Nasdaq partners with Kraken for tokenised stocks

Nasdaq will partner with crypto firm Kraken to offer tokenised stocks, expanding the exchange’s offering to include 24/7 blockchain trading.

The deal would make Kraken a Nasdaq distribution partner, creating one-to-one tokenised versions of stocks available for trade, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The framework is expected to launch in early 2027 but still requires SEC approval.

The exchange said its work on tokenised stocks will focus on corporate governance, and ways to streamline proxy voting or corporate actions such as dividend payments.

Posting on LinkedIn, Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi said: “Our partnership, at Payward, Kraken with Nasdaq combines their leadership in regulated markets with our digital asset infrastructure to help build the liquidity layer and risk engine needed for a global, continuous and capital efficient financial system.”

The move follows Nasdaq’s work with US regulators in September 2025 to introduce the trading of tokenised securities.

Last week, Kraken became the first digital asset bank in US history to gain direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure.