Payward Partners with Singapore Gulf Bank for 24/7 Digital Asset Settlements

On October 4, 2026, Payward, the parent company of Kraken, revealed a partnership with Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) aimed at offering 24/7 instant settlement services for digital assets to institutional clients in Asia and the Gulf region. This collaboration integrates SGB Net, the bank's real-time multi-currency clearing network, into Payward's infrastructure.

The initiative is designed to address the challenges posed by traditional banking hours, which often create delays in capital deployment for institutions. With the integration of SGB Net, which has been operational since May 2025 and processes over $2 billion in fiat transactions monthly, Payward aims to facilitate immediate fund transfers, allowing clients to act swiftly in the dynamic crypto market.

The service will initially support USD transactions with a select group of clients, with plans to expand to additional currencies and clients over time. The liquidity for this setup will be provided through Kraken Prime, Payward's institutional prime brokerage arm.

This partnership is part of a broader strategy by Payward, which recently collaborated with SoFi for real-time USD settlements. The focus on USD is strategic, as it is central to global finance and crypto trading, potentially easing future expansions to other currencies.

As the rollout begins, industry observers will be watching for announcements regarding new clients, the addition of more currencies, and the expansion of Kraken Prime's liquidity offerings.