TL;DR
- Payward Services is a B2B infrastructure platform built on Kraken's 15-year operating history, offering companies a single integration for stablecoin payments, tokenized asset markets, digital asset trading, staking, lending and global fiat and crypto funding rails.
- Unlike fragmented multi-vendor approaches, Payward Services provides unified crypto infrastructure with coordinated liquidity, custody, compliance, risk management and settlement capabilities, reducing operational complexity for fintechs, banks, brokerages, payment providers and global platforms.
- Payward Services represents Kraken's entry into the enterprise crypto infrastructure market, enabling partners to build and scale always-on financial products including perpetuals, futures, prediction markets, tokenized equities and stablecoin-based payment rails as part of the broader shift toward programmable capital and continuous markets.
A new phase for global finance
Global finance is entering a new phase. Markets are moving toward real-time settlement. Stablecoins are enabling borderless value transfer, accelerating global money movement. Assets are increasingly being tokenized, and capital markets are expanding to include natively digital instruments.
One integration. Every capability.
Payward Services is a new infrastructure platform that enables companies to seamlessly integrate trading, payments, funding and digital asset services through a single unified system.
Delivering stablecoin payments, tokenized asset markets and always-on financial products requires far more than adding a crypto trading function to an application. It calls for tightly coordinated liquidity, custody, payments, compliance, risk management and funding capabilities that function cohesively in real market conditions.
Why fragmented infrastructure falls short
Many firms attempt to assemble these components through multiple vendors spanning banking, execution, settlement and compliance providers. Over time, this fragmented model can complicate oversight, duplicate controls, trap capital across siloed systems and steadily increase the operational burden as a company scales.
We built Payward Services to offer a different approach.
Infrastructure refined over 15 years
Today, a growing number of companies already rely on Payward's infrastructure to power elements of their digital asset products and financial services. Payward Services makes the infrastructure that has powered Kraken since 2011 available through a unified B2B platform, enabling partners to build directly on systems that have been developed and refined through years of operating experience.
Through a single integration, partners can access:
- Stablecoin-based payment and funding rails for real-time borderless settlement
- Digital and tokenized asset markets, including perps, futures and prediction markets
- Staking, lending and yield programs
- Global fiat and crypto funding capabilities, including on- and off-ramps
These capabilities represent the foundation of the Payward Services platform, which will continue to expand as new infrastructure and financial services are introduced over time.
Rather than coordinating disconnected counterparties and overlapping technology stacks, partners integrate into infrastructure refined across 15 years of operating history. Execution, custody, funding rails, risk engines and compliance frameworks are architected to work in concert, reducing integration friction, limiting redundancy and simplifying ongoing operations.
These capabilities already exist within Payward's technology stack. Payward Services organizes them into modular infrastructure and services that companies can integrate, deploy and scale as part of their own financial products and strategies.
The operational advantage
The benefits are tangible. Capital moves more fluidly between trading, custody and payments. Funding cycles compress. Reconciliation points decline. Risk management applies consistently across the asset lifecycle. Financial workflows (from settlement to compliance checks) are automated at the system level, reducing manual intervention and strengthening control environments.
The result is a resilient, capital-efficient foundation that supports growth without compounding operational complexity.
Designed for fintechs, banks, brokerages, payment providers, marketplaces and global platforms, Payward Services delivers tokenized financial capabilities as structured, scalable infrastructure with clear accountability and operational transparency.
This is not simply about introducing digital asset features. It reflects a broader shift toward programmable capital, continuous markets and globally accessible liquidity. Payward Services provides the infrastructure companies need to build, launch and scale financial products in the new economy.
Geographic restrictions apply
Custody services are provided by Payward Financial, Inc. or Payward Europe Solutions, Ltd, as applicable. Payward Financial, Inc. d/b/a Kraken Financial is not an FDIC-insured bank and deposits are neither insured by nor subject to the protections of the FDIC. Payward Europe Solutions Limited, trading as Kraken, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Trading derivatives and other financial instruments, including leveraged financial instruments, involves significant risks and is not appropriate for all investors. See our Risk Disclosure to learn more.
OTC Lending services are offered by Payward Oceanic Ltd. to eligible clients only and are subject to applicable terms and conditions. OTC Lending involves risk, including the risk of loss of collateral or capital. Availability of services may vary by jurisdiction.
xStocks are issued by Backed Assets (JE) Limited (a Jersey private limited company) and offered to eligible Kraken customers via Payward Digital Solutions Ltd. (“PDSL”), a company licensed to conduct digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. xStocks are not nor will be registered with any local securities regulators. PDSL (Kraken) does not provide investment advice and/or recommendations, and, no communication, through any Kraken App or website or otherwise, should be construed as such. Individual investors should make their own decisions or seek professional independent advice if they are unsure as to the suitability/appropriateness of any investment for their circumstances or needs, including potential tax.
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