Kraken’s Parent Company Moves to Acquire a Bank in Europe

Kraken’s parent company, Payward, is buying its way into European banking, striking a deal to acquire Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank and its five-market footprint. The purchase would bring deposit accounts, lending, payment services, and card issuance into the cryptocurrency company’s expanding financial operation. Payward announced the definitive agreement on Oct. 14, 2026, to acquire Saldo Finance Oy, the Finnish holding company behind Saldo Bank UAB. Financial terms weren’t disclosed, and the transaction requires regulatory approval before its anticipated closing in 2027.