Kraken Ventures Into Traditional Finance With Equity Trading
On April 14, crypto exchange Kraken announced a significant expansion into traditional finance by launching commission-free stock and ETF trading for U.S. clients. This new offering introduces Kraken Securities, a regulated division dedicated to equity trading, as detailed in a blog post.
U.S. Rollout Begins in Ten States
Initially, Kraken’s new stock and ETF service will be available in ten U.S. states, including New Jersey, Alabama, Wyoming, and Connecticut. The platform now supports trading in over 11,000 U.S.-listed equities directly from existing Kraken accounts. More states are expected to gain access soon as part of a phased rollout strategy.
Seamless Integration of Crypto and Traditional Assets
Kraken clients can now hold and manage a portfolio that spans crypto, stablecoins, cash, and equities using the Kraken or Kraken Pro mobile apps. The platform also supports fractional trading and instant fund reinvestment, offering a streamlined, all-in-one experience.
Kraken Securities Launches as FINRA-Regulated Entity
Kraken Securities, the company’s new equities branch, is a registered FINRA member in the U.S. and holds regulatory approval in the U.K. The firm’s leadership sees the move as a natural extension of their crypto-first foundation into broader asset classes.
“Expanding into stocks helps us accelerate the future of asset tokenization,” said Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi.
SEC Drops Case Against Kraken Amid Regulatory Shift
Earlier this month, the U.S. SEC officially dropped its lawsuit against Kraken, citing an outdated “regulation-by-enforcement” approach. The move aligns with recent pro-crypto signals from the Trump administration. Kraken had previously been accused of acting as an unregistered exchange and broker for crypto assets deemed securities.
Ripple, another firm previously targeted by the SEC, has agreed to a $50 million civil penalty as part of a settlement, though no official SEC announcement has been released yet.
