Deutsche Börse has made a significant foray into the cryptocurrency market by investing $200 million in Payward, the parent company of popular crypto exchange Kraken. The investment will grant Deutsche Börse a 1.5% stake in Kraken, pending regulatory approval and expected to close in the second quarter.
The deal is part of Deutsche Börse's broader strategy to offer a wider range of blockchain-based securities and tokenized investment opportunities. This move builds on the company's existing collaboration with Kraken to broaden access for institutions to regulated crypto investment products, including spot trading, tokenized markets, and derivatives.