Nasdaq is investing $100 million in Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, valuing the firm at $21 billion. The deal expands a March 2026 partnership to distribute tokenized Nasdaq-listed stocks with voting rights on Kraken's platform. This move aligns with a broader Wall Street push into blockchain infrastructure, though Payward's own IPO plans remain delayed until at least Q2 2027.
Nasdaq investment in Payward
- ▪The $100 million investment from Nasdaq Inc. into Payward expands on a partnership the two companies originally established in March 2026.
- ▪Nasdaq Inc.'s venture investment arm is investing $100 million in Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken.
Tokenized equity distribution partnership
- ▪Payward's xStocks service, which issues blockchain versions of listed shares, had processed more than $25 billion in trades by March 2026.
- ▪Kraken will distribute Nasdaq-listed stocks in tokenized form on its platform, allowing customers to own tokenized equities with the same voting rights as regular shares.
Traditional exchange crypto stakes
- ▪Deutsche Börse paid $200 million for a 1.5% stake in Payward in April 2026, which implied a valuation of approximately $13.3 billion.
- ▪Intercontinental Exchange, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, invested in crypto exchange OKX in March 2026 at a $25 billion valuation.
Kraken IPO timeline
- ▪Payward has delayed its initial public offering twice and now targets the second quarter of 2027 at the earliest.
- ▪Payward filed confidentially for an initial public offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2025.
Payward valuation at $21B
- ▪Payward previously raised $800 million at a $20 billion valuation in November 2025 from backers including Jane Street, DRW Venture Capital, and Citadel Securities.
- ▪The $100 million investment from Nasdaq Inc. values Payward at $21 billion.
Blockchain infrastructure for trading
- ▪Nasdaq plans to launch its own token in the second quarter of 2027, according to sources familiar with the matter.
- ▪The New York Stock Exchange announced in January 2026 that it is building a platform to trade and settle tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs 24/7 on the blockchain.
Debatable claims
- ▪Traditional stock exchanges should transition to 24/7 blockchain-based trading
- ▪Tokenized equities must grant investors the same voting rights as traditional shares
- ▪Traditional financial exchanges should not invest in cryptocurrency platforms
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