PYMNTS.com · 27 Sep, 22:57 · Finance briefing

Payward Looks to Build Financial Infrastructure Beyond Kraken Exchange

Payward, formerly known as Kraken, is expanding its strategic focus beyond its established cryptocurrency exchange operations.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Payward, formerly known as Kraken, is expanding its strategic focus beyond its established cryptocurrency exchange operations. The company aims to construct comprehensive financial infrastructure, signalling a broader ambition within the digital asset sector. This shift suggests a move towards providing foundational services for the wider industry rather than solely concentrating on retail trading. The development highlights an ongoing evolution in the fintech landscape, where major players seek to diversify their offerings and enhance systemic stability. Professionals in finance and technology should note this pivot, as it indicates growing institutional interest in building robust, scalable frameworks for digital currencies and related financial services.

Employer demand for Cyber Security skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)
20191x20201.3x20211.9x20222.7x20233.9x20245.5x20257.9x202610.7x
Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This strategic pivot signals a surge in demand for professionals skilled in regulatory compliance, blockchain architecture, and traditional financial integration. You should focus on mastering regulatory frameworks and risk management, as infrastructure development requires rigorous adherence to global standards. Technical experts must deepen their understanding of distributed ledger technology and secure system design. If you operate in fintech, prioritise cross-functional collaboration skills to bridge the gap between legacy banking and digital assets. Smart professionals will immediately upskill in compliance and governance, ensuring they can navigate complex legal landscapes. Consider specialising in infrastructure security or financial modelling to remain competitive. This shift rewards those who can translate technical innovation into compliant, scalable business solutions, making regulatory literacy as valuable as coding ability.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Cyber Security, Compliance And Governance, AI in Banking and Finance and Accounting — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below
Cyber Security+27%Compliance And Governa…+25%AI in Banking+26%Finance and Accounting+32%
Matched to this story

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This briefing is based on reporting by PYMNTS.com on 27 Sep, 22:57. Read the original coverage →

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