Kraken Acquires NinjaTrader for $1.5 Billion to Expand into U.S. Futures Market

Summary

Crypto exchange Kraken has announced plans to acquire the U.S. futures platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion. This strategic move aims to bolster Kraken’s capabilities in offering crypto futures and derivatives trading within the U.S. market.

Key Details

NinjaTrader is a CFTC-licensed platform established in 2003, providing futures trading tools to nearly 2 million customers.
With approximately 15 million clients worldwide, Kraken is well-positioned for expansion, leveraging its existing licenses in the U.K., EU, and Australia for NinjaTrader’s growth initiatives.

“This transaction is the first step in our vision of an institutional-grade trading platform where any asset can be traded, anytime,” said Arjun Sethi, Kraken’s co-CEO.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dismissed a lawsuit against Kraken regarding the alleged mishandling of customer funds, further clearing the path for Kraken’s expansion into the U.S. market.

The acquisition, pending final conditions, is expected to be finalized by the end of the first half of 2025.