Payward, Inc. is the parent company of Kraken, a US-based digital asset platform founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell. Kraken operates one of the longest-standing cryptocurrency exchanges, offering crypto trading, brokerage, staking, futures, stocks, and payments to retail and institutional clients across more than 190 countries. Through its Wyoming-chartered Kraken Financial entity, it was the first cryptocurrency company to obtain a US bank (SPDI) charter. In November 2025 the company confidentially submitted a draft S-1 registration statement with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering.