Alpaca, a global provider of brokerage infrastructure APIs, has finalized its acquisition of European fintech WealthKernel, marking its expansion into the European market and the rollout of API-first equities trading services across the continent. This strategic move aims to facilitate cross-border investing through a unified infrastructure.
WealthKernel will now operate as Alpaca Europe, providing Alpaca with licensed brokerage and custody infrastructure in the UK and EU. This foundation supports investment services and wealth management capabilities in the region, including products like Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Combined with Alpaca’s existing US-headquartered, licensed, and self-clearing brokerage infrastructure, the integration establishes a singular infrastructure layer for fintechs and financial institutions developing investment products across Europe and the US.
Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca, stated, “Completing the WealthKernel acquisition is a major step in Alpaca’s expansion into Europe. By combining Alpaca’s US-headquartered, fully licensed and self-clearing brokerage infrastructure with our licensed operations in the UK and EU, we’re making it easier for companies to build and scale investment products across regions and reducing the complexity of cross-border investing.”
Karan Shanmugarajah, former CEO of WealthKernel, has been appointed CEO of Alpaca Europe and will lead regional operations. The entire WealthKernel team has also transitioned to Alpaca, contributing their regulatory, operational, and product expertise in the European market.
Shanmugarajah commented, “This is an exciting step just for Alpaca, but for the broader European investment ecosystem. By combining local regulatory expertise with global, API-driven infrastructure, we are well positioned to help partners build, launch, and scale investment products across Europe with greater speed and efficiency.”
Alongside the acquisition, Alpaca is launching equities trading across European markets. Currently, Alpaca supports trading on Germany’s Xetra exchange, with plans to expand to Euronext markets and the London Stock Exchange. Through a single API integration, partners can offer investing across these markets, while Alpaca manages execution, custody, and settlement processes, supported by global financial institutions.
Leading European financial institutions are supporting Alpaca’s expansion. BNP Paribas, through its venture arm Opera Tech Ventures, which participated in Alpaca’s recent Series D funding round, commented on the development. Vincent Baillin, Managing Director and Co-Head of Opera Tech Ventures, stated, “We are excited to support Alpaca’s growing presence in Europe and look forward to helping expand access to modern, scalable investment infrastructure across the region.”
Alpaca currently powers trading infrastructure for hundreds of fintech companies and financial institutions globally, managing over 10 million brokerage accounts across more than 40 countries with over $320 million in funding. In the US, the company holds a 94% market share in tokenized US stocks and ETFs. With regulated operations in both the US and Europe, and the initiation of European equities trading, Alpaca is working towards establishing a broader global investment platform. Alpaca Europe operates under WealthKernel Limited, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and WealthKernel Spain, A.
V., S.
L.
U., authorized and registered with the CNMV in Spain. Securities brokerage services in the US are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC, a member of FINRA and SIPC, and cryptocurrency services by Alpaca Crypto LLC, a FinCEN-registered MSB.
