Kraken has completed a $500 million funding round, valuing the crypto exchange at $15 billion, and marking a major step toward a potential initial public offering now expected in 2026. The round, first reported by Fortune, included investment managers, venture capital firms, and co-CEO Arjun Sethi through his firm Tribe Capital. Founded in 2011, Kraken has long been seen as a counterweight to Coinbase, building a reputation among professional traders and institutions. For years, the company relied on little outside capital, raising just $27 million prior to this year. The $500 million raise signals a more aggressive ... (full story)