MoonPay unveils MoonPay Institutional after Sodot Acquisition
What To Know
- MoonPay acquired Sodot and launched MoonPay Institutional to serve banks, asset managers, and trading firms entering crypto.
- Caroline D. Pham, former acting CFTC chair, will lead the new division focused on institutional crypto infrastructure.
- MoonPay Institutional will offer wallet management, stablecoin services, trading access, and DeFi liquidity across 200+ blockchain networks.
Crypto payments company MoonPay has officially acquired Israeli crypto security startup Sodot and launched a new division called MoonPay Institutional, marking a major step toward bringing traditional finance deeper into the world of digital assets.
The company says the new business is designed for banks, asset managers, trading firms, and large financial institutions that want access to crypto, stablecoins, tokenized assets, and DeFi services. The move shows how quickly institutional interest in crypto is growing as firms look for safer and easier ways to enter the market. According to Bloomberg, the acquisition deal was worth around $100 million in stock. Sodot’s technology will now become a key part of MoonPay Institutional’s infrastructure.
Caroline Pham To Lead MoonPay Institutional
MoonPay Institutional will be led by Caroline D. Pham, former acting chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). She joined MoonPay in late 2025 as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. Pham said traditional financial firms are increasingly asking how they should approach digital assets, and MoonPay Institutional aims to provide a complete solution.
“Boards and investors are asking management the same question: What is your digital asset strategy?” Pham said while announcing the launch. Her appointment is important because she brings years of experience in regulation, finance, and crypto markets. MoonPay believes this will help build trust with institutions that are still cautious about entering crypto.
Why MoonPay Acquired Sodot
Founded in 2023, Sodot specializes in crypto security and key management systems. Its technology helps firms safely store and manage sensitive crypto keys and trading credentials without exposing them to hacks or leaks. The company has already secured more than $50 billion in transactions and protected over 10 million wallets for clients including eToro, BitGo, Flow Traders, and Exodus. The acquisition also brings Sodot’s team into MoonPay, and the company plans to continue expanding operations in Israel, a region known for cybersecurity.
“We built MoonPay to be the world’s leading crypto payments network. Our institutional arm is the next stage, and together with Sodot’s infrastructure, it will allow us to bring this platform to financial services firms now entering the digital asset space. There is no one better suited to lead this business than Caroline, who brings decades of experience at the highest levels of financial regulation and capital markets,” said Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and Founder of MoonPay.
Institutions Are Moving Toward Crypto
Large financial firms are increasingly exploring tokenized assets, stablecoins, and blockchain-based payments, but many lack the tools and technical systems needed to operate safely in crypto markets. MoonPay says its new institutional platform solves that problem by offering an all-in-one system.
Over two-thirds of institutional investors now want exposure to DeFi yields, according to Nomura Securities. Stablecoin transaction volume reached $33 trillion in 2025, with Q1 2026 alone exceeding $28 trillion, and total stablecoin market capitalization has surpassed $317 billion, growing over 50% since early 2025, according to Federal Reserve research. According to Goldman Sachs, 71% of institutional asset managers plan to increase their digital asset exposure over the next 12 months.
Final Thoughts
MoonPay Institutional will provide services such as wallet infrastructure, custody, crypto trading, stablecoin issuance, payments, and access to DeFi liquidity across networks like Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, BSC, Hyperliquid, and Uniswap. The platform also includes compliance and KYC tools aimed at helping regulated institutions meet legal requirements while operating in crypto markets.
MoonPay already supports over 30 million customers globally and works with more than 500 enterprise clients. The company has been expanding aggressively beyond simple crypto payments in recent months, including acquisitions like Helio and Iron. With MoonPay Institutional, the company is now positioning itself as a major infra provider for the next wave of institutional crypto adoption.
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