Nasdaq Invests $100M in Kraken Parent Company Payward

Nasdaq has committed $100 million to Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, at a valuation of $21 billion. This investment underscores institutional capital flows into major crypto platforms and aligns with growing demand for regulated exchange infrastructure in 2026.

The deal is described as a direct equity play, rather than a partnership announcement. Analysts note that this move highlights the increasing interest from traditional finance in the cryptocurrency space.

Payward's parent company, Kraken, is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, with a strong presence in the market.