BREAKING: Kraken Parent Payward Adds 200+ UK and European Stocks to xStocks

• Kraken parent Payward added more than 200 tokenized UK and European stocks to its xStocks platform, covering companies listed on the FTSE 100 and Germany’s DAX 40.
• Payward plans to add hundreds of Hong Kong-listed stocks in the coming weeks, while its tokenized assets are backed 1:1 by underlying shares.

Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has expanded its xStocks platform with more than 200 tokenized stocks from the UK and European Union, bringing major companies listed on traditional stock exchanges onto blockchain networks.

Announced on November 11, the expansion includes companies from the FTSE 100 and Germany’s DAX 40, including Shell, Siemens, SAP, LVMH and Allianz. The new tokens are available through Kraken and supported xStocks Alliance platforms, with further listings expected to follow.

Each token is backed 1:1 by the corresponding underlying share, which is purchased and held with a regulated custodian. The arrangement allows eligible investors to gain exposure to traditional stock prices through blockchain-based assets without directly holding shares in the listed companies.

The latest rollout is part of Payward’s partnership with global fintech company GTN, which handles the execution and custody of the traditional securities backing the tokens.

xStocks Expansion Brings More International Markets Onchain

The new listings take xStocks beyond 1,500 tokenized assets across stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and initial public offering-related products. Payward reported that the platform has more than $1.1 billion in assets under management, over $45 billion in cumulative transaction volume and more than 550,000 unique holders worldwide.

The tokens are available across several blockchain networks, including Solana, Ethereum, TON, Ink and X Layer. Investors can also transfer supported assets to compatible self-custody wallets and use them across decentralized finance applications.

The platform supports trading beyond traditional stock market hours, with 24/7 trading available on supported venues. However, availability and trading hours depend on the platform and jurisdiction.

Payward also confirmed plans to add hundreds of Hong Kong-listed stocks in the coming weeks, extending its expansion into Asian equity markets.

Despite the inclusion of UK-listed companies, xStocks remains unavailable to investors in the United Kingdom and the United States under existing distribution restrictions.

The company is also working with the London Stock Exchange on a separate tokenization initiative. The exchange plans to introduce xStocks trading through its LSE 24 platform in 2027, subject to regulatory approval.