Nasdaq is betting $100 million on Kraken's parent company to build infrastructure for tokenized stocks, targeting a 2027 launch for blockchain-based equities that maintain traditional shareholder voting rights.
Nasdaq is strategically positioning itself for the future of market infrastructure by investing $100 million into Payward to accelerate the development of Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs). By leveraging blockchain technology for 24/7 trading and on-chain settlement, Nasdaq aims to modernize capital markets while integrating its proprietary surveillance tools across Kraken's diverse trading operations.
NETs are blockchain-based representations of publicly traded stocks that allow for 24/7 trading and confer shareholder voting rights.
The partnership aims to build global distribution, trading, and post-trade infrastructure for tokenized equities to improve settlement efficiency.
Nasdaq Ventures has committed $100 million to Payward, the parent company of Kraken, to accelerate the development of blockchain-based Nasdaq Equity Tokens (NETs). The partnership aims to launch tokenized stocks with full voting rights by Q2 2027, leveraging Kraken's platform to enable 24/7 on-chain settlement and global distribution for traditional assets.
NETs are blockchain-based representations of publicly traded stocks that allow for around-the-clock trading and settlement while retaining standard shareholder voting rights.
Beyond the capital injection, Kraken will integrate Nasdaq's proprietary market surveillance technology to enhance oversight across its crypto, futures, and tokenized equity offerings.