Kraken adds 7,000 U.S. stocks for EEA clients, joining rivals in blurring crypto-traditional finance lines. The move pressures platforms like Interactive Brokers as super-app model gains traction.
Kraken began offering direct trading in more than 7,000 U.S.-listed stocks to customers in the European Economic Area. The expansion puts the crypto exchange in closer competition with Interactive Brokers, eToro and other platforms that already serve retail equity traders in Europe.
The move adds to Kraken's existing tokenized stock products in the region, making it the only crypto-native exchange to offer both traditional equities and tokenized versions of selected shares, the company said. Users can now hold conventional stocks alongside crypto and tokenized assets without switching services.
Other crypto platforms are pursuing similar strategies. Crypto.com and Robinhood offer tokenized stocks in Europe, and Bitpanda provides access to traditional U.S. equities. Coinbase received U.K. regulatory authorization to offer traditional investments alongside crypto and already provides U.S. customers with stock and ETF trading.
Kraken executives said the single-platform approach removes barriers between the two financial systems. Customers can choose their preferred form of exposure without moving capital between accounts, the company said.
OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos said financial platforms increasingly need to offer choices spanning crypto, tokenized stocks and traditional equities. Coinbase U.K. CEO Keith Grose pointed to changing consumer behavior, with investors preferring fewer platforms for managing their finances.
The expansion comes as traditional stock exchanges explore longer trading hours and blockchain-based settlement, while crypto exchanges push beyond digital assets. Interactive Brokers, which carries an Alpha Score of 72, now faces a new competitor in the European equities space.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.