LSE Taps Kraken Parent Payward for Tokenized UK Stocks
The London Stock Exchange is partnering with Kraken parent Payward to bring tokenized versions of major UK-listed stocks to blockchain based markets, as one of the world’s oldest stock exchanges expands its digital asset strategy. Under the partnership, Payward plans to tokenize shares of the 100 largest companies listed on the LSE through its xStocks framework. The first products are expected to become available through Kraken and other supporting platforms within weeks, while the LSE intends to support xStocks on its upcoming LSE 24 extended hours venue in 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The partnership also goes beyond tokenizing existing securities. The companies plan to explore native equity tokens that could eventually provide the same ownership rights as conventional shares. Key Takeaways Payward to Tokenize 100 Major UK Stocks The initial phase will use Payward’s existing xStocks structure to create blockchain based representations of shares in 100 of the largest London listed companies. Each xStock is backed 1:1 by the underlying security. However, the Financial Times reported an important distinction between the tokenized product and direct share ownership: xStocks provide exposure to the underlying stock but do not currently give holders full legal ownership rights associated with conventional shares. Simon McQuoid-Mason, who leads new product development, market structure and business development at the LSE, described the existing structure as synthetic exposure. “It still tracks the underlying security without being the underlying security.” The tokens are expected to become accessible to eligible investors in more than 110 countries. UK based investors, however, cannot currently access xStocks. Payward Chief Commercial Officer Mark Greenberg said the model could lower the barrier for international investors seeking exposure to London listed companies while allowing the assets to move between supported blockchain platforms and wallets. xStocks Has Processed More Than $40 Billion Payward’s xStocks framework has already expanded significantly beyond its original U.S. equity offering. According to figures supplied by the company, xStocks has processed more than $40 billion in cumulative trading volume across more than 200,000 holders, including nearly $20 billion settled onchain. The broader tokenized equity market remains considerably smaller when measured by the value of outstanding assets. RWA.xyz data cited in the supplied material puts total tokenized equities at roughly $2.53 billion, with about $606.6 million represented by xStocks. Payward has also been expanding the product geographically. In July, it partnered with financial infrastructure provider GTN to support an international expansion covering markets including Hong Kong, the UK, Europe and South Korea. LSE 24 Could Bring xStocks Into a Regulated Exchange Venue The partnership could eventually move xStocks beyond crypto native trading platforms. Subject to regulatory approval, LSE plans to list and support xStocks on LSE 24, its new extended hours trading venue expected to launch in the first half of 2027. LSE 24 is designed to operate separately from the exchange’s main market from Monday through Friday, extending access beyond traditional London trading hours. According to the FT, tokenized stocks traded through the venue would remain subject to regulated market controls intended to keep prices within appropriate ranges and aligned with the underlying shares. LSE CEO Julia Hoggett said the technology needs to develop without weakening the protections associated with established markets. “Tokenisation has the potential to change how investors access, and how issuers use, financial markets, but it must develop in a way that preserves the trust, rights and role of regulated markets.” The planned LSE 24 listing remains dependent on approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. LSE and Payward Explore Native Onchain Shares The longer term part of the partnership could represent a more significant change to how equities themselves are structured. Payward and the LSE plan to explore issuing native equity tokens through LSE infrastructure. Unlike the current xStocks structure, these securities could be designed to carry the same rights and ownership as conventional shares while remaining fully fungible with them. No timetable has been announced for introducing such products. The initiative also comes as other major exchange operators increase their involvement in tokenization. Nasdaq has pursued tokenized securities infrastructure, while Deutsche Börse invested $200 million in Payward in April as part of a wider partnership covering crypto assets, tokenized markets and institutional services. Conclusion The LSE’s partnership with Payward moves tokenized equities closer to established regulated market infrastructure. The immediate plan centers on blockchain based representations of 100 major UK stocks through xStocks, followed by potential trading on LSE 24 in 2027 if regulators approve the arrangement. More consequentially, the companies are exploring native onchain shares that could eventually provide investors with the same rights as conventional stockholders. For now, however, that remains exploratory, while the planned LSE 24 rollout still requires regulatory clearance.
The 7 Best Crypto Card for Freelancers in 2026: Spend What You Earn Anywhere
Receiving payments in USDT or USDC has transformed the way freelancers work. Stablecoins eliminate many of the challenges associated with international freelancing, including slow transfers and unfavorable middlemen charges, via fast, borderless transactions. However, converting Web3 earnings into everyday spending power remains a challenge. Freelancers often need to move their stablecoins through centralized exchanges (CEXs), P2P marketplaces, or third-party payment processors before accessing fiat currency. This process can add extra fees, create security concerns, and even expose users to unexpected bank account restrictions. Crypto cards solve this problem. Licensed electronic money institutions (EMIs), in partnership with Visa or Mastercard, issue these cards and link them directly to digital asset wallets. When you make a purchase, the card automatically converts your USDT or USDC into fiat currency at the point of sale, creating a smooth payment experience. In this guide, you’ll learn how crypto cards work, the key features to consider when choosing one, and the 7 best crypto card for freelancers available today. Key Takeaways Why Freelancers Need Crypto Cards Source: Pinterest.com A crypto card works like a debit or prepaid card that connects directly to your crypto wallet. It operates on the Visa or Mastercard network, giving you access to over 100 million merchants worldwide, even if those merchants do not accept crypto directly. When you make a purchase, the card either converts your crypto to fiat instantly at the point of sale, ensuring the merchant receives local currency like dollars or euros, or it spends from a preloaded fiat balance that you funded by converting crypto through your wallet app in advance. The Limitations of Traditional Withdrawal Methods Before exploring specific crypto cards, it is important to understand why traditional withdrawal methods no longer suit active freelancers and digital professionals. P2P Transfers Carry Compliance Risks Peer-to-peer platforms may offer competitive exchange rates, but frequent inflows from unfamiliar senders can trigger anti-money laundering (AML) systems in traditional banks. This often results in flagged transactions or even frozen accounts. Exchange Withdrawal Fees Reduce Earnings Centralized exchanges (CEXs) typically charge both a flat withdrawal fee and an additional conversion percentage, which reduces the final amount you receive in your bank or card balance. Traditional Transfers Take Too Long Bank withdrawal methods such as SEPA and SWIFT transfers often take anywhere from 1 to 5 business days to settle, creating delays that can disrupt cash flow for freelancers who rely on fast access to funds. How Crypto Cards Solve These Problems A dedicated crypto card removes these friction points by acting as a direct spending bridge between crypto and real-world payments. It eliminates unnecessary intermediaries, reduces delays, and allows freelancers to access and use their earnings instantly wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted. According to Rise’s 2025 Crypto Payroll Report, business adoption of crypto payroll grew from 15% in 2023 to 25% in 2025. The setup is simpler than most people expect. You sign up with a crypto card provider, complete identity verification, load your wallet with crypto, and either activate a virtual card instantly or wait for a physical card to arrive. Also Read: How to Integrate Crypto Payments with Shopify and WooCommerce What to Look for in a Crypto Card for Freelancers Source: Pinterest.com Not every crypto card is built the same way. Here’s what actually matters when you’re picking one for freelance use: Zero or Low Cross-Border Fees Freelancers who earn in one country and spend in another lose money quickly to foreign transaction fees. Choose a card that eliminates these fees or applies a fixed, transparent percentage. Stablecoin Support Reliable support for USDT and USDC is essential for most freelancers. You don’t want to deal with volatility when you need your income for everyday expenses like rent and bills. Instant Card Activation Instantly activated virtual cards allow you to start spending within minutes of receiving payment. There’s no need to wait days for a physical card to arrive. Wide Merchant Acceptance Cards powered by Visa or Mastercard networks are accepted at 55 million to 100 million merchants worldwide. Anything less limits your flexibility and spending power. Flexible Spending Limits Your card should match your earning reality. If you make $5,000 to $10,000 monthly as a freelancer, your spending and withdrawal limits should comfortably support that level of income. No Mandatory Staking Requirements Some crypto cards, like the Crypto.com card, require you to lock up large amounts of native tokens to access better rewards. For freelancers who depend on liquidity, such a requirement creates unnecessary restrictions and reduces financial flexibility. The Best Crypto Card for Freelancers Below is our top 7 best crypto cards for freelancers for your review: Platform Spending Limit Assets Supported Token Lockup Fees Cashback Upay Up to $200,000 50+ assets None No FX fees, no annual fees None Currently Trustee Plus Not disclosed 50+ assets None $10 issuance fee, 0.5% top-up fee None Crypto.com €10k/month, ATM; €25k aggregate Selected assets CRO stake Starts from $49.90/yr (Plus-tier card) 2% to 5% in CRO Wirex Not disclosed 40+ (fiat & crypto) None 0% FX; no monthly fee 0.5–8% in WXT Bitsa Not disclosed Selected assets None 0% on crypto purchase None Metamask Not disclosed 9 tokens (USDC, USDT, wETH…) None 0% foreign tx (Metal tier) 3% (Metal tier) Nexo Not disclosed Selected assets None No monthly fees Up to 2% UPay: Best Overall for Freelancers Source: Upay.best UPay is the most well-rounded crypto card for freelancers who earn globally and spend locally. The card, which supports 50+ assets, lets you use cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, or USDT for everyday spending online, in stores, or at ATMs, with payments converting automatically to USD, EUR, and other local currencies. At checkout, the card handles the crypto-to-fiat conversion instantly, so there’s no need to manually sell on exchanges first. The Platinum tier supports spending limits of up to 200,000 USDT, making it a strong fit for high-volume freelancers receiving crypto payments. Cross-border payments that traditionally take days through SWIFT can be near-instant, a real advantage when working with international
How to Integrate Crypto Payments with Shopify and WooCommerce
Your next customer might not be human. AI agents running inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and similar platforms are already completing purchases on behalf of real people, and the merchants ready for them have crypto payment infrastructure already in place. Knowing how to integrate crypto payments with Shopify and WooCommerce used to be a developer’s problem. Right now, with plugin ecosystems mature and protocols standardized, it’s a 20-minute setup with implications that go well beyond Bitcoin at checkout. First things first What a Crypto Payment Gateway Actually Does When a customer selects crypto at checkout, your store sends a request to the payment gateway. The gateway generates a unique wallet address and a QR code for that specific order amount. The customer sends the crypto from their wallet. The gateway monitors the blockchain for incoming transactions. Once confirmed, it sends a notification back to your store, which then updates the order status automatically. If you have opted for fiat settlement, the gateway converts the crypto to your local currency and sends the payment to your bank on a regular schedule. The key thing to understand is that you, as the merchant, never have to touch a crypto wallet or manage a blockchain transaction yourself. The gateway handles all of that. Your job is to choose the right one, connect it to your store, and test it before customers start using it. Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which One You Are Working With Matters The integration process is different for each platform, and it is worth understanding why before you start. Shopify is a closed, hosted platform. That means Shopify controls what apps can integrate with it. Every app goes through Shopify’s review process before it appears in the App Store. For merchants, this is actually useful when it comes to crypto payments, because it means any gateway app you install from the Shopify App Store has passed a basic level of vetting. The integration process involves finding the app, installing it, entering your API credentials, and activating the payment option. You do not need to write a single line of code. Shopify’s fee structures for third-party gateways are plan-dependent and evolve frequently. It is essential to consult the official Shopify pricing page for current policies and plan-based exemptions before committing to a provider. WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress. According to Cloudways’s WooCommerce crypto guide, WooCommerce powers roughly 40% of all online stores worldwide. Its open-source architecture gives you complete control over every layer of your store, including the checkout flow. You can install any compatible plugin, customise it with hooks and filters, and connect any gateway that provides a WordPress plugin. The trade-off is that there is no App Store safety net. You install a plugin, and the responsibility for compatibility, security updates, and conflict resolution falls on you. The implication for crypto specifically: with Shopify, you are somewhat protected from bad gateway integrations because Shopify vets apps. With WooCommerce, as AurPay’s payment gateway guide points out, the WordPress plugin ecosystem carries many abandoned crypto payment plugins, with unmaintained code that can break whenever WordPress updates. You have to check each plugin carefully before installing it. How to Add Crypto Payments to Your Shopify Store The whole process for Shopify takes less than an hour if you have your merchant account set up with the gateway beforehand. Step 1: Choose Your Gateway and Create a Merchant Account Before you touch Shopify, go to the gateway’s website and sign up as a merchant. The main options with Shopify App Store presence in 2026 are: During registration, you will need to complete KYC verification. Have your business documents and identity documents ready. Approval typically takes one to two business days. Step 2: Install the Shopify App Once your merchant account is approved and you have your API credentials, go to the Shopify App Store and search for your chosen gateway. Install the app, and it will ask you to authorise access to your store. This is standard for all Shopify payment integrations. Also Read: Best Crypto Payment Gateways in 2026: A Complete Guide Step 3: Enter Your API Keys Inside the app settings, you will find fields for your API key and API secret, sometimes called a merchant key and a salt, depending on the provider. Copy these directly from your gateway merchant dashboard. Do not type them manually. A single wrong character will break the integration silently, and you will not know until a payment fails. You will also see settings for which currencies to accept, whether to auto-convert to fiat, your settlement currency, and your payout schedule. Configure these before testing. Step 4: Enable at Checkout In your Shopify admin panel, go to Settings > Payments. Scroll down to Third-Party Providers, and you should see your newly installed gateway listed. Click Activate and confirm. The crypto payment option will now appear at your checkout alongside your other payment methods. CRITICAL SECURITY CHECK: Verify the ‘Last Update’ date for any plugin. Avoid any integration that has not been updated within the last 90 days, as abandoned plugins pose a significant security risk for checkout flows. Step 5: Test It in Sandbox Mode Every reputable gateway provides a sandbox or test mode where you can simulate payments without using real money. Use this before going live. Place a test order on your store, select the crypto payment option, and complete the payment using the test credentials the gateway provides. Then check that your store correctly marks the order as paid and updates the order status. If the order does not update automatically, your webhook is not configured correctly, and you need to fix that before going live. How to Add Crypto Payments to Your WooCommerce Store WooCommerce gives you more flexibility than Shopify, but also more responsibility. Here is the process from start to finish. Step 1: Choose a Plugin That Is Actually Maintained CRITICAL SECURITY CHECK: Verify the ‘Last Update’ date for any plugin. Avoid any integration that has not been updated