Kraken Lists Cyber and Velodrome, Secures MiFID License, Expands US Staking & Launches Kraken Pay

The crypto market has evolved rapidly over the past year, and Kraken is already taking big steps to stay ahead of the curve.

In a recent Kraken trading expansion, the platform has rolled out new trading pairs, gained more regulatory approvals in Europe, introduced staking for U.S. traders, and even launched Kraken Pay.

From listing Cyber (CYBER) and Velodrome (VELO) to securing an EU MiFID license, Kraken is progressing toward becoming a globally compliant exchange.

Below, we break down some of the most important updates and show why many consider Kraken one of the best exchanges for crypto trading in 2025.

Kraken Lists Cyber (CYBER) and Velodrome (VELO) for Trading

One of the highlights of Kraken’s latest rollout is the introduction of Kraken Cyber Velodrome trading, featuring the highly anticipated assets CYBER and VELO.

This is another step in the Kraken new crypto listings strategy, aiming to provide broad access to innovative projects with strong fundamentals.

What Is Cyber?

Cyber is a decentralized AI indexing protocol that’s built for speed and efficiency. It uses advanced infrastructure to keep fees low and transactions per second (TPS) high. It also supports “restaking,” a growing trend for maximizing yields on bridged assets.

What Is Velodrome?

Velodrome Finance operates as a “MetaDEX” that enables low-fee swaps and rewards liquidity providers in a fully permissionless environment. It’s worth noting that all fees go directly back to users to align economic incentives for efficiency.

Kraken Obtains EU MiFID License—Impact on Traders?

The Kraken MiFID license EU is a huge milestone in expanding its regulated services. As a key part of the EU’s financial framework, MiFID increases transparency and strengthens investor protection.

By obtaining official approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Kraken can confidently launch more advanced products, such as regulated crypto derivatives, across select European markets.

We’ve seen how major exchanges frequently compete on regulatory compliance. For instance, Coinbase often highlights its U.S. licensing.

Kraken’s new MiFID license reaffirms to European traders that the platform meets rigorous EU standards. But what exactly does it mean for EU traders? It could translate into safer and more transparent trading. Additional reporting and oversight would guard against manipulative practices.

This also creates a way for more derivative trading features, allowing traders to use margin or hedge positions under a regulated umbrella.

Kraken Launches Staking for Users in the US

While staking is old news for many global crypto holders, Kraken staking USA has been a point of contention given the United States’ strict regulatory stance on yield-based products. Yet, Kraken found a way to bring on chain staking to American users in 37 states and 2 territories.

How does it work? When you stake, you bond your tokens to proof-of-stake networks to help validate transactions and, in return, earn staking rewards.

Kraken offers both flexible and bonded staking, with APY ranging from 0.1% (BTC) to 22% (KSM, SCRT). Stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and USD earn up to 6.5%. Bonded staking locks funds for a set period, while flexible staking allows instant unstaking without penalties. You can check Kraken’s staking homepage for the latest updates.

How Kraken Pay Will Revolutionize Crypto Payments

Transacting in crypto shouldn’t be complicated. That’s the philosophy behind Kraken Pay crypto payments, the latest feature that allows quick and low-cost crypto payments directly from your Kraken account.

Kraken Pay supports BTC, ETH, USDT, and fiat, offering seamless transactions with low fees. Compared to Coinbase Commerce, Kraken Pay is a cost-effective alternative for businesses and individuals.

Key Features

• Instant Global Settlements: Send money anywhere in the world using 300+ assets, including stablecoins and major fiat.
• Paylinks & @Kraktag: Generate custom paylinks or share your unique @Kraktag for friends to send or request payments.

Use Cases

• Peer-to-Peer: Split dinner bills, rent, or send cash to family across the globe.
• Business Payments: Accept stablecoin or altcoin payments from customers without having them route it through an exchange.

Why Kraken Is a Leading Choice for Crypto Traders

With the crypto market seeing new challenges every day, Is Kraken a good crypto exchange? The short answer is yes—and here’s why;

• High Security: Kraken’s record with advanced cold storage and regular proof-of-reserve audits helps it maintain a strong trust factor. This is especially important as Bybit recently witnessed a massive $1.4 billion ETH hack.
• Trading Options: From spot trading to advanced margin and futures, plus an ever-expanding range of staking features.
• Regulatory Compliance: The new EU MiFID license and legitimate expansions into staking and advanced derivatives position Kraken as a highly compliant platform.
• Kraken Customer Support: 24/7 assistance with dedicated teams who understand crypto complexities—an area where many competitors lag.

When evaluating Kraken vs. Coinbase vs. Binance, Kraken stands out for its compliance and solid reputation, which have remained mostly untarnished over the years.

A Simple 5-Step Guide to Getting Started With Kraken

New to the platform? Here’s a quick guide to set you up:

Step 1: Sign Up

Go to Kraken’s official website and click “Sign Up.” Enter your email address, set a strong password, and select your country of residence. Then, confirm your account using the link sent via email.

Step 2: Protect Your Account

Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) using any authenticator app. For high-value accounts, consider hardware-based keys. You can also set up a “Global Settings Lock” for higher security when you’re away.

Step 3: Verify Identity

Verification is crucial for unlocking higher deposit limits and advanced features like Kraken futures. You’ll need to submit personal information and, in some countries, even additional documents. Click ‘Verify Identity’ on your Kraken homepage to start this process.

Step 4: Add Funds

To buy crypto on Kraken, first, deposit funds into your account. You can add money via bank transfers (SWIFT, SEPA, wire), crypto deposits from external wallets, or payment methods like credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.

Once your account is funded, click ‘Buy’ on your dashboard, select crypto, enter the amount, and complete the purchase.

Step 5: Trade Crypto

To begin crypto trading with Kraken, go to the Trade section and select a crypto pair like BTC/USD or ETH/EUR. Use the Order Ticket Module to set up your trade, choosing between market or limit orders. The interface displays key details like the bid/ask spread, order type, and quantity—be sure to double-check before confirming.

For simple spot trades, use the main Kraken interface. Experienced users can switch to Kraken Pro or explore margin trading.

Trading With Margin & Futures

For those wanting advanced tools:

• Margin Trading: Get up to 5x leverage on select assets. This feature is especially popular among experienced traders who want to amplify potential gains—though it also magnifies risk.
• Kraken Futures: Up to 50x leverage is available on major cryptos.

Download Kraken’s Mobile Apps

If you prefer trading on the go, Kraken’s dedicated app (for simpler trading) and Kraken Pro (for advanced features) are available for Android and iOS devices. These apps sync with your Kraken account, providing real-time market data, quick deposits, and easy order execution right from your phone.

Conclusion

Kraken’s latest expansion brings new token listings, a MiFID regulatory license, U.S. staking, and Kraken Pay. These updates reaffirm its reputation as a trusted exchange in 2025.

With high security and seamless user experience, Kraken remains a go-to platform for crypto traders. You can visit Kraken’s official page and join over 10 million users.

FAQs

References

• Kraken secures EU MiFID license, enabling launch of regulated derivatives offering (Kraken Blog)
• Kraken Crypto Staking (Kraken’s official website)
• Crypto’s biggest hacks and heists after $1.5 billion theft from Bybit (Reuters)