#Title: Blockchain Firms Seek Valuations Amid Growing Interest in Digital Assets

In the world of finance, blockchain technology and digital assets have been gaining significant traction, with companies seeking substantial valuations and regulatory approvals to expand their operations. Two prominent players in this space, Digital Asset Holdings and Payward, have been making headlines recently with their funding rounds and charter applications. Digital Asset Holdings, the owner of the Canton Network, is reportedly in the final stages of a funding round that could value the company at an impressive $2 billion. According to Bloomberg News, the funding is expected to bring in around $300 million, with Andreessen Horowitz's 16z crypto leading the round. This development underscores the growing interest and investment in blockchain technology and its potential applications across various industries. On the other hand, Payward, the parent company of Kraken, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, is seeking fresh funding at a staggering $20 billion valuation ahead of a potential IPO. Additionally, Payward is also pursuing a national trust charter from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish the Payward National Trust Company (PNTC) for offering custody and related services for digital assets. This move highlights the company's ambitions to serve institutional clients and individual investors in the digital asset space. However, not everyone is on board with these developments. The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has urged the OCC to halt Payward's trust charter bid, expressing concerns about crypto firms leveraging stablecoin rules, Fed master account access, and trust charters to replicate banking services without adhering to traditional banking regulations. This opposition underscores the regulatory challenges and debates surrounding the integration of digital assets into the traditional financial system. Overall, the pursuit of significant valuations and regulatory approvals by blockchain firms like Digital Asset Holdings and Payward reflects the growing mainstream acceptance and adoption of digital assets and blockchain technology. As these companies navigate the complex regulatory landscape and seek to expand their services, the broader implications for the financial industry and the economy remain to be seen. #NexSouk #AIForGood #EthicalAI #BlockchainRevolution #DigitalAssets **Ticker Symbols:** - Digital Asset Holdings: N/A (Private) - Payward: N/A (Private) **References:** - PYMNTS: [Canton Network Owner Seeks $2 Billion Valuation With New Funding](https://www.pymnts.com/news/investment-tracker/2026/canton-network-owner-seeks-2-billion-valuation-with-new-funding/) - CoinDesk: [Kraken parent Payward seeks fresh funding at $20 billion valuation ahead of planned IPO](https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/05/08/kraken-parent-payward-seeks-fresh-funding-at-usd20-billion-valuation-ahead-of-potential-ipo) - Finovate: [Kraken Parent Company Payward Seeks National Trust Charter](https://finovate.com/kraken-parent-company-payward-seeks-national-trust-charter/) - American Banker: [ICBA urges OCC to halt Kraken parent's trust charter bid](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/icba-urges-occ-to-halt-kraken-parents-trust-charter-bid) Social Commentary influenced the creation of this article.