Bakkt, Inc S-3, filed Jun 26, 2025
Bakkt, Inc. (BKKT)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2025
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Bakkt Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 98-1550750 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
(678) 534-5849
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Akshay Naheta
Co-Chief Executive Officer
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
(678) 534-5849
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Jared Fishman Matthew Goodman Mario Schollmeyer Sullivan & Cromwell 125 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 (212) 558-4000 |
Marc D’Annunzio General Counsel 10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000 Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 (678) 534-5849 |
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated June 26, 2025
PROSPECTUS
Bakkt Holdings, Inc.
$1,000,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
We may issue securities from time to time in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus, which will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest. The aggregate offering price of the securities we sell pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $1,000,000,000.
The securities may be sold directly to you, through agents or through underwriters and dealers. If agents, underwriters or dealers are used to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of those securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), and our public warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbols “BKKT” and “BKKT WS,” respectively. Each prospectus supplement will indicate whether the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
Investing in these securities involves risks. Please carefully read the information under the headings “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this prospectus and “Item 1A – Risk Factors” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed subsequently to such Form 10-K that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you invest in our securities. In addition, please carefully read the information under the heading “Risk Factors Related to the Update of Our Investment Policy” in Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 10, 2025 that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you invest in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2025.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we sell securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed materially since those dates.
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This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus. It does not contain all of the information that may be important to you and your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the matters set forth under the section of this prospectus captioned “Risk Factors” and the financial statements and related notes and other information that we incorporate by reference herein, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequently to such Form 10-K. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Bakkt Holdings, Inc.,” “Bakkt,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer, collectively, to Bakkt Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Company Overview
Founded in 2018, Bakkt operates technology that connects the digital economy by offering a platform for crypto and redeeming loyalty points. We enable our clients to deliver new opportunities to their customers through an interactive web experience or application programming interface (“API”) solutions that unlock crypto and drive loyalty. The global market for crypto, while nascent, is rapidly evolving and expanding. We believe we are well-positioned to provide secure, licensed product solutions and grow with this evolving market. We believe our platform is well positioned to power commerce by enabling consumers, brands, and financial institutions to better manage, transact with and monetize crypto in exciting new ways.
We provide, or are working to provide, simplified solutions focused in the following areas:
Crypto
| • | Our crypto trading platform provides consumers, businesses and institutions with the ability to buy, sell and store crypto in a simple, intuitive digital experience accessed via APIs or embedded web experience. We enable clients in various industries to provide their customers with the ability to transact in crypto directly in their trusted environments. |
Loyalty
| • | We offer a full spectrum of content that clients can make available to their customers when redeeming loyalty currencies, thus driving consumer loyalty and engagement. Our redemption solutions span a variety of rewards categories including merchandise (such as Apple products and services), gift cards and digital experiences. In March 2025, we announced our investigation of strategic alternatives for our loyalty business as we work to realign our business with a crypto focus. As we explore our options, including a potential sale or wind-down, we expect to reduce efforts to promote and grow this business. |
Cooperation Agreement
In March 2025, we entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Distributed Technologies Research Global Ltd. (“DTR”) and Akshay Naheta, the sole stockholder of DTR (the “Cooperation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, DTR will provide us with certain exclusive payment processing technology, APIs and infrastructure to be integrated into our platform for the enablement of global payments processing services in the jurisdictions where we operate.
Updated Investment Policy
In June 2025 we updated our investment policy (“Investment Policy”) to enable us to allocate capital into Bitcoin and other digital assets as part of our broader treasury and corporate strategy, subject to market conditions and the anticipated liquidity needs of the business. We may acquire Bitcoin or other digital assets using excess
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cash, proceeds from future equity or debt financings, or other capital sources, subject to the limitation set forth in our Investment Policy. We also intend to explore further opportunistic financing alternatives, including the issuance of convertible notes, bonds, or other debt instruments, for the purpose of acquiring Bitcoin or other digital assets or otherwise in accordance with the our Investment Policy. To date, we have not purchased any Bitcoin or other digital assets pursuant to our updated Investment Policy. There can be no assurance that we will enter into any such transactions. The timing and magnitude of any such transactions will depend on market conditions, capital market receptivity, business performance and other strategic considerations.
There are risks associated with our Investment Policy, which may cause our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects to be materially adversely affected. For further details regarding the risks of implementing our strategy, refer to “Risk Factors Related to the Update of our Investment Policy,” which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 10, 2025 which is incorporated by reference herein.
Risk Factors Summary
Investing in our securities involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties before investing in our securities. Below are some of these risks, any one of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.
Risks Related to Our Business, Finances and Operations
| • | Our business model is newly developed and may encounter additional risks and challenges as it grows. |
| • | Our platform has been designed to meet the needs of our clients and customers, and as such we must continually invest in our platform to meet their evolving needs as we look to grow our business. |
| • | We have limited operating history and a history of operating losses. |
| • | If we are unable to attract, retain or grow our relationships with our existing clients, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects would be materially and adversely affected. |
| • | Some of our current and prospective clients require the approval of their own regulators in order to deploy our solutions, and if they are unable to obtain those approvals on a timely basis, or at all, our results of operations and future prospects would be materially and adversely affected. |
| • | A large percentage of our revenue is concentrated with a single client that has notified us it will not be renewing its agreement with us. The loss of this client will materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects. Moreover, because of our B2B2C go-to-market model, the loss of any client – regardless of the reason – increases the risk that the customers that originally emanated from that client will transition to another provider or stop doing business with us, which would harm our business. |
| • | We may not realize the anticipated benefits of past or future investments, strategic transactions, or acquisitions and integration of these acquisitions may disrupt our business and management. |
| • | In the past, we have identified conditions and events that raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and it is possible that we may identify conditions and events in the future that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. |
| • | We may not realize the expected benefits under the Cooperation Agreement with DTR, including failing to enter into a commercial agreement with or successfully integrating our platform with DTR’s technology, and may be unable to successfully negotiate the terms to acquire DTR, either of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. |
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Risks Related to Crypto and Our Investment Policy
| • | Disruptions in the crypto market subject us to additional risks, including the risk that banks may not provide banking services to us. |
| • | There may be a perception among regulators and others that crypto is used to facilitate illegal activity such as fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and ransomware scams. |
| • | Crypto custodial solutions and related technology, including our systems and custodial arrangements, are subject to risks related to a loss of funds due to theft, employee or vendor sabotage, security and cybersecurity risks, system failures and other operational issues, the loss, destruction or other compromise of our private keys and a lack of sufficient insurance. |
| • | Our failure to safeguard and manage our and our customers’ crypto could adversely impact our business, operating results, and financial condition. |
| • | Crypto does not have extensive historical precedent and distributed ledger technology continues to rapidly evolve. |
| • | We may encounter technical issues in connection with the integration of supported crypto assets and changes and upgrades to their underlying networks, which could adversely affect our business. |
| • | Our financial results and the market price of our securities are expected to be affected by fluctuations in the price of digital assets we may acquire in accordance with our Investment Policy, including Bitcoin, which are highly volatile assets. |
| • | Our quarterly financial results may fluctuate significantly, including because we account for digital assets we hold at fair value, which may subject us to the corporate alternative minimum tax under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. |
| • | Our ability to time the price of any purchases of Bitcoin and other digital assets we may acquire in accordance with our Investment Policy will be limited. |
| • | A significant decrease in the market value of any digital assets we may acquire in accordance with our Investment Policy could adversely affect our ability to satisfy financial obligations, including any debt financings. |
| • | Upon implementation of our Investment Policy, competition by other digital asset companies and the availability of spot exchange-traded products for Bitcoin and other digital assets may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects. |
| • | Any digital assets we may acquire in accordance with our Investment Policy may not be able to serve as a source of liquidity for us to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents. |
Risks Related to Regulation, Taxation and Laws
| • | We are subject to extensive government regulation, oversight, licensure and appraisals and our failure to comply could materially harm our business. |
| • | The regulatory regimes governing blockchain technologies and crypto are uncertain and may change rapidly. New regulations or policies may alter or significantly adversely affect our business practices with respect to crypto assets, and we may need to adapt our business to regulatory change quickly to succeed. |
| • | A crypto asset’s status as a “security” in any relevant jurisdiction is currently subject to a high degree of uncertainty, and if crypto assets on our platform are later determined to be securities, we may be subject to regulatory scrutiny, investigations, fines, and other penalties, which may adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition. |
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| • | We are subject to significant litigation risk and risk of regulatory liability and penalties. Any current or future litigation against us could be costly and time-consuming to defend. |
Risks Related to Information Technology and Data
| • | Actual or perceived cyberattacks, security incidents, or breaches could result in serious harm to our reputation, business and financial condition. |
Risks Related to Risk Management and Financial Reporting
| • | If we are unable to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, we may be unable to produce timely and accurate financial statements, which could have a material effect on our business. |
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. Our telephone number is (678) 534-5849. Our website is https://www.bakkt.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
The Securities That May Be Offered
We may offer or sell Class A Common Stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units in one or more offerings and in any combination. The aggregate offering price of the securities we sell pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $1,000,000,000. Each time securities are offered with this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale.
The securities may be sold to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers or as otherwise set forth in the section of this prospectus captioned “Plan of Distribution.” Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or other entities involved in the sale of securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.
Class A Common Stock
We may offer shares of our Class A Common Stock either alone or underlying other registered securities convertible into our Class A Common Stock. Holders of our Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to rights, if any, of preferred stockholders. We have not paid dividends in the past and have no current plans to pay dividends. Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of Class A Common Stock have no preemptive rights.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Each series of preferred stock offered by us will be more fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus, including redemption provisions, rights in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voting rights and rights to convert into Class A Common Stock.
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Debt Securities
We may offer secured or unsecured obligations in the form of one or more series of senior or subordinated debt. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are together referred to in this prospectus as the “debt securities.” The subordinated debt securities generally will be entitled to payment only after payment of our senior debt. Senior debt generally includes all debt for money borrowed by us, except debt that is stated in the instrument governing the terms of that debt to be not senior to, or to have the same rank in right of payment as, or to be expressly junior to, the subordinated debt securities. We may issue debt securities that are convertible into shares of our Class A Common Stock.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be identified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We have summarized the general features of the debt securities to be governed by the indenture in this prospectus and the form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We encourage you to read the indenture.
Warrants
We may offer warrants for the purchase of Class A Common Stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may offer warrants independently or together with other securities.
Units
We may offer units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the section in the applicable prospectus supplement captioned “Risk Factors,” together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in “Part II—Item 1A—Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequently to such Form 10-K that are incorporated herein by reference, as may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. In addition, you should consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the heading “Risk Factors Related to the Update of Our Investment Policy” in Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 10, 2025 that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you invest in our securities. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.
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This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” the negative of such terms, and other similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, hopes, beliefs, intentions and strategies regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to our business. Forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
| • | our future financial performance; |
| • | changes in the market for our products and services; and |
| • | the expected impacts from the adoption of our updated Investment Policy. |
These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date they were made and reflect management’s expectations, forecasts and assumptions as of such date, and involve a number of judgments, known and/or unknown risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Should one or more of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to:
| • | our ability to continue as a going concern; |
| • | our ability to grow and manage growth profitably; |
| • | the possibility that we may be unable to obtain the applicable regulatory approvals to execute on the cooperation agreement with DTR; |
| • | finalizing the proposed commercial agreement with DTR, including whether such agreement will be executed on terms favorable to us or if at all, or be completed on the expected timeline, and whether we will be able to successfully integrate its operations with those of DTR, including its infrastructure, and achieve the expected benefits therefrom; |
| • | the regulatory environment for crypto currencies and digital stablecoin payments; |
| • | changes in our business strategy, including our adoption of the updated Investment Policy; |
| • | the price of digital assets, including Bitcoin; |
| • | risks associated with owning digital assets, including Bitcoin, including price volatility, limited liquidity and trading volumes, relative anonymity, potential widespread susceptibility to market abuse and manipulation, compliance and internal control failures at exchanges and other risks inherent in its entirely electronic, virtual-form and decentralized network; |
| • | the fluctuation of our operating results, including because we may be required to account for our digital assets at fair value; |
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| • | our ability to time the price of our purchase of digital assets pursuant to our updated Investment Policy; |
| • | the impact of the market value of digital assets on our ability to satisfy our financial obligations, including any debt financings; |
| • | unrealized fair value gains on our digital asset holdings subjecting us to the corporate alternative minimum tax; |
| • | legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets and enhanced regulatory oversight of companies holding digital assets including the possibility that regulators reclassify any digital assets we hold, including Bitcoin, as a security causing us to be in violation of securities laws and be classified as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940; |
| • | competition by other Bitcoin treasury companies and the availability of spot-traded products for Bitcoin; |
| • | enhanced regulatory oversight as a result of our updated Investment Policy; |
| • | the possibility of experiencing greater fraud, security failures or operational problems on digital asset trading venues compared to trading venues for more established asset classes, and any malfunction, breakdown or abandonment of the underlying blockchain protocols, or other technological difficulties, may prevent access to or use of such digital assets; |
| • | the concentration of our expected digital asset holdings relative to non-digital assets; |
| • | the inability to use our digital asset holdings as a source of liquidity to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents, due to, for example, risks associated with digital assets and other risks inherent to its entirely electronic, virtual-form and decentralized network; |
| • | us or a third-party service provider experiencing a security breach or cyber-attack where unauthorized parties obtain access to digital assets; |
| • | the loss of access to or theft or data loss of our digital assets, which could be unrecoverable due to the immutable nature of blockchain transactions; |
| • | if we elect to hold our digital assets through a third-party custodian, the loss of direct control over our digital assets and dependence on the custodian’s security practices and operational integrity which may lead to the loss of its digital assets as a result of the insolvency of the custodian, theft by employees or insiders of the custodian or if the custodian’s security measures are compromised, including as a result of a cyber-attack; |
| • | us not being subject to the legal and regulatory protections applicable to investment companies such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, or to obligations applicable to investment advisers; |
| • | the non-performance, breach of contract or other violations by counterparties assisting us in effecting our updated Investment Policy; |
| • | our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash, including funds to satisfy our liquidity needs and continued access to the line of credit provided by Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc.; |
| • | changes in the market in which we compete, including with respect to our competitive landscape, technology evolution or changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
| • | changes in the markets that we target; |
| • | volatility and disruptions in the crypto, digital payments and stablecoin markets that subject us to additional risks, including the risk that banks may not provide banking services to us and market sentiments regarding crypto currencies, digital payments and stablecoins; |
| • | the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other macroeconomic, geopolitical, business, and/or competitive factors; |
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| • | our ability to launch new services and products, including with our expected commercial partners, or to profitably expand into new markets and services; |
| • | our ability to execute our growth strategies, including identifying and executing acquisitions and divestitures and our initiatives to add new clients; |
| • | our ability to reach definitive agreements with our expected commercial counterparties; |
| • | our ability to successfully complete a strategic transaction of the Loyalty business; |
| • | our failure to comply with extensive government regulations, oversight, licensure and appraisals; |
| • | the uncertain and evolving regulatory regime governing blockchain technologies, stablecoins, digital payments and crypto; |
| • | our ability to establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures; |
| • | the exposure to any liability, protracted and costly litigation or reputational damage relating to our data security; |
| • | the impact of any goodwill or other intangible assets impairments on our operating results; |
| • | our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on the New York Stock Exchange; and |
| • | other risks and uncertainties indicated in this prospectus, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and any risk factors described in any amendments or supplements to this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein. |
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We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this prospectus. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we currently expect to use the net proceeds that we receive from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
The description of our capital stock is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 20, 2025.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be identified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to the section numbers of the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
| • | the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions); |
| • | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| • | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable; |
| • | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| • | the place or places where principal of, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered; |
| • | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
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| • | any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
| • | the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
| • | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| • | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
| • | the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency; |
| • | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| • | if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| • | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| • | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| • | any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities; |
| • | any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities; and |
| • | whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities of that series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees. |
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities
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is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which we refer to as the depositary, or a nominee of the depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities
You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System
Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, which we refer to as a successor person, unless:
| • | we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than us) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and |
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| • | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.
Events of Default
“Event of Default” means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
| • | default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period); |
| • | default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity; |
| • | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee, or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| • | certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us; and |
| • | any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
We will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof.
If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
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The indenture provides that the trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
| • | that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and |
| • | the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. |
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall send to each securityholder of the securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
| • | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| • | to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”; |
| • | to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; |
| • | to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of any series; |
| • | to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture; |
| • | to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series; |
| • | to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary; |
| • | to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities; |
| • | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture; |
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| • | to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or |
| • | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
| • | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| • | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
| • | reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
| • | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| • | waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| • | make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| • | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or |
| • | waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. |
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance
The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such
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currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants
The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
| • | we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| • | any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series. |
We refer to this as covenant defeasance. The conditions include:
| • | depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; |
| • | such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the indenture or any other agreement to which we are a party; |
| • | no Default or Event of Default with respect to the applicable series of debt securities shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit; and |
| • | delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. |
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Stockholders
None of our past, present or future directors, officers, employees or stockholders, as such, will have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, or in
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respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities. However, this waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
The indenture will provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture, the debt securities or the transactions contemplated thereby.
The indenture will provide that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York, and we, the trustee and the holder of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The indenture will further provide that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in the indenture will be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The indenture will further provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the courts specified above and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock or Class A Common Stock. We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional warrants, debt securities, preferred stock or Class A Common Stock, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities in the unit prior to the expiration date of the warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe the following terms of any warrants:
| • | the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the offering price at which we will issue, the warrants; |
| • | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants; |
| • | whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; |
| • | whether the warrants will be issued in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit; |
| • | any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
| • | the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents; |
| • | the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange; |
| • | the designation and terms of any equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of any debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock or Class A Common Stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
| • | if applicable, the date from and after which any warrants issued as part of a unit and the related debt securities, preferred stock or Class A Common Stock will be separately transferable; |
| • | the number of shares of preferred stock or the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which those shares may be purchased; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | the antidilution provisions, and other provisions for changes to or adjustment in the exercise price, of the warrants, if any; |
| • | any redemption or call provisions; and |
| • | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of the warrants. |
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We may issue units comprising two or more securities described in this prospectus in any combination. For example, we might issue units consisting of a combination of debt securities and warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the units that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the units and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the units so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit also is the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. Units will be issued pursuant to the terms of a unit agreement, which may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date. A copy of the forms of the unit agreement and the unit certificate relating to any particular issue of units will be filed with the SEC each time we issue units, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the unit agreement and the related unit certificate, see the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issuance of units will describe the terms of those units, including, to the extent applicable, the following:
| • | the designation and terms of the units and the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| • | any provision for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and |
| • | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
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We may sell securities:
| • | through underwriters; |
| • | through dealers; |
| • | through agents; |
| • | directly to purchasers; or |
| • | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing securityholders.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. We will, in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering, name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and describe any commissions that we must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:
| • | at a fixed price or prices that may be changed from time to time; |
| • | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| • | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
Each prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions.
The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:
| • | the name of the agent or any underwriters; |
| • | the public offering or purchase price; |
| • | if applicable, the names of any selling securityholders; |
| • | any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters; |
| • | all other items constituting underwriting compensation; |
| • | any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any exchanges on which the securities will be listed. |
If any underwriters or agents are utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.
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If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
Agents, underwriters, dealers and other persons may be entitled under agreements that they may enter into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:
| • | the purchase by an institution of the securities covered under that contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which that institution is subject; and |
| • | if the securities are also being sold to underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such securities not sold for delayed delivery. |
The underwriters and other persons acting as agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of delayed delivery contracts.
Certain agents, underwriters and dealers, and their associates and affiliates may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in other transactions with, and/or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than one scheduled business day after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities before the original issue date for your securities, you may be required to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The securities may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.
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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The consolidated financial statements of Bakkt Holdings, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 appearing in the Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, included thereon, and incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Bakkt Holdings, Inc., at December 31, 2023 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023 appearing in the Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the period ended December 31, 2024 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports pertaining to such financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at investors.bakkt.com. Information accessible on or through our website is not a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information on us and our consolidated subsidiaries and the securities that we are offering. Forms of any indenture or other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or under cover of a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this prospectus by reference. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should read the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.
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The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents.
The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K and, except as may be noted in any such Form 8-K, exhibits filed on such form that are related to such information), until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is terminated or completed:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 20, 2025 (our “Annual Report”); |
| • | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2025; |
| • | the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2025, that are incorporated by reference into our Annual Report; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2025, March 20, 2025, March 31, 2025, April 22, 2025, June 10, 2025, June 10, 2025, June 13, 2025 and June 20, 2025 and our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on March 20, 2025; and |
| • | the description of our securities contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A relating thereto, filed on October 15, 2021, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
(678) 534-5849
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:
| Amount to be Paid |
||||
| SEC registration fee |
$ | 146,795.88 | (1) | |
| FINRA filing fee |
$ | 150,500.00 | ||
| Stock exchange listing fee |
* | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses |
* | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
* | |||
| Legal fees and expenses |
* | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses |
* | |||
| Trustee’s fees and expenses |
* | |||
| Miscellaneous expenses |
* | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 297,295.88 | ||
| * | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
(1) Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) the Securities Act, the securities registered pursuant to this registration statement include $41,176,471.37 of unsold securities previously registered on the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-271361) filed on February 14, 2024, and declared effective on February 14, 2024 (the “Prior S-3 Registration Statement”). The filing fees previously paid in connection with such unsold securities will continue to be applied to such unsold securities and the Company paid an additional fee of $146,795.88 in connection with the filing of this Registration Statement. This Registration Statement is being filed to replace the Prior S-3 Registration Statement prior to its expiration.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors and other corporate agents.
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:
| • | any breach of their duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders; |
| • | any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
| • | unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or |
| • | any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit. |
Any amendment, repeal or elimination of these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment, repeal or elimination. If the DGCL is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the DGCL.
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In addition, our By-Laws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers, and may indemnify our employees, agents and any other persons, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Our By-Laws also provide that we must advance expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, subject to limited exceptions.
Further, we have entered into or will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. These indemnification agreements require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and executive officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements also require us to advance all expenses reasonably and actually incurred by the directors and executive officers in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding. We believe that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and executive officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions included in our Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and the indemnification agreements that we have entered into or will enter into with our directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions.
We have obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to our directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to these directors and executive officers pursuant to our indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.
Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured and/or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of the Board.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 16. Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
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| Exhibit Number | Description | |
| 4.15 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2025, between Bakkt Holdings, Inc. and YA II PN, LTD. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 20, 2025). | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Company | |
| 23.2 | Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Company | |
| 23.3 | Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this registration statement) | |
| 24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this registration statement) | |
| 25.1** | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 | |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table | |
| * | To be filed, if applicable, by amendment or incorporated by reference pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
| ** | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
| † | Schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request. |
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
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(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of such undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(7) to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Alpharetta, State of Georgia, on June 26, 2025.
| BAKKT HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Andrew A. Main | |
| Andrew A. Main | ||
| Co-Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | ||
| By: | /s/ Akshay Naheta | |
| Akshay Naheta | ||
| Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
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KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Andrew A. Main, Akshay Naheta, Karen Alexander and Marc D’Annunzio, or each one of them individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith to this Registration Statement and any later registration statement filed by the registrant under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, which relates to this Registration Statement) and to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact and agent, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title | |
| /s/ Andrew A. Main Andrew A. Main |
Co-Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| /s/ Akshay Naheta Akshay Naheta |
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| /s/ Karen Alexander Karen Alexander |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
| /s/ Joseph Henderson Joseph Henderson |
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
| /s/ Sean Collins Sean Collins |
Chair of the Board of Directors | |
| /s/ Colleen Brown Colleen Brown |
Director | |
| /s/ David C. Clifton David C. Clifton |
Director | |
| /s/ De’Ana Dow De’Ana Dow |
Director | |
| /s/ Michelle J. Goldberg Michelle J. Goldberg |
Director | |
| /s/ Jill Simeone Jill Simeone |
Director | |
| /s/ Gordon Watson Gordon Watson |
Director | |
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Exhibit 5.1
| TELEPHONE: 1-212-558-4000 FACSIMILE: 1-212-558-3588 WWW.SULLCROM.COM |
|
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004-2498
| ||||||
| LOS ANGELES • PALO ALTO • WASHINGTON, D.C.
BRUSSELS • FRANKFURT • LONDON • PARIS
BEIJING • HONG KONG • TOKYO
MELBOURNE • SYDNEY | ||||||||
June 26, 2025
Bakkt Holdings, Inc.,
10000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 1000,
Alpharetta, Georgia, 30009.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel to Bakkt Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the filing today by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”). The Registration Statement registers the following securities: shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”); preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”); warrants for the purchase of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”); and units comprised of one or more of the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Warrants in any combination (the “Units”). The foregoing securities are referred to collectively as the “Securities”.
In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, including the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of the Securities, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Upon the basis of such examination, it is our opinion that:
(1) Common Stock of the Company. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the sale of the Common Stock have been duly established in conformity with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and to include a number of shares of Common Stock to be issued not in excess
of the number of shares of Common Stock then authorized and not outstanding or reserved for issuance, and the Common Stock has been duly issued and sold for a price per share determined by the Company’s Board of Directors which is not less than the par value thereof, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(2) Preferred Stock of the Company. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the Preferred Stock and of its issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and to include a number of shares of Preferred Stock to be issued not in excess of the number of shares of Preferred Stock then authorized and not outstanding or reserved for issuance, a certificate of designations with respect to the Preferred Stock has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and the Preferred Stock has been duly issued and sold for a price per share determined by the Company’s Board of Directors which is not less than the par value thereof, the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(3) Warrants of the Company. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the governing instrument or agreement under which one or more Warrants are to be issued (the “Warrant Agreement”) have been established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, the terms of such Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and such Warrants have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(4) Units of the Company. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the governing instrument or agreement under which one or more Units are to be issued (the “Unit Agreement”) have been established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Unit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, the terms of such Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Unit Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and such Units have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the Unit Agreement and issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, such Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(5) Debt Securities of the Company. When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the indenture under which one or more Debt Securities are to be issued (the “Indenture”) have been established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, the terms of such Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in any registration statement or any related prospectus or other offering material relating to the offer and sale of the Securities.
We note that, as of the date of this opinion, a judgment for money in an action based on debt securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units in a Federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the foreign currency or currency unit in which a particular debt security is denominated into U.S. dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment. In the case of a debt security denominated in a foreign currency, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on such debt security would be required under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law to render such judgment in the foreign currency in which the debt security is denominated, and such judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible. We have assumed, without independent verification, that all documents under which the Securities are to be issued will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties thereto other than the Company and that the signatures on documents examined by us are genuine.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Validity of the Securities” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Form S-3 Registration Statement and the related Prospectus of Bakkt Holdings, Inc. for the registration of Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units with an aggregate offering price not to exceed $1,000,000,000 and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 25, 2024, except for the effects of Staff Accounting Bulletin 122 Accounting for Obligations to Safeguard Crypto-Assets an Entity Holds for its Platform Users, Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, and the Reverse Stock Split completed by the Company on April 29, 2024, all as disclosed in Note 2 as to which the date is March 19, 2025, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Bakkt Holdings, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
June 26, 2025
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use of our reports dated March 19, 2025, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Bakkt Holdings, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
June 26, 2025