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Kraken

kraken.com →·60 stories in our coverage

Exchange and custodian; issuer of tokenized equities (xStocks).

Kraken in the news

Infrastructure

Firelight Brings Onchain Protection to Kraken Protected Strategies USDC Vault

Firelight has integrated its onchain cover-enablement protocol with the Kraken Protected Strategies USDC vault, marking its first partnership with a major cryptocurrency exchange. This integration provides automated protection against specific risks, including smart contract exploits, oracle failures, and redemption failures, for a vault that is part of Kraken's $800 million DeFi Earn program. The coverage terms are registered onchain and reset every 30 days to adapt to the vault's evolving risk profile and composition. By utilizing Veda's infrastructure, the system ensures that capital supporting the cover remains segregated from the underlying protocols, preventing contagion during a failure. Claims are validated by the Firelight Risk Consortium, which includes firms like GFX Labs and Hypernative, ensuring independent verification of losses. This development represents a significant shift toward embedding risk management directly into DeFi products rather than treating it as an external afterthought. The move sets a new industry standard for institutional-grade safety in onchain yield strategies, potentially increasing user confidence in complex decentralized finance products.

#USDC#Kraken#RiskManagement

BeInCryptoAdded: Oct 16, 20267.5

Stocks

How Tokenized Stocks Could Reshape Wall Street's Global Power

Tokenized stocks are fundamentally altering the global financial landscape by decoupling U.S. equity exposure from traditional brokerage infrastructure. Platforms like Robinhood and Kraken are increasingly offering instruments linked to major U.S. companies such as Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple, allowing global users to bypass conventional market barriers. While some of these instruments are derivatives, others are backed by actual securities, creating a seamless interface where crypto and traditional assets coexist. This shift allows crypto platforms to capture trading volume and customer relationships that were previously the exclusive domain of Wall Street institutions. By unbundling the traditional chain of issuance, listing, and settlement, tokenization enables the export of U.S. financial assets without requiring the full traditional infrastructure. This competition for the primary financial interface threatens to erode the dominance of legacy brokers, particularly in international markets where access to U.S. equities is often costly or restricted. Ultimately, the rise of tokenized stocks represents a strategic contest over who controls the global investor relationship and the resulting economic data.

#TokenizedStocks#Kraken#Equities

hackernoon.comAdded: Oct 9, 20267.5

Infrastructure

Ledger and Kraken’s parent Payward bring cold storage to tokenized stocks

Ledger and Payward, the parent company of Kraken, have partnered to enable the cold storage of tokenized stocks on physical hardware wallets. This integration allows users of Payward’s xStocks platform to secure their equity holdings offline, requiring a physical signature on a Ledger device to finalize transactions. By applying crypto-native self-custody principles to traditional equities, the partnership aims to mitigate risks associated with remote hacking and unauthorized account access. The initiative leverages a recent SEC innovation exemption for tokenized stocks, which has provided the regulatory clarity necessary to accelerate product development in the United States. Ledger is currently exploring similar integrations with other major platforms, including Coinbase, Binance, and Robinhood, to expand the reach of this security model. While the practical necessity of cold storage for stocks remains debated given the existing security of traditional brokerages, the move represents a significant convergence of crypto infrastructure and legacy financial assets. The success of this model will depend on whether traditional investors adopt self-custody practices to protect against emerging threats like AI-driven cyberattacks.

#TokenizedStocks#xStocks#Kraken

cryptonews.netAdded: Sep 30, 20267.5

Infrastructure

Nasdaq Eyes Always-On Markets With Tokenized Equities and 23/5 Trading

Nasdaq is advancing its 'always-on' market strategy by integrating tokenized equities and extended trading hours to enhance investor access and market efficiency. President Tal Cohen confirmed that the upcoming Nasdaq Equity Token will be issuer-sponsored, ensuring that economic and governance rights, such as proxy voting and dividends, remain intact for investors. The company has partnered with Kraken to distribute these tokens and utilize Nasdaq’s surveillance technology, aiming to bridge permissioned and permissionless blockchain environments. Nasdaq projects a $3 billion to $6 billion serviceable market for these always-on initiatives by 2030, encompassing trading, asset servicing, and collateral management. Furthermore, the firm is connecting its Calypso collateral-management platform to digital rails like the Canton Network to facilitate real-time margin views and 24/7 collateral mobility. By acquiring the alternative trading system LeveL, Nasdaq intends to expand its execution protocols and international reach while maintaining a strictly regulated framework. This shift represents a significant institutional effort to standardize interoperability between traditional financial markets and blockchain infrastructure.

#CantonNetwork#TokenizedEquities#Kraken

marketbeat.comAdded: Sep 24, 20269.0

Infrastructure

Nasdaq stock extends gains on tokenized markets push - ad-hoc

Nasdaq has expanded its strategic partnership with Payward, the parent company of the Kraken exchange, to further develop the Nasdaq Equity Token framework. This collaboration integrates Nasdaq's advanced market surveillance technology into the tokenized asset ecosystem, aiming to enhance security and regulatory compliance for digital securities. The initiative underscores Nasdaq's commitment to bridging traditional financial infrastructure with blockchain-based equity markets. While the announcement coincides with Nasdaq's stock trading at USD 93.94 and a market capitalization of USD 52.27 billion, the focus remains on the technological integration of surveillance tools. By leveraging institutional-grade monitoring, the partnership seeks to provide the necessary oversight for the growing tokenized market sector. This development is significant as it signals a major exchange operator actively building the plumbing required for institutional adoption of tokenized equities. The move reflects a broader industry trend where established market technology providers prioritize robust surveillance to mitigate risks in decentralized or tokenized trading environments.

#TokenizedEquities#Kraken#Nasdaq

ad-hoc-news.deAdded: Sep 20, 20267.5

Stocks

Tokenized Equities Shaping Tomorrow's Finance

Nasdaq has announced a strategic $100 million investment in Payward, the parent company of the Kraken exchange, to develop Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs). Scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2027, this initiative aims to transition equity trading to blockchain-based on-chain settlements. By leveraging blockchain technology, the partnership seeks to streamline clearing processes that currently tie up over $2 trillion in daily U.S. stock transactions. The project emphasizes the integration of Nasdaq’s market surveillance technology to ensure compliance and mitigate risks of fraud or market manipulation. Regulatory oversight remains a central focus, with the SEC providing provisional relief while mandating that tokenized securities must preserve traditional investor rights like dividends and voting. This collaboration represents a significant institutional effort to modernize capital markets and improve liquidity by reducing settlement times. The success of this venture depends on balancing technological innovation with the stringent legal protections required for institutional-grade financial assets.

#TokenizedEquities#SEC#Kraken

onesafe.ioAdded: Sep 19, 20268.5

Infrastructure

Tokenization Is Bringing Traditional Markets On-Chain — and DeFi May Be Entering Its Next Growth Phase

Nasdaq has announced a $100 million investment in Payward, the parent company of Kraken, to accelerate the development of infrastructure for tokenized equities. This strategic move highlights the growing convergence between traditional financial institutions and decentralized finance, signaling a shift toward blockchain-based market infrastructure. As of September 2026, the value of tokenized real-world assets, excluding stablecoins, has surpassed $25 billion, with U.S. Treasuries and private credit leading the growth. The platform Lvvas emphasizes that the future of DeFi lies in the interoperability of these tokenized assets with smart contracts and decentralized applications. By moving beyond crypto-native assets, the industry is evolving to integrate traditional financial instruments into programmable, on-chain systems. This transition aims to replace multi-intermediary settlement processes with automated, blockchain-based execution. Ultimately, the success of this shift depends on evolving regulatory frameworks, custody solutions, and the ability to securely integrate traditional assets into decentralized ecosystems.

#RWA#TokenizedEquities#Kraken

financialcontent.comAdded: Sep 17, 20267.5

Infrastructure

Payward plans to offer U.S. clients onchain perpetual futures on Hyperliquid

Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has announced plans to offer U.S. clients access to onchain perpetual futures markets via the Hyperliquid blockchain. The initiative utilizes Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 framework, which enables third parties to deploy permissioned perpetual futures markets while maintaining onchain trade matching and recordkeeping. These contracts would be listed under the regulatory oversight of Bitnomial Exchange, a designated contract market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). To participate, U.S. clients must maintain futures accounts with NinjaTrader Clearing, Payward’s registered futures commission merchant. This proposal represents a significant effort to integrate popular, historically offshore perpetual trading products into a regulated U.S. financial structure. By leveraging Hyperliquid’s public blockchain for settlement, the move aims to bridge decentralized infrastructure with institutional compliance standards. The success of this model depends on pending regulatory approval, as perpetual futures have largely remained outside the scope of U.S. regulated markets since their inception.

#CFTC#Hyperliquid#Kraken

CoinDeskAdded: Sep 16, 20267.5

Infrastructure

Nasdaq (NDAQ) Could Be 14% Undervalued On Its Push Deeper Into Tokenized Markets

Nasdaq is expanding its strategic focus on tokenized markets by deepening its collaboration with Payward, the parent company of the Kraken crypto exchange. This partnership centers on advancing the Nasdaq Equity Token framework and implementing a new market surveillance agreement to support digital asset trading. While Nasdaq faces short-term share price volatility, with a year-to-date decline of 7.69%, the company continues to position itself as a key infrastructure provider for the evolving tokenization landscape. The firm's long-term growth narrative is increasingly tied to the successful adoption of its tokenization technology and the regulatory environment surrounding digital securities. Analysts are weighing these strategic technological advancements against current valuation metrics, noting that the stock trades at a P/E ratio of 25.4x. The potential for Nasdaq to capture market share in the tokenized asset space remains a critical factor for its future valuation. Ultimately, the company's ability to integrate traditional market surveillance with blockchain-based equity frameworks will determine its competitive standing in the RWA sector.

#Tokenization#Kraken#Nasdaq

simplywall.stAdded: Sep 16, 20266.5

Infrastructure

NASDAQ Bets $100 Million on Kraken's Parent as Tokenized Stocks Target 2027...

Nasdaq has committed a $100 million investment into Payward, the parent company of the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, to accelerate the development of tokenized stock trading. This strategic partnership aims to launch Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs) by the second quarter of 2027, bringing 24/7 trading flexibility to traditional equity markets. Beyond the tokenization initiative, Payward will integrate Nasdaq’s proprietary surveillance technology across its trading venues to enhance market monitoring for both crypto and traditional assets. The deal underscores a significant institutional push to bridge the gap between legacy financial infrastructure and digital asset platforms. While the investment values Payward at $21 billion, the focus remains on building the underlying systems for regulated tokenized securities. The initiative faces the complex challenge of balancing economic exposure with shareholder rights, a point of contention in previous market disputes. Ultimately, this collaboration represents a major exchange operator betting on the future of blockchain-based settlement and trading infrastructure.

#TokenizedStocks#Kraken#Nasdaq

globalcryptopress.comAdded: Sep 15, 20268.5

Stocks

Nasdaq Equity Tokens vs Kraken xStocks vs Real Shares: What Do You Actually Own?

Nasdaq and Payward, the parent company of Kraken, are collaborating to launch Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs) by the second quarter of 2027. This initiative follows a $100 million investment by Nasdaq Ventures into Payward announced on September 10. The project aims to distinguish itself from existing products like Kraken’s xStocks by ensuring that a transfer of a NET represents a direct transfer of the underlying security itself, rather than a derivative representation. While xStocks provide economic exposure to equities like Apple through a custodial structure, they do not grant the holder direct legal status as a shareholder. In contrast, Nasdaq’s proposed model seeks to integrate blockchain records directly with a public company’s official share registry to preserve legal and regulatory status. This development highlights a growing convergence between traditional Wall Street infrastructure and blockchain technology, emphasizing the importance of legal rights in asset tokenization. By focusing on programmable corporate actions and direct registry integration, Nasdaq intends to maintain issuer control while enabling 24/7 market operations. The partnership also includes Payward adopting Nasdaq’s market-surveillance technology to enhance integrity across various digital asset venues.

#TokenizedEquities#BlockchainInfrastructure#Kraken

cryptotimes.ioAdded: Sep 15, 20269.0

Infrastructure

Payward valuation soars to $21B in $100M Nasdaq tokenization expansion

Nasdaq Ventures has committed $100 million to Payward, the parent company of the Kraken exchange, in a strategic investment that deepens their existing partnership. This deal, which reportedly values Payward at $21 billion, positions Kraken as a primary distribution hub for Nasdaq’s upcoming tokenized stock product, known as Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs). Unlike many existing tokenized equity offerings that provide only synthetic price exposure, these NETs are designed to grant holders full voting rights equivalent to traditional shares. The launch of these tokens is currently scheduled for the second quarter of 2027. This collaboration integrates Nasdaq’s advanced market surveillance technology across Payward’s diverse trading ecosystem, including crypto, futures, and tokenized assets. The move reflects a broader trend of major exchange operators, such as the Intercontinental Exchange and Deutsche Börse, securing stakes in crypto-native platforms to bridge traditional finance with digital asset infrastructure. By standardizing voting rights for tokenized equities, this initiative aims to address a significant limitation in current RWA market offerings and enhance the institutional utility of blockchain-based securities.

#RWA#TokenizedEquities#Kraken

cryptopolitan.comAdded: Sep 14, 20268.5