Payward adds 200 UK and EU shares to Kraken’s xStocks

Kraken parent Payward has added more than 200 UK and EU-listed stocks to xStocks, expanding the range of share-backed tokens available to eligible users. The company said in its announcement on Nov. 11 that the first batch includes some of the region’s most actively traded companies.

The launch takes xStocks past 1,500 tokenized assets across stocks, exchange-traded funds and initial public offerings, Payward said. The company also reported more than $1.1 billion in assets under management, over $45 billion in total transaction volume and more than 550,000 unique holders worldwide.

How do the new tokens track the shares?

Each xStock is backed one-for-one by an underlying share, according to Payward. The share is bought and held by a regulated custodian for as long as the token trades. Payward Services’ partner GTN handles execution and custody of the traditional assets.

The tokens are available through Kraken and supporting xStocks Alliance platforms. They are also on blockchain networks including Solana, Ethereum, TON, Ink and X Layer, where users can hold them in crypto wallets. A token is a digital record on a blockchain. It gives exposure to a share’s price, but it does not give the holder ownership of the company, as CoinDesk reported.

Can people in the UK buy the new tokens?

No. Despite the UK-listed shares in the launch, Payward said xStocks remain unavailable to investors in the United Kingdom. CoinDesk also reported that U.S. investors are excluded. Availability depends on location and eligibility.

The rollout follows Payward’s partnership with the London Stock Exchange to tokenize its 100 largest listed companies. The exchange intends to list xStocks on its LSE 24 platform in 2027, subject to regulatory approval, according to Payward.

What markets could xStocks add next?

Payward said hundreds of Hong Kong-listed stocks are due to follow in the coming weeks. It described the UK and EU launch as the first expansion markets under its partnership with GTN, with further international markets planned.

The new listings widen the set of traditional shares represented on crypto rails, while the access limits and lack of direct company ownership remain central to what xStocks offers. Payward says each token is matched to a share held in custody; users hold the token and its price exposure.

References

• announcement — payward.com
• CoinDesk reported — coindesk.com