Financial data and ratings giant S&P Global has agreed to acquire OpenZeppelin, the blockchain security firm known for open-source smart contract libraries used across decentralized finance and tokenized assets, the companies announced Thursday.
The deal will extend S&P Global’s risk assessment capabilities into the onchain technology-risk layer while allowing OpenZeppelin to leverage S&P Global’s reach in traditional markets. OpenZeppelin CEO Demian Brener said the company’s standards, technology, and expertise already power infrastructure behind leading stablecoins, tokenized funds, DeFi protocols, and onchain markets. Founded in 2015, OpenZeppelin says its open-source smart contract libraries underpin more than $37 trillion in value transferred, and the firm has conducted more than 900 security engagements, uncovering over 10,000 vulnerabilities before production.
OpenZeppelin will retain its name and operate as a separate business unit, with Brener continuing as CEO and reporting to S&P Global Ratings President Yann Le Pallec. The company reassured developers that its Contracts libraries will remain open source, free, and publicly maintained on GitHub, and that existing audits and ecosystem programs will continue.
Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction remains subject to closing conditions. S&P Global said the deal is not expected to materially affect its financial results. Shares of S&P Global were up 1.04% at $411 in NYSE premarket trading. Jefferies LLC and Clifford Chance are advising S&P Global, while FT Partners and Cooley are advising OpenZeppelin.
