Kraken is a term that can refer to different things, depending on the context. Here are some possible meanings:
-
Legendary sea monster: The kraken is a legendary sea monster of enormous size said to appear in the sea between Norway and Iceland. It was first described in the modern era in a travelogue by Erik Pontoppidan in 1753. According to lore, the kraken was a many-headed and clawed creature that could sink ships by wrapping its many arms around them. The ships crew would either drown or be eaten by the monster. The kraken legends may have been based on a real creature: the giant squid, which can grow up to 40-50 feet in length and usually lives deep in the sea.
-
Cryptocurrency exchange: Kraken is a cryptocurrency exchange based in San Francisco that was founded in 2011. It allows market participants to trade various cryptocurrencies, including popular ones like Ethereum and Bitcoin, as well as others that have gained traction in recent times, like EOS, Monero, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The platform also allows trades in cryptocurrency futures and derivatives.
In summary, kraken can refer to a legendary sea monster or a cryptocurrency exchange.