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Kraken has relaunched onchain staking for U.S. clients, offering 17 crypto assets through Kraken Pro. The move expands access amid evolving crypto rules.
Kraken Relaunches Staking for US Traders—Here’s What’s Different This Time
Kraken has introduced an onchain staking service for U.S. clients in 37 states and two territories through Kraken Pro. The company said it aims to expand access as regulations permit. This move marks a return to staking services for U.S. users after past regulatory challenges. Kraken explained:
Starting today, clients residing in eligible states will be able to securely stake eligible tokens via Kraken Pro. These clients will be able to participate in bonded staking, which locks up/bonds cryptoassets to the network for a specific period of time.
Staked assets are delegated to validators that validate transactions and produce new blocks, passing back rewards to clients after deducting fees. Mark Greenberg, Kraken’s Global Head of Consumer, described the launch as “an overwhelmingly positive development, not just for Kraken but also for the entire U.S. crypto space.” He emphasized that the return of staking allows users to contribute to blockchain security while earning rewards, reinforcing Kraken’s commitment to providing staking services.
In February 2023, Kraken settled with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by agreeing to pay a $30 million fine and ceasing its staking services for U.S. clients, following allegations of offering unregistered securities through its staking program. The company’s new staking service for U.S. customers comes amid a shifting regulatory landscape under the Trump administration, which is taking steps to establish clearer guidelines for cryptocurrency activities.
The new offering supports 17 crypto assets, including ethereum (ETH), solana (SOL), polkadot (DOT), and cardano (ADA). Kraken confirmed:
Clients in select U.S. states and territories will now be able to use Kraken’s onchain staking product to stake 17 assets, including ETH, SOL, DOT and ADA. Kraken’s restaking integration will also be made available in eligible states.
Greenberg underscored Kraken’s role in making crypto more accessible, stating that the company acts as “a bridge so people can access the crypto space and participate in an increasingly broad range of related activities from an interface and platform that they’re familiar with.”