Nasdaq Invests $100M in Kraken Parent Payward, Valuation Hits $21B
Nasdaq Ventures has made a significant investment in Payward, the parent company of Kraken, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange. According to sources, Nasdaq's venture arm has agreed to invest $100 million in Payward, valuing the company at $21 billion.
The deal is notable for its scope and ambition. Payward will adopt Nasdaq's market-surveillance technology across all its trading venues, including crypto, equities, tokenized-equities, futures, and options markets. This move aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in these markets.
Nasdaq also announced plans to launch its Equity Tokens on the platform, with a target release date set for Q2 2027. These tokens will represent ownership of equities and are expected to provide a new way for investors to access traditional assets.