Crypto exchange Kraken has announced the launch of 24/7 trading for tokenized shares of leading U.S. companies, available to clients outside the United States.
The new xStocks service is developed in partnership with Backed and will operate on the Solana blockchain. Tokenized assets will give users access to stocks from Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, and other U.S. issuers in the form of SPL tokens.
What Is xStocks and How It Works
According to the announcement, xStocks tokenized shares will be issued as digital assets that reflect the value of real-world stocks and can be traded at any time — including nights and weekends. Users in eligible jurisdictions will be able to buy and sell these tokens on the Kraken platform and use them off-platform through compatible wallets and DeFi protocols.
xStocks are created using Solana standards and can be utilized as collateral in various decentralized products — something not possible within the traditional stock market.
Breaking Away From Traditional Markets
“Access to U.S. equities remains slow, expensive, and restricted. With xStocks, we’re offering an open, instant, and accessible alternative — free from geographic and time-based barriers,” said Mark Greenberg, Kraken’s Global Head of Brand & Communications.
According to the Kraken representative, the launch of tokenized stocks is the next step in the exchange’s strategy to bridge crypto and traditional finance. Kraken plans to expand the geographic reach of available markets and increase the number of tokenized assets over time.
Continuing Integration With Traditional Assets
Previously, Kraken launched spot trading of stocks and ETFs for clients in the U.S. As part of this service, American users gained commission-free access to over 11,000 securities via the exchange’s mobile app.
The next phase will involve launching a similar offering for users in the U.K., Europe, and Australia.
Unlike the previous model, xStocks targets a global audience and aims to seamlessly integrate crypto infrastructure with traditional financial assets — removing time limits, fees, and intermediaries.
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