Originally founded in 2018 by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, Bakkt's mission is to bring trust, transparency, and utility to digital assets. The company operates a technology platform that offers a suite of solutions including cryptocurrency custody, trading, and on-ramp services, primarily through B2B and B2B2C partnerships. Bakkt enables its partners, such as financial institutions and fintech companies, to offer their customers the ability to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies. The company became publicly traded on the NYSE (ticker: BKKT) in October 2021 after a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC).