Filings Link Crypto Exchange Bitstamp to Game Maker Nexon

Public filings released in late May establish the strongest link yet between Bitstamp and Korean gaming firm Nexon, which was rumored to have bought the cryptocurrency exchange earlier this year.

Word of the acquisition also came months after Nexon bought a majority stake in crypto exchange Korbit for roughly $80 million in September 2017.

Business Insider later reported in April that Nexon was in talks to acquire Bitstamp for $350 million.

Lee Jungheon, CEO of Nexon Korea, said in the wake of that report that "Nexon Korea does not have anything to do with a Bitstamp acquisition" according to the Korea Herald.

A corporate disclosure submitted by Nexon Group holding company NXC and obtained by CoinDesk suggests that some kind of deal took place.

NXC, Nexon Group's parent company, is 98.28 percent owned by Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju and his family.

While the documents establish a link to Bitstamp, it's not clear whether they constitute an "Acquisition" of Bitstamp given the lack of information regarding Bitstamp Japan Co., Ltd. The exchange is run by Bitstamp Limited, which is based in the United Kingdom and has offices in Luxembourg and New York.

A Nexon representative said that Bitstamp Holdings isn't the operator of the exchange, and when asked about the relationship there, the rep said that they "Cannot disclose any further information at this moment." Bitstamp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The purchase of Bitstamp Japan Co., Ltd also followed a record-setting year for Nexon.

Nexon isn't the only gaming company with its eyes on the crypto space, however.