Kraken, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has started a national rollout of commission-free trading for over 11,000 U.S.-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds. This move marks the company’s latest expansion across different asset classes.
The expansion is part of Kraken’s strategy to become a full-service financial platform, offering both traditional finance and crypto services. “Expanding into equities is a natural step for us, and paves the way for the tokenization of assets,” said Arjun Sethi, Kraken’s co-CEO. “The future of trading is borderless, always on and built on crypto rails.”
Initially, Kraken users in certain U.S. states, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Wyoming, and Oklahoma, will be able to trade stocks and ETFs. The company plans to expand this service to more U.S. states and key international markets such as the UK, Europe, and Australia.
This move comes after Kraken struck a $1.5 billion deal for retail futures trading platform NinjaTrader, highlighting the growing integration of traditional and digital finance. “Crypto isn’t just evolving, it’s becoming the backbone for trading across asset classes, such as equities, commodities, and currencies,” Sethi explained. “As demand for 24/7 global access grows, clients want a seamless, all-in-one trading experience.”
The development is part of a broader trend among financial technology firms and crypto companies seeking to expand their businesses and gain credibility with customers by becoming state or national banks. Kraken also plans to offer payments services as part of its multi-asset class ambitions.
