Kraken, the US-based cryptocurrency exchange racing toward an initial public offering (IPO), is setting its sights on decentralized finance (DeFi). A recent rumor claimed that Kraken plans to acquire Aave tokens at a price around 30% of their face value — a 70% discount. While the rumor has been widely interpreted as a misunderstanding or exaggeration, the underlying interest in Aave, one of the leading DeFi lending protocols, has captured the market’s attention.
According to industry sources, Kraken is internally exploring deep partnerships with DeFi protocols like Aave, potentially through over-the-counter (OTC) deals to obtain large token positions at discounted rates. This move aligns perfectly with the exchange’s IPO timeline: by incorporating DeFi assets and revenue streams into its financials, Kraken can showcase innovation to traditional capital markets while simultaneously appealing to crypto-native users.
Although the “70% off Aave” claim remains unconfirmed, Kraken’s DeFi ambitions are no secret. If the deal materializes, it would mark a landmark event where a major centralized exchange makes a deep bet on DeFi governance tokens, potentially shifting the competitive landscape between CeFi and DeFi.