Kraken has launched commission-free trading for U.S. stocks and ETFs, integrating traditional finance with its crypto platform. This allows users to manage both types of assets from one account, powered by a partnership with Alpaca. Kraken plans expansion nationally and internationally, while positioning itself strongly in the crypto-finance intersection with a $1.5 billion acquisition and upcoming IPO.
Kraken is expanding its services beyond cryptocurrencies by launching commission-free trading for U.S. stocks and ETFs in select states. This enhancement enables American users to manage both crypto and traditional equities through a single account, similar to platforms like Robinhood, but backed by a cryptocurrency infrastructure.
Through its partnership with licensed broker-dealer Alpaca, Kraken offers its users access to more than 11,000 stocks and ETFs, with over half available for fractional share purchases, allowing investors to engage with high-value stocks more easily.
Currently, this service is available only in a limited number of U.S. states, but Kraken plans a nationwide launch and aims to extend its equities service internationally, targeting markets in the UK, Europe, and Australia.
Kraken’s initiative is significant for the blockchain industry as it allows direct access to equities without converting them to blockchain tokens. Co-CEO Srikar Sethi views this as a crucial step toward the tokenization of real-world assets, reflecting the increasing demand from users for a unified investment platform.
This expansion follows Kraken’s notable $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader, marking it as the largest merger between the crypto sector and traditional finance thus far. With an initial public offering (IPO) planned for 2026, Kraken is aiming to be a leading entity in both realms.
Amid the intersection of AI and blockchain, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao predicts that AI systems will eventually abandon conventional financial tools in favour of cryptocurrencies for economic transactions.
While Wall Street’s confidence in the S&P 500 is dwindling due to President Trump’s inconsistent tariff strategies, the U.S. Federal Reserve, represented by Boston Fed President Susan Collins, is prepared to offer emergency support amid potential financial market stress.
A significant advancement in Bitcoin staking is also underway, following Binance’s introduction of the Babylon (BABY) project, which aims to create new utility for BTC without relying on conventional bridges.
