NASDAQ Invests $100 Million in Kraken Parent Company for Tokenized Stock Trading

NASDAQ is investing $100 million in Payward, the parent company of Kraken, as part of an agreement to expand their existing partnership. The investment values Payward at $21 billion, according to Bloomberg reporting cited by CNBC.

The partnership aims to launch Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs) in the second quarter of 2027, which will allow traders to access tokenized stock trading. This development is expected to bring more flexibility to traditional financial markets, similar to what is seen in crypto markets that operate 24/7.

Nasdaq's venture arm will make the investment as part of the agreement, and Payward plans to adopt Nasdaq's surveillance technology across its venues. However, it's essential for traders to understand the rights attached to the token, as not all tokenized stocks work the same way.