Kraken News: Kraken Nears Acquisition of NinjaTrader for $1.5B to Expand US Crypto Futures Market

In a major move to expand its presence in the US crypto futures and derivatives market, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is reportedly close to finalizing a $1.5 billion acquisition of trading platform NinjaTrader. Here’s a closer look at the deal and its implications for the cryptocurrency market.

Kraken Nears $1.5B Acquisition Of NinjaTrader To Expand US Crypto Futures

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken is reportedly close to finalizing a $1.5 billion acquisition of trading platform NinjaTrader. This move could significantly expand its presence in the US crypto futures and derivatives market. According to a 19 March 2025 report from The Wall Street Journal, the deal could be officially announced as early as 20 March 2025. The acquisition would allow Kraken to leverage NinjaTrader’s registration as a Futures Commission Merchant, enabling it to offer crypto futures products to US customers. The move aligns with Kraken’s broader strategy to diversify its offerings across multiple asset classes, including plans for equities trading and payments. The deal would also help NinjaTrader expand internationally.

Kraken Acquires NinjaTrader for $1.5 Billion

Kraken has entered into an agreement to acquire the US retail derivatives platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion. This marks the largest deal to date integrating traditional finance and crypto markets. Announced on March 20, the acquisition significantly expands Kraken’s presence in the US futures sector, leveraging NinjaTrader’s status as a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant. Founded in 2003, NinjaTrader provides advanced trading tools and analytics to approximately two million traders and offers futures trading across traditional asset classes. This strategic move aligns with Kraken’s broader ambitions of establishing a comprehensive, institutional-grade trading environment bridging traditional financial instruments and crypto markets.