U .S. clients will gain access to CFTC-regulated spot margin, perpetual futures, and options through Kraken and NinjaTrader. This follows Payward's agreement to acquire Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock.
Related Brief 1h ago
cryptocurrency Payward's $550 Million Acquisition of Bitnomial Secures the Full U.S. Crypto Derivatives Stack
U.S. clients of Kraken will gain access to regulated spot margin, perpetuals, and options under CFTC regulation. This access is the result of a definitive agreement by Payward, Kraken's parent company, to acquire Bitnomial for up to $550 million in a mix of cash and stock. Bitnomial holds the three Commodity Futures Trading Commission licenses required to run a vertically integrated derivatives business: a Designated Contract Market license for its exchange, a Derivatives Clearing Organization license for its clearinghouse, and a Futures Commission Merchant license for its brokerage arm. By acquiring these licenses, Payward bypasses the years of regulatory engagement and operational planning required to build such a stack independently. Co-CEO of Payward and Kraken, Arjun Sethi, noted that Bitnomial's native crypto settlement and collateral capabilities cannot be "retrofitted onto legacy systems." Beyond retail clients, the deal expands the capabilities of Payward Services, the company's B2B infrastructure arm, allowing fintechs, banks, and brokerages to integrate regulated U.S. derivatives through a single API. The transaction values Payward's equity at $20 billion.
Bitnomial is the first crypto-native platform in the U.S. to secure all three licenses required to operate a full-stack derivatives business: a designated contract market, a derivatives clearing organization, and a futures commission merchant. By acquiring the firm, Payward gains an exchange, clearinghouse, and brokerage framework that Bitnomial spent over a decade developing.
Related Brief 1d ago
cybersecurity Kraken Refuses Ransom After Insider Breach Exposes 2,000 Accounts
Two thousand Kraken clients face the risk of their private data being leaked on social media. The exposure occurred after two support employees were recruited by a cybercrime group to gain improper access to internal systems. These employees recorded videos of internal systems containing client support data for 2,000 accounts, or 0.02% of the user base. Kraken revoked employee access and strengthened controls following a tip in February 2025. A criminal group subsequently threatened to release the videos to media outlets and social media unless payment was made. Kraken refused to pay or negotiate with the ransom demands. A criminal investigation is underway to identify and arrest the responsible individuals. 2,000 clients face the risk of their private data being leaked on social media.
Payward Co-CEO Arjun Sethi stated that the U.S. lacks clearing infrastructure built for digital assets and that Bitnomial's capabilities cannot be retrofitted onto legacy systems. The acquisition allows Payward to control the clearing infrastructure for physically delivered, margined crypto contracts, a capability Bitnomial launched in early 2025.
Related Brief 3d ago
central banking Kraken cuts out bank intermediaries with first crypto Fed master account
Kraken can now move money faster and more cheaply by cutting out bank intermediaries. The Kansas City Fed granted the crypto exchange's Wyoming banking arm a limited-purpose master account for one year, allowing it to access the wholesale payments system Fedwire. This access lets Kraken move funds directly via the Fed's payment rails and hold limited balances overnight. Unlike most accountholders, Kraken cannot earn interest on reserve balances, access emergency Fed lending, or use the FedNow and ACH payment systems. The account will initially serve wholesale clients.
Beyond retail users, the deal expands Payward Services. Banks, fintechs, and brokerages can now offer regulated U.S. derivatives to their end users through a single API integration.
Related Brief 3d ago
venture capital Kraken’s $13.3 Billion Valuation Reveals a 33% Markdown in Exchange Pricing
Kraken is now valued at $13.3 billion, a 33% markdown from the $20 billion valuation the exchange commanded during its November 2024 funding round. This figure was established by Deutsche Börse Group's $200 million investment in Payward Inc., Kraken's parent company. The transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026 subject to regulatory approval, gives the Frankfurt-based stock exchange operator a 1.5% fully diluted ownership stake via a secondary market transaction. The investment cements a commercial partnership first announced in December 2025 to build a hybrid market infrastructure for traditional and tokenized assets. Kraken had originally planned a public listing for 2026, but the company has suspended those plans indefinitely, citing unfavorable market conditions.
Payward has pursued an acquisition-driven strategy to build a multi-asset platform. This includes a $1.5 billion purchase of NinjaTrader in 2025, along with acquisitions of Small Exchange, Backed, and Breakout. The transaction values Payward's equity at $20 billion and is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
Related Brief 2d ago
defi regulation Non-custodial DeFi interfaces avoid broker-dealer registration costs
Users face fewer regulatory barriers to accessing decentralized trading services. This shift follows a staff statement from the SEC Division of Trading and Markets establishing an exemption for 'Covered User Interfaces.' These are software tools, including wallet apps and browser extensions, that convert user inputs into executable code for self-custodial wallets. To qualify, these interfaces must not hold user funds, control transactions, or route orders. Providers cannot receive transaction-based compensation, offer investment advice, or solicit specific trades using endorsements such as 'best price.' They must charge fixed neutral fees agnostic to products or venues. Required compliance includes providing disclosures of conflicts and cybersecurity measures and objectively vetting connected trading systems for liquidity and security. Developers of non-custodial, permissionless interfaces can now operate without the cost and complexity of broker-dealer registration. This non-binding interim measure is effective for five years unless withdrawn.
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