Kraken has resumed onchain staking for eligible U.S. clients, reopening the product in 37 states and two territories through Kraken Pro and offering support for 17 crypto assets. The relaunch marks a notable return for the exchange after it previously halted staking services in the U.S. following regulatory action.
Staking Returns Through Kraken Pro
According to Kraken, eligible clients can now participate in bonded staking, a model in which digital assets are locked for a set period and delegated to validators. Those validators help process transactions and produce new blocks on supported networks. After fees are deducted, staking rewards are passed back to users.
Mark Greenberg, Kraken’s Global Head of Consumer, described the launch as a positive step not only for the company but for the broader U.S. crypto industry. He said the return of staking gives users a way to support blockchain network security while also earning rewards, reinforcing Kraken’s long-standing focus on offering staking services.
A Return After the 2023 SEC Settlement
The relaunch is significant because Kraken previously exited the U.S. staking market under regulatory pressure. In February 2023, the exchange reached a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, agreeing to pay a $30 million fine and stop offering staking services to U.S. customers. At the time, the SEC said Kraken’s staking program involved unregistered securities.
This new rollout comes as the regulatory environment for crypto in the United States appears to be shifting. The source material notes that the Trump administration has been taking steps toward clearer rules for cryptocurrency-related activities, a backdrop that may be creating room for exchanges to restore selected services.
ETH, SOL, DOT and ADA Included
Kraken said the new onchain staking product supports 17 assets, including ether (ETH), solana (SOL), polkadot (DOT), and cardano (ADA). The company also said its restaking integration will be available in eligible jurisdictions.
More broadly, Kraken framed its role as a gateway that helps users access crypto markets and participate in a wider range of blockchain-based activities through a familiar platform interface. As a result, the return of U.S. staking may be seen not just as a product expansion for Kraken, but also as a sign that the compliance boundaries around certain crypto services are becoming more defined.