Payward Tokenizes 200+ UK, EU Stocks; Hong Kong Next

Payward Expands Tokenized Stock Offering to UK and EU Markets

Kraken’s parent company, Payward, has announced a significant expansion of its xStocks platform, adding more than 200 UK and European-listed companies to its tokenized stock offerings. This move extends the platform’s reach beyond U.S. markets and comes as xStocks surpasses $1.1 billion in assets under management.

Broadening Global Access Through Blockchain

In a press release, Payward confirmed the addition of over 200 UK and European stocks to its xStocks platform, enabling investors to access companies listed outside the United States via blockchain-based tokens. This marks the first major expansion under Payward Services’ tokenization partnership with GTN, which provides the necessary brokerage and custody infrastructure for the underlying assets.

Each xStock token is backed one-to-one by an actual share of the underlying company, held by regulated custodians. These tokens can be traded through Kraken and other supporting xStocks Alliance platforms. The newly introduced tokens will be available on the same blockchain networks as existing xStocks, including Solana, Ethereum, TON, Ink, and X Layer, allowing investors to access them through existing crypto markets and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms without requiring separate systems.

Payward stated that this expansion aims to simplify access to UK and European stocks for individuals globally. The company ensures that for every new xStock token issued, it purchases the corresponding share and places it with a regulated custodian, guaranteeing that each token is backed by a real share, not just its market price.

Mark Greenberg, Payward’s chief commercial officer, commented on the initiative, stating, “Access to capital markets is still drawn on a map, and it still depends on holding the right passport.” He emphasized Payward’s goal to facilitate share ownership in listed companies for investors, irrespective of their location, currency, or local brokerage.

Future Growth and Milestones

Payward is also collaborating with the London Stock Exchange on stock tokenization. Pending regulatory approval, the LSE anticipates listing xStocks and commencing trading on LSE 24 in 2027.

The company’s expansion plans are not limited to Europe. Payward intends to introduce hundreds of Hong Kong-listed stocks to xStocks in the coming weeks, further diversifying the range of shares accessible through tokenization.

Since its launch over a year ago with tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, the xStocks platform has grown to include more than 1,500 assets. The platform currently manages over $1.1 billion in assets, has processed more than $45 billion in total trading volume, and boasts over 550,000 unique holders worldwide.