Wells Fargo Explores Crypto Liquidity Partnership With Kraken Parent Payward

One of America's largest banks is weighing a move deeper into digital asset markets by outsourcing a critical piece of its trading infrastructure. Wells Fargo (WFC) is in discussions with Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, about securing liquidity for crypto trading services, according to people familiar with the matter.

The potential arrangement would see the Wyoming-based company supply liquidity for digital asset transactions, effectively giving the bank access to crypto markets and order execution without having to build those systems from scratch. Talks remain ongoing and may not produce a final agreement, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private. Both companies declined to comment.

Shares of the San Francisco-based lender closed at $80.26 on Tuesday, down 1.53%, before slipping another 0.10% in after-hours trading.

The reported talks reflect a broader shift among traditional financial institutions, which are increasingly turning to established crypto firms as commercial partners rather than competitors. A more accommodating regulatory environment in Washington has accelerated that trend, with major lenders now viewing digital asset companies as viable infrastructure providers for their own product roadmaps.