Kraken IPO 2026: Crypto Comeback After Trump Win & SEC Drop

Hey, crypto fam! It’s your boy from BitGalactic, your go-to crypto vet with a decade in this wild game. Big news just dropped: Kraken’s IPO is back from the dead, eyeing 2026! After years of regulatory punches, a crypto winter that froze us all, and a Trump-sized twist, this exchange is roaring back. Stick around—I’ve got the juicy details, my take as a 10-year insider, and what this means for YOUR crypto bags. Let’s dive in!

So, here’s the scoop: Kraken, one of the OGs in crypto exchanges, is dusting off its IPO plans—think Q1 2026. Bloomberg’s sources say they’ve been battered for five years—crypto bear markets, SEC lawsuits, you name it. But the SEC just dropped a massive case accusing them of running an unregistered securities broker. That’s huge! Kraken called it a ‘political hit job,’ and honestly, I’ve seen this playbook before—regulators love flexing on crypto when the vibe’s anti-innovation.

But check this: Trump’s win in November 2024 flipped the script. His pro-crypto stance is like rocket fuel for firms like Kraken. Their trading volume? Up 148% to $665 billion in the last year. Revenue? Doubled to $1.5 billion. Institutional and retail traders are piling in—post-election hype is real. I’ve been tracking this since 2015, and this kind of surge reminds me of the 2017 bull run, but with way more big money behind it now.

What’s my take? This SEC back-off isn’t just a win for Kraken—it’s a signal. The U.S. crypto scene’s been suffocating under Biden-era rules. Now, with a lighter regulatory touch, we’re seeing a gold rush. Kraken’s senior director, Shannon Kurtas, said it best: less risk means more players can jump in. And the data backs me up—CoinMarketCap shows exchange volumes spiking 30% since December 2024. This isn’t a fluke; it’s a trend.

Let’s rewind a bit. Back in 2017, exchanges like Coinbase were the darlings of the bull run—everyone wanted in. But then came the 2018 crash and regulatory crackdowns. Kraken’s been fighting this SEC battle since 2020, similar to how Ripple wrestled with the SEC over XRP. Ripple won in 2023, and now Kraken’s free too. History’s repeating, but with a twist: today’s market has matured. We’ve got institutions, not just Reddit degens, and Trump’s cheerleading instead of Gary Gensler’s gavel.

Compare that to Coinbase’s 2021 IPO—it went public at a $100 billion valuation, then tanked in the bear market. Kraken’s timing might be smarter, riding this pro-crypto wave. They’re not alone either—Circle, BitGo, Gemini, Bullish—all lining up for the public market spotlight. This feels like 2017’s hype, but with stronger legs.

So, what’s next? If Kraken pulls this IPO off—whether it’s a traditional listing or something funky like a direct one—I’m betting they’ll hit a $20-30 billion valuation, easy. Crypto’s hot again, and 2026 could be the year exchanges become Wall Street’s new pets. But here’s the million-dollar question: will this spark a broader bull run, or are we hyping too early?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—do you think Kraken’s comeback is the real deal, or just another pump-and-dump setup? And which crypto firm do you want public next? I’m reading every reply!

That’s it for today, crew! If you loved this deep dive, smash that like button and hit subscribe—BitGalactic’s dropping crypto truth bombs weekly. Been in this game 10 years, and I’m here to help YOU navigate the madness. Ring the bell so you don’t miss a thing—next up, we’re tackling Bitcoin’s 2025 moves. See you in the galaxy, fam!