Kraken announced officially today that it will integrate the INK token and the Ink Layer 2 network into its main product platform, a major strategic move in support of scalable, decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure.
Ink Network is a Superchain ecosystem of Optimism and allows for a low-latency, high-throughput EVM-compatible environment for retail and institutional usage.
Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi emphasized the overall usability of the integration, stating:
“The Ink Layer-2 provides the world with a high throughput, low finality, EVM compatible environment that can be stretched across trading and payments infrastructure.”
The move indicates Kraken’s growing emphasis on building past centralized commerce by leveraging novel blockchain networks to propel decentralized applications and services.
INK Token to Fuel Liquidity, Trading, and Incentivization Mechanisms
INK token will play a core role in Kraken’s future ecosystem.
Unlike being a speculative token, INK is built to fuel network utility, powering trading, lending, and liquidity aggregation in the Ink Layer 2 network.
Interestingly, INK will have no governance capabilities, a departure from most DeFi tokens.
Instead, its use case is in being consumed in Kraken’s trading engines, liquidity protocols, and incentive systems.
It will also be featured on the platform’s airdrop rewards program, Kraken Drops, to stimulate user engagement and expand token distribution among participating users.
The utility-first approach is designed to attract sharp market participants and strengthen involvement in decentralized financial infrastructure.
Also Read: Kraken Launches Contest To Name Its Ink Mascot On Ethereum L2 Network
Market Reaction: INK Token Up 10% With Increasing Investor Sentiment
After Kraken’s announcement, the INK token appreciated by 10% in value, currently trading at $0.0008 and having a market capitalization of $372,495, according to CoinGecko statistics.
The bounce marks the renewed investor confidence in the token’s future use and adoption, especially now that it will be backed by one of the most secure crypto exchanges in the world.
The bump also follows the overall euphoria surrounding Layer 2 scalability solutions, which are seen as key to scaling real-world usage.
As Kraken becomes a hub for DeFi innovation, the INK token will benefit from increased visibility as well as functional integration on a global trading platform.
Also Read: Kraken Detects North Korean Hacker’s Deceptive Job Application in Failed Crypto Hack Attempt
Kraken Expands Strategic Alternatives and Prepares for Public Listing
INK integration is just one piece of Kraken’s broader strategy for deepening its footprint in the crypto and fintech markets.
Over the last few months, Kraken has launched several high-profile products, including Krak, a global payments and remittance mobile app, and a listing of tokenized shares known as xStocks.
The exchange also launched regulated U.S. customer derivatives trading and added Bitcoin staking via Babylon.
On the regulatory front, Kraken received a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license in Ireland, which entitles it to offer regulated services to all 30 European Economic Area (EEA) member states.
Most notably, Kraken is negotiating to list on a public exchange as soon as Q1 2026, following a favorable regulatory reaction with the U.S. SEC.
These charge-forward moves collectively establish Kraken as a crypto infrastructure giant, and the INK integration is another pillar in its expanding ecosystem.