Bullish Secures New York BitLicense to Drive U.S. Crypto Growth

Highlights:

• Bullish secures New York BitLicense, opening doors for U.S. expansion.
• The license allows crypto spot trading and custody services.
• The approval strengthens Bullish’s global regulatory footprint.

Crypto exchange Bullish, backed by venture capitalist Peter Thiel, has entered a pivotal juncture in its expansion as it makes the official entry into the U.S. market. The New York State Department of Financial Services issued the company a BitLicense and Money Transmission License. The approvals enable Bullish to provide regulated spot trading and custody services to advanced traders and institutional customers in New York.

The announcement follows the successful debut of the company on the stock market. In its initial offering, Bullish raised more than $600 million by selling 20.3 million shares. Moreover, its stock rose over 150% on its opening day of trading and then dropped after volatility was witnessed in the broader market. The IPO highlighted high investor interest despite the fluctuations.

Bullish is currently regulated in the U.S., Germany, Hong Kong, and Gibraltar with the new licenses. The company has clearly increased its international presence. This contributes to New York as a pillar in its strategy to access institutions across the world.

1/2 We are proud to announce that Bullish has been granted a BitLicense and Money Transmission License by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).

Read more 👇https://t.co/GezSTW2XUJ pic.twitter.com/x2dEEJyjrJ

— Bullish (@Bullish) September 17, 2025

Bullish Secures BitLicense to Strengthen Institutional Services

Since its introduction in 2015, the BitLicense has been a strict license for crypto companies. With the secure, Bullish becomes one of the few operators, together with Gemini and Paxos. The move reflects the robustness of its compliance standards and the confidence of the institutions that require regulated platforms. CEO Tom Farley emphasized the role of the approval.

He said:

“New York is commonly considered to be at the lead of the regulation of virtual currencies. The BitLicense and Money Transmission License issued by the New York Department of Financial Services is evidence that we are fully dedicated to regulatory compliance. It also shows our commitment to institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure in major markets across the world.”

The comment was reinforced by Chris Tyrer, the president of Bullish Exchange, by stating,

“We are confident that regulation leads to responsible market development and institutional involvement.”

Experts in the industry believe that this approval would open billions of dollars’ worth of untapped trading volume. More than 40% of hedge fund assets are based in New York. Bullish has put itself in a position to serve the center of world finance with such access.

U.S. Expansion and Market Strategy

Bullish has plans to diversify beyond trading and custody. The company provides compliance solutions and data services that seek to bridge traditional and decentralized finance. This expanded range indicates the ambition of Wall Street to have assets like bonds and treasuries on the chain.

Furthermore, the license approval comes at a favorable regulatory time as well. U.S. regulators, like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have been showing an inclination towards openness towards innovation. Such a climate provides Bullish with a chance to enter into new partnerships with hedge funds, asset managers, and banks.

Meanwhile, the attention of investors towards Bullish is strong. Recently, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest spent over $8 million on Bullish stocks across its ETFs. Shares of the company increased by 4% after the announcement of the license, following previous gains in the premarket.

💰 ARK Invest Boosts Bullish Holdings with 160,000 Shares Purchase! pic.twitter.com/FSccFYpGy7

— Vizi – Breaking Crypto News (@vizidotcom) September 17, 2025