Ecobiz.asia — Singapore-based environmental markets exchange Climate Impact X (CIX) and London-based carbon portfolio management and trading platform Carbonplace plan to merge, combining trading, procurement, registry access and settlement capabilities to build end-to-end infrastructure for carbon and other environmental markets.
The proposed merger, announced in Singapore and London on August 26, 2026, is subject to final regulatory approvals. The companies said the combination is intended to address fragmentation in environmental markets and support greater participation as carbon markets expand across voluntary and compliance schemes.
CIX CEO Oi-Yee Choo said the combined platform would connect carbon markets across jurisdictions and standards, including markets linked to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
“Scaling access and liquidity to meet the growing needs of global carbon markets requires robust, trusted infrastructure,” Choo said.
CIX operates an environmental markets exchange focused on procurement, trading and price discovery, while Carbonplace provides multi-registry infrastructure and settlement services. The companies said the combination would allow market participants to manage transactions across the lifecycle, from portfolio strategy and project sourcing to registry access, settlement, custody and retirement.
The two companies have previously worked together. In 2022, they conducted pilot transactions covering the full lifecycle of carbon credit trades, with credits bought and sold through CIX and settled through Carbonplace.
Carbonplace CEO Scott Eaton said the merger would combine CIX’s exchange capabilities with Carbonplace’s multi-registry access and ownership infrastructure.
“A trade is only as good as the infrastructure that completes it,” Eaton said, referring to the need for secure ownership transfers, settlement and auditable retirement of carbon credits.
The companies said both platforms have placed transparency at the centre of their businesses. CIX provides market-driven price visibility through its exchange and benchmarks, while Carbonplace provides traceable ownership, centralised reporting and audit trails.
The combined entity will operate across Singapore and London, linking two major financial and carbon-market centres and allowing it to serve participants across different time zones, regulatory environments and trading communities.
CIX and Carbonplace are also connected to major global carbon and renewable energy certificate registries, which the companies said would allow participants to track, report and manage portfolios containing environmental products from multiple registries.
Claire O’Neill, chairperson of CIX’s board, said the merger would combine institutional capital and carbon-market expertise from London and Singapore.
The combined company will be backed by 12 financial institutions and investors: BBVA, BNP Paribas, CIBC, DBS Bank, GenZero, Mizuho Financial Group, National Australia Bank, NatWest Group, SGX Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and UBS.
GenZero CEO Frederick Teo said the broader shareholder base would provide institutional support and global connectivity as carbon markets develop across jurisdictions.
The companies said the financial institutions backing the combined entity could also provide access to established settlement networks and distribution channels, potentially bringing environmental-market transactions closer to conventional financial-market processes.
Standard Chartered Group CEO Bill Winters said the combination could help strengthen trust, liquidity and competitiveness in carbon markets, while DBS CEO Tan Su Shan said greater scale could improve efficiency and liquidity in the voluntary carbon market.
The combined entity will be led by Choo as CEO, with Eaton serving as president. CIX and Carbonplace will continue operating under their existing brands during the integration period, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
The companies said there will be no immediate changes to products, services or client arrangements.
The proposed merger comes as governments and market participants seek to improve confidence in carbon markets by increasing transparency, reducing fragmentation and expanding demand for high-integrity carbon credits. Singapore and the United Kingdom are among the countries involved in efforts to strengthen international cooperation on carbon markets, including through the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets.
