Kraken opens Jersey Mike’s IPO to retail investors through tokenized shares and direct allocations

Kraken has launched a new initiative allowing retail investors to access the Jersey Mike’s initial public offering through both direct allocations and tokenized shares. Eligible US customers can request book-entry shares at the IPO price, while users in over 110 countries can access JMKEx, a tokenized version of the stock backed 1:1 by underlying assets held in regulated custody. Once the IPO concludes, JMKEx will trade 24/7 on Kraken and xStocks Alliance platforms, while the underlying shares follow standard New York Stock Exchange hours. This integration allows tokenized equities to be moved onchain and utilized within decentralized finance applications, bridging traditional brokerage access with blockchain utility. Jersey Mike’s expects to price its Class A shares between $21 and $25 under the ticker JMKE. This move follows Kraken’s previous tokenized offering for SpaceX, highlighting a broader trend in the RWA sector where distributed value has grown to approximately $1.87 billion. The expansion of tokenized equities demonstrates a significant shift in how retail investors interact with public market debuts through digital asset infrastructure.