Kraken and Deutsche Börse strike partnership to link traditional finance with digital assets

Kraken and Deutsche Börse Group have formed a strategic partnership aimed at giving institutional investors seamless access to crypto markets alongside traditional financial infrastructure, the companies said in a joint statement.

The collaboration is designed to integrate trading, custody, settlement, collateral management and tokenised assets across both firms’ systems.

In its first phase, Kraken will connect directly to 360T, Deutsche Börse’s foreign-exchange trading platform, allowing Kraken clients to tap bank-grade FX liquidity and use more efficient fiat on- and off-ramps.

The companies also plan to use Kraken Embed to build white-label crypto trading and custody services for banks, fintechs and other financial institutions in Europe and the US.

Deutsche Börse clients will be able to trade cryptocurrencies and derivatives via Crypto Finance and Kraken while using Clearstream and Crypto Finance for custody.

Subject to regulatory approval, Eurex-listed derivatives are expected to become tradable on Kraken, expanding institutional access to Europe’s largest regulated futures and options market.

The partners will also work to integrate xStocks into Deutsche Börse’s 360X ecosystem and to distribute securities held at Clearstream in tokenised form to Kraken’s clients.

“Our partnership with Deutsche Börse Group demonstrates what happens when two infrastructures designed for scale and trust intersect,” Kraken co-chief executive Arjun Sethi said. Deutsche Börse chief executive Stephan Leithner described the deal as “a great strategic fit for Deutsche Börse Group.”

The agreement creates a two-way institutional bridge between the US and Europe. Kraken will offer its US capabilities to Deutsche Börse’s clients seeking exposure to crypto and tokenized assets, while Deutsche Börse will provide its European infrastructure and services to Kraken’s global client base.

The recap

• Kraken and Deutsche Börse Group launch strategic partnership for institutional access.
• Initial phase links Kraken to 360T for bank-grade FX liquidity.
• Plan includes Eurex derivatives on Kraken, tokenised Clearstream securities distribution.