Galaxy Digital Secures Coveted BitLicense, Expands Digital Asset Services in New York
May 18, 2026
Industry analysis notes that the BitLicense process is lengthy and costly, often taking 18–24 months and costing six to seven figures, which raises barriers for new entrants and benefits established players.
Galaxy’s broader strategy includes institutional DeFi funds and exploring revenue streams beyond core crypto trading.
Galaxy is the second company this year to receive a BitLicense, following Strike in March; MoonPay and Bullish were earlier in 2025.
In Q1 2026, Galaxy reported a net loss of $216 million on gross revenue of $10.2 billion, down from $12.9 billion year over year amid crypto market volatility.
The Block’s disclaimer and coverage provide context on the crypto regulatory landscape in New York.
Galaxy Digital has been awarded a BitLicense and a Money Transmission License by New York’s Department of Financial Services for its GalaxyOne Prime NY entity, enabling regulated digital asset services for institutions across New York.
The press release includes standard forward-looking statements and cautions about risks, with references to SEC filings and the company’s 10-K and 10-Q for context.
Cautionary language notes potential variances between expected and actual results, with links to Form 10-K for 2025 and Form 10-Q for Q1 2026.
Copyright and attribution indicate Galaxy Digital and Cision US Inc. as the press release sources, dated May 18, 2026.
Its 1.6 GW Helios data center campus in Texas positions Galaxy among North America’s largest and fastest-growing developers, catering to AI and high-performance computing workloads.
Galaxy reports its digital asset business manages about $9 billion in client assets and highlights offerings beyond trading, including advisory, asset management, staking, self-custody, tokenization technology, and AI/HPC-focused data center infrastructure.
Contact information for Galaxy’s Investor Relations and Media Relations is provided for inquiries.
Summary based on 8 sources
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Sources

Bitcoin News • May 18, 2026
Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Lands Bitlicense to Serve New York Hedge Funds and RIAs
BeInCrypto • May 18, 2026
Galaxy Digital Wins Major Money Transmitter License in New York
Cision PR Newswire • May 18, 2026
Galaxy Receives BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services