Kraken母公司拟收购立陶宛Saldo银行，传统金融版图持续扩张

Kraken’s parent company, Payward, has signed an agreement to acquire the Lithuanian bank Saldo Bank.

Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has completed a acquisition deal to take control of Saldo Bank, which is based in Lithuania. This move signifies a further expansion into regulated retail banking services within the crypto infrastructure sector. The transaction aims to enhance Payward Banking’s ability to offer traditional financial products in various European markets, while also leveraging Saldo Bank’s existing EU banking licenses.

According to the terms announced by Payward, the company will acquire Saldo Finance Oy, a Finnish holding company. Saldo Bank UAB, a subsidiary of Saldo Finance Oy, is a digitally licensed bank operating in Lithuania. Payward stated that this transaction supports its long-term infrastructure strategy.

Key points:

• Payward will acquire Saldo Finance Oy in order to obtain Saldo Bank UAB’s EU digital banking license and operational rights.
• The bank’s current authorization has been “portfolioized” to the Netherlands, thereby enabling broader access to EU markets.
• Payward expects the transaction to be completed by 2027, provided that regulatory approval is obtained.
• This acquisition aims to enrich Payward Banking’s product portfolio, including deposit interests, loans, and “Bank as a Service” (BaaS) services.
• Payward’s plans are consistent with its recent efforts to launch digital cards in the United States through the Kraken payment application.

The value of Payward’s acquisition target, along with its EU licensing status, is significant.

Payward在一则新闻稿中表示，已达成具有约束力的收购协议。交易结构至关重要：Saldo Finance Oy是控制Saldo Bank UAB的控股公司，后者是一家专注于数字化且在立陶尼亚持牌的放贷机构。

对Payward而言，其实际价值在于监管合规。据Payward称，Saldo银行的欧盟银行牌照及其现有布局，使其能够在包括立陶宛、芬兰、瑞典和德国在内的四个运营市场中扩展服务。Payward还指出，该银行的授权已护照化至荷兰。

这与在加密平台内部构建金融功能的扩张方式不同。一家受监管的欧盟银行能够支持核心银行业务功能，这些功能仅靠加密基础设施很难复制——特别是在存款吸收、贷款结构以及银行分销模式方面。

计划中的扩张：存款、贷款与银行即服务

Payward预计将利用Saldo银行的能力，拓宽Payward Banking为客户和合作伙伴提供的服务范围。公司表示，此次收购将使传统服务成为可能，如计息存款产品和贷款产品。

Payward还强调了“银行即服务”（BaaS）能力，描述了可能包括发卡、护照化授权以及针对中小企业的贷款工具等功能。换言之，其目的不仅仅是零售银行业务；Payward也将这家银行定位为一种平台层，可用于向多个欧盟司法管辖区的企业和客户分发金融服务。

The company described this acquisition as a way to “serve European customers in the manner that should be expected of a leading financial institution”. It emphasized the concept of holding assets in regulated environments and then utilizing those assets effectively.

Arjun Sethi, CEO of Payward, stated that a regulated EU-based bank is “essential for us to be able to serve European customers in the way that leading financial institutions do: by having assets held locally, allowing for easy transfer and utilization, while also generating returns.”

Payward indicates that the acquisition is expected to be completed by 2027, but this will require customary regulatory approvals. This timeline leaves room for uncertainties that are common in bank-related mergers and acquisitions: oversight from relevant authorities, approval of changes in ownership and management, as well as any conditions that may be imposed on the banking operations.

Additionally, this deal comes at a time when Payward continues to demonstrate its commitment to bridging the gap between cryptocurrency activities and traditional payment infrastructure. In August this year, Payward launched a multi-asset debit card in the United States through Kraken’s payment application. Users can use this card to spend cryptocurrencies and fiat currency, and receive up to 2% in cash back in dollars or Bitcoin Cash.

虽然美国发卡举措与欧盟银行收购是两个独立的项目，但它们共享一个更广泛的主题：将加密相关的价值融入日常金融工作流程。现在的问题是，一旦收购获得监管机构批准，Payward能多快地将银行牌照转化为欧盟市场可扩展的产品分销能力。

这如何契合Payward的整体战略

Kraken的母公司一直将Payward定位为不仅仅是一个加密服务提供商。该公司的明确重点是构建基础设施，以支持与加密相关产品并存的传统金融功能——这种方法越来越类似于主流金融科技公司通过受监管实体进行扩张，而不是完全依赖银行合作伙伴。

此次收购将使Payward Banking直接控制欧盟境内的一家持牌银行，为存款和贷款产品以及发卡等“银行即服务”工具提供潜在基础。如果获得批准，Saldo银行在立陶宛、芬兰、瑞典和德国现有的零售定期存款也可能成为规模化的起点。

然而，读者应将期望与现实执行区分开来。该协议仅是第一步；交易的完成取决于监管审查，而公司在四个市场扩展的能力可能在交易完成后需要仔细的分阶段推广计划、风险管理及合规执行。

Currently, the key points that need attention are the regulatory processes that will continue until 2027, as well as Payward Banking’s efforts to transform Saldo Bank’s licenses and authorization into new products, along with establishing distribution partnerships within the European Union.