Kraken Owner Payward to Buy Lithuania’s Saldo Bank in EU Push

This deal would give a major crypto exchange a licensed EU bank, a significant step toward blurring the line between crypto platforms and traditional finance. It matters because regulated banking access has been a persistent hurdle for crypto firms in Europe, and acquiring an existing license is faster than applying for one. The real test is whether the combined offering—lending, cards, and eventually tokenized assets—actually gains traction with customers accustomed to separate banking and crypto relationships. Whether EU regulators and competitors treat this as a one-off or the start of a broader consolidation trend is the open question.