Payward plans to acquire Bitnomial for $550 million, accelerating its layout in the US compliant derivatives market Odaily Planet Daily News: Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, announced that it will acquire 100% equity of digital asset derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million (cash+stock). The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026 and still requires regulatory approval. Bitnomial is the first crypto native platform to simultaneously obtain three licenses for the US derivatives full stack (designated contract market, derivatives clearing institution, futures commission merchant). This acquisition will help Payward quickly acquire a complete compliant derivative infrastructure, significantly accelerating its expansion in the US market. After the transaction is completed, Bitnomial's clearing and trading capabilities will be integrated with platforms such as Kraken and NinjaTrader, providing spot margin, perpetual contracts, and options to US clients, and subject to CFTC regulation. This acquisition will also expand Payward Services' business, allowing banks, fintech companies, and securities firms to access the US compliant derivatives market through a single API. Industry insiders believe that with the recovery of the market and valuation repair, M&A activities in the cryptocurrency industry are on the rise, and top institutions are accelerating their transformation into institutional level comprehensive trading platforms by acquiring key capabilities such as compliance, custody, and derivatives.