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Klarna Set to Raise $1.27 Billion in Strategic NYSE Listing


Market Debut and Valuation Overview

Swedish fintech leader Klarna is poised for its high-profile public debut on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “KLAR.” The anticipated offering, which includes 34,311,274 ordinary shares priced between $35 and $37 each, is expected to raise up to $1.27 billion and value the company at approximately $14 billion, according to CNBC estimates. Notably, while the company will directly offer 5.56 million shares, the majority – roughly 28.8 million shares – will be sold by existing stakeholders, signaling a significant vote of confidence from major investors.

Strategic Underpinnings and Expanded Financial Services

Founded in 2005, Klarna has redefined consumer credit with its pioneering buy now, pay later model, allowing customers to split payments into manageable installments. Beyond this flagship service, the firm is actively diversifying its product suite to include debit cards and deposit accounts, positioning itself as a comprehensive financial services provider. The involvement of prominent institutions such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley as joint book runners further underscores the offering’s credibility and strategic significance.

Financial Performance and Market Resilience

The company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed robust revenue growth, with the June quarter recording a 20% year-on-year increase to $823 million. However, a net loss of $53 million – compared to the corresponding period last year – highlights ongoing challenges amid competitive market dynamics. Previously valued as high as $45.6 billion during a June 2021 funding round led by SoftBank, Klarna’s valuation has experienced significant recalibration, reflecting broader macroeconomic pressures and evolving investor sentiment.

Navigating Global Challenges and Future Outlook

Originally slated for a public listing earlier this year, Klarna temporarily paused its plans in response to geopolitical uncertainties, including U.S. tariff adjustments announced in April by former President Donald Trump. This strategic delay allowed the company to recalibrate its approach in a volatile global market. As Klarna implements its ambitious plans and expands its product portfolio, industry watchers will be keenly assessing its ability to blend innovation with financial robustness in the increasingly competitive fintech landscape.


Passkeys Are The Gold Standard For Account Security. So Why Don’t More Major Apps Offer Them?

Passkeys are increasingly being promoted as one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts. By reducing reliance on passwords, they help prevent phishing attacks, simplify sign-ins and strengthen account security. Despite those advantages, however, many major digital platforms have yet to adopt the technology.

A Security Upgrade Still Missing At Scale

That gap is the focus of whynopasskeys.com, a new site created by security researcher Scott Helme to highlight companies that have not yet enabled passkeys for their users. The site tracks major consumer brands that continue to rely on older login methods even as passkeys become the industry standard.

Among the services still without passkey support are Instagram, Netflix and Spotify, according to the site’s data.

Why Passkeys Matter

Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are generated on a user’s device and linked both to that device and to a specific website or application. Authentication can be completed through biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID, a hardware security key or a password manager.

Because users do not need to create or remember passwords, opportunities for credential theft, phishing attacks and password reuse are significantly reduced. In most cases, gaining access to an account would require direct access to the user’s device.

Public Accountability As A Pressure Tactic

In a blog post explaining the project, Helme said the goal is to create pressure by making the absence of passkey support visible. “A list is a surprisingly effective motivator. Nobody wants to be on the list,” he wrote.

That approach has already worked elsewhere in cybersecurity: when businesses are publicly compared against peers on basic protections, they often move faster to close the gap. In this case, the list is intended to push platforms to give users a stronger and simpler login option.

The Companies Moving Faster

Many large technology companies have already adopted passkeys, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, reflecting the technology’s growing role in account security.

Implementation, however, remains uneven. Instagram users can currently access passkeys only when their account is linked to a Facebook account that already has passkey support enabled, highlighting differences in adoption even within the same company.

The Bigger Business Question

Meta has not publicly explained why passkeys are available on some of its platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, but not fully across Instagram.

Debate within the industry is no longer centred on whether passkeys work, but on how quickly companies are willing to deploy them. As phishing, credential theft and account fraud remain persistent cybersecurity challenges, passkeys are increasingly being viewed not as an optional feature but as an emerging security standard.

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