Payward, Inc.
Headquarters
Cheyenne United States
About us
To accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrency so that you and the rest of the world can achieve financial freedom and inclusion.
Payward, the parent company behind Kraken, has operated as one of the world's longest-standing cryptocurrency exchanges since 2011. What started as a mission to build a secure bridge after early exchange failures has grown into a global financial infrastructure platform serving over 190 countries. The company generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2024 and exceeded that figure in just the first three quarters of 2025. Beyond crypto trading, Kraken now offers tokenized equities through xStocks, payment services via KRAK, and institutional-grade custody and OTC trading. The platform supports over 600 crypto pairs and has processed more than $2 trillion in total transaction volume. Working here means joining a mission-driven team focused on accelerating crypto adoption to achieve financial freedom and inclusion for everyone.
Products
The core platform offers spot trading for over 90 cryptocurrencies and seven fiat currencies, with advanced features like margin trading up to 10x leverage and crypto futures up to 50x leverage. Institutional clients access specialized OTC trading desks, secure custody solutions, and high-limit API integrations. Recent expansions include tokenized equities (xStocks) for eligible non-US investors, giving on-chain access to traditional stock markets including IPO shares like SpaceX. KRAK handles cross-border payments, savings, and investing. Kraken Prop provides funded trading programs with up to $200,000 in capital. The mobile-optimized Kraken Pro platform serves as the main interface for retail users, offering advanced trading tools and portfolio tracking.
Funding
Kraken raised just $27 million in primary capital over its first decade-plus of operation. That changed dramatically in 2025 with two major funding rounds. In September, the company secured $500 million at a $15 billion valuation. Then in November, Kraken closed an $800 million round across two tranches, reaching a $20 billion valuation. The primary tranche was led by institutional investors including Jane Street, DRW Venture Capital, HSG, Tribe Capital, and Oppenheimer Alternative Investment Management. Citadel Securities executed a separate $200 million strategic investment. The company has been profitable and is using this capital to expand regulated global operations and accelerate the integration of traditional financial products into on-chain environments.
Recent news
On June 9, 2026, FIFA officially announced Kraken as the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Technology
The backend runs primarily on Rust, C++, Go, and Python, with Aeron for ultra-low-latency messaging in trading systems. Frontend teams use TypeScript, React, and React Native. Database infrastructure centers on high-throughput MariaDB and MySQL clusters managed with proxies like HAProxy, ProxySQL, and MaxScale. Cloud workloads run on AWS with Kubernetes orchestration. The team heavily uses Infrastructure-as-Code through Terraform, GitOps workflows with ArgoCD, and CI/CD via GitHub Actions and GitLab CI. Some teams work with large-scale PostgreSQL clusters enhanced by vector databases like pgvector, Milvus, and Qdrant for AI initiatives. Automation and internal tooling leverage Python and Rust for building scalable, secure operational workflows.
Benefits
Kraken operates as a "forever remote-first" company with asynchronous collaboration across a globally distributed workforce. Compensation is competitive and location-independent, with the unique option to receive part or all of your salary in cryptocurrency alongside equity and stock options. The company offers flexible or unlimited PTO, comprehensive health coverage including medical, dental, and vision, plus mental health resources and life coaching. Remote work is supported with a workstation setup bonus, and the team connects through fully funded annual global retreats. The culture emphasizes high ownership, continuous improvement, and collaboration around a shared mission to build an open financial system.