
Why Payward-backed Reap is betting on non-USD stablecoins for 24/7 cross-border FX settlement
- neutral toward Payward · 98%


This week’s stories centered on regulation, institutional adoption and market infrastructure. Seven Democratic senators vowed to keep negotiating on the CLARITY Act, while Tom Lee forecast a bullish 12 months for crypto. Revolut attackers demanded 6,000 XMR for stolen customer data, Kalshi captured about 80% of U.S. prediction-market volume, and Kraken parent Payward unveiled plans […]

The launch of single-stock perpetual futures could revolutionize US trading by offering continuous market access and new leverage opportunities.

Payward plans to launch the first regulated U.S. onchain perpetual futures markets using the Hyperliquid protocol. Regulatory framework and oversight Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, announced Sept. 16 its plans to deploy onchain perpetual futures markets for U.S. clients through the decentralized trading protocol Hyperliquid. The initiative, which remains subject to regulatory […]
Kraken parent Payward plans Hyperliquid perpetual futures for US clients, using CFTC-regulated Bitnomial to comply.

Payward wants to use Hyperliquid’s blockchain for US perpetual futures, but trading would remain limited to verified and approved accounts.


Payward's move could reshape U.S. derivatives markets, highlighting regulatory dynamics and influencing Hyperliquid's market trajectory.

Payward plans to offer Hyperliquid HIP-3 perpetual futures to eligible U.S. clients through Bitnomial, subject to regulatory approval.

The partnership could reshape US crypto trading by integrating compliance with decentralized markets, potentially broadening asset offerings.

SoFi Technologies Inc. (SOFI) announced on Thursday that it will enter into a partnership with Payward, a unified financial infrastructure platform, in a move aimed at strengthening SoFi’s banking, payments, liquidity, and digital asset operations. The collaboration is designed to connect SoFi’s growing digital asset infrastructure with Payward’s broader trading and settlement ecosystem, while also expanding the reach of SoFi’s stablecoin, SoFiUSD. Under the terms of the partnership, Payward will leverage SoFi’s Big Business Banking capabilities, join the SoFi Exchange Network (SEN), and list SoFiUSD on its multi-asset trading platform. At the same time, SoFi will use Kraken Prime, Payward’s full-service prime brokerage solution, as an additional source of digital asset liquidity. The arrangement is therefore a two-way relationship: Payward gains access to SoFi’s banking and settlement infrastructure, while SoFi gains access to Kraken Prime’s liquidity and Kraken’s broader trading platform. A key element of the deal is Payward’s access to SEN, SoFi’s real-time settlement network. This gives institutional clients a path to clear and settle U.S. dollar transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Kraken institutional clients will be able to use SEN’s real-time settlement rails to move USD and manage liquidity across both networks at any hour. That kind of around-the-clock settlement capability is especially valuable for institutional crypto participants, who often need to move funds and manage positions outside traditional banking hours. For SoFi, the partnership offers several potential benefits. Kraken’s decision to list SoFiUSD expands the stablecoin’s reach to millions of users on its multi-asset trading platform. Meanwhile, SoFi’s access to Kraken Prime’s liquidity could potentially improve crypto-trading prices for SoFi members. Because orders placed in the SoFi app will now route through Kraken Prime, customers may enjoy better pricing on crypto transactions. The deal also strengthens SoFi’s Big Business Banking offering, which was launched in April, and could pave the way for deeper collaboration between the two companies in areas such as payments, treasury, lending, and digital assets. Keefe Bruyette offered its assessment of the announcement, calling it “another positive development” for SoFi. The firm said SoFi stands to benefit from Payward’s operations and its connection to Kraken’s platform. However, Keefe maintained an “Underperform” rating on SoFi Technologies with a $16 price target. That target implies roughly 13% downside from the stock’s last close, indicating that while the analyst views the Kraken partnership as a constructive step, it is not enough to shift a more cautious overall stance on the stock. In summary, the SoFi-Payward partnership expands SoFiUSD’s distribution, gives Kraken and its institutional clients round-the-clock USD settlement through SEN, and adds Kraken Prime as a new liquidity source for SoFi. It also reinforces SoFi’s business banking push and opens the door to possible deeper collaboration across payments, treasury, lending, and digital assets. The analyst reaction captures the mixed picture: a positive strategic development for SoFi’s digital asset ambitions, but one that still leaves valuation concerns in place.

Crypto companies announced $151 million in disclosed financing across five deals from Sep. 5–11, 2026. The largest was Nasdaq Ventures’ agreement to invest $100 million in Kraken parent Payward; Latitude’s $35 million Series A ranked second. The total includes Nasdaq’s…

Payward plans monitoring across five market types, but legal classification still controls U.S. access and investor protections.

The expanded Payward relationship adds surveillance across five market categories while NETs remain a Q2 2027 target.

Nasdaq Ventures has agreed to invest $100 million in Kraken parent Payward as the companies deepen a partnership designed to move traditional stocks onto blockchain networks and build markets that can operate beyond conventional trading hours. The investment, announced Sept. 10, adds financial backing to a relationship Nasdaq and Payward established in March. Bloomberg, citing […]

Nasdaq has agreed to invest $100 million in Kraken parent Payward as the two companies expand their work on tokenized equities, market surveillance and blockchain-based settlement infrastructure. Nasdaq said Thursday that its strategic investment arm, Nasdaq Ventures, had agreed to…

Nasdaq Ventures agreed to put $100 million into Kraken's parent company, at a $21 billion valuation according to Bloomberg, and Payward will adopt Nasdaq's surveillance technology across its trading venues.

Kraken will also adopt Nasdaq’s market surveillance technology across its trading venues.

Nasdaq Ventures agreed to invest $100 million in Kraken parent Payward, expanding their tokenized equity infrastructure partnership.

Nasdaq invested $100 million in Payward as part of its push toward tokenized stock products with round-the-clock trading.