According to The Block, Kraken's parent company Payward has announced the completion of its acquisition of Chicago-based crypto-native exchange Bitnomial, securing a full suite of derivative licenses from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), including Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), Designated Contract Market (DCM), and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) licenses. Payward stated that it will first launch spot margin services on Kraken, followed by the introduction of perpetual contracts and options products for eligible U.S. clients. The acquisition will also provide partners such as banks, brokers, and payment service providers with channels to offer U.S. derivatives to end customers. Bitnomial will operate independently under Payward, retaining its existing licenses and regulatory framework. The deal is reportedly valued at up to $550 million (including cash and stock), corresponding to a valuation of approximately $20 billion for Payward, though specific final terms were not disclosed.