Kraken’s Funded Accounts Reach 5.2 Million Ahead of Planned 2026 IPO
Revenue Surges to Record Levels
Kraken reported third-quarter revenue of $648 million, up 114% from a year earlier, marking its best performance since the platform was founded in 2011. The company said on Wednesday that adjusted EBITDA rose to $178.6 million, lifting its margin to 27.6% from 18.5% a year ago.
Total trading volume climbed 106% year over year to $561.9 billion, while assets held on the platform rose 89% to $59.3 billion. Funded accounts reached 5.2 million by the end of the quarter, reflecting rising retail and institutional activity amid a broader recovery in digital asset markets.
Kraken described the quarter as its “strongest financial performance to date,” pointing to growth across both spot and derivatives markets. The results come later than a series of acquisitions earlier this year and amid continued preparations for a possible public listing.
Investor Takeaway
Expansion Ahead of Potential IPO
Founded in San Francisco in 2011, Kraken is one of the oldest operating crypto platforms in the United States. The company has pursued an aggressive expansion strategy in 2025, acquiring several firms to broaden its trading and tokenization capabilities.
In July, it launched a U.S. derivatives division offering access to CME-listed crypto futures, entering a market long dominated by institutional players. In September, it acquired Breakout, a proprietary trading firm, and announced plans for a tokenized securities platform that will let European investors trade blockchain-based representations of U.S. stocks.
Kraken said its goal is to bridge traditional finance with digital assets, adding, “We are building what legacy financial systems were not designed to achieve.”
Valuation and IPO Speculation
On Sept. 26, Fortune reported that Kraken raised $500 million at a valuation of about $15 billion. The capital increase fueled expectations that the platform is preparing for an initial public offering in 2026, which would make it the next major crypto firm to go public following Bullish, Circle and Gemini.
Executives have not confirmed specific timing, but people familiar with the matter said discussions with advisers are under way. A public listing would test investor appetite for digital asset platforms in the wake of this year’s recovery in trading volumes and a friendlier U.S. regulatory tone.
Investor Takeaway
Broader Market Context
Kraken’s turnaround reflects a wider rebound across the crypto sector in 2025. BTC and ETH volumes have surged alongside renewed institutional demand, and several platforms—including Bullish and Gemini—have reported double-digit growth. Improved regulatory clarity in the U.S. has also eased pressure on compliance-heavy operators like Kraken, allowing it to expand product lines that were previously constrained.
As such, the results highlight a maturing market where regulated platforms are consolidating gains as retail speculation subsides. Kraken’s combination of trading, custody and tokenization products could give it an advantage if digital assets regain favor among U.S. investors ahead of 2026.
