Nasdaq Invests $100M in Kraken for Tokenized Equities

Nasdaq is making a significant investment of $100 million in Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. This strategic financial commitment is directed towards developing a robust infrastructure specifically designed for the trading of tokenized equities. The initiative is slated to introduce Nasdaq Equity Tokens, with a target launch in the second quarter of 2027, utilizing Payward's xStocks platform.

This collaboration aims to facilitate the trading and settlement of tokenized assets beyond traditional market hours. It seeks to maintain regulatory compliance and market safeguards, preserving investor transparency, market integrity, and liquidity. The partnership builds upon an earlier collaboration announced in March, focusing on tokenization infrastructure, and aims to evolve Nasdaq Equity Tokens onto platforms that operate continuously.