With a direct challenge to Robinhood, Crypto Exchange Kraken has launched commission-free stock trading as it stepped into traditional finance. Starting Monday, users in selected US states will be able to trade over 11,000 US listed stocks and ETFs. There are no fees. No ciphers are required.
“Today, we look forward to announcing the first rollout of fee-free transactions for over 11,000 US list stocks and ETFs.
The new stock trading feature is powered by Kraken Securities, a FINRA-regulated company focused on providing high quality stock trading services.
Filling the gap between traditional finance and digital finance
Kraken’s move shows the shift that many of the ciphers expect. In other words, it is a fusion of digital assets and mainstream investments. The deployment will begin in New Jersey, Connecticut, Wyoming and Oklahoma with plans to offer services to more states and ultimately to markets such as the UK, Europe and Australia.
“Expansion to stocks is a natural step for us and paves the way for asset to tokenization. The future of trading is always built on crypto rails,” said Kraken Co-Ceo Arjun Sethi.
Crypto companies have been focusing on traditional financial products for a while, with President Donald Trump’s industrial attitude and timing in line with some companies’ confidence to act.
Oppenheimer analyst Owen Lau framed the move as part of a bigger trend. “Another step that Kraken has been made to become a full-service app that offers both traditional finance (Tradfi) and Crypto services,” he told Reuters.
Kraken looks beyond stocks. The company recently acquired Ninjatrader, a retail futures trading platform, in a $1.5 billion deal. He also focuses on payment space, and Lau believes that long-term planning involves bringing traditional asset classes to the blockchain.
“We believe that more Tradfi companies will offer crypto products, and more crypto native companies will offer products for the traditional asset class,” he said.
Kraken’s ambitions reflect a greater change in the way transactions were made. Sethi said, “Not only is crypto evolving, it is becoming the backbone for trading across asset classes, such as stocks, commodities, currencies, and more. As demand for global access grows 24/7, 365 days a year, clients want a seamless, all-in-one trading experience.”
Crypto companies are applying for state and national banking licenses as they seek to gain broader legitimacy and build trust with users they still consider outsiders.
Kraken’s plans are clear. It will be a one-stop platform for investors who switch between multiple apps to trade stocks, buy crypto and don’t want to process payments. It’s not just diversification. It’s about maintaining relevance as the line between traditional finance and digital finance continues to blur.
Founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell, San Francisco-based Kraken is the fifth-largest crypto exchange with over $500 million volumes. It offers spots and futures trading among Bitcoin, Ethereum and more than 40 other digital assets.
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