US crypto exchange Kraken eyeing public listing in 2022

Kraken could follow Coinbase’s footsteps by becoming the next Unites States-based crypto exchange to be a publicly-traded company.

Kraken CEO Jesse Powell has revealed that the crypto exchange could go public before the end of 2022.

Powell made this known during an interview with Bloomberg TV, stating that the move would be a natural progression for the company in its mission to “bring crypto to the world.”

According to Powell, Kraken is currently doing “prep work” towards going public in the next 12 to 18 months. However, the exchange CEO did not give a target valuation for the upcoming float.

Earlier in June, Cointelegraph reported that Kraken was reconsidering earlier plans to pursue a direct listing path towards becoming a public company given the lackluster performance of Coinbase stock launch back in mid-April.

Indeed, in March, a Kraken spokesperson had claimed that the company was “too big” to go public via a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company.

With the SPAC and direct listing route probably out of the table, Powell’s latest announcement might mean Kraken is poised to pursue an initial public offering.

Related: Kraken rethinks direct listing plan following Coinbase’s lackluster performance

Kraken recently secured backing from RIT Capital Partners, a $5.3 billion investment trust. The fourth-largest exchange by trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap data is also reportedly set to raise additional capital to put its valuation north of the $10 billion mark.

With over six million customers and an operating presence in about 190 countries, the 11-year-old exchange is also looking to expand its reach with India being touted as a possible destination. Kraken is among one of three major exchanges looking to service India’s estimated 15 million cryptocurrency investors even amid the current regulatory imbroglio in the country.