Skip to content
- Kraken is set to acquire NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, expanding into the US futures and derivatives market.
- NinjaTrader’s Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) status will enable Kraken to offer regulated futures products in the US.
- The deal follows Kraken’s $665 billion trading milestone and a legal victory over the SEC.
Kraken, a top-ranked cryptocurrency exchange in the world, is said to be on the brink of acquiring NinjaTrader trading platform in a blockbuster deal worth $1.5 billion. The move is likely to increase Kraken’s scope as it will be able to access the profitable US futures and derivatives market.
According to a report on March 19 by The Wall Street Journal, it can be finalized as early as March 20. The report, quoting people close to the matter, says that NinjaTrader’s present registration as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) would permit Kraken to sell regulated futures products in the United States and become a key player in the emerging space of crypto derivatives.
Kraken has long signaled that it is looking to diversify beyond spot trading. The potential acquisition aligns with its broader strategy of diversification. It aims to expand into various asset classes, including equities trading and payments. In addition, WSJ cited that the deal would have NinjaTrader increase its presence in continental Europe, Australia, and the UK.
In spite of the acquisition, NinjaTrader will likely remain a standalone platform under Kraken’s umbrella. The futures brokerage firm has more than 1.8 million clients. It provides sophisticated trading software and market information solutions to derivatives traders.
Kraken’s Legal Victory, $665B Trading Milestone
The acquisition news comes amid a period of significant financial success for Kraken. In 2024, the exchange reported $1.5 billion in revenue and a staggering $665 billion in trading volume from 2.5 million funded accounts.
Kraken recently made headlines again after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dismissed its case against it. The SEC had already charged Kraken with being an unregistered broker, dealer, exchange, and clearing agency. On March 3, the court dismissed the case with prejudice, imposing no penalty and allowing Kraken to continue its operations unchanged.
The resolution of this legal case, along with President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance, marks a turning point for Kraken and other major US-based crypto businesses. Trump has vowed to make the US become the “crypto capital” of the world and make regulatory hurdles that have stifled the industry more relaxed.
Kraken Acquires NinjaTrader, Expands in US
Founded in 2011 by Michael Gronager and Thanh Luu in association with former CEO Jesse Powell, Kraken has consistently been among the largest crypto exchanges in terms of volume worldwide. In three months alone, it has executed daily volumes ranging between $390 million and $4.4 billion, according to CoinGecko data.
With the impending NinjaTrader acquisition, Kraken will make a splash in the US derivatives market. This move will establish its presence as a serious contender against veteran players like CME Group and Binance. If the deal goes through, it will be a milestone in Kraken’s evolution. This move will further strengthen its position as a major force in the ever-changing crypto space.
Related | Coinbase’s Legal Chief Slams Treasury for Ignoring Court Order on Tornado Cash
