Nasdaq Invests $100 Million in Kraken Parent Payward at $21 Billion Valuation

Nasdaq has invested $100 million in Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, valuing the company at $21 billion, according to CoinDesk. The transaction also expands a strategic partnership between the two companies. Under the expanded partnership, Kraken users are expected to gain access to tokenized equities that include voting rights. The announcement links Nasdaq’s traditional-market infrastructure with a crypto-exchange platform, while the supplied information does not provide further details about the investment terms or the specific equities involved. CoinDesk reported the development on September 10, 2026.