Kraken has announced its agreement to acquire NinjaTrader, a U.S. retail futures trading platform, for $1.5 billion. This acquisition, which is subject to certain purchase price adjustments, marks a pivotal moment in the convergence of traditional finance and cryptocurrency. Kraken aims to enhance its multi-asset-class ambitions, including plans for equities trading, as it seeks to establish itself as a comprehensive financial platform. The deal has sparked discussions about further mergers and acquisitions in the sector, with speculation surrounding other potential deals, such as Coinbase's possible acquisition of Deribit for $5-6 billion.