Kraken Unleashes xStocks: American Tokenized Stocks Storm European Markets

Wall Street meets the blockchain—no passport required. Kraken just dropped a regulatory grenade in Europe's financial playground with its new xStocks offering.

The 24/7 Trading Revolution

Forget waiting for the NYSE bell. Tokenization smashes traditional market hours, letting you trade slices of Apple or Tesla alongside your Bitcoin—all from a single crypto exchange interface. It's a direct challenge to the old guard's nine-to-five mentality.

Bypassing the Traditional Gatekeepers

This move cuts out layers of intermediaries. No need for a separate brokerage account, complex international access agreements, or dealing with forex spreads. Kraken's platform becomes a one-stop-shop, merging crypto volatility with blue-chip familiarity. A neat trick for pulling capital from traditional finance into the digital asset ecosystem—almost makes you wonder what those hefty wealth management fees were for.

The Global Liquidity Play

By bringing tokenized U.S. equities to Europe, Kraken isn't just adding a new product line. It's weaving a global, interoperable financial fabric. Liquidity pools deepen. Arbitrage opportunities shift. The very concept of a 'local' market starts to blur.

It's a bold step toward a fused financial future, proving that the biggest disruption in finance might not be a new asset, but a new way to hold everything you already own. Whether legacy institutions adapt or atrophy is now their problem to solve.

In Brief

• Kraken launches xStocks, tokenized US stocks and ETFs accessible to Europeans.
• Extended trading, investment from 1€, and dividends automatically reinvested.
• On-chain assets usable in DeFi within a structured regulatory framework.

What are xStocks? Definition and Operation

are tokenized representations of American stocks and ETFs listed on the stock exchange. Developed in partnership with the Swiss fintech, these innovative financial instruments are issued as. Each xStock is backed by a real stock according to a strict 1:1 ratio, with the underlying securities held by licensed custodians under Swiss regulatory supervision.

Concretely, when an investor buys an AAPLx (xStock Apple), Backed Finance holds a genuine Apple share in custody. This architecture ensures that the token supply remains perfectly aligned with the real assets held. Prices are updated in real time viadata feeds, ensuring a faithful match with Wall Street prices.

Kraken currently offers: 55 individual stocks including tech giants such as Apple (AAPLx), Tesla (TSLAx), Nvidia (NVDAx), Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, as well as 5 ETFs including the famous SPDR S&P 500 (SPYx). The full list can be viewed at xstocks.fi/products.

Concrete Benefits for European Investors

Extended Trading and Financial Accessibility

The main strength of xStocks lies in their, far beyond traditional Wall Street hours limited to about 6.5 hours daily. For investors storing tokens in a personal wallet compatible with Solana, trading is even possible 24/7 via DeFi protocols such as Jupiter or Raydium.

Fractional investing is another notable advantage: it is possible to acquire xStocks, without the obligation to buy a whole share. This democratization allows small investors to access securities whose unit price may exceed several hundred dollars. Moreover, there are no trading fees when buying in USD or USDG on Kraken.

Dividends and DeFi Integration

Dividends generated by the underlying stocks arein the corresponding asset. Instead of receiving a cash payout, the investor’s token balance proportionally increases via a multiplier system managed by Backed Finance. This mechanism simplifies management and promotes compound growth.

The on-chain nature of xStocks also opens unprecedented possibilities: use as collateral on lending protocols like(the first major DeFi protocol to accept tokenized stocks), providing liquidity on AMM pools, or instant transfers between platforms without intermediaries.

Eligibility and Regulatory Framework

xStocks are accessible to residents of theafter completing a suitability questionnaire. However, they arein the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Belgium.

Purchases are madeon Kraken. Tokens are issued by Backed Assets (JE) Limited, an entity based in Jersey, and distributed via Payward Digital Solutions Ltd under a Bermuda Monetary Authority license. This structure aims to ensure compliance with European regulations, notably MiFID II.

How to Buy xStocks on Kraken?

To access xStocks, eligible users must first complete identity verification (KYC) on Kraken, then complete a suitability questionnaire. Once validated, purchases are made directly from the Kraken Pro app or website, in EUR or USD. Tokens can then be kept on the platform or withdrawn to a Solana wallet (Phantom, Solflare) or compatible ethereum wallet for full self-custody.

In Summary: Key Takeaways

60 tokenized US stocks and ETFs (Apple, Tesla, NVIDIA, S&P 500…)

• 24/5 trading on Kraken, 24/7 on DeFi
• Investment from 1€, no fees in USD/USDG
• Dividends automatically reinvested
• No voting rights or legal ownership of the stock
• Available in the EEA (excluding USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium)

Trading derivatives involves risks and is not suitable for all investors. You could lose more than your initial investment. Please consult our risk disclosure page at eu.kraken.com. Derivative products are provided by Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Limited, regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), license no. 342/17.

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