Kraken is set to acquire the tokenization startup Backed Finance as it continues an aggressive expansion strategy in 2025. The deal strengthens Kraken’s push into real-world asset tokenization, an area gaining momentum as institutions explore blockchain-based securities and compliant digital assets. Backed Finance offers infrastructure for issuing tokenized versions of traditional financial instruments, aligning with Kraken’s goal of broadening its product suite beyond trading. The acquisition follows a series of recent buys by the exchange, reflecting rising competition among major crypto firms to control key parts of the tokenization and custody stack.