# Kraken

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/kraken

- Industry: Financial Services
- Headquarters: Cheyenne, US
- Website: www.kraken.com
- Total disclosed funding: $120M
- Latest round: Series E (Sep 10, 2026)
- Investors on record: 20

## About

Based in the US, Payward, Inc., trading under the name Kraken is a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform that facilitates the buying, selling, and trading of digital assets, offering advanced trading services and access to a wide array of cryptocurrencies. 

Based in San Francisco, US, founded in 2011, by co-founders Jesse Powell and Thanh Luu and Co-CEO Arjun Sethi and Dave Ripley, operates as a global cryptocurrency exchange, enabling trading of digital assets, fiat currencies, futures, and staking, with strong focus on security and regulation. In September 2026, Kraken raised USD 100 million in series E funding from new investor Nasdaq Ventures.

Kraken is a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform that provides a comprehensive suite of services for buying, selling, and trading digital assets. The core product offerings include the ability to trade over 484 cryptocurrencies, engage in margin trading with up to 5x leverage, and access advanced trading tools via the Kraken Pro platform. Additionally, Kraken allows clients to invest in conventional assets such as stocks and ETFs, expanding its financial service offerings. These services are designed to cater to a diverse clientele, including individual retail investors, institutional traders, and wholesale partners. Kraken operates in various international markets, supporting clients in over 190 countries, with a significant presence in the United States and Europe. 

Kraken generates revenue primarily through transaction fees associated with trading activities on its platform. Clients engage in transactions that may involve the buying, selling, or trading of cryptocurrencies and traditional assets, incurring fees based on the volume and type of trade executed. The exchange’s fee structure is tiered, adjusting based on trading volumes, thus incentivizing higher transaction volumes. Additionally, Kraken offers premium services such as margin trading and staking, which can incur separate fees. The company’s robust trading ecosystem leverages partnerships with various financial institutions, ensuring a comprehensive environment for both retail and institutional clients to transact effectively. 

The company will use the September 2026 funding to develop its financial infrastructure for tokenized equities and support expansion plans initiatives.

## Funding rounds

- Series E, Sep 10, 2026, $100M — Nasdaq Ventures
- Series D, Jun 1, 2021 — General Atlantic, Fidelity Investments, Electric Capital, Tribe Capital, Venture Garage, Paradigm, The 6ixth Event, Socially Financed, Soul Ventures, Dedicated VC, BLN Capital, Ahimsa VC
- Series C, Jul 31, 2019, $6.8M — Hummingbird Ventures, SBI Investment, Digital Currency Group
- Series B, Feb 1, 2016, $6.8M — Hummingbird Ventures, SBI Investment, Digital Currency Group, Money Partners Group Co., Ltd.
- Series A, Jan 22, 2014, $5M — Hummingbird Ventures, Digital Currency Group, Blockchain Capital, Trammell Venture Partners
- Seed, Jun 1, 2011, $1.5M — Hummingbird Ventures, G1 Venture Capital

## Investors

- Hummingbird Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/hummingbird-ventures) — Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
- G1 Venture Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/g1-venture-capital) — Seed
- Digital Currency Group (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/digital-currency-group) — Series A, Series B, Series C
- Blockchain Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/blockchain-capital) — Series A
- Trammell Venture Partners (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/trammell-venture-partners) — Series A
- SBI Investment (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/sbi-investment) — Series B, Series C
- Money Partners Group Co., Ltd. — Series B
- General Atlantic (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/general-atlantic) — Series D
- Fidelity Investments (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/fidelity-investments) — Series D
- Electric Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/electric-capital) — Series D
- Tribe Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/tribe-capital) — Series D
- Venture Garage (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/venture-garage) — Series D
- Paradigm (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/paradigm) — Series D
- The 6ixth Event (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/the-6ixth-event) — Series D
- Socially Financed — Series D
- Soul Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/soul-ventures) — Series D
- Dedicated VC (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/dedicated-vc) — Series D
- BLN Capital — Series D
- Ahimsa VC (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/ahimsa-vc) — Series D
- Nasdaq Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/nasdaq-ventures) — Series E