Is Kraken Also Launching a Token? A Guide to Ink's First Season Points Program
- Core Viewpoint: Ink, the Ethereum Layer 2 network launched by the Korean cryptocurrency exchange Kraken's professional trading platform Kraken Pro, has officially initiated its points program. The program aims to incentivize user trading and interaction, paving the way for its potential future token issuance and guiding its vast centralized exchange user base into the on-chain DeFi ecosystem.
- Key Elements:
- Ink is an Ethereum Layer 2 network launched by Kraken, designed to lower the barrier to entry for DeFi, address pain points such as wallet complexity and high gas fees, and deeply integrate with infrastructure like the Kraken Wallet.
- Users can earn Ink points by trading, staking, and referring new users on Kraken Pro. Points are settled weekly and accumulated for life, featuring a tiered ranking mechanism.
- Kraken Pro is an independent platform for professional traders, coexisting with the basic Kraken and Kraken+ subscription versions, but sharing the same account and fund pool.
- The official statement clearly indicates that the current Ink points are not tokenizable, not redeemable, and have no cash value. Their design is primarily part of a user loyalty program.
- The article analysis points out that as Kraken has postponed its IPO plans, it is more likely to prioritize the completion of Ink's token issuance before going public.
Original | Odaily (@OdailyChina)
Author | Asher (@Asher_ 0210)
Last night, the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced via its official Kraken Pro account on X that the Ink Season 1 Points Program is now live.
Kraken Pro officially announces the launch of the Ink Points Program
Kraken officially announced the launch of Ink Chain (an Ethereum Layer 2 designed to simplify user entry into DeFi) in October 2024. Its goal is to seamlessly bridge Kraken's over 10 million centralized exchange users to the on-chain DeFi ecosystem, addressing pain points of traditional DeFi (such as complex wallet setup, high gas fees, fragmented liquidity, etc.). While Ink is not the Kraken exchange itself but an independent on-chain infrastructure, it is deeply integrated with Kraken's foundational facilities (like Kraken Wallet, zero withdrawal fee support, etc.).
At the end of last year, Kraken's valuation in the primary market once reached $20 billion. However, affected by the cooling IPO environment in the crypto industry, its CEO subsequently chose to postpone the originally planned US listing scheduled for 2026. Therefore, it is more likely that Kraken will prioritize completing a token launch for the Ink chain before its own public listing.
Below, Odaily provides an overview of the relationship between Kraken Pro and Kraken, a Kraken Pro interaction tutorial, and the Ink points rules.
Differences Between the 3 Versions of Kraken Exchange
This event takes place on Kraken Pro. Since Kraken currently has three versions, Odaily has compiled their differences, with specific details as follows:
- Kraken (Basic Version): Focuses on simplicity and ease of use, with a very intuitive interface, suitable for beginners or users with low trading frequency and small amounts. Offers a standalone mobile app with a low barrier to entry, leaning more towards a "buy-and-sell" experience.
- Kraken+ (Subscription/Membership Version): Builds upon the basic version with a subscription model where users pay monthly for additional benefits. The core advantage is zero fees on the first $10,000 in monthly trading volume, along with some additional perks. Suitable for users with moderate trading needs looking to reduce costs.
- Kraken Pro (Professional Version): Targets experienced traders, offering a standalone app and web interface. Features include more professional candlestick charts, a rich variety of order types (like limit, stop-loss, etc.), and a lower fee structure. Although it has a separate interface, it shares the same account and funds as the basic version, allowing users to switch between the regular and Pro versions at any time.
Differences between Kraken and Kraken+
Step-by-Step Guide to Interacting with Kraken Pro
STEP 1. Go to the Kraken Pro official website (link: https://pro.kraken.com/) and complete account registration using your email.
STEP 2. Select the Kraken Pro version. For mobile operation, simply download the Kraken Pro app from your app store. Additionally, after entering Kraken Pro, you need to complete KYC verification.
STEP 3. Click on "Promos" at the bottom, then select "Ink Points" to enter the points interface.
STEP 4. Click on "Portfolio," then click "Deposit" to fund your account, and you can start trading and earning points.
Detailed Explanation of Ink Points Rules
What are Ink Points
- Ink Points is the points system for the Ink Layer2, connecting real user interactions with incentive mechanisms;
- Kraken Pro will also adopt this points system for its loyalty program.
How to Earn Ink Points
- You can earn Ink Points by trading, staking, and referring new users on Kraken Pro;
- Joining the Kraken Affiliate Program allows you to earn a 10% Ink points rebate from your referrals;
Furthermore, the official encourages genuine user interaction. The earlier you start, the more active you are, and the more Kraken Pro products you use, the more points you will earn.
Ink Points Update Notes
- Points Calculation: Points are calculated daily, automatically settled weekly by the system, and distributed every Monday;
- Season Structure: Each season lasts 4 weeks, with scores calculated separately per season. Total points are retained for life;
- Acceleration Mechanism: Periodic points multiplier events will be launched; users should pay attention to official announcements;
- Leaderboard + Tiers: Rankings are updated weekly. Based on current points, there are six tiers (Levels 1 to 5 and VIP). The exclusive "Tier System" means you only compete with traders in the same tier. Except for VIP, other tiers currently offer no additional benefits, with plans to gradually open them up in the future.
Additionally, the official notes that Ink Points are not tokenizable, not redeemable, have no cash value, and are temporarily unavailable in some regions.
