According to CoinMeta, Payward (the parent company of Kraken) has agreed to acquire Saldo Bank located in Lithuania, with the goal of obtaining a European Union banking license to expand its traditional financial services. This acquisition will make Payward the first cryptocurrency company to acquire a bank in Europe. As of the end of 2025, Saldo Bank had total assets of 163.9 million euros (approximately 180 million US dollars), a 22.7% increase from last year. Payward stated that after the acquisition, payments will be made to EU customers and in euros. This transaction still requires regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in 2027.