
Kraken Buys AI Startup as Crypto Firms Race for AI Tech
Kraken Acquires AI Trading Platform Capitalise.ai
Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has acquired Israel-based artificial intelligence startup Capitalise.ai for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition marks the latest move in a growing trend of crypto companies purchasing AI technology firms to enhance their platforms and services.
What is Capitalise.ai
Capitalise.ai is a no-code trading automation platform founded in 2015. The company developed technology that converts natural language commands into executable trading strategies across multiple asset classes including:
Cryptocurrencies
Equities
Foreign exchange markets
Futures contracts
Options trading
The platform allows users to design, backtest, and automate trades without requiring programming knowledge or coding skills.
Integration with Kraken Pro
According to Kraken's announcement on August 20, the Capitalise.ai technology will be integrated into Kraken Pro later this year. This integration will enable Kraken Pro users to:
Convert everyday text into trading strategies
Execute trades across digital and traditional markets
Access advanced trading strategies without technical expertise
Automate trading processes using natural language commands
Shannon Kurtas, Kraken's head of exchange, stated that the acquisition provides clients with new ways to act on trading ideas in real time while making advanced strategies accessible to a broader user base.
Kraken's Strategic AI Investment Pattern
This acquisition follows Kraken's 1.5 billion dollar purchase of US futures platform NinjaTrader in March 2024. The moves demonstrate Kraken's commitment to expanding its trading infrastructure and incorporating advanced technology solutions.
Crypto Industry's AI Acquisition Spree
The cryptocurrency industry has witnessed a significant increase in AI startup acquisitions throughout 2024, with major players investing billions in artificial intelligence technology.
Major AI Acquisitions in Crypto
Chainalysis Acquires Alterya On January 13, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis purchased AI-powered fraud detection startup Alterya in a deal worth approximately 150 million dollars. Alterya's real-time monitoring system helps flag suspicious activity and strengthens compliance tools for financial institutions and regulators.
xPortal Purchases Alphalink Later in January, Web3 super-app xPortal acquired German startup Alphalink, which specializes in AI-driven mobile interfaces for cryptocurrency applications. The acquisition expanded xPortal's AI capabilities for decentralized finance and digital identity solutions.
Tether and Rumble Joint Acquisition On August 11, Tether and video platform Rumble announced a joint 1.17 billion dollar bid for Germany-based Northern Data, an AI and high-performance computing infrastructure provider. The deal includes Tether's commitment to multi-year GPU purchases and folds Northern Data's GPU cloud and data center operations into Rumble.
MARA Holdings Stakes Claim in French AI The same day, Bitcoin mining company MARA Holdings struck a 168 million dollar deal to acquire a 64 percent stake in French AI firm Exaion, a subsidiary of state-owned utility EDF. Exaion partners with Nvidia and Deloitte in high-performance computing, with MARA holding an option to increase its stake to 75 percent by 2027.
Partnership Alternative to Acquisition
Not all companies are choosing the acquisition route. In July, Coinbase opted for partnership over purchase, collaborating with Perplexity AI to integrate its COIN50 index data into the AI search engine. This partnership represents a step toward embedding cryptocurrency data into real-time AI responses.
Why Crypto Companies Target AI Startups
The wave of AI acquisitions in the cryptocurrency sector reflects several strategic priorities:
Trading Enhancement AI technology enables sophisticated trading algorithms, automated strategy execution, and natural language processing for trading commands.
Compliance and Security AI-powered fraud detection and monitoring systems help crypto companies meet regulatory requirements and protect user assets.
Infrastructure Optimization High-performance computing and GPU resources support both cryptocurrency mining operations and AI development.
User Experience Improvement AI interfaces make complex trading strategies and cryptocurrency operations more accessible to mainstream users.
Market Impact and Future Trends
The integration of artificial intelligence into cryptocurrency platforms represents a significant evolution in the digital asset space. These acquisitions signal that major crypto companies view AI as essential infrastructure rather than optional enhancement.
As regulatory frameworks develop and institutional adoption increases, AI-powered compliance, trading, and user interface solutions become increasingly valuable. The billion-dollar price tags attached to recent deals indicate the strategic importance companies place on AI capabilities.
The trend suggests that artificial intelligence will play a central role in the next phase of cryptocurrency market development, from automated trading systems to enhanced security measures and improved user experiences.
Conclusion
Kraken's acquisition of Capitalise.ai exemplifies the cryptocurrency industry's broader push to integrate artificial intelligence technology. As crypto companies compete to offer more sophisticated trading tools and enhanced user experiences, AI startups have become highly valued acquisition targets.
The wave of AI acquisitions across exchanges, miners, and analytics firms demonstrates that artificial intelligence is becoming core infrastructure in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. These strategic investments position crypto companies to offer more accessible, secure, and efficient services as the digital asset market continues to mature.
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