Kraken has acquired a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license, allowing it to offer derivative products across the European Union. This license was obtained through the acquisition of a Cypriot investment firm, receiving approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Over the past two years, Kraken has been expanding its presence in Europe, aiming to capitalize on the region's growing crypto market, valued at $7 billion with a projected 15% growth rate until 2030. The exchange noted that Europe is one of the most active areas for crypto derivatives trading, entering a competitive landscape with other entities such as Bitstamp and Coinbase. Crypto derivatives typically cater to experienced traders and include products like futures and options that derive value from underlying assets. Kraken's expansion into derivatives comes amid evolving regulations in the crypto space, especially with the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation addressing various industry concerns.

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