Kraken relaunches compliant staking for US clients after SEC settlement

Kraken announced the launch of a new onchain staking product for US clients, marking a significant return to staking services in select states after facing regulatory scrutiny.

The offering will allow users in 37 states and two territories to stake digital assets such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), and Cardano (ADA), according to a Jan. 30 announcement.

The move restores access to staking for a broad segment of Kraken’s US users, aligning with the global availability of similar products. Kraken said it plans to expand access as permitted by state regulations.

Kraken global head of consumer Mark Greenberg said:

“Launching this new staking product in the U.S. is an overwhelmingly positive development, not just for Kraken but for the entire U.S. crypto space. We believe this will play a significant role in the development and mass adoption of crypto.”

Regulatory challenges

Kraken’s announcement comes nearly a year after the company settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which accused it of failing to register its previous staking service. As part of that settlement, Kraken paid a $30 million fine and ceased its staking services for US customers.

The new product follows a different model, where assets staked via Kraken Pro are delegated to validators that process transactions and secure blockchain networks. Rewards, minus fees, are passed back to users.

Unlike its previous offering, Kraken has positioned this service as fully compliant with existing regulations, though specific details on how it differs structurally from the prior iteration were not disclosed.

Market trends

Kraken was one of the first centralized exchanges to introduce onchain staking in 2019 and has since integrated additional staking solutions, including Ethereum restaking via EigenLayer. The company said its revamped U.S. staking service helps restore “parity” with the staking options available to its international users.

Proof-of-stake (PoS) has emerged as one of the dominant consensus mechanisms in the crypto industry, with stakers helping to secure networks in exchange for rewards. However, regulatory concerns have clouded the future of staking services in the US, with authorities questioning whether they constitute unregistered securities offerings.

Kraken’s ability to resume staking in much of the US signals a shift in how crypto firms intend to nag compliance while maintaining staking as a core feature. The company emphasized that staking involves inherent risks, including potential loss from slashing penalties, bonding periods, and asset depreciation.

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