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Is Kraken licensed or regulated?

As jurisdictions continue to develop cryptocurrency regulatory frameworks for local operations, we engage with regulators globally in order to serve clients in a compliant manner. We currently hold the following registrations, licenses, authorizations and approvals: 

North America

To serve clients in the United States, Kraken maintains a registration as a Money Services Business with FinCEN (‘Payward Ventures, Inc.’, MSB Registration No. 31000239561651).

Kraken Bank is further supervised by the Wyoming Division of Banking under a Special Purpose Depository Institution charter (‘Payward Financial, Inc.’, Charter No. 269), to carry out certain interstate, digital asset-related services.

To serve clients in Canada, Kraken maintains registration as a Money Services Business with FINTRAC (‘Payward Canada, Inc.’, MSB Registration No. M19343731).

Europe

In the United Kingdom, Kraken operates locally as a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Registered Cryptoasset Firm (‘Payward Ltd.’, FRN 928768) under the Money Laundering Regulations.

To offer certain crypto asset-related services to eligible clients, Kraken also maintains through its subsidiary ‘Crypto Facilities Ltd.’, a FCA Authorised Investment Firm (FRN 757895), with the following permissions for:

  • Operating a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF)
  • Arranging Deals in Investments
  • Dealing in Investments as Agent
  • Safeguarding & Administration of Assets 

In Italy, Kraken maintains local operations as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) with the  Organismo degli Agenti e dei Mediatori (OAM) (‘Payward Italy Ltd.’, Registration No. PSV35).

APAC

In Australia, Kraken maintains local operations as a registered Digital Currency Exchange (DCE) with AUSTRAC (‘Bit Trade Pty Ltd.’, ABN 42 163 237 634 & ACN 163 237 634).

Middle East

In the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Kraken maintains local operations under a Financial Services Permission (FSP) by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to carry out the Regulated Activities of Providing Custody in relation to Digital Assets and Operating a Multilateral Trading Facility (‘Payward MENA Holdings Ltd.’, FSP No. 190008).