In an era where national security is increasingly digital, the boundary between cutting-edge private-sector innovation and public-sector infrastructure is rapidly fading. In a significant step for public-private collaboration, Payward, Inc., the unified financial infrastructure platform behind cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has announced its participation in the US Tech Force.
Administered by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and backed by the White House, this federal technology talent initiative aims to recruit elite engineers to tackle high-stakes modern challenges. By joining the initiative, Payward will lend its specialised experience in high-throughput blockchain security and deep crypto infrastructure to help fortify federal systems.
What is the US Tech Force?
Launched to bridge the gap between private-sector agility and government priorities, the US Tech Force places top-tier engineers, developers, and researchers into federal agencies for temporary two-year terms. Participants work directly on high-impact missions—ranging from Treasury financial system upgrades to defence advancements. The programme prioritises several key domains:
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Cybersecurity & Attack-Proof Software Engineering
- Data Modernisation & Legacy Upgrades
- Blockchain-Enabled Secure Infrastructure
Payward joins a growing cohort of tech leaders, including Cisco, Scale AI, Wiz, and OpenAI, alongside fellow digital asset pioneers Coinbase and Robinhood. This cross-government initiative signals a growing acknowledgment in Washington that securing the digital frontier requires borrowing the tools and talent that power the private Web3 ecosystem.
Crypto-Grade Resiliency at Sovereign Scale
Building financial products that operate 24/7/365 under constant adversarial conditions has given the digital asset industry a unique, trial-by-fire engineering methodology. This battle-tested expertise is precisely what Payward intends to bring to Washington.
“At Kraken and Payward, we build for speed, security, and scale in the most demanding environments,” said Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Kraken and Payward. “Government tech modernisation isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’, it is mission-critical for public trust, economic strength, and national leadership.”
Sethi highlighted that the company’s engineers will focus on deploying resilient, attack-proof architectures. This includes implementing blockchain applications designed to guarantee unbreakable transparency, automated efficiency, and cryptographic validation at a national level.
Fostering a Two-Way Talent Pipeline
A standout feature of Payward’s commitment is the creation of a bidirectional talent loop. Not only is the company sending senior engineers into federal service, but it has committed to actively recruiting top Tech Force talent back into its commercial teams once their government terms conclude.
This two-way flow of expertise represents a strategic win for both sides. The government gains immediate access to top-tier system architect talent that is typically difficult to recruit via traditional civil service channels. In return, private-sector firms like Payward receive engineers who have navigated the immense scale, rigorous compliance standards, and complex security clearances of federal operations.
The Broader Payward Strategy
While most retail users associate Payward strictly with its flagship exchange, Kraken, the parent company has been quietly executing a massive institutional play. Over the past year, Payward has expanded its footprint through key acquisitions like B2B payment gateway Reap and CFTC-licensed derivatives platform Bitnomial. It also operates a unified infrastructure platform that powers NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, and CF Benchmarks.
By aligning itself with federal modernisation efforts, Payward is positioning its underlying tech stack as more than just a retail trading foundation. It is presenting its architecture as a secure, regulated, and sovereign-grade framework capable of underpinning next-generation financial and state machinery.
As decentralised technologies transition from alternative assets to critical components of national competitiveness, partnerships like the US Tech Force will likely become the blueprint for how governments protect and run the digital backbones of the free world.