Payward Signs Deal for Saldo Bank, Giving Kraken’s Owner an EU Banking Foothold

The move signals that crypto-native firms increasingly see a licensed EU bank as the practical route to offering deposit interest and lending, rather than relying on partnership models. It matters most for European users and for traditional lenders facing a competitor that can pair banking services with an exchange. The long closing timeline leaves room for regulatory scrutiny, so whether the deal clears intact is the open question.