Kraken Launches Full Crypto Services in Ukraine

Kraken has received regulatory authorization from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), marking a significant expansion into the UAE market. **Key Services Approved:** - Spot trading - Margin trading - Over-the-counter (OTC) services - Staking products - Institutional access via Kraken Prime The authorization enables Kraken to serve both retail and institutional clients in the region. Support for AED (UAE Dirham) funding is planned for later in 2026. This follows Kraken's 2025 acquisition that enabled derivative product offerings across the European Union, demonstrating continued regulatory progress in major markets. [Read full announcement](<https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260521552844/en/Payward-Secures-VARA-Authorization-in-UAE-Enabling-Kraken-to-Expand-Regional-Presence>)

Kraken has launched a partnership with MoneyGram enabling users to withdraw cryptocurrency as local currency cash across 100+ countries. **Key Features:** - Near-instant access to funds - Cash pickup available at MoneyGram locations worldwide - Converts crypto directly to local currency The service provides a bridge between digital assets and traditional cash infrastructure, allowing Kraken users to access their crypto holdings through MoneyGram's established global network. [Learn more about the partnership](https://blog.kraken.com/news/moneygram-partnership)

The Senate Banking Committee passed the **CLARITY Act** in a bipartisan vote, moving the digital asset legislation to the Senate floor. **Key provisions:** - Establishes federal framework for digital asset categories - Clarifies jurisdictional boundaries between SEC and CFTC - Creates consistent standards for intermediaries The bill addresses the current fragmented regulatory landscape across multiple U.S. agencies. Bipartisan support came from Chairman Tim Scott, Cynthia Lummis, Ruben Gallego, and Angela Alsobrooks.

Kraken Financial has secured a **Federal Reserve master account**, marking a significant milestone as the first digital asset bank with direct access to the U.S. payments system. **Key Development:** - Direct connection to Federal Reserve payment rails - First crypto-native institution to achieve this status - Bridges digital assets with traditional financial infrastructure This follows the Federal Reserve's April 2025 withdrawal of restrictive crypto guidelines for banks, which opened the door for Bitcoin-based services like checking accounts and crypto-backed loans in traditional banking. The master account grants Kraken Financial the ability to settle transactions directly through the Federal Reserve, eliminating intermediary banks and potentially reducing costs and settlement times for customers. [Read the full announcement](https://blog.kraken.com/news/federal-reserve-master-account)