News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
Kraken Set to Launch CFTC-Regulated Bitcoin Perpetual Futures
Kraken plans to offer CFTC-regulated Bitcoin perpetual futures in the US within 30 days, bringing regulated crypto derivatives onshore. Kraken is moving fast. The cryptocurrency exchange announced plans to launch CFTC-regulated perpetual futures contracts in the United States within 30 days. Eligible US clients will access these contracts directly on Kraken Pro. The product will sit alongside spot, margin, and CME-listed futures on a single interface. This marks a significant shift in how American traders engage with crypto derivatives. Read also: Kraken Parent Attracts $200M Investment From European Exchange Giant What Kraken's Perpetual Futures Mean for US Crypto Traders Perpetual contracts are derivatives that offer continuous exposure to an underlying asset. Unlike traditional futures, they carry no expiration date. Traders can hold positions without rolling them over. That flexibility makes perpetuals the most actively traded derivatives in digital asset markets globally. Annual trading volume for perpetuals surpassed $60 trillion in 2025. Until now, US traders had few regulated options to access them domestically. Most activity happened offshore. Kraken's launch aims to bring that activity into a regulated, onshore framework for the first time. John Palmer, Global Head of Derivatives at Kraken, addressed the significance of the move. He stated that US traders have been waiting for a regulated, domestic way to trade the product that defines global crypto derivatives markets. He added that perpetuals, spot, margin, and CME-listed futures will now sit on one interface, changing how US clients build and manage crypto positions. Eligible clients will trade a range of major digital assets. The list includes BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC, and AVAX. Kraken also indicated plans to expand contract offerings and collateral options over time. How the Contracts Are Structured and Where They Will List The contracts will list on Bitnomial Exchange, LLC, a CFTC Designated Contract Market. Bitnomial was recently acquired by Payward, Kraken's parent company. Kraken filed the contract details under Commission Regulation 40.3. The contracts feature continuous pricing, no expiration, and an eight-hour funding rate. This structure matches the conventional format used globally for crypto perpetuals. They will share a futures wallet with Kraken's existing CME-listed contracts. That setup lets traders manage both CME futures and perpetuals side by side without switching platforms. Perpetuals on Kraken Pro are offered through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC, doing business as Kraken Derivatives US. That entity holds registration as a CFTC Futures Commission Merchant. Spot margin and perpetual futures operate on and under the rules of Bitnomial Exchange, LLC. This announcement follows a string of US-focused product rollouts from Kraken. In July 2025, the exchange launched support for CME-listed crypto futures alongside spot markets. Earlier in May 2026, it introduced CFTC-regulated spot margin trading for eligible US clients. CFTC's Regulatory Shift Opened the Door for US Perpetuals Kraken's move did not happen in isolation. It follows a notable regulatory development that cleared the path for products of this nature. The CFTC recently approved a Bitcoin perpetual futures contract submitted by KalshiEX, LLC. That contract, known as BTCPERP, became the first regulated Bitcoin perpetual futures contract on a US exchange. As reported by LiveBitcoinNews, Kalshi submitted the BTCPERP contract on May 28, 2026, under Commission Regulation 40.3. The CFTC issued its Order for Approval the following day. The contract tracks Bitcoin's spot price without an expiration date. CFTC Approves First Regulated Bitcoin Perpetuals on Kalshi Traders can hold leveraged positions and settle funding rates periodically. The CFTC confirmed the contract complies with the Commodity Exchange Act and applicable commission regulations. That approval signaled a broader shift in the US regulatory environment for crypto derivatives. Kraken's 30-day timeline shows how quickly market participants moved to act on the opening. The exchange's filing puts it in a position to deliver the second major CFTC-regulated perpetuals product to US traders, building on the precedent Kalshi helped establish.
Kraken Set to Launch First CFTC-Regulated Perpetual Futures for US Traders
Perpetuals trade alongside spot, margin and CME-listed futures on Kraken Pro, giving US traders a unified view of crypto derivatives in one interface. CHEYENNE, Wyo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kraken, one of the world's longest-standing, most liquid and secure cryptocurrency platforms, has set out plans to launch the first CFTC-regulated perpetual futures in the US in the next 30 days. Eligible US clients will be able to trade perpetual futures on Kraken Pro, giving them domestic access to the contract that drives most global crypto derivatives volume, integrated alongside spot, margin and CME-listed futures on a single interface. Perpetual contracts are derivatives that provide continuous exposure to an underlying asset without an expiration date, eliminating the need to roll positions. This enables clients to maintain uninterrupted market exposure with greater flexibility and operational efficiency than traditional futures contracts. Perpetuals are the most widely-traded derivatives in digital asset markets, with annual trading volume reaching over $60 trillion in 2025. Until now, US traders have had limited regulated options to access them, with most activity taking place offshore. Today's announcement sets in motion plans to bring that activity onshore through a CFTC-regulated venue. Per the filing submitted today, the contracts will be listed on Bitnomial, a CFTC-regulated exchange recently acquired by Kraken's parent company, Payward. They feature continuous pricing, no expiration and an eight-hour funding rate, matching the conventional structure for crypto perpetuals, within the same futures wallet as Kraken's existing CME-listed contracts so traders can manage CME futures and crypto perpetuals positions side by side. Eligible clients will be able to trade a suite of major digital assets, including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC and AVAX. Kraken intends to expand the contract set and product functionality, including broader collateral options, over time. "US traders have been waiting for a regulated, domestic way to trade the product that defines global crypto derivatives markets," said John Palmer, Global Head of Derivatives at Kraken. "We're giving them that access alongside the spot and futures markets they already use on Kraken Pro. Perpetuals, spot, margin and CME-listed futures now sit on one interface, and that changes how US clients build and manage crypto positions." Today's news follows a sequence of US product releases over the past year. In July 2025, Kraken launched support for CME-listed crypto futures alongside its spot markets. Earlier this month, it launched CFTC-regulated spot margin trading for eligible US traders. Perpetuals are offered on Kraken Pro through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC dba Kraken Derivatives US, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant. Kraken spot margin and perpetual futures are offered on and subject to the rules of Bitnomial Exchange, LLC, a CFTC Designated Contract Market (DCM). For more information, please visit https://www.kraken.com/features/futures. About Kraken Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world's longest-standing and most secure crypto platforms globally. Kraken clients trade more than 600 digital assets, traditional assets such as U.S. futures and U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and 6 different national currencies, including GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, CHF, and AUD. Trusted by millions of institutions, professional traders and consumers, Kraken is one of the fastest, most liquid and performant trading platforms available. Kraken's suite of products and services includes the Kraken App, Kraken Pro, the Krak App, Kraken Institutional, Kraken's onchain offerings and the Ninja Trader retail trading platform. Across these offerings, clients can buy, sell, stake, earn rewards, send and receive assets, custody holdings, and access advanced trading, derivatives, and portfolio management tools. Kraken has set the industry standard for transparency and client trust, and it was the first crypto platform to conduct Proof of Reserves. It complies with regulations and laws applicable to its business, while actively protecting client privacy and maintaining the highest security standards. For more information about Kraken, please visit www.kraken.com. Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for everyone. Losses may exceed the initial investment. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. View Risk Disclosure Statement. Brokerage services are provided by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC d/b/a Kraken Derivatives US, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and NFA Member (NFA ID: 0309379). View Disclosures.
Kraken set to launch first CFTC-regulated perpetual futures for US traders
Perpetuals trade alongside spot, margin and CME-listed futures on Kraken Pro, giving US traders a unified view of crypto derivatives in one interface. We're excited to announce plans to launch the first CFTC-regulated perpetual futures in the US in the next 30 days. Eligible US clients will be able to trade perpetual futures on Kraken Pro, giving them domestic access to the contract that drives most global crypto derivatives volume, integrated alongside spot, margin and CME-listed futures on a single interface. Perpetual contracts are derivatives that provide continuous exposure to an underlying asset without an expiration date, eliminating the need to roll positions. This enables clients to maintain uninterrupted market exposure with greater flexibility and operational efficiency than traditional futures contracts. Perpetuals are the most widely traded derivatives in digital asset markets, with annual trading volume reaching over $60 trillion in 2025. Until now, US traders have had limited regulated options to access them, with most activity taking place offshore. Today's announcement sets in motion plans to bring that activity onshore through a CFTC-regulated venue. Per the filing submitted today, the contracts will be listed on Bitnomial, a CFTC-regulated exchange recently acquired by Kraken's parent company, Payward. They feature continuous pricing, no expiration and an eight-hour funding rate, matching the conventional structure for crypto perpetuals, within the same futures wallet as Kraken's existing CME-listed contracts so traders can manage CME futures and crypto perpetuals positions side by side. Eligible clients will be able to trade a suite of major digital assets, including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC and AVAX. Kraken intends to expand the contract set and product functionality, including broader collateral options, over time. "US traders have been waiting for a regulated, domestic way to trade the product that defines global crypto derivatives markets," said John Palmer, Global Head of Derivatives at Kraken. "We're giving them that access alongside the spot and futures markets they already use on Kraken Pro. Perpetuals, spot, margin and CME-listed futures now sit on one interface, and that changes how US clients build and manage crypto positions." Today's news follows a sequence of US product releases over the past year. In July 2025, we launched support for CME-listed crypto futures alongside our spot markets. Earlier this month, we launched CFTC-regulated spot margin trading for eligible US traders. Perpetuals are offered on Kraken Pro through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC dba Kraken Derivatives US, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant. Kraken spot margin and perpetual futures are offered on and subject to the rules of Bitnomial Exchange, LLC, a CFTC Designated Contract Market (DCM). NinjaTrader Group, LLC and its affiliated entities provide brokerage, technology, and educational services. Brokerage services are offered through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC dba Kraken Derivatives US and Tradovate, a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA ID # 0309379). Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. This content is informational only and does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments. Please visit www.ninjatrader.com for additional information and disclosures. © 2026 NinjaTrader Group LLC. All rights reserved. NinjaTrader and the NinjaTrader logo are registered trademarks of the NinjaTrader Group, LLC. Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not for every investor. An investor could potentially lose all or more than the initial investment. Risk capital is money that can be lost without jeopardizing one's financial security or lifestyle. Only risk capital should be used for trading and only those with sufficient risk capital should consider trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Futures products and services on Kraken are provided by NinjaTrader Clearing LLC dba Kraken Derivatives US, a regulated Futures Commission Merchant that is a member of the National Futures Association ("NFA") (NFA ID 0309379) and registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"). You should be aware that the NFA does not have regulatory oversight over underlying or spot virtual currency products, transactions, exchanges, custodians or markets. Spot accounts are maintained by Payward Interactive Inc., which is not CFTC registered and is not a member of the NFA.
Analyst Links DWF Labs to ESPORTS Market Making After $13.9M Kraken Deposit
An on-chain analyst has reportedly linked DWF Labs to market making activity involving the ESPORTS token after a $13.9 million token deposit was directed to the Kraken exchange, raising questions about the firm's involvement with the gaming-focused cryptocurrency. The claim, attributed to an analyst tracking blockchain fund flows, connects DWF Labs to a large deposit of ESPORTS tokens on Kraken. The $13.9 million figure represents a significant transfer relative to the token's typical trading volume, drawing attention from traders monitoring exchange inflows for signals of upcoming liquidity shifts. It is important to note that the connection between DWF Labs and the deposit remains an analyst-sourced claim, not an officially confirmed arrangement. Neither DWF Labs nor Kraken has publicly commented on the alleged market making relationship as of press time. Large token deposits to centralized exchanges are closely watched by market participants because they can precede several different types of activity. Kraken listed ESPORTS for trading on its platform, providing the infrastructure for the token to be traded against major pairs. A deposit of this size to an exchange could indicate liquidity provisioning, where a market maker places inventory on an order book to tighten spreads and improve trading conditions. It could also signal preparation for large-scale selling, which would create downward price pressure. The distinction matters significantly for traders. Liquidity provisioning typically stabilizes price action by reducing slippage on both buy and sell orders. Directional selling, by contrast, can trigger cascading sell pressure, particularly in tokens with thinner order books, similar to dynamics observed when exchanges adjust leveraged trading pairs and liquidity shifts rapidly. Market making, at its core, involves continuously quoting buy and sell prices to facilitate trading. A designated market maker profits from the spread between bid and ask prices while providing liquidity that benefits other participants. When an analyst publicly links a well-known firm like DWF Labs to market making on a specific token, sentiment effects can be immediate. Traders often interpret the presence of a large market maker as a sign of institutional confidence in the token's near-term trading viability. However, the label "market making" can also mask other activities. Without transparency into the specific terms of any arrangement, market participants cannot distinguish between neutral liquidity provision and arrangements that may involve token sales on behalf of a project, a distinction that matters for understanding potential sell pressure. Platforms offering on-chain data query tools can help traders investigate such flows independently. Confirmation or refutation of the analyst's claim will depend on observable on-chain and exchange-level activity in the coming days. Traders tracking this situation should watch for several specific signals. First, wallet tracking tools can reveal whether the depositing address has historical ties to known DWF Labs wallets. Patterns of prior transactions, token approvals, and interactions with DWF-linked contracts would strengthen or weaken the analyst's attribution. Second, changes in ESPORTS order book depth on Kraken would indicate whether the deposited tokens are being used for two-sided market making or positioned for directional selling. A sudden increase in both bid and ask liquidity would suggest the former. Third, any official statement from DWF Labs or the ESPORTS project team would provide definitive clarity. In the absence of such confirmation, the connection remains speculative, and traders should weigh it accordingly. Programs that reward liquidity providers have become increasingly common across the industry, making market making arrangements more frequent but not always publicly disclosed. No. The link between DWF Labs and ESPORTS market making activity is based on an analyst's interpretation of on-chain data. Neither DWF Labs nor the ESPORTS project has issued a public statement confirming or denying the relationship. Large deposits to centralized exchanges like Kraken signal that tokens are being moved from private wallets to a venue where they can be traded. This can mean the depositor intends to sell, provide liquidity as a market maker, or facilitate other trading operations. The size of the deposit relative to normal trading volume determines how much attention it receives. Market making involves continuously placing buy and sell orders on an exchange to provide liquidity. Market makers profit from the spread between their bid and ask prices. In cryptocurrency markets, designated market makers often work with token projects to ensure sufficient liquidity on exchanges, reducing price slippage for retail traders. Additional source references: source document 1. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
Kraken Secures Dubai VARA License Ahead of Planned 2027 IPO - TokenPost
Crypto exchange Kraken, operated by parent company Payward, has secured regulatory approval from Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy. The approval allows Kraken to expand regulated crypto services in the United Arab Emirates through its locally licensed entity, strengthening its presence in the Middle East crypto market. With the VARA license, Kraken Prime will offer institutional and retail users access to services including instant trading, margin trading, OTC trading, staking products, and institutional-grade crypto solutions. UAE customers will also gain access to Kraken's global liquidity network spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. In addition, clients will be able to deposit and withdraw funds directly in UAE dirhams through the company's regulated Dubai subsidiary. Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi praised Dubai's progressive crypto regulations, noting that the emirate established a clear digital asset framework before many other jurisdictions recognized the industry. According to Sethi, operating under VARA provides stronger investor confidence by allowing Kraken to serve customers through a fully supervised local entity instead of relying on offshore operations. The Dubai expansion follows Kraken's recent rollout of regulated margin trading services in the United States. While UAE users currently have access to Kraken's Buy, Trade, and Earn products, including spot crypto trading and staking, the company plans to introduce additional offerings such as derivatives trading, crypto lending, and investment products for eligible clients in the future. The regulatory milestone comes as Payward reportedly postponed its anticipated U.S. IPO from 2026 to 2027. The company had already filed confidential paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Reports suggest Kraken is targeting a valuation of nearly $20 billion ahead of its public debut. The delay reportedly allows the exchange to focus on artificial intelligence integration and operational restructuring efforts, including recent workforce reductions. Kraken also recently partnered with Franklin Templeton to expand into tokenized securities, further positioning itself within the growing digital asset ecosystem.
Kraken nears UAE launch after Dubai VARA approval
Kraken has moved closer to launching in the United Arab Emirates after its parent company, Payward, received preliminary approval from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. Payward received preliminary approval for a broker-dealer, investment and management licence from VARA. The approval gives Kraken a path toward offering regulated crypto services in Dubai once the remaining requirements are completed. The approval was granted on Thursday, May 21, moving Kraken closer to a full UAE rollout. The exchange has not confirmed a launch date, but plans to offer UAE dirham funding, margin trading, OTC trading and Kraken Prime access for institutional clients. The planned launch would give UAE users direct crypto market access through local currency rails. AED funding and withdrawals could reduce friction for traders who currently rely on foreign currency routes or third-party payment channels. Kraken also plans to offer institutional clients access to Kraken Prime. The service targets funds, trading firms and professional market participants that need deeper liquidity, execution tools and post-trade support. Kraken's move follows earlier regional work. The exchange received approval in 2022 to operate under Abu Dhabi's financial free zone framework, making the latest Dubai approval part of a broader UAE strategy. Dubai's public VARA register includes licensed crypto firms across exchange, broker-dealer, custody and lending activities. VARA says it regulates virtual asset services in and from Dubai, except in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Payward and Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi framed Dubai's rulebook as a reason for the move. He said that regulatory clarity has helped bring liquidity and institutional capital to the UAE. "Dubai wrote a rulebook for crypto before most jurisdictions even acknowledged the asset class," he said. Related crypto.news coverage shows Dubai has continued to expand regulated crypto payments and market access. Crypto.com recently received a UAE Stored Value Facilities license, allowing Dubai government fee payments through its regulated platform, with settlement in dirhams or approved stablecoins. Another crypto.news report said VARA issued guidance on token issuance in Dubai. The guidance clarified how virtual assets should be structured, disclosed and distributed, including rules for stablecoins and asset-referenced tokens. Kraken has also been expanding outside the UAE. Related coverage said Payward agreed to acquire Hong Kong-based Reap Technologies for $600 million, strengthening Kraken's stablecoin payments and Asia strategy. The Dubai approval now gives Kraken another regulated growth path. The company is targeting local funding, professional trading tools and institutional access in one of the most active crypto markets in the Middle East.
