Payward Expands US Crypto Derivatives Business with Bitnomial Acquisition

Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has made a significant move in the crypto market by acquiring Bitnomial, the first US crypto derivatives platform to hold all three CFTC licenses simultaneously. The deal values Payward at $20 billion and is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

The acquisition gives Payward the infrastructure to run an exchange, clear trades, and offer brokerage services inside one regulated framework. This move is part of Payward's broader strategy to complete its global derivatives build.