Kraken Brings Back Staking Services in the US as Regulatory Pressure Eases

The crypto regulatory landscape in the US has shifted, and Kraken is seizing the moment. The crypto exchange reintroduced on-chain
staking for American customers, marking a major comeback after regulatory
pressure forced it to shut down staking services in 2023.

With 17 assets available for staking, including
Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), Kraken’s move signals renewed momentum for
crypto participation in the US.

Kraken Relaunches Staking for U.S. Clients

Kraken announced that customers in 39 US states and
territories can now access its staking services through Kraken Pro. The
platform offers bonded staking, where users lock their tokens for a specific
period to help secure blockchain networks and earn rewards in return.

The move comes nearly a year after Kraken settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in February 2023, agreeing to pay
$30 million and halt its staking-as-a-service program. At the time, the SEC
argued that Kraken had offered unregistered securities through its staking
platform.

The return of Kraken’s staking services reflects a
broader change in the U.S. regulatory climate for crypto. The previous
administration’s stringent approach, particularly through the SEC, had put many
crypto firms under scrutiny. Now, with a shifting political landscape, Kraken and
other industry players are exploring ways to reintroduce curtailed services.

“Launching this new staking product in the US is an
overwhelmingly positive development, not just for Kraken but also for the
entire U.S. crypto space,” commented Mark Greenberg, Kraken Global Head of
Consumer.

“We are excited to bring back a brand new product
enabling US clients to resume staking with Kraken and play a significant role
in bolstering the underlying security of blockchain networks.”

Available Staking Assets

Kraken’s new staking product allows users to delegate
assets to validators, who manage transaction validation and block production.
In return, clients receive rewards minus fees. To address concerns about risks associated with
staking, Kraken has also introduced slashing insurance from a third-party
provider, offering additional protection for US customers.

Kraken is a centralized exchange offering on-chain
staking that launched services in 2019. It also became an early adopter of
Ethereum restaking, supporting projects like EigenLayer.

With proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms
becoming increasingly dominant in the crypto world, staking remains a crucial
way for investors to participate in blockchain security while earning passive
rewards. Kraken’s reintroduction of staking in the U.S. could
pave the way for other exchanges to follow suit, reshaping the regulatory
landscape for crypto services.

This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.
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