” by global NFT marketplaces.
3. Spirit Blockchain Capital’s Q1 2025 Highlights: Growth, Investments, and Outlook
Source: GlobeNewswire
Summary:
Spirit Blockchain Capital’s Q1 2025 report benchmarks the firm’s operational milestones and financial performance. Assets under management (AUM) climbed 45% to $1.02 billion, driven by strategic allocations to top-tier Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocols, DeFi liquidity pools, and a newly launched token-index fund. Operating income rose 37%, fueled by management fees and performance incentives. The firm also closed its second blockchain-focused venture fund at $150 million, earmarked for early-stage Web3 projects in gaming, infrastructure, and decentralized identity.
Key details & analysis:
-
Diversification strategy: 60% of AUM in blue-chip cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum); 25% in DeFi (Aave, Uniswap, Lido); 15% in tokenized commodities and NFTs.
-
Fund performance: The flagship fund delivered a 9.8% return in Q1, outperforming the 6.2% benchmark set by the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index.
-
Venture investments: Early stakes in zero-knowledge proof startups and decentralized storage platforms signal confidence in scalability and privacy innovations.
Opinion: Spirit’s robust growth and disciplined diversification mirror institutional maturation in the blockchain asset management space. As regulatory clarity improves, expect further inflows from endowments, pensions, and family offices.
4. Blockchain EHRs in India: The Next Digital Health Revolution
Source: ORF
Summary:
The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) details India’s pioneering pilot of blockchain-backed electronic health records (EHRs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh. By leveraging a permissioned Hyperledger Fabric network, the initiative ensures that patient records—from vaccination histories to diagnostic imaging—are securely shared across hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Patients control access via digital identities anchored to India’s Aadhaar system, granting temporal permissions for data viewing and preventing unauthorized sharing.
Key details & analysis:
-
Interoperability: HL7 FHIR standards are mapped to on-chain transactions, enabling seamless data exchange with existing hospital information systems (HIS).
-
Privacy safeguards: Off-chain storage of PHI (Protected Health Information) is encrypted with patient-held keys; only hashed pointers reside on-chain to ensure immutability without exposing sensitive data.
-
Regulatory alignment: The pilot aligns with India’s draft Digital Health Act, which emphasizes data sovereignty and patient consent frameworks.
Opinion: Blockchain EHRs can democratize healthcare access in a populous nation—but success depends on user-friendly portals, robust identity verification, and contingency plans for network outages in rural areas.
5. The Hottest Viral Altcoins of 2025: UniLabs, Sui, and Hedera Lead the Pack
Source: TronWeekly
Summary:
According to TronWeekly, the altcoin landscape in 2025 is dominated by three viral tokens: UniLabs (UNI-L), Sui (SUI), and Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR). UniLabs, a governance token for a decentralized laboratory network, saw a 1,200% year-to-date surge on news of its AI-driven drug-discovery partnership. Sui’s Move-based smart-contract platform gained traction for sub-second finality and low gas fees, with total value locked (TVL) surpassing $2 billion. Hedera’s HBAR continues its enterprise pivot, securing multi-year agreements with global brands for identity verification and supply-chain tracking.
Key details & analysis:
-
UniLabs use case: Token holders vote on research grants and share in royalty revenues from patented compounds developed on-chain.
-
Sui performance: With a novel object model and horizontal sharding, Sui supports over 3,000 TPS (transactions per second) without compromising on decentralization.
-
Hedera enterprise: The Governing Council—comprising Boeing, Google, and LG—bolsters confidence in HBAR’s governance model and paves the way for compliant enterprise deployments.
Opinion: These tokens exemplify the diversification of blockchain applications. Investors should assess not only market hype but also protocol fundamentals—developer activity, economic incentives, and real-world adoption.
Cross-Story Trends & Key Takeaways
-
Trust & Transparency at the Core
From esports prize-pool ledgers to wartime NFT archives and permissioned health records, blockchain’s immutability fosters verifiable trust—a prerequisite for mainstream adoption across sectors. -
Institutional & Public-Sector Innovation
Spirit Blockchain Capital’s fund growth and India’s EHR pilot signal that both private and government entities view blockchain as a strategic infrastructure, not just speculative assets. -
Vertical Specialization Fuels Token Growth
Viral altcoins like UniLabs, Sui, and Hedera thrive by addressing niche use-cases—governance in biotech, scalable DeFi rails, and enterprise identity—underscoring the importance of purpose-built protocols. -
Metadata & Provenance Drive NFTs Beyond Art
Ukraine’s cultural NFTs demonstrate how rich on-chain metadata can preserve heritage, while esports applications show that reputation tokens can enforce fair-play credentials. -
Ecosystem Maturation Requires UX & Governance
Across all stories, user experience—wallet onboarding, identity verification, metadata curation—and robust governance frameworks (tokenomics, regulatory alignment) emerge as decisive factors in blockchain’s next wave.
Conclusion
Today’s blockchain headlines reveal a maturing ecosystem where trust, transparency, and targeted innovation unlock new frontiers—from safeguarding digital heritage amid conflict to revolutionizing healthcare and sports. As institutional players allocate billions, and public-sector pilots chart regulatory pathways, the fate of tomorrow’s Web3 landscape hinges on seamless UX, rigorous governance, and demonstrable real-world utility. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines, where we’ll continue tracking the trends, tokens, and technologies that define the blockchain revolution.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 30, 2025 (Fraser Edwards, Kyiv NFT, Spirit Blockchain Capital, Indian eHealth, Hedera) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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