Nasdaq Invests Heavily in Tokenized Equities with $100 Million Payward Deal

Nasdaq is investing $100 million in Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, as part of an expanded partnership focused on blockchain-based tokenized equities and Nasdaq Equity Tokens.

The investment will advance the operational and commercial infrastructure required to support NETs, a framework designed to bring publicly traded equities onto blockchain infrastructure while maintaining shareholder protections and regulatory standards.

Nasdaq said the partnership will connect regulated capital markets with blockchain networks, with a launch expected in the second quarter of 2027 for Nasdaq Equity Tokens.