Kraken Parent Company Payward Acquires Bitnomial for Regulated Derivatives

Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has made a significant move in the digital assets market by acquiring derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026 and values Payward's equity at $20 billion, matching its valuation from November.

The acquisition centers on Bitnomial's regulatory infrastructure, which includes all three CFTC-issued licenses required to operate a full-stack domestic crypto trading and derivatives business. This will allow Kraken to offer regulated U.S. derivatives to its clients, expanding its services and capabilities.