Payward, Inc.

Payward, Inc., commonly known as Kraken, is a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange and trading platform founded in 2011. The company's mission centers on providing financial freedom through security and transparency, aiming to accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrency. Originally established in San Francisco, its global headquarters relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in June 2025, citing Wyoming's favorable regulatory environment for digital assets.

Kraken offers a comprehensive suite of products and services for both individual and institutional investors. These include spot, futures, and margin trading for various cryptocurrencies, staking services, and tokenized equities known as xStocks. The platform also provides institutional lending, API services, and a specialized platform called Embed for financial institutions to offer crypto trading to their clients.

In recent news, Kraken has been actively expanding its offerings and market presence. The company is reportedly planning an Initial Public Offering (IPO) for early 2026 or October 8, 2026. In July 2026, Kraken began allowing tokenized stocks and ETFs as collateral for futures and margin trading on Kraken Pro. Additionally, Kraken announced an agreement to acquire NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion and launched full-service prime brokerage for European financial institutions through a partnership with Trever in June 2026. The company also partnered with Franklin Templeton in May 2026 to integrate tokenized money market products into its platform. Co-CEOs Arjun Sethi and Dave Ripley lead the company, with co-founder Jesse Powell serving as chairman of the board.