Kraken

Kraken transparent logo

Lucrative staking with high yields on idle spot assets – Sleek trading interface with beginner and pro versions – One of the oldest crypto exchanges – Available to most US users

User Friendly
 

Bank transfer deposits

No bank card deposits

Fiat withdraw to bank account

Mobile App

Beginner friendly features: 5

Ease of buying and trading: 5

Interface and user experience: 5

Education and learning: 3

Customer support: 4

Features
 

Spot trading

Futures trading

Advanced trading options: 2

Staking and savings: 3

Airdrops and launchpools: ×

Additional financial services: 1

Other products and services: 1

Decentralized wallet: 5

Fees
 
  • Spot Maker Fee: 0.25%
  • Spot Taker Fee: 0.40%
  • Futures Maker Fee: 0.02%
  • Futures Taker Fee: 0.05%
Safety
 

 Exchange launched in 2013

Proof of Reserves

Regulatory compliance: 5

Reputation and reliability: 5

Asset safety and trust: 5

User account security: 5

Highly regulated

Considered very safe

Volume & Altcoins
 

 Number of altcoin pairs: 300

 Last 24h trade volume (in BTC): 27,157

Features Score: 68 / 100
3.8
Total Rating: Very Good
Toggle feature descriptions
Beginner friendly buying
5
Beginner features such as fiat deposits, quick convert, recurring buys, demo trading.
Ease of buying and trading
5
How easy was it to deposit, convert fiat to crypto, and execute trades on spot market.
Interface and user experience
5
Usability, design and intuitivness of the interface and light and dark color schemes.
Advanced trading options
2
Derivatives, options, stocks, margin, trading bots and other advanced trading features.
Staking and savings
3
Number of available staking assets and overall yields.
Airdrops & Launchpools
0
Frequency, value and ease of joining various airdrops and launch events.
Extra financial services
1
Crypto debit cards, fiat withdrawals, loans, P2P marketplace.
Trading fees
2
Competitiveness of trading fees compared to other exchanges, including discounted rates with our referral bonuses.
Volume and liquidity
5
Overall volume, liquidity and spreads on spot and derivatives markets.
Altcoins selection
3
Amount and quality of listed altcoin trading pairs.
Regulatory compliance
5
Approvals, certificates and compliance with various agencies and institutions.
Reputation and reliability
5
Overall reputation of the exchange, user feedback and reviews, social media sentiment, trust and transparency.
Asset safety and trust
5
Use of cold wallet storage and multi-signature, user protection funds, proof of reserves, security audits, and other safety and insurance measures.
Account security
5
Availability of various account security features such as 2FA, anti-phishing codes, hardware keys, withdrawal or trading passwords.
Other products & services
1
NFT marketplaces, copytrading, subaccounts, gift cards, trading competitions and other features.
Mobile App
4
Usability, update freqency, platforms, design and ease of trading via the mobile app.
Decentralized Wallet
5
Decentralized self-custody wallet usability, operating systems, number of assets and blockchain networks supported, DeFi options and more.
Education and learning
3
Learning and news resources on the website, including instructional videos, articles, knowledge bases, FAQs and help center.
Customer support
4
Responsiveness and availability of customer support through different channels such as email, live chat, social media, and others.
Referral and signup bonuses
0
Benefits obtained through the use of our referral codes, including discounted fees, cash bonuses and other rewards.
CoinMarketCap Rating: 7.3/10
CoinGecko TrustScore: 10/10

Quick info:

Launched in: 2013
Based in: United States
Trust Score: 10/10 (Ranked #5)
Coins listed: 300+
Trading volume: 27,157

Features overview:

  • Deposits: Cryptocurrency Bank cardsBank transfers
  • Beginner trading: Beginner-friendly interfaceSpot tradingMobile appCopytrading
  • Advanced trading: MarginFutures & leverageOptionsTraditional marketsTrading bots
  • Financial services: Fiat withdrawalsDebit spending cardsCrypto loansP2P tradingStaking & Earn
  • Other features: Dark themed interfaceWeb3 wallet

Restricted countries

Kraken is not available in these 22 countries:

Afghanistan, Belarus, Central African Republic, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Cuba, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Namibia, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Yemen.

Kraken fully restricts customers from Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria. Users from other restricted territories can create accounts, but are subject to additional restrictions (staking, funding, futures, etc.). Customers from US can not trade futures.

Kraken enforces mandatory KYC on all customer accounts. Using the exchange from restricted territories or through VPNs is not recommended.

See our list of countries to find exchanges available in your territory, or view all exchanges without KYC policy enforcement.

Available countries

Kraken is available in 214 countries and territories.

Trading fees

  • Spot: 0.25% maker and 0.40% taker (under $10,000 monthly volume), 0.2% maker and 0.35% taker (over $10,000 monthly volume)
  • Margin: 0.02%, 0.02% rollover fee per 4 hours
  • Futures: 0.02% maker, 0.05% taker
  • Additional fee discounts starting at $50,000 volume in 30 days for spot, or $100,000 volume in 30 days for futures
Visit Kraken

Pros

  • Highly regulated and trusted.
  • Operating from United States, and available to U.S. customers.
  • Lucrative “Earn” feature with high yields on idle spot assets.
  • Sleek trading interface with beginner and pro versions, suitable for all traders.
  • One of the oldest crypto exchanges established in 2011 and launched in 2013.
  • Excellent open-source decentralized wallet.
  • Good user interface, fully available in night mode.

Cons

  • High spot trading fees.
  • High fiat deposit fees.
  • No signup bonuses, rewards or fee discounts available.
  • U.S. customers and some other restricted countries unable to trade futures and derivatives, or participate in staking.

About Kraken

Kraken stands as a stalwart presence in the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges, offering a robust platform that has become synonymous with reliability and innovation. Established all the way back in 2011, Kraken has cemented its reputation as one of the premier cryptocurrency trading platforms, catering to both novice and experienced traders.

One of Kraken’s notable features is its extensive range of supported cryptocurrencies, providing users with a wide array of digital assets to trade and invest in. With a commitment to security, Kraken employs cutting-edge measures to safeguard users’ funds and personal information, instilling trust and confidence among its user base.

Kraken’s user-friendly interface and intuitive trading tools contribute to a seamless trading experience. Whether engaging in spot trading, margin trading, or utilizing advanced order types, users can navigate the platform with ease. The exchange also offers futures trading, allowing users to speculate on cryptocurrency price movements with added leverage.

Kraken has been at the forefront of adhering to regulatory standards, fostering a transparent and compliant environment. This commitment to regulatory compliance positions Kraken as a reliable and responsible choice for traders seeking a secure and well-regulated trading platform.

It’s worth noting that Kraken is a US-based exchange, located in San Francisco, California. The exchange is available to most United States customers, except those living in New York or Washington. Kraken’s CEO is Jesse Powell, a well-known figure in the crypto community.

One of Kraken’s standout features is their lucrative Earn program. Their APY (yearly percentage yields) are some of the highest in the industry, with some assets providing over 20% interest per year. Simply holding popular coins can provide you daily or weekly interest, completely free of charge. These crypto assets you can earn interest on include Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Cosmos (ATOM), Solana (SOL), Polygon (POL/Matic), and even Ethereum (ETH).

Kraken staking assets
Simply holding certain spot positions on Kraken can provide literally free money with some of the highest APYs

For its profitable staking feature, Kraken is one of the top choices for holding spot bags. This helps long-term investors gain yields on their idle crypto coins without having to trade and risk their portfolio.

Beyond its core functionalities, Kraken provides educational resources, market analysis, and insights to empower its users. The exchange’s dedication to customer support ensures that users receive timely assistance, enhancing the overall trading experience.

In summary, Kraken’s longevity, commitment to security, diverse asset offerings, and user-friendly interface make it a standout choice for individuals looking to navigate the exciting realm of cryptocurrency trading with confidence and competence.

Features Score: 68 / 100
3.8
Total Rating: Very Good

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