Cryptology Asset Group leads $30m investment in Nextmarkets

Malta-based crypto and blockchain investment group Cryptology Asset Group has led a $30m Series B investment in Nextmarkets, the neo-broker headquartered in Cologne, Germany.

Cryptology invests alongside acclaimed British fund manager Alan Howard, who is an active backer of crypto businesses.

Nextmarkets facilitates retail trading in a wide range of financial instruments, including stocks and cryptocurrencies. The money will be used to accelerate the platform’s growth, after its recent expansion into the United Kingdom, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy.

Cryptology was founded by German financier Christian Angermayer’s family office Apeiron Investment Group.

“We are just at the very beginning of a new retail boom on stock markets. However, the crisis of confidence towards other neobrokers in connection with the Gamestop phenomenon has shown how important it is to choose the right partner,” said Angermayer.

Angermayer is a well-known figure in Europe’s venture capital scene, with wide-ranging interests. He is currently working on a $200m biotech blank-cheque company, has made big bets on psychedelics and, according to the Financial Times, played a key role in brokering SoftBank’s $1.1bn investment in disgraced payments business Wirecard.

Cryptology, which counts Galaxy Investment Partners CEO Mike Novogratz as an adviser, trades on several German exchanges including Börse Düsseldorf, Gettex and Tradegate – and is exploring an international listing to open access to new investors.