SALDO acquired by PAYWARD

Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Saldo Finance, a Finnish holding company that owns Lithuanian digital bank Saldo Bank. The acquisition would give Payward access to an EU banking licence and a presence in five European markets where Saldo operates, offering consumer and small-business loans, retail deposit accounts and credit cards. Payward planned to use the licence to expand its European services beyond cryptocurrency trading, with interest-bearing deposits, lending products, card issuance and financing for small and medium-sized enterprises. The deal remained subject to regulatory approval and was expected to close in 2027. The acquisition would allow Payward to develop its banking activities within the European Union using Saldo's existing licence and operations, while broadening the range of financial services available to its European customers.