Details Emerge About a Deal That Could Shift the Balance in the Cryptocurrency World

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is in advanced talks with a strategic investor for a new round of financing at a valuation of approximately $20 billion. The company is reportedly accelerating its capital raising ahead of a potential IPO.

According to people familiar with the matter, the funding round has not yet been finalized and could change depending on market conditions. The investment under discussion is expected to be approximately $200 million to $300 million. This move follows Kraken's recent $500 million fundraising round at a $15 billion valuation, marking a significant increase in the valuations of major cryptocurrency companies in the private markets.

Founded in 2011 and officially known as Payward Inc., the company had raised only $27 million in seed capital before this year. The new funding will provide Kraken with additional resources to further strengthen its competitiveness with publicly traded rivals Coinbase and other global exchanges. The company also recently began offering tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Major players in the crypto industry are accelerating their capital raising efforts amid a softening regulatory environment and increasing institutional adoption in the US. Many digital asset companies are turning to the private and public markets to expand their product offerings, secure licenses, and potentially launch IPOs.

Kraken has reportedly begun working with Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs on its upcoming IPO, which could take place in the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, Tether, another industry giant, is in talks with investors including ARK Investment Management to raise between $15 billion and $20 billion. This transaction could push Tether's valuation to $500 billion. Companies like Circle, Gemini, and Bullish have also gone public this year.

*This is not investment advice.