350% or 5BTC + 150 Spins!
New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 350% + 150 Free Spins
Kraken is reportedly finalizing a major acquisition, with plans to take over NinjaTrader, a U.S.-based retail futures trading platform, for $1.5 billion. If completed, this deal would mark one of the largest acquisitions in the cryptocurrency exchange sector.
Sources familiar with the transaction told The Wall Street Journal that an official announcement could come as early as March 20. This move would allow Kraken to expand its crypto derivatives and futures offerings in the United States by utilizing NinjaTrader’s Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) license.
NinjaTrader, established in 2003, has built a strong presence in the retail trading space, serving over 1.8 million investors. With this acquisition, Kraken not only gains access to this extensive user base but also strengthens its potential expansion into the UK, Europe, and Australia. The exchange’s existing regulatory approvals, including its Electronic Money Institution license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and its MiFID license in the EU, could help streamline this growth.
Financially, Kraken is well-positioned to back this acquisition. The company reported $1.5 billion in revenue for 2024, doubling its previous year’s earnings. According to its financial report released on January 31, Kraken holds $42.8 billion in assets, operates 2.5 million funded accounts, and recorded $665 billion in total trade volume last year.
This deal comes shortly after Kraken resolved a legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On March 3, the exchange announced that the SEC had dropped its lawsuit against it without imposing penalties or requiring an admission of wrongdoing. With this regulatory challenge behind it, Kraken is now in a stronger position to focus on expansion and new market opportunities. The company intends to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) in early 2026.