KRAKEN GAINS DIRECT ACCESS TO FED PAYMENT SYSTEM Crypto exchange Kraken has secured a limited-purpose account with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, allowing it to access core U.S. payment systems typically reserved for banks. The approval—granted to its Wyoming entity, Kraken Financial—lets the firm settle transactions directly on Fedwire without a banking intermediary, though with restrictions and a one-year initial term. The move marks a major step in integrating crypto with traditional finance, as firms push for direct access to U.S. payment infrastructure amid resistance from banks.(*Walter Bloomberg)