Kraken to Offer Tokenized U.S. Stocks on Solana Blockchain, Eyes Global Clients
Crypto exchange Kraken plans to offer tokenized versions of popular U.S. equities. According to the exchange's announcement, Kraken will list a new suite of tokenized equities called xStocks in partnership with Backed Finance. The assets will reportedly be live on the Solana blockchain and represent actual shares held 1:1 by Backed. Clients in selected non-U.S. jurisdictions will reportedly be able to trade more than 50 U.S. stocks and ETFs, including Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), outside traditional market hours.Blockchain Brings Round-the-Clock Stock AccessThe launch positions Kraken as the first exchange to successfully list tokenized U.S. equities since Binance's short-lived effort in 2021. Unlike earlier iterations, Kraken’s approach relies on real securities held in custody and tokenized on a fast, low-cost blockchain.According to the exchange, the xStocks tokens are issued as SPL tokens on Solana, meaning they are compatible with wallets and protocols on the network. This integration also allows users to leverage their tokenized stocks in decentralized finance (DeFi) environments, including as collateral.Kraken aims to fix that with open, borderless trading.Kraken’s tokenized equities initiative builds on its broader push into traditional finance. Earlier this year, it launched equities trading for U.S. clients, offering over 11,000 stocks and ETFs directly through its app. Now, Kraken is targeting global access via tokenization. Unlike traditional brokerage accounts, xStocks can be traded 24/7 and potentially used in decentralized applications, a combination that traditional finance currently cannot match.Tokenization, once a fringe concept, is emerging as a practical tool to increase market access and improve liquidity. Expansion to the U.K., Europe, and Australia is expected soon.