Key facts
- Nasdaq's venture arm is investing $100 million in Payward, the parent company of Kraken.
- The investment values Payward at $21 billion.
- The partnership aims to build infrastructure for trading tokenized equities.
- Nasdaq Equity Tokens are expected in the second quarter of 2027.
Nasdaq's venture capital arm is injecting $100 million into Payward, the parent company of the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. This strategic investment, which values Payward at $21 billion, is intended to foster the development of infrastructure for trading tokenized equities. The collaboration is expected to lead to the launch of Nasdaq Equity Tokens in the second quarter of 2027, signaling a move towards integrating traditional financial assets with blockchain technology.