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Kraken

kraken.com →·60 stories in our coverage

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

Kraken in the news

Stocks

Kraken Debuts Tokenized Stock Futures for Non-U.S. Traders

Kraken has officially launched tokenized stock futures for non-U.S. traders, enabling perpetual access to equity benchmarks without traditional market hour constraints. These contracts do not represent direct ownership of underlying shares but instead track tokenized equity benchmarks to facilitate continuous trading. This development follows Kraken's strategic acquisition of Backed Finance AG, the issuer of xStocks, which has already achieved over $25 billion in cumulative transaction volume within eight months. By integrating these products, Kraken is expanding its derivatives ecosystem, building upon its earlier acquisition of the futures platform NinjaTrader. The move signifies a broader trend of major exchanges bridging traditional financial derivatives with blockchain-based infrastructure to enhance liquidity and accessibility. While currently restricted from U.S. markets, the exchange plans to introduce additional tokenized stock and ETF contracts pending further regulatory approvals. This expansion highlights the growing institutional appetite for tokenized financial instruments that operate outside the limitations of legacy exchange hours.

#TokenizedStocks#xStocks#Kraken

coinmarketcap.comAdded: Jun 28, 20267.5

Stocks

Coinbase, Binance, Kraken Roll Out Rival Tokenized Stock Products In The Battle For Retail Dollars

Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken have simultaneously launched initiatives to offer tokenized stock products, signaling a major strategic pivot for crypto-native exchanges. Binance is utilizing Ondo Finance to provide digital securities that track traditional stock performance, while Coinbase has partnered with Yahoo Finance to integrate over 8,000 stocks with plans for future tokenization. Kraken has introduced tokenized equity perpetual futures contracts through its xStocks platform, offering up to 20x leverage for non-U.S. clients on assets like Nvidia, Apple, and the S&P 500. These moves are designed to capture market demand for blockchain-based financial assets while diversifying revenue streams amid declining trading volumes and recent financial losses reported by exchanges like Coinbase. The shift is supported by a changing regulatory landscape, including the GENIUS Act and the anticipated Clarity Act, which aim to provide clearer frameworks for on-chain securities. By enabling 24/7 trading of traditional equities, these exchanges are attempting to bridge the gap between legacy finance and decentralized markets. This trend underscores the growing institutional and retail appetite for tokenized real-world assets as a hedge against volatility in pure cryptocurrency markets.

#Ondo Finance#TokenizedStocks#Kraken

stocktwits.comAdded: Jun 27, 20268.5

Credit (Private Credit)

Kraken expands OTC lending with onchain facility in partnership with Maple

Kraken has integrated its over-the-counter lending desk with Maple Finance’s onchain credit infrastructure to facilitate USDC liquidity for institutional clients. This partnership establishes a revolving credit facility that allows accredited lenders on Maple to supply capital directly to Kraken’s Pro-level verified borrowers. With a minimum loan size of $500,000, the initiative targets funds and trading firms rather than retail participants. By leveraging Maple’s protocol, which has historically originated over $17 billion in loans, Kraken is adopting a capital-light strategy that decouples its lending growth from internal balance sheet constraints. This move represents a significant shift toward transparent, onchain credit markets following the industry-wide collapse of opaque lending platforms in 2022. The integration complements Maple’s existing presence in the Kraken ecosystem, including the deployment of syrupUSDC on the Ink L2 network. Ultimately, this collaboration provides a new distribution channel for Maple while offering Kraken a scalable, visible alternative to traditional bilateral lending arrangements.

#Maple Finance#InstitutionalDeFi#USDC

cryptobriefing.comAdded: Jun 27, 20268.5

Stocks

Crypto Exchanges Are Becoming RWA Exchanges, CryptoQuant’s Ki Young Ju Says

CryptoQuant founder and CEO Ki Young Ju posits that digital asset trading platforms are rapidly evolving into Real World Asset (RWA) exchanges, transcending their traditional role as venues for cryptocurrencies. This transformation signals the next phase of blockchain adoption, as major exchanges broaden their offerings to include tokenized equities, private credit, and government bonds. Kraken, for example, has significantly expanded its tokenized equities through its xStocks initiative, with nearly half of its new spot listings during the first four months of 2026 being RWA or tokenized stocks. This strategic pivot enables exchanges to attract traditional investors, diversify revenue streams, and provide 24/7 access to financial products. The trend aligns with increasing institutional demand for yield-generating and regulated assets over volatile cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins are emerging as the preferred settlement layer for these assets, while blockchain networks like Ethereum and Solana are positioning themselves as core infrastructure for tokenized finance. This transition is expected to substantially expand the addressable market for crypto exchanges by onboarding trillions of dollars in traditional assets onto blockchain infrastructure.

#RWA#Tokenization#Kraken

financefeeds.comAdded: Jun 27, 20268.5

Active Strategies

Kraken Eyes 15% Stake In Aave Group In $71 Million Deal, Deepening Institutional DeFi Push

Kraken is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire a 15% equity stake in Aave Group, the parent entity of the Aave lending protocol. The proposed $71 million deal involves Kraken investing 35,000 ETH in exchange for 250,000 AAVE tokens and the equity position, valuing Aave Group at approximately $385 million. This transaction marks the inaugural investment for Kraken’s Payward Asset Management initiative, signaling a strategic shift toward direct governance influence in decentralized finance. By securing a significant stake in a protocol with over $18 billion in total value locked, Kraken aims to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional trading fees and custody services. The move highlights a growing trend of centralized exchanges integrating vertically into DeFi infrastructure to capture on-chain yield. However, the deal faces potential regulatory hurdles, as the SEC’s stance on DeFi tokens as securities remains a critical point of uncertainty for U.S.-based exchanges. If finalized, this partnership would represent the most direct equity link between a major centralized exchange and a leading DeFi protocol to date.

#Aave#Kraken#DeFi

blockchainreporter.netAdded: Jun 27, 20268.5

Stocks

Bitget Wallet Adds Over 130 xStocks Tokenized Equities

Bitget Wallet has integrated xStocks infrastructure to provide its 90 million users with access to over 130 tokenized equities and ETFs. This expansion increases the platform's total RWA offerings to more than 300 products, including commodities and precious metals. Since its 2025 launch, the tokenized equity suite has processed over $30 billion in transaction volume, highlighting significant demand for on-chain traditional financial exposure. The integration utilizes xStocks, a platform acquired by Kraken parent company Payward through its purchase of Backed Finance in late 2025. Users benefit from zero trading fees and gasless execution while maintaining self-custody of their assets. Although restricted in jurisdictions like the U.S. and U.K., the move signals a broader trend of crypto wallets bridging traditional market access with decentralized infrastructure. With xStocks currently holding approximately $391.5 million in represented asset value, this partnership strengthens its competitive position against market leaders like Ondo.

#RWA#TokenizedEquities#xStocks

coinmarketcap.comAdded: Jun 27, 20267.5

Stocks

Crypto Biz: SpaceX fuels tokenization’s next boom

The tokenized real-world asset sector continues to demonstrate significant growth despite broader crypto market volatility, with Binance Research reporting a 589% surge in active tokenized RWA market value since early 2025. This expansion is driven by a $6.5 billion increase in bonds and money market funds, alongside a 422% rise in tokenized stocks. Kraken has furthered this momentum by launching xStocks, providing eligible users in over 110 markets access to tokenized SpaceX shares represented by the SPCXx token. These tokens are backed 1:1 by underlying equity and offer 24/7 tradability, marking a notable step in bringing private equity to blockchain infrastructure. Meanwhile, the broader ecosystem is diversifying, with tokenized precious metals attracting $1.5 billion in inflows as investors seek safe-haven assets. Institutional adoption is also accelerating, evidenced by Apex Group’s fund services and The Clearing House’s development of a tokenized deposit network. This trend underscores a shift toward integrating traditional financial instruments with blockchain technology, moving beyond crypto-native use cases to provide broader market access.

#RWA#TokenizedStocks#SpaceX

Cointelegraph — RWA TokenizationAdded: Jun 26, 20268.0

Stocks

Kraken offers SpaceX IPO access through xStocks

Crypto exchange Kraken has launched IPO Access through its xStocks platform, enabling eligible users across more than 110 international markets to register for tokenized SpaceX equity. This initiative allows investors to receive SPCXx tokens, which are backed 1:1 by underlying SpaceX shares, facilitating 24/7 trading on Kraken and other xStocks-integrated platforms. The offering marks a significant convergence between traditional capital markets and blockchain infrastructure, providing retail access to a highly anticipated public listing. SpaceX is reportedly seeking to raise approximately $75 billion at a valuation of at least $1.8 trillion, potentially setting a record as the largest IPO in history. While the offering is available in the European Economic Area and various international regions, it remains restricted in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom due to regulatory constraints. The move highlights the increasing utility of tokenization in democratizing access to private equity and pre-IPO opportunities. By leveraging onchain representations of traditional assets, Kraken aims to streamline participation in major corporate milestones while managing high investor demand.

#xStocks#SpaceX#TokenizedEquity

Cointelegraph — TokenizationAdded: Jun 20, 20268.0

Stocks

Kraken parent Payward brings tokenized IPO access to retail investors

Payward Services, a Kraken-affiliated company, is launching a program allowing eligible retail investors to access US initial public offerings (IPOs) at the offering price through tokenized shares. By leveraging the xStocks infrastructure, the initiative enables users to express interest in upcoming IPOs and receive 1:1 backed tokenized shares on listing day. This process democratizes access to investment opportunities typically reserved for institutional clients, effectively removing traditional barriers related to geography and net worth. The shares are backed by underlying stock held in custody by a regulated entity, ensuring a secure link between the blockchain-based tokens and traditional financial assets. This development represents a significant step in the broader RWA tokenization movement, which aims to integrate traditional financial products with blockchain infrastructure. With the RWA market reaching $51 billion, this move highlights the growing trend of using onchain settlement to broaden market participation. The first offerings are expected to roll out to Kraken and xStocks Alliance members in the coming weeks, with plans to expand to additional markets over time.

#RWA#TokenizedEquities#xStocks

Cointelegraph — RWA TokenizationAdded: Jun 20, 20268.0

Stablecoins

Kraken Now Supports Deposits And Withdrawals Of USDCX On Canton Network

Kraken has officially integrated support for USDCx deposits and withdrawals on the Canton Network, marking a significant expansion in the interoperability of stablecoins across institutional blockchain ecosystems. This development allows users to move USDCx, a tokenized version of the USD Coin, seamlessly between the Kraken exchange and the Canton Network, a privacy-enabled, interoperable blockchain infrastructure designed for institutional finance. By bridging a major centralized exchange with a network specifically built for regulated financial institutions, this move reduces friction for capital movement in tokenized asset markets. The integration highlights the growing trend of major exchanges adopting specialized, permissioned, or enterprise-grade networks to facilitate institutional RWA workflows. As liquidity becomes increasingly fragmented across various chains, such connectivity is essential for the maturation of the RWA sector. This partnership underscores the Canton Network's role in connecting disparate financial systems while leveraging the liquidity of established stablecoins. Ultimately, this integration serves as a critical step toward creating a more unified and efficient infrastructure for the global tokenization of real-world assets.

#Stablecoins#CantonNetwork#InstitutionalFinance

tradingview.comAdded: Jun 11, 20267.0

Stocks

Nasdaq Launches Issuer-First Tokenized Equity Gateway With Kraken

Nasdaq has officially launched its issuer-first tokenized equity gateway, a strategic initiative designed to facilitate the seamless movement of tokenized assets between regulated traditional markets and global on-chain environments. This framework prioritizes the preservation of issuer rights, regulatory compliance, and price integrity, addressing critical hurdles in the adoption of institutional-grade tokenized securities. The program, which builds upon a formal proposal filed by Nasdaq with U.S. regulators in September 2025, currently features a partnership with the crypto exchange Kraken. By maintaining voluntary participation, Nasdaq aims to collaborate with a broader ecosystem of transfer agents, regulators, and market participants to refine the infrastructure. This development signals a significant shift in the competitive landscape, as traditional exchange operators increasingly vie for dominance in the digital asset space. Notably, the Intercontinental Exchange is also accelerating its efforts, having recently invested in OKX with plans to introduce NYSE-listed tokenized stocks by the second quarter of 2026. These moves collectively underscore a growing institutional commitment to integrating blockchain technology into equity markets to enhance liquidity and operational efficiency.

#TokenizedEquities#Kraken#InstitutionalCrypto

coinmarketcap.comAdded: Jun 10, 20269.0

Stocks

Bybit and Kraken Add xStocks SpaceX Tokenized Equity as Pre

Bybit and Kraken have expanded their offerings by launching 1:1 equity-backed SpaceX exposure through the xStocks platform. This development marks a significant shift in the RWA market, as these exchanges join Coinbase International and BitMEX in a competitive race to provide retail access to pre-IPO assets. The market is currently bifurcated between two distinct approaches: synthetic perpetual contracts and regulated tokenized equity issued by Backed Assets (JE) Limited. By integrating these tokenized products, major centralized exchanges are bridging the gap between traditional private equity and decentralized finance infrastructure. This trend highlights a growing institutional and retail appetite for fractionalized ownership of high-profile, non-public companies. As more venues adopt these mechanisms, the liquidity and accessibility of pre-IPO shares are expected to increase substantially. Ultimately, this expansion signals a maturing RWA landscape where regulated tokenization is becoming a standard feature for global crypto trading platforms.

#xStocks#SpaceX#TokenizedEquity

The DefiantAdded: Jun 8, 20267.0