Kraken Launches U.S. Stock and ETF Trading Services on April 14

On April 14, 2025, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced the official launch of U.S.-listed stock and ETF trading services, marking its first expansion beyond the crypto market. This strategic move aims to integrate cryptocurrency with traditional asset trading by offering conventional financial products. According to the official statement, Kraken now provides commission-free trading for over 11,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs to customers in select U.S. regions, with plans to gradually roll out the service across the entire U.S. and international markets.

Kraken's new service initially launched in 10 states, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Idaho, Iowa, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Alabama, and Washington D.C., covering more than 11,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, all with zero trading commissions. Kraken stated that this is only the first phase, with subsequent phased rollouts planned to extend the service to all eligible customers across the U.S.

A key feature of Kraken's offering is its seamless Reinvest functionality, which allows users to immediately reinvest proceeds from a sale into other stocks or cryptocurrencies. Additionally, users can manage stocks, cryptocurrencies, cash, and stablecoins within a single account via the Kraken mobile app, Kraken Pro app, or Kraken Pro web platform, enabling a unified trading experience across multiple asset classes.

Notably, Kraken also offers fractional trading for select assets, allowing users to purchase less than a full share of high-priced stocks, thereby lowering the investment threshold and enhancing market accessibility.

This service is supported by Kraken's subsidiary, Kraken Securities LLC, which is registered with and regulated by the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Kraken's ambitions extend beyond the U.S. market. The company plans to expand its stock and ETF trading services to key international markets, including the U.K., Europe, and Australia, to meet global demand for a 24/7 trading platform. Kraken's Co-CEO, Arjun Sethi, stated in official announcement, "Expanding into equities is a natural step for us, and paves the way for the tokenization of assets. The future of trading is borderless, always on, and built on crypto rails—and Kraken will continue to lead this shift."

Kraken's entry into stock and ETF trading is not a sudden move. According to Boomberg, as early as 2023, Kraken had disclosed plans to explore stock and ETF trading services and secured necessary regulatory approvals in the U.S. and U.K. through Kraken Securities. In March 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped enforcement actions against major crypto firms, including Kraken, creating a more favorable regulatory environment for its expansion. Furthermore, Kraken recently acquired NinjaTrader, a CFTC-registered U.S. retail futures trading platform, for $1.5 billion—an acquisition touted as the largest-ever deal bridging crypto and traditional finance (TradFi)—signaling Kraken's pivot toward the U.S. stock market.

Kraken’s new service positions it in direct competition with traditional finance players like Robinhood and Webull, while leveraging its existing crypto user base to attract more traditional investors. The commission-free stock trading service not only meets user demand for a one-stop trading platform but also enhances Kraken’s appeal ahead of its potential initial public offering (IPO). Report from Bloomberg indicates that Kraken is planning to go public as early as the first quarter of 2026.