Kraken and Deutsche Börse Aim to Bridge on Finance and Crypto

Kraken and Deutsche Börse Group, a big global stock exchange, have announced a strategic partnership. The goal of this collaboration is to connect traditional finance with crypto platforms. This is set to make it easier for large investors to access both markets.

A New Two-Way Bridge Between Traditional Finance and Crypto

As announced, this partnership covers a broad set of services. This includes crypto trading, custody, settlement, derivatives, and tokenized assets. Starting immediately, the two companies will collaborate on product development and infrastructure. This partnership aims to help clients transition smoothly between traditional and digital markets. 

Kraken will offer its U.S. trading and custody services to Deutsche Börse clients who want exposure to crypto and tokenized assets. Meanwhile, the German multinational investment company earlier shared plans to start its own crypto custody service in 2026. 

In return, Deutsche Börse will provide its European infrastructure to Kraken’s global institutional clients. This creates a two-way bridge between traditional finance and crypto.

Kraken and Deutsche Börse Begin with a Major FX Integration

Kraken, founded in 2011, is one of the oldest and biggest crypto platforms in the world. Deutsche Börse, based in Frankfurt, runs major financial systems like Eurex, Clearstream, and 360T.  

Together, the two companies want to build a strong and simple bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. In the blog post, Kraken revealed that the first phase of the partnership focuses on foreign-exchange (FX) markets. 

The exchange will integrate with 360T, a Deutsche Börse subsidiary and one of the world’s largest FX trading platforms. 

This will give Kraken clients access to bank-level FX liquidity and improve the efficiency of moving money in and out of crypto. The companies also plan to expand institutional services using Kraken Embed, Kraken’s white-label infrastructure. 

Banks, fintechs, and other financial companies in the Deutsche Börse network will be able to offer regulated crypto trading and custody services. This access will cover clients in both Europe and the U.S.

After regulatory approval, Kraken clients could also trade Eurex-listed derivatives, Europe’s largest regulated futures and options market.

Kraken-Deutsche Also Focus on Tokenization and Digital Assets

Deutsche Börse clients will also be able to trade crypto assets and derivatives through both Crypto Finance, its regulated digital asset branch, and Kraken. Custody services will use Clearstream and Crypto Finance systems. 

Kraken’s tokenized equity format, xStocks, launched with  Backed Finance, will also be integrated into Deutsche Börse’s 360X platform. The partnership will enable tokenized versions of Clearstream-custodied securities for Kraken clients. 

This move further links traditional financial products with digital assets. This partnership is part of Kraken’s broader institutional plans in 2025. The exchange recently bought Backed Finance and quietly filed for a U.S. IPO worth nearly $20 billion. It also moved into consumer finance with Krak, a debit card and savings product.