[Kraken Parent Company Payward Lays Off 150 Employees and Advances Pre-IPO Integration] Odaily Planet Daily News: Kraken's parent company, Payward, has announced layoffs of approximately 150 employees to streamline its organizational structure and prepare for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO). Reports indicate that the company is also seeking a new round of financing with a target valuation of around $20 billion and plans to expand its business footprint through mergers and acquisitions to pave the way for the listing process. Analysts believe that this round of layoffs and capital moves reflect Kraken's accelerated transition toward a traditional public company governance structure to enhance profitability and market competitiveness. (CoinDesk)