Ink Points are a loyalty program for active Kraken Pro traders, and Season 1 went live on April 13, 2026, according to Kraken. Kraken states that Ink Points are non-tokenized, not redeemable, and carry no cash value, per the same Kraken announcement.
This guide covers what Kraken has published about Ink Points, how points accrue, and what Kraken has said separately about the INK token and its airdrop. Season 1 is not available in the UK, according to Kraken.
What are Kraken Ink Points?
Ink Points are a points program that Kraken runs inside Kraken Pro to recognize its most active traders. Points build up from trading activity on the platform and move a trader up through levels. They are not a token, cannot be redeemed, and have no cash value. Kraken has not yet said what points will be used for.
In its Season 1 post, Kraken describes Ink Points as the way it recognizes its most active Kraken Pro customers, and says points "open the door to the Ink ecosystem" without explaining how. Kraken also wrote that it cannot yet say what points are for. The fine print on the Kraken announcement reads: "Ink Points are non-tokenized and not redeemable. No cash value."
Ink itself is an Ethereum layer 2 built on the OP Stack and released by Kraken, according to Ink. For background on the network, see What Is Ink Blockchain?
How do you earn Ink Points?
Kraken says Ink Points accrue from activity across Kraken Pro, so trading there is the only earning route it has described. Kraken adds weekly boosts for chosen activity categories and a level system that rises with consistent activity. Kraken has not published point values per trade, boost sizes, or level thresholds for Season 1.
Here is what Kraken has stated in its Season 1 post:
Trade on Kraken Pro. Points accrue from activity across Kraken Pro, and accrual began on April 6, 2026, with the first points drop on April 13, 2026, per Kraken.
Weekly boosts. Each week Kraken names specific activity categories that receive a points boost, according to Kraken.
Levels. Season 1 has six levels, per Kraken. Early levels focus on building habits, and the top level is shown on the season leaderboard.
Region. The program is not available in the UK, and other geographic restrictions apply, per Kraken.
The Season 1 post from Kraken does not list onchain activity on Ink as a way to earn Ink Points. Lists of Ink apps or quests published by third parties are not part of the program Kraken describes.
What has Kraken said about the INK token and airdrop?
The INK token is a separate announcement from Ink Points. Kraken has said INK will be issued by a subsidiary of the Ink Foundation and distributed through Kraken Drops to eligible, active Kraken clients and ecosystem participants. Kraken has not published an airdrop date, eligibility rules, or any link between Ink Points and INK.
In a post dated July 24, 2025, Kraken said INK "will be airdropped to eligible, active Kraken clients and ecosystem participants" as part of Kraken Drops. The same Kraken post says INK will be issued by a subsidiary of the Ink Foundation, which stewards the Ink layer 2.
That post also says more details on the INK airdrop "will be shared in the future," and Kraken has not published a date since, per Kraken. The Season 1 Kraken announcement does not mention INK, so holding Ink Points does not mean a confirmed INK allocation.
Ink Points FAQ
Most questions about Ink Points come down to value, redemption, and the airdrop. Kraken's own answers are short: points have no cash value, cannot be redeemed, and are not tokens. Kraken has not tied them to INK. Anything beyond that, such as a conversion ratio or a snapshot date, has not come from Kraken.
Can I redeem Ink Points? No. Kraken says Ink Points are not redeemable and have no cash value.
Do Ink Points turn into INK tokens? Kraken has not said so. The INK airdrop plans published by Kraken describe eligible, active Kraken clients and ecosystem participants, without mentioning points.
Is there an INK airdrop date? Not from Kraken. Its INK announcement says details will come as milestones are reached.
For a framework on judging points and airdrop programs in general, see How to evaluate airdrop campaigns.