- •Kraken bridges crypto and traditional finance with expanded CME derivatives access.
- •Traders gain exposure to equities, commodities, and FX on Kraken platform.
- •Kraken’s NinjaTrader acquisition strengthens its global multi-asset trading ambitions.
Kraken is broadening its reach beyond digital assets as it brings traditional CME Group derivatives to its trading platform. The exchange now offers futures tied to equity indices, energy, metals, and foreign exchange, signaling a deeper move into traditional finance.
A company representative told The Block that this expansion allows traders on Kraken’s U.S. derivatives platform to connect directly to CME futures markets through its regulated unit, Kraken Derivatives US.
This latest step strengthens Kraken’s position against platforms like Robinhood, which are also moving toward multi-asset trading. The expansion follows Kraken’s purchase of NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion earlier this year, marking one of the biggest tie‑ups between crypto and traditional finance.
The exchange’s goal is to become a one‑stop platform for traders interested in both crypto and conventional markets.
A New Phase in Multi-Asset Trading
Kraken’s move provides traders access to CME‑listed contracts covering the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Dow indices, as well as commodities like oil, gold, and silver. The offering also includes agricultural and FX markets, such as EUR, GBP, JPY, and AUD pairs.
In addition, Kraken is integrating products from CME’s major exchanges, including CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX.
According to the representative, these contracts are tailored for professional traders, featuring competitive pricing at just 0.5 basis points. Kraken also plans to provide special deals on market data access, benefiting both retail and institutional clients.
While details on trading hours remain unclear, CME’s recent comments on offering 24/7 access to crypto futures suggest that continuous trading could soon become the norm across asset classes.
The move comes as CME’s crypto derivatives market reaches record activity, averaging 340,000 daily contracts worth $14.1 billion. CME is also preparing to launch options on Solana and XRP futures, underscoring the growing convergence between crypto and traditional trading instruments.
Kraken’s strategic expansion reflects a clear intent to merge digital and traditional financial systems under one platform.
By opening CME’s global derivatives markets to its users, the exchange is positioning itself as a major player bridging two once‑separate financial worlds.