Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailand’s second largest bank, is expanding its involvement in the digital assets sector through the acquisition of a majority stake in the local crypto exchange Satang.<h2 id="header-0">TradFi embracing crypto</h2>The acquisition, involving a purchase of 97% of Satang’s shares, is a significant move in the context of an ongoing trend of traditional financial institutions embracing digital assets. The deal was officially announced on Monday, as <a href="https://www.kasikornbank.com/en/IR/FinanInfoReports/LetterToSET/20231030_UnitaCapital_EN.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">disclosed</a> on KBank’s official website.KBank executed the acquisition through its newly established subsidiary, Unita Capital, whose registered capital is valued at 3.7 billion Thai baht (approximately $103 million). Unita Capital specializes in investments within the digital asset sector. This move underlines the bank’s commitment to stay ahead in the dynamic world of digital finance.<h2 id="header-1">Subsidiary formation</h2>In light of the acquisition, Satang Corporation is set to undergo a name change and will soon be known as Orbix Trade Company Limited. Unita Capital has established a number of other subsidiary companies as a consequence of the buy-out.KBank’s cryptocurrency venture will be structured into three distinct divisions. Orbix Custodian has been formed, focusing on secure digital asset storage and management. There is a growing demand for reliable digital asset custody services. KBank will use Orbix Custodian as a vehicle to capitalize on that growth opportunity.Orbix Invest has been established to act as the venture arm of the business relative to the digital assets space. It will focus on fund management in meeting the needs of clients looking for exposure to the digital assets sector. Lastly, Orbix Technology has been established to concentrate on blockchain technology development.Satang, a prominent player in the Thai cryptocurrency scene, operates a cryptocurrency exchange alongside a range of digital asset services. Notably, Poramin Insom, the founder of Satang, is recognized for his role in launching Firo (formerly Zcoin), a privacy-centric cryptocurrency. Insom confirmed the acquisition via a Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InsomPoramin/posts/pfbid02BgTzLjM2kPH9Aw6oxHnKT3tuBxpDnNExUKP1mDxbo9oknTc3oGns1GmqxQqReWL9l" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">post</a> on Monday, acknowledging the evolution of Satang as it transitions under KBank’s ownership.Insom stated: “I’ve been at Satang since 2017 until now, six years have passed. Currently, Satang on the trading board has already exited according to the news. And there should be an official announcement soon.” He also highlighted Satang’s diversified ventures, including Satang Technology, a blockchain service platform, and Satang Space, focusing on space-related endeavors.This strategic move by KBank follows its <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2023/09/14/thailands-kbank-starts-100m-fund-targeting-ai-and-web3/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">recent launch</a> of a $100 million fund, introduced in September, targeting investments in Web3, fintech, and artificial intelligence (AI). In 2022, KBank <a href="https://www.kasikornbank.com/en/news/pages/kasikorn_x-bigfin.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">launched</a> Bigfin, a digital asset investment analysis platform. Bigfin has since been integrated with the Binance platform.Last year the bank <a href="https://www.techinasia.com/thai-blockchain-firm-secures-5m-seed" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">backed</a> Thai digital asset and blockchain startup Forward, a project that is working on developing a decentralized derivative platform.KBank is recognized as the second largest lender in Thailand based on assets, trailing behind Bangkok Bank. Thai NVDR Company Limited is the largest shareholder of KBank, as per data from the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), with the SET itself owning 99.9% of NVDR’s shares.

Thailand’s KBank Furthers Crypto Business Through Satang Acquisition

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