Kraken exchange is reportedly on the verge of acquiring NinjaTrader, a leading U.S. retail futures trading platform, in a historic $1.5 billion deal.
Sources indicate that an official announcement regarding the acquisition could be made as soon as Thursday, March 20.
This strategic acquisition allows Kraken to utilize NinjaTrader’s Futures Commission Merchant license, significantly broadening its offerings of cryptocurrency futures and derivatives products in the U.S. market.
NinjaTrader, founded in 2003, has a robust user base of over 1.8 million retail investors. The deal would not only enhance Kraken’s access to this customer demographic but also facilitate NinjaTrader’s expansion into the UK, Europe, and Australia.
Kraken’s regulatory assets, including its Electronic Money Institution license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and its MiFID license for the EU, could streamline this expansion process.
With a solid financial foundation, Kraken is well-positioned for this acquisition. The exchange reported an impressive $1.5 billion in revenue for 2024, more than doubling its earnings from the previous year. The company currently manages $42.8 billion in assets and operates 2.5 million funded accounts, achieving a total trade volume of $665 billion for 2024.
This acquisition comes on the heels of Kraken’s recent legal win. On March 3, the exchange announced that it had successfully resolved its lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with no penalties or admission of wrongdoing, alleviating a significant regulatory obstacle for its growth plans.
In addition to these developments, Kraken continues to receive accolades within the industry. As of March 19, the exchange ranked 3rd in Kaiko’s Q1 2025 exchange rankings, rising from 7th place last year, thanks to enhancements in governance, security, and liquidity. Kraken remains the 10th largest exchange by trading volume, according to recent data.
