Kraken, one of the leading global crypto exchanges, has officially announced its expansion into traditional trading markets by acquiring NinjaTrader, a renowned futures and forex trading platform, in a landmark $1.5 billion deal.

This strategic move marks Kraken's entry into futures and forex, significantly broadening its trading offerings beyond cryptocurrencies. NinjaTrader, highly popular among retail traders and prop trading firms, provides advanced charting, analytics, and execution capabilities, making it an ideal acquisition for Kraken's ambitious growth strategy.

“Traditional markets run on banking systems from the 1950s and post-WWII, exchanges that close at 4 p.m. ET, and settlement delays that take days to resolve. Crypto rails fixed these issues, operating with efficient and real-time infrastructure. But legacy finance and crypto have remained separate ecosystems, until today. This transaction is the first step in our vision of an institutional-grade trading platform where any asset can be traded, anytime,” said Arjun Sethi, Kraken’s co-CEO.

“NinjaTrader’s mission has been to redefine retail futures trading, making it more accessible, cost-effective and trader-friendly. Joining forces with Kraken allows us to take this vision to a global scale, expanding our reach and unlocking innovative new use cases,” said Marty Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader. “Together, Kraken and NinjaTrader will power the integration of traditional markets with crypto by offering cutting edge tools and the ability to rapidly move across asset classes that the most sophisticated traders demand.”

Key Strategic Benefits of the Acquisition

• Unlocks Global Regulatory Licensing and Growth: Kraken’s existing U.K. MiFID, EU MiFID, and Australian securities licenses will accelerate NinjaTrader’s expansion into the U.K., Europe, and Australia.
  
  
• Seamless Multi-Asset Trading: Kraken and NinjaTrader clients will be able to trade seamlessly across crypto, futures, and traditional financial products.
  
  
• Access to Elite Trading Tools: Clients will benefit from NinjaTrader’s professional analytics, execution capabilities, and futures liquidity combined with Kraken’s exceptional crypto liquidity and trading expertise.

Kraken’s Proven Integration Track Record

Kraken has successfully integrated platforms such as Cryptowatch (real-time analytics), Crypto Facilities (regulated derivatives), CF Benchmarks (index provider), and Staked (staking infrastructure), demonstrating a solid track record in expanding and enhancing acquired platforms.

Operational Continuity

NinjaTrader will continue to operate as a standalone platform within Kraken's suite of trading and payments applications, providing its clients expanded trading opportunities moving forward.

Bridging Crypto and Traditional Trading Markets

The acquisition underscores the increasing convergence between crypto markets and traditional financial instruments, reflecting a broader trend within the trading industry. Traders, particularly in the prop trading sector, could greatly benefit from enhanced integration, more comprehensive platforms, and diversified asset availability.

New Opportunities for Prop Traders

This development positions Kraken to become a formidable player in traditional finance, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics within the futures and forex markets. Prop traders and firms can anticipate new opportunities, as Kraken leverages NinjaTrader's established technology and user base to deliver an integrated trading experience.

Stay tuned to PropInsider for further updates and insights on this evolving development.

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