Payward, the parent company of Kraken and developer of the xStocks tokenized equities framework, has formed a strategic partnership with Ledger, a global leader in digital asset security. The two companies announced the collaboration on September 24, 2026, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Paris, France. The initiative aims to connect secure self-custody with trading, payments, and market infrastructure so users can access global financial services while retaining control of their assets.
Aligning Security with Market Access
The partnership is grounded in the principle that the security of holding private keys should not require sacrificing access to global markets. Payward and Ledger intend to make it easier for customers to interact with centralized finance platforms and onchain ecosystems without weakening personal security practices. The companies said this approach reflects where the industry is heading, particularly for investors who want deep liquidity, trusted infrastructure, and secure broader financial access.
Ledger Signer Integration within Kraken
Under the agreement, Kraken customers will be able to use their Ledger signer directly within the Kraken experience. The integration is built with the Ledger Device Management Kit and includes full Clear Signing support, allowing users to fund and withdraw assets and sign transactions with the same device they already trust. Payward said the design reduces friction while strengthening security and enables smoother movement of assets between self-custody and Kraken's platform.
Embedded Buy, Sell, and Swap in Ledger Wallet
In parallel, Payward Services, Payward's B2B infrastructure platform, will become an embedded buy, sell, and swap provider inside Ledger Wallet, starting with debit card and bank transfer support across Europe and the United Kingdom. The companies plan to expand to additional payment rails and geographies over time. This integration is expected to give millions of Ledger users the ability to buy, sell, and move crypto through Payward while continuing to control their private keys.
Tokenized Equities and Institutional Collaboration
Payward and Ledger are also working to integrate xStocks more deeply across Ledger Wallet, giving users onchain access to US and international equities markets. xStocks has surpassed 42 billion dollars in total transaction volume, and the planned integration would let Ledger customers buy, sell, and transact hundreds of tokenized equities directly from self-custody. Payward Services will work with Ledger Enterprise to give banks, fintechs, and institutions access to trading, qualified custody, payments, and funding rails through a single Kraken integration.
Executive Views on the Partnership
David Ripley, Co-CEO of Payward, said self-custody and exchange access should not feel like separate experiences, because investors who prioritize asset control also need deep liquidity and trusted infrastructure. Pascal Gauthier, Chairman and CEO of Ledger, added that Ledger's hardware-enforced security infrastructure secures both value and access, bringing self-custody and global markets together at every scale. The executives framed the partnership as a step toward a future where secure key control and global financial infrastructure operate as one.
The collaboration brings together two important layers of the digital asset economy: the hardware-enforced security layer that protects customer assets and the financial infrastructure layer that enables trading, payments, and market access. By integrating Kraken with Ledger devices, embedding Payward Services in Ledger Wallet, and expanding tokenized equities access, the companies aim to make self-custody more practical for everyday financial activity. The partnership signals a broader industry shift toward unifying secure ownership with institutional-grade market infrastructure.