Kraken lets traders use tokenized stocks as collateral for leveraged trades

Kraken has introduced a new feature allowing eligible international users to utilize tokenized stocks and ETFs as collateral for futures and margin trading without liquidating their positions. The initial rollout supports 10 assets, including major equities like Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla, alongside broad-market ETFs such as the SPDR S&P 500. To manage risk, Kraken has implemented a tiered haircut system, ranging from 10% for broad-market ETFs to 30% for more volatile individual stocks. Collateral limits are also strictly enforced, capping broad-market ETFs at $1 million and individual stocks at $250,000. This development signifies a broader industry trend where centralized exchanges are increasingly integrating tokenized real-world assets into their core trading infrastructure. By enabling users to maintain exposure to traditional securities while accessing leverage, Kraken is enhancing capital efficiency within the crypto ecosystem. This move follows similar initiatives by Binance and other platforms, reflecting a growing institutional appetite for using blockchain-based securities as versatile financial collateral.