Nasdaq Eyes $100 Million Investment in Kraken Parent Payward

Stock exchange giant Nasdaq has agreed to invest $100 million into Payward, the company behind crypto exchange Kraken. Along with the financial backing, Payward plans to use Nasdaq market surveillance technology across its trading venues for crypto, equities, and futures.

This new agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two firms. Earlier this year, they announced plans to connect Nasdaq issuer sponsored tokens with Payward tokenized equity systems. The companies now expect these new Nasdaq Equity Tokens to launch in the second quarter of 2027.

While the deal is not yet finalized and terms are still light on details, it brings traditional finance infrastructure closer to digital asset trading. Traders should watch for updates on the 2027 launch timeline and how the new surveillance tools roll out across Kraken platforms.