Nasdaq Partners With Kraken to Create Tokenized Equity Gateway

Kraken has partnered with Nasdaq to build an 'equities transformation gateway' that will connect regulated tokenized equity markets with permissionless blockchain networks through Kraken's xStocks product.

The partnership aims to create a new infrastructure layer that will let eligible users move tokenized equities between a regulated, permissioned market environment and open on-chain ecosystems.

Payward, the parent company of Kraken, will handle KYC and AML onboarding for participants accessing the bridge through Kraken, and will serve as the primary settlement layer for transactions tied to Nasdaq's equity token design during an initial period in jurisdictions where xStocks are already available.

The gateway is expected to go live in the first half of 2027 and is intended to let eligible users move tokenized equities between regulated, permissioned market environments and open on-chain ecosystems.