cryptoknowmics.com
In a groundbreaking move, crypto exchange Kraken has announced the acquisition of U.S.-based retail futures trading platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion. The acquisition marks the largest-ever merger between crypto and traditional finance (tradfi).
Paving the Way for Multi-Asset Trading
Kraken said the deal is a major step toward its multi-asset-class vision, expanding into equities trading and payment services. The acquisition will transform Kraken into a 24/7 trading platform, combining crypto spot, futures, and traditional financial instruments. “Traditional markets run on post-WWII, 1950s banking systems... But legacy finance and crypto have remained separate ecosystems, until today,” said Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi, highlighting the platform's goal to modernize trading infrastructure.
What NinjaTrader Brings to the Table
Founded in 2003, NinjaTrader is a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant, serving nearly 2 million traders with advanced tools for futures trading. Through this deal, Kraken gains direct access to U.S. futures and derivatives markets, while NinjaTrader will benefit from Kraken’s global reach via licenses in the U.K., EU, and Australia. “NinjaTrader’s mission has been to redefine retail futures trading,” said CEO Marty Franchi, emphasizing the synergy between both companies in offering seamless access to crypto and traditional markets.
What’s Next?
The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2025. NinjaTrader will continue to operate as a standalone platform under Kraken’s ecosystem, joining a lineup that includes Cryptowatch, CF Benchmarks, and Staked—further reinforcing Kraken’s strategy to unify tradfi and crypto trading.