Deutsche Boerse Takes $200 Million Stake in Crypto Platform Kraken

By Adria Calatayud

Deutsche Boerse said it is investing $200 million in Payward, taking a stake in the company behind U.S. cryptocurrency platform Kraken to deepen a partnership between the two groups.

The German stock-exchange operator said Tuesday that it would get a 1.5% stake in Payward as a result of the transaction in exchange for its investment, which is being made through an acquisition of existing shares from another investor.

Deutsche Boerse said the move highlights its commitment to its digital-asset strategy. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, it added.

The investment builds on the existing relationship between Deutsche Boerse and Kraken, which teamed up in December last year, that aimed to bridge traditional financial markets and the digital asset economy.

Traditional exchange operators have sought to increase their exposure to digital assets. Kraken, meanwhile, last month became the first crypto firm to gain access to the Federal Reserve's core payment systems, in a move that allowed it to become more integrated into the mainstream financial system.

Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 14, 2026 07:26 ET (11:26 GMT)