Kraken Owner Payward to Acquire Lithuania’s Saldo Bank

Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has agreed to acquire Lithuania’s Saldo Bank as part of a strategic push to expand its services within the European Union.

The move, announced on October 14, 2026, is aimed at integrating traditional banking services with digital asset offerings. Payward co-CEO Arjun Sethi stated that the acquisition responds to customer demand for a unified platform handling cash, crypto, tokenized stocks, and credit, with initial services to include lending and card products.

Saldo Bank is a licensed financial institution in Lithuania, a European Union member state known for its progressive regulatory framework for fintech and crypto businesses. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.

This strategic purchase positions Kraken to offer a more comprehensive suite of financial services directly to its European user base, potentially bridging the gap between conventional finance and the digital asset ecosystem.