Wells Fargo is in talks with Payward, the Wyoming-based parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, to provide liquidity for crypto-asset trading, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. The discussions are ongoing and may not lead to an agreement, while both companies declined to comment. The talks reflect growing ties between established crypto firms and major banks as U.S. regulation becomes more accommodating, including through the GENIUS Act, signed by Trump in July 2025. Wells Fargo already offers spot bitcoin ETFs to eligible wealth clients, has backed Elliptic and Talos, and is pursuing blockchain-based deposits and a dollar stablecoin. Payward is also separately discussing a broader partnership with BNY Mellon and has expanded its institutional business through relationships including SoFi. Existing plans and transactions have helped position Payward as a broader financial-services provider, with $508 million in adjusted revenue and 6.6 million funded accounts reported for the second quarter of 2026.