Kraken has secured a significant regulatory approval, obtaining a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license in the European Union.
This approval was facilitated by its acquisition of a Cypriot Investment Firm, which had already received the green light from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
The MiFID license paves the way for Kraken to offer regulated cryptocurrency derivatives products to experienced traders in select EU markets. This move is part of Kraken’s broader strategy to enhance its presence across Europe, a key region for crypto derivatives trading.
With this new license, Kraken can now expand its offerings to include fully compliant derivatives products, ensuring they meet all relevant EU financial regulations. However, before fully launching these services, Kraken will adhere to additional regulatory conditions, gradually rolling out its derivatives products to ensure full compliance.
Kraken’s acquisition of Crypto Facilities, a UK-based crypto futures platform, previously bolstered its position in the UK’s derivatives market. With the MiFID license, Kraken is now poised to expand its regulated services throughout more of Europe, catering to advanced traders with a wide range of digital asset derivatives. These products will provide an effective means for traders to manage their risks with the ability to use various collateral currencies.
The growing European crypto derivatives market, driven by institutional and advanced investors, presents a promising opportunity for Kraken. This expansion reflects the increasing demand for secure and regulated crypto trading solutions, aligning with Kraken’s long-term objectives in the European market.
Bank of America is actively developing a stablecoin offering, CEO Brian Moynihan revealed during a post-earnings conference call on Wednesday.
PayPal has expanded its stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), to the Arbitrum network, marking a key step in its strategy to integrate with faster, more cost-efficient blockchain infrastructure.
Citigroup is evaluating the potential launch of its own U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, signaling a growing shift in sentiment among traditional financial institutions toward digital assets.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon remains skeptical of stablecoins—but says ignoring them isn’t an option for the world’s most powerful bank.