Bullish Announces Purchase of Equiniti to Combine Blockchain Technology with Traditional Markets

May 5, 2026, 10:35
GlobalFinance

Introduction

The cryptocurrency exchange Bullish has agreed to buy the transfer agent Equiniti for $4.2 billion.

Main Body

The deal consists of approximately $2.35 billion in Bullish shares and the takeover of $1.85 billion in debt. Bullish is buying Equiniti from the private-equity firm Siris Capital. This strategic move is intended to solve the lack of regulated transfer agents that work with blockchain technology, which has previously stopped large institutions from using decentralized systems. By using Equiniti's ability to manage 20 million shareholders and process $500 billion in yearly payments, Bullish aims to make it easier to turn traditional assets into digital tokens. Thomas Farley, the former President of the NYSE, is leading this project. He emphasized that combining the two companies will provide the necessary professional relationships to grow blockchain-based operations. However, the market reacted negatively at first, with Bullish shares dropping between 6% and 7% before the market opened. Furthermore, this deal happens as merger and acquisition activity recovers in 2026 after a slow period caused by global political instability. Bullish predicts that annual revenue will grow by 6% to 8% between 2027 and 2029.

Conclusion

The acquisition is expected to be finished in January 2027, once it receives the necessary regulatory approvals.

Learning

🚀 The 'Professional Bridge': Moving from Basic to Formal

At an A2 level, you likely say "Bullish wants to buy Equiniti because it helps them grow." That is correct, but it sounds like a student. To reach B2, you need to use Strategic Verbs and Connecting Words that describe intent and result.

🛠️ The Upgrade Table

Instead of using simple words, look at how this text uses "B2-level" replacements:

A2 (Basic)B2 (Professional)Why it's better
Buy / GetAcquire / AcquisitionSpecific to business and finance.
Try to / Want toAim to / Intended toShows a clear goal or plan.
And / AlsoFurthermoreConnects two heavy ideas formally.
SayEmphasizeShows that the speaker thinks the point is very important.

🧩 Logic Patterns for Fluency

Notice this specific structure in the text:

"...which has previously stopped large institutions from using decentralized systems."

The B2 Secret: The "Which" Bridge Instead of starting a new sentence ("This stopped them."), B2 speakers use , which... to add a result or an explanation to the previous idea.

Try this pattern: [Fact] + , which + [Result/Effect] Example: "The company is growing fast, which attracts new investors."

⚠️ Watch the 'Market' Nuance

In the text, the author says the market "reacted negatively." An A2 student would say "The market was bad."

The B2 Difference: Use Adverbs (negatively, strategically, previously) to describe how something happened. This gives you precision, which is the hallmark of a B2 learner.

Vocabulary Learning

cryptocurrency
A type of digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of a central bank.
Example:Bitcoin is the most well‑known cryptocurrency.
exchange
A marketplace where buyers and sellers trade financial instruments or commodities.
Example:Bullish operates as a cryptocurrency exchange, allowing users to trade digital assets.
transfer agent
An organization that records ownership of securities and handles related transactions.
Example:The transfer agent Equiniti keeps track of who owns each share of the company.
private-equity
A type of investment that involves buying shares in a private company to improve performance or restructure.
Example:Siris Capital, a private‑equity firm, invested in Equiniti.
strategic
Planned to achieve a long‑term goal or advantage.
Example:The acquisition is a strategic move to expand Bullish’s market presence.
regulated
Controlled or supervised by an authority to ensure compliance with rules and standards.
Example:The deal aims to bring regulated transfer agents into the blockchain space.
blockchain
A decentralized digital ledger that records transactions across many computers so that the record cannot be altered retroactively.
Example:Blockchain technology provides a transparent and secure way to record transactions.
decentralized
Distributed across many points rather than controlled by a single central authority.
Example:Decentralized systems do not rely on a single central authority to manage data.
shareholders
People or entities that own shares in a company and have a stake in its success.
Example:Equiniti manages 20 million shareholders worldwide.
payments
Money transferred from one party to another as compensation for goods, services, or debts.
Example:The platform processes $500 billion in yearly payments for its users.
assets
Resources owned by an individual or company that have economic value.
Example:Traditional assets can be converted into digital tokens for easier trading.
tokens
Digital representations of value or ownership that can be traded on a blockchain.
Example:Digital tokens represent ownership of underlying assets on the blockchain.
president
The highest executive officer of an organization, responsible for overall leadership.
Example:Thomas Farley, the former president of the NYSE, leads the project.
professional
Relating to a paid occupation, especially one that requires specialized training.
Example:Professional relationships are essential for the company’s growth.
instability
The state of being unstable, often referring to unpredictable or fluctuating conditions.
Example:Global political instability can slow market activity and investment.