Kraken’s SPAC Strategy Signals Crypto’s U.S. Market Push

• Kraken-backed KrakAcquisition files $250M Nasdaq SPAC targeting crypto infrastructure.
• SPAC structure offers investor protections while pursuing payments and tokenization firms.
• Filing aligns with Kraken IPO plans and broader shift toward regulated crypto listings.

Kraken-backed KrakAcquisition has filed with the U.S. SEC to raise $250 million through a Nasdaq-listed SPAC. The filing outlines a plan targeting crypto infrastructure companies. The move involves Kraken affiliates, Tribe Capital and Natural Capital, aiming to access regulated capital markets through a structured IPO route.

SPAC Filing Outlines Structure and Market Intent

KrakAcquisition registered as a Cayman Islands exempted company and plans to offer 25 million units priced at $10 each. Each unit includes one Class A ordinary share and one-quarter of a redeemable warrant, exercisable at $11.50 per share. If approved, the units will trade under the ticker KRAQU on the Nasdaq Global Market.

Notably, Santander will serve as the sole book-running manager for the offering, according to the SEC filing. The SPAC disclosed no selected merger target and confirmed no substantive discussions with potential partners. However, the filing states an intended focus on digital asset infrastructure, including payments, settlement, and tokenization platforms.

This structure follows standard SPAC protections, with proceeds held in trust pending a completed business combination. Investors retain redemption rights if they reject a proposed merger within an 18- to 24-month window. According to the filing, Class A shares and warrants may later trade separately as KRAQ and KRAQW.

Kraken Personnel and Parallel IPO Plans

While KrakAcquisition operates independently, Kraken maintains direct involvement through management participation. Sahil Gupta, who has led Kraken’s strategic initiatives since late 2024, will serve as the SPAC’s chief financial officer. Meanwhile, Robert Moore, Kraken’s vice president of strategy and corporate development, will join as a director after the offering.

The filing clarifies Kraken holds no contractual obligation to complete any business combination. However, the SPAC expects Kraken’s participation to support diligence, regulatory navigation, and operational assessment. According to the filing, this support would occur without additional compensation.

Alongside the SPAC effort, Kraken continues preparations for its own public listing. The exchange confidentially filed a draft Form S-1 with the SEC in November seeking to list its common stock. That registration remains under review and cannot proceed until the SEC declares it effective.

Notably, Kraken raised $800 million last year at a reported $20 billion valuation, with backing from Tribe Capital. The exchange also completed several acquisitions, including tokenization firm Backed Finance and futures platform NinjaTrader. These actions align with Kraken’s stated goal of expanding across multi-asset financial services.

Related: Kraken Secures $800M to Support Global Growth and New Products

Infrastructure Focus and Regulated Market Shift

KrakAcquisition’s investment thesis is on companies building core digital asset infrastructure. The filing references payment networks, blockchain systems, compliance tools, and tokenization platforms as priority areas. According to the document, the SPAC may pursue deals in any sector but intends to concentrate on digital assets.

The filing mentions worries about inflation and points to Bitcoin as a decentralized way to store value. Still, it presents this in the context of building infrastructure, not promoting an investment asset. It also outlines risks such as unclear regulations, price swings, and the difficulty of finding the right merger partners.

This filing comes after a wider surge in crypto-related companies going public last year. Circle Internet shares rose 167% post-IPO, while Gemini shares declined roughly 10%. Meanwhile, Bullish shares gained about 8% following its public debut.

Earlier this week, BitGo filed for a separate $200 million IPO, citing $104 billion in assets under custody. The SEC has pushed companies with heavy crypto involvement to be more open and detailed in what they disclose. These rules are increasingly influencing how crypto-focused firms enter U.S. public markets.

KrakAcquisition’s filing explains a regulated route that connects private crypto infrastructure to public investors. Its use of a SPAC, aligned leadership, and plans to list on Nasdaq show Kraken is taking a careful, step-by-step approach. The filing places this move alongside Kraken’s own IPO ambitions and other recent crypto listings that follow U.S. regulatory rules.