24th July 2026
By Anjali Kochhar
Kraken’s parent company, Payward, is taking another major step in tokenized finance by expanding its xStocks platform beyond U.S. equities. The company announced it will bring tokenized stocks from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Europe and South Korea to the platform, giving investors access to more international markets through blockchain technology.
The rollout will begin with Hong Kong-listed companies. Stocks from the UK, Europe and South Korea will be added later, subject to regulatory approval. To support the expansion, Payward has partnered with global investment infrastructure provider GTN, which will help connect international exchanges with the xStocks platform.
Building on U.S. Tokenized Stocks
The latest move builds on Kraken’s launch of tokenized U.S. stocks earlier this year. Those products allow eligible users to buy and sell blockchain-based versions of publicly traded shares. By adding companies from more countries, Kraken hopes to make investing in global markets easier and more accessible.
The company says this is only the beginning. Along with international equities, Payward plans to introduce tokenized commodities, pre-IPO shares and other financial products over time. The goal is to create a marketplace where investors can access a wide range of real-world assets through blockchain technology.
Benefits of Tokenization in Financial Markets
The expansion comes as interest in tokenized assets continues to grow across the financial industry. Crypto exchanges, fintech firms and traditional financial institutions are all exploring ways to move conventional assets onto blockchain networks. Supporters believe tokenization can reduce settlement times, lower transaction costs, enable fractional ownership and allow trading beyond traditional market hours.
Kraken’s latest expansion highlights how blockchain is becoming more than a platform for cryptocurrencies. Companies are now using the technology to modernize traditional financial markets. Instead of replacing existing assets, tokenization creates digital versions of stocks that can be traded more efficiently. If regulators continue to support these products, tokenized securities could open global markets to a much larger group of investors. At the same time, the industry still faces challenges around compliance, investor protection and cross-border regulations.
Mark Greenberg, Payward’s Global Head of Consumer, said international equities represent one of the biggest opportunities for tokenization. He said the company’s long-term vision is to bring capital markets on-chain and make investing across borders much simpler for users.
Long-Term Vision for Global Capital Markets
Kraken’s expansion reflects a wider shift taking place across the financial sector. More companies are investing in blockchain infrastructure to connect traditional markets with digital technology. If adoption continues to gain momentum, tokenized securities could become a common feature of global investing rather than a niche product for crypto users.
