Kraken Launches ‘Perps’ Product to Tap Into $515B Perpetual Crypto Futures Market

Core Insights - Kraken has launched its "Perps" perpetuals trading product, enabling users to invest in cryptocurrency futures by predicting price movements without owning the actual assets [1][2] - The Perps product is available for over 300 assets, including Bitcoin, but the specific markets for rollout are not yet confirmed [2] - The launch of Perps follows the introduction of Kraken's xStocks service, which allows trading of tokenized real-world assets and is compliant with EU regulations [3] Strategic Context - The introduction of both Perps and xStocks is part of Kraken's broader strategy in anticipation of a potential IPO in 2026, with the company seeking $500 million in new funding [4] - Kraken had previously considered an IPO in 2021, but no further action was taken at that time [5] - The founder of Kraken, Jesse Powell, faced an FBI investigation in 2023, which concluded without any charges or evidence of wrongdoing [5]