Payward Ventures, Inc. (“Kraken”) is a digital asset exchange founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell, with its global headquarters in San Francisco, California. Kraken operates in multiple jurisdictions and has established regional headquarters in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and the British Virgin Islands.

The company operates through several subsidiaries, including:

  • Payward Canada Inc. (Canada)
  • Payward Ltd. (United Kingdom)
  • Payward Asia Inc. (Japan)
  • Bit Trade Pty Limited (Australia)
  • Payward Trading Ltd. (British Virgin Islands)

Services Offered

Kraken provides a range of financial services in the cryptocurrency market, including:

  • OTC Trading
  • Spot Trading
  • Futures Trading

Office Locations

  • Canada:
    Payward Canada Inc.
    1100-1959 Upper Water Street, Halifax, NS, B3J 3N2, Canada
  • United Kingdom:
    Payward Ltd.
    6th Floor, One London Wall, London, EC2Y 5EB, United Kingdom
  • Japan:
    Payward Asia, Inc.
    Nibancho 9-3, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0084, Japan
  • Australia:
    Bit Trade Pty Limited
    P.O. Box 21122, World Square, Sydney, NSW, 2002, Australia
  • British Virgin Islands:
    Payward Trading Ltd.
    c/o SHRM Trustees (BVI) Limited, Trinity Chambers, P.O. Box 4301, Road Town, Tortola, VG-1110, British Virgin Islands

VASP License/Registration for Kraken

United States

  • Payward Ventures, Inc. (DBA Kraken)
    • Federal Level: Registered with FinCEN as a Money Service Business (MSB), Registration No: 31000176593851.
    • State Level: Licensed in Wyoming as a Special-Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI), operating as “Kraken Bank”.

Canada

  • Payward Canada Inc.
    • Registered with FINTRAC as a Money Service Business (MSB), Registration No: M19343731 (since November 27, 2019).

United Kingdom

  • Payward Ltd.
    • Registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a Cryptoasset Firm, Registration No: 928768 (since November 23, 2021).

Japan

  • Payward Asia, Inc.
    • Registered with the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) as a Crypto Asset Exchange Operator, Registration No: 9010001194906 (since September 8, 2020).

Australia

  • Bit Trade Pty Limited
    • Registered with AUSTRAC as a Digital Currency Exchange, ABN Registration No: 42163237634 (since April 10, 2013).