Kraken’s xStocks Adds 200-Plus UK and European Stocks
Payward expands xStocks beyond 1,500 tokenized assets with new UK and EU equities, while Hong Kong listings are planned for the coming weeks.
Key Notes
- Payward has launched more than 200 tokenized UK and European stocks through Kraken and supporting xStocks Alliance platforms.
- The wider xStocks catalogue now exceeds 1,500 assets across stocks and ETFs and IPO-related products.
- Hong Kong listings are planned for the coming weeks while existing geographic restrictions remain unchanged.
Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, has launched more than 200 tokenized UK and European stocks through xStocks, taking the framework’s total offering beyond 1,500 tokenized assets.
The new tokens are available to eligible investors on Kraken and participating xStocks Alliance platforms, according to Payward’s November 11 announcement. Hundreds of Hong Kong-listed equities are expected to follow in the coming weeks, with additional international markets planned afterward.
The expansion changes which companies investors can gain exposure to, but leaves existing geographic restrictions in place. UK residents still cannot access xStocks, despite the addition of companies listed in their home market.
International Shares Join the xStocks Framework
The first batch covers actively traded companies listed in the UK and European Union, with further listings to be added on a rolling basis. The broader catalogue includes stocks, ETFs and IPO-related assets, so the 1,500-plus total is not a count of individual listed companies.
The launch is the first international rollout delivered through Payward Services’ partnership with GTN. Their July agreement assigned GTN execution, custody and record-keeping infrastructure for the traditional assets underlying the expansion.
Each new token is backed one-for-one by an underlying share held at a regulated custodian, Payward says. The framework connects exchange accounts, compatible self-custodial wallets and blockchain applications, with Solana, Ethereum, TON, Ink and X Layer among its supported networks.
Across xStocks, Payward reported more than $1.1 billion in assets under management, over $45 billion in cumulative transaction volume and more than 550,000 unique holders. Those figures describe the wider business, not just the newly added UK and European tokens.
Share Backing Does Not Confer Direct Ownership
Kraken’s risk disclosure distinguishes xStocks from direct investments in the underlying companies. Token holders receive exposure to stock performance without owning the shares themselves. Fees and the token structure can cause returns to differ from those of an investor holding the original stock.
Access also depends on location. Kraken’s availability guidance excludes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, alongside other restricted regions. Eligible clients in the European Economic Area must complete and pass a questionnaire before trading.
Hong Kong Listings and LSE 24 Remain Next Steps
Payward has not specified a date for the planned Hong Kong batch. Its new timetable places hundreds of those listings after the UK and EU rollout, even though the original GTN agreement had envisaged starting with Hong Kong.
The expansion also advances the London partnership announced in September, which included plans to tokenize the 100 largest London-listed companies.
LSEG’s announcement separately targets xStocks trading on LSE 24 in 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Today’s availability through Kraken and partner platforms does not mean trading has begun on that proposed London venue.
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