Headline Kraken lists ACU token linked to smartphone-powered compute network

Kraken has made ACU available for trading from 20 January, adding the token to its platform as interest grows in decentralised alternatives to traditional cloud computing.

In a statement, Kraken said funding and trading for ACU went live on 20 January. Users can add the asset by navigating to the Funding section of their account, selecting ACU and choosing Deposit. The exchange cautioned that deposits sent via unsupported blockchain networks will be lost, a standard warning in crypto markets where assets can be irretrievable if transferred incorrectly.

ACU is the native token of Acurast, a decentralised compute network designed to provide secure and scalable computing power using smartphones rather than large data centres. According to the statement, Acurast relies on features already built into modern phones, including Trusted Execution Environments and hardware security modules. For a lay reader, these are secure areas within a device’s hardware that isolate sensitive code and data from the rest of the system, helping to protect against tampering or unauthorised access.

Instead of renting capacity from centralised cloud providers, Acurast allows individuals to onboard their phones as compute providers. In simple terms, spare processing power on a device can be contributed to the network and used to run tasks. Users who make their phones available can earn rewards, while developers can tap into this distributed pool of compute for specific workloads.

Kraken said developers can use the network for applications such as confidential artificial intelligence execution, web scraping, blockchain indexing, data feeds known as oracles, decentralised virtual private network services and on-chain automation. Many of these tasks require computation that is verifiable and resistant to interference, which decentralised networks aim to provide by spreading work across many independent devices rather than relying on a single operator.

The ACU token is used to power the Acurast ecosystem through a mechanism known as Staked Compute. In practice, this means tokens are committed, or staked, to secure access to computing resources and to align incentives between those providing compute and those using it.

Related reading

• Kraken opens trading in FUN token
• Kraken lists OMI for trading
• Bitcoin leads crypto markets into 2026 as liquidity shifts and onchain activity accelerates

Kraken said trading through the Kraken App and its Instant Buy feature will become available once sufficient liquidity conditions are met, and that geographic restrictions may apply depending on local regulations. The exchange added that it does not disclose potential future listings until shortly before launch, and that all available tokens and its listings roadmap are published on its website.

The listing highlights growing experimentation with decentralised infrastructure models, where everyday devices are repurposed to provide services traditionally delivered by large technology platforms. For investors, the ACU listing offers exposure to that concept, while Kraken continues to broaden the range of tokens available on its exchange.

The Recap

• Kraken has opened trading for the ACU token.
• Trading for ACU went live on 20 January.
• App trading and Instant Buy pending sufficient liquidity conditions.