Bridgepoint Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in ht.digital, a London-headquartered digital asset assurance specialist, in a deal valued at approximately £200 million (around $262 million), according to Sky News reports. While financial terms were not officially disclosed, the transaction is expected to complete in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
The investment will be made through Bridgepoint Development Capital V, a fund focused on fast-growing European businesses. Bridgepoint Partner Matt Legg emphasized that institutional adoption and regulatory requirements are driving increased demand for audit services in the crypto sector.
ht.digital, which was spun off from Harris & Trotter LLP in 2023, specializes in verifying crypto company asset holdings and conducting blockchain transaction audits, including proof-of-reserves certifications. The firm operates offices in London, Malta, and the Cayman Islands and serves over 700 clients globally, including major exchanges and institutional platforms.
Regulatory pressure is a key driver behind the growing audit demand. European Central Bank policymaker Olaf Sleijpen recently highlighted stablecoins' rapid growth, with the sector expanding 48% to $300 billion. This has led to heightened scrutiny, with examples like Tether receiving a BDO audit covering $181 billion in assets in Q3 2025.
ht.digital delivered nearly 100% organic revenue growth over the last two years, attracting private equity interest. Bridgepoint's investment will support international expansion and technology development as the firm scales. The deal marks one of the first major transactions in the crypto audit sector since the FTX collapse in late 2022, signaling a maturation of crypto infrastructure.
