Kraken Digital Asset Exchange Broadens Services to Include Stocks, ETFs, Forex Perpetual Futures
Trading with Kraken just got a major upgrade! This week, the San Francisco-based crypto exchange expanded its services by adding stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and forex perpetual futures.
Kicking things off on Monday, customers in states like New Jersey, Connecticut, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Idaho, Iowa, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Alabama, and the District of Columbia could now trade 11,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs[1]. Kraken plans to expand this service nationwide and then venture into international markets such as Europe, the UK, and Australia[1].
Following this announcement, Kraken launched FX perpetual futures on Kraken Derivatives. The first two offerings include EUR/USD and GBP/USD, both featuring up to 20x leverage[2]. The platform has already established a presence in the FX spot market, with customers trading $5.4 billion in that sector this year, including a focus on the EUR/USD and GBP/USD pairs[2].
Due to this expansion, Kraken is now a bridge between the crypto and traditional financial markets, bringing users a seamless trading experience for both crypto and fiat instruments[1][3].
Kraken's latest moves come at a time when the exchange is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) in the first quarter of 2026[4]. Additionally, Kraken recently cleared some regulatory hurdles, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) agreeing "in principle" to dismiss a lawsuit against the firm[4]. In 2023, the SEC charged Kraken for operating its crypto trading platform as an unregistered securities exchange, broker, dealer, and clearing agency[4].
Stay tuned for more developments in the world of finance, as Kraken carves its niche in the fast-evolving digital asset landscape.
Sources:
[1] Mccormick, Baz. (2025, April 19). Kraken adds stocks and ETF trading and forex derivatives, moves closer to IPO. CoinTelegraph. https://cointelegraph.com/news/kraken-adds-stocks-and-etf-trading-and-forex-derivatives-moves-closer-to-ipo[2] Day, William. (2025, April 15). Kraken to launch cryptocurrency-margined forex derivatives for GBP/USD, EUR/USD. Finance Magnates. https://www.financemagnates.com/cryptocurrency/exchanges/kraken-to-launch-cryptocurrency-margined-forex-derivatives-for-gpbusd-eurusd/[3] Kraken Daily Market Report (2025, April 11). Kraken Futures. https://www.kraken.com/penny-papers/[4] Smith, Jordan. (2025, April 1). SEC agrees 'in principle' to dismiss lawsuit against Kraken. The Block Crypto. https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/107945/sec-agrees-in-principle-dismiss-lawsuit-kraken-crypto-exchange
- With Kraken allowing stocks, ETFs, and forex perpetual futures trading, the user's crypto trading experience has grown more comprehensive.
- The addition of FX perpetual futures on Kraken Derivatives showcases the exchange's growing influence in the forex market.
- As Kraken moves towards an IPO in 2026, its recent successes in securities regulation demonstrate its potential in the traditional finance world.
- The innovative bridge created by Kraken connects investors to both crypto and fiat trading instruments, offering a seamless transition from cryptocurrency to traditional finance.
- The altcoins and Ethereum available on Kraken will now be tradeable alongside stocks, ETFs, and currencies like the Euro and the British Pound.
- To stay competitive in the fast-evolving digital asset landscape, investors should consider HODLing or actively investing in the stocks, cryptocurrencies, and forex markets available on Kraken.
