Kraken

Kraken: global exchange for crypto, stocks, and derivatives

Kraken is an exchange and financial services platform operated by Payward, Inc., active since 2011. Its offering spans crypto, stocks, futures, tokenized products, and custody services for both retail and institutional clients. The company states it has surpassed $2 trillion in total transaction volume and presents itself as one of the most popular choices among cryptocurrency exchanges.

Products and services for retail investors

The platform lets you buy, sell, and convert crypto, as well as purchase stocks and tokenized products. Available features include automated recurring buys, auto-invest in crypto, and the ability to earn yield (APY) on deposited assets. The catalog includes 600+ crypto pairs and 11,000+ stocks and ETFs. Users can trade via web, mobile app, or API.

Kraken also offers a subscription called Kraken+ and a payments app called Krak, which lets you spend, send, and grow cash and crypto. According to the platform, Krak enables transactions at 80M+ merchants worldwide and instant international transfers with no fees.

Advanced tools and professional trading

For active traders, Kraken Pro provides access to margin trading, perpetual futures, tokenized products (xStocks), and crypto-backed loans. The platform highlights the availability of regulated spot margin up to 20x for US traders. It also offers tools such as Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet for self-custody, Kraken CLI for AI agents, and Kraken API for programmatic spot and futures trading.

Institutional services

Kraken Institutional serves asset managers, corporations, ETP issuers, governments, hedge funds, market makers, and VC firms, among others. Services include exchange trading, OTC, multi-venue liquidity, institutional staking, qualified crypto custody, and integrated offerings under the Prime name. The company also offers Kraken 360 for protocols and positions itself as a partner for token projects.

Security and compliance

The platform emphasizes security, with measures such as proof of reserves and secure access to markets since 2011. Kraken Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Payward, Inc., provides brokerage services in the United States and is registered with FINRA and SIPC. Availability of some products, such as stocks and margin, is subject to geographic restrictions and eligibility criteria.

Presence and reach

Kraken operates globally and serves both individual and institutional clients. Its infrastructure includes custody, payments, and infrastructure services for third-party platforms through Payward Services. The company maintains an active community and offers educational resources on crypto, security, and tokenization.