Kraken launches regulated crypto derivative products in Europe with a MiFID II license obtained through its Cypriot subsidiary Greenfield Wealth.
Futures contracts offered are not new but already widely used, with daily volumes between 1 and 2 billion dollars.
With Embed, Kraken now allows European neobanks and fintechs to integrate regulated derivative products into their services, thus expanding public access to this market segment.
Kraken offers leveraged trading in Europe
The giant Kraken is ramping up its game in Europe. The platform has just enabled trading of regulated crypto derivative products for European clients, thanks to a MiFID II license obtained through its recently acquired Cypriot subsidiary. A strategic move that positions Kraken as a central player in the crypto finance sector in Europe.
Diversified derivatives, already massive volumes
No new exotic product: European clients now have access to Kraken’s perpetual and fixed-term futures contracts, which already generate between 1 and 2 billion dollars in daily volume. A strong offer, supported by established liquidity and competitive execution fees.
These are not new contracts or a new marketplace.
These are already very active products, with real volumes and efficient fiat rails for collateral management.
Shannon Kurtas, Kraken’s exchange head
With this announcement, Kraken further enhances a derivatives ecosystem that already extends to the UK through Crypto Facilities (regulated by the FCA) and the US with the $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader.
MiFID II: the European passport for crypto derivatives
The regulatory key comes from the acquisition of Greenfield Wealth, a Cypriot investment company with a license issued by CySEC. A well-thought-out strategy in the industry, where heavyweights like Kraken or Coinbase prefer agile jurisdictions like Cyprus or Malta to anchor their European operations.
“More agile, that’s probably a fair description,” admits Kurtas. “There is a historical expertise in these countries on derivatives, especially in the CFD sector. This creates a real pool of talent and ready-made structures.”
Fintechs and neobanks also in the loop
With Embed, its crypto integration application, Kraken also opens the door to European neobanks and fintechs. These companies can now offer their clients not only spot crypto but also regulated derivative products, a rare offering in the mainstream market.
