Kraken Review 2026
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- $1
- Proprietary platform
- All popular cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, 7 fiats, large leverage, solid trading volumes. In addition to cryptocurrencies, there are indices and futures, but no investment programs.
Our Evaluation of Kraken
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Kraken is one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 8.32 out of 10. Having reviewed trading opportunities offered by the company and reviews posted by Kraken clients on our website, Traders Union expert Anton Kharitonov believes he can recommend this company as the majority of reviews prove that the broker’s clients are fully satisfied with the company.
Kraken is one of the longest-standing cryptocurrency exchanges, founded in 2011 and based in the United States. It supports over 250 coins and tokens for trading, along with staking, margin, and futures services. The exchange is regulated in multiple jurisdictions and is known for robust security measures, including ISO 27001 certification and an SPDI charter. It complies with financial regulations in the U.S., Europe, and beyond.
How we tested Kraken
Traders Union has analyzed financial markets for over 14 years, evaluating brokers based on 250+ transparent criteria, including security, regulation, and trading conditions. Our expert team of over 50 professionals regularly updates a Watch List of 500+ brokers to provide users with data-driven insights. While our research is based on objective data, we recommend that users perform independent due diligence and consult official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.
Brief Look at Kraken
The Kraken exchange is a trading platform for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Cardano, XRP, other cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins. Fiats are represented by EUR, USD, CAD, CHF, AUD, GBP, and JPY. In addition to margin trading, Kraken has indices and futures trading. The exchange provides traders with x5 leverage for margin trading and x50 for futures. Commission fees are among the lowest on the market - up to 0.26%. The crypto exchange has a proprietary trading terminal for an internet browser, as well as mobile applications for iOS and Android devices. The platform offers an extensive knowledge base, tutorials, and video podcasts with news and analytics. The referral program is the standard single-level model with a yield of 20% of the referral’s commission fees.
- convenient, intuitive terminal with one-click trading;
- all major cryptocurrencies, as well as seven fiats;
- margin trading, as well as futures and indices trading ;
- large leverage (x5 for margin, x50 for futures trading);
- an extensive database of information and training materials;
- large trading volumes on the exchange provide high liquidity;
- some of the lowest fees in the cryptocurrency market.
- no investment programs;
- no call center.
TU Expert Verdict
Chief Analytics Officer
Kraken provides access to trading over 250 cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, as well as seven major fiat currencies such as USD, EUR, and JPY, through its proprietary web and mobile platforms. The exchange supports margin trading with leverage up to 1:5 and offers futures trading with leverage up to 1:50. Kraken is regulated by Tier-1 financial authorities in several jurisdictions, including the U.S. and Germany, and maintains high-security standards with ISO 27001 certification, cold wallet storage, and mandatory KYC. Competitive fees, high liquidity, and advanced charting tools through TradingView integration enhance its appeal for active crypto traders.
A few disadvantages are spot trading fees that are above the industry average, no investor protection fund, and the lack of a call center for customer support. The absence of some advanced order types and restrictions on Face ID login may also concern some users. Kraken is best suited for traders seeking a wide coin selection, strong regulation, and robust security, but may not be suitable for traders who prioritize the lowest possible trading fees or dedicated phone support.
Kraken Summary
Your capital is at risk. Cryptocurrency trading can be extremely risky. Cryptocurrency trading can lead to large and immediate financial losses. The volatility and unpredictability of the price of cryptocurrency relative to fiat currency may result in significant loss over a short period of time. Transactions in cryptocurrency may be irreversible, and, accordingly, losses due to fraudulent or accidental transactions may not be recoverable. The nature of cryptocurrency may lead to an increased risk of fraud or cyber attack.
| 💻 Trading platform: | Proprietary platform |
|---|---|
| 📊 Accounts: | Standard |
| 💰 Account currency: | Cryptocurrencies, currencies |
| 💵 Deposit / Withdrawal: | Bank cards and accounts, electronic and cryptocurrency wallets, SEPA |
| 🚀 Minimum deposit: | $1 |
| ⚖️ Leverage: | 1:5 for margin trading, 1:50 for futures |
| 💼 Copy Trading: | No |
| 📈️ Min Order: | From 0 |
| 💱 Commission: |
Spot: 0.25%-0.4% Futures: 0.02%-0.05% |
| 🔧 Instruments: | 278 supported coins, Futures, Perpetual contracts, Fiat, NFT. |
| 💹 Margin Call / Stop Out: | No |
| 🏛 Liquidity provider: | No |
| 📱 Mobile trading: | Yes |
| ➕ Affiliate program: | Yes |
| 📋 Order execution: | N/A |
| ⭐ Trading features: | All popular cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, 7 fiats, large leverage, solid trading volumes. In addition to cryptocurrencies, there are indices and futures, but no investment programs. |
| 🎁 Contests and bonuses: | Bug Bounty program with payments for finding vulnerabilities |
The user cannot deposit funds or trade without verification. There are no minimum deposit limits with verification, the user fully controls his financial policy on the exchange, the exception is the upper limit on daily withdrawal of funds. Kraken crypto exchange offers significant leverage which lets you gain a significant trading edge. You can contact the technical support of the company using an offline help system, tickets, and online chat.
Kraken Key Parameters Evaluation
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Regulation and Safety
Kraken has earned a rating of 9.75/10, demonstrating strong security and regulatory compliance. This score suggests that the exchange is generally reliable and offers a solid level of protection for users.
- 2FA
- Tier-1 regulation
- U.S-regulated
- Government-regulated
- Cold wallet storage
- No successful hacks history
- No facial recognition
- No investor protection fund
Kraken Security Factors
We also compared Kraken against the top two competitors with the highest scores in our overall ranking based on the most critical security indicators.
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
| Tier-1 regulation | Yes | Yes | No |
| Government-regulated | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Investor protection fund | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Facial recognition | No | No | Yes |
| Cold wallet storage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Successful hacker attacks | No | Yes | No |
Is Kraken a regulated crypto exchange?
Kraken is regulated by a Tier-1 financial authority (e.g., in the U.S., UK, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, Singapore, or another jurisdictions with strict financial oversight). This ensures strong investor protection, compliance with stringent operational standards, and enhanced security for users trading on the platform.
Kraken is authorized or licensed in accordance with local regulations in the following regions: Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Canada, Bermuda.
Is verification (KYC) mandatory at Kraken?
Yes, KYC verification is mandatory at Kraken. You will need to complete the verification process before you can open an account and access the platform's full range of services.
Is Kraken available in the USA?
Yes, Kraken is available in the USA. However, availability may vary by state due to local regulations. We recommend checking the official website or contacting support for up-to-date information specific to your location.
Kraken commissions and fees
Kraken received a 6.2/10 score for its trading fees. While Kraken is not the cheapest crypto exchange, the fees remain reasonable and competitive within the market.
- Futures fees below industry average
- No deposit fee
- Spot fee above industry average
- Withdrawal fee may be applied
What are Kraken trading fees?
We analyzed Kraken’s crypto fees and compared them to the top two competitors, both of which hold high average positions in our rankings. To establish a comprehensive benchmark, we also calculated the average fee score based on an evaluation of over 100 cryptocurrency exchanges.
Kraken trading fees vs competitors
| Kraken | Nexus Trade | CoinMetro | Industry average | |
| Spot, maker fee (%) | 0.25 | 0.22 | 0.1 | 0.15 |
| Spot, taker fee (%) | 0.4 | 0.22 | 0.2 | 0.194 |
| Futures, maker fee(%) | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | 0.024 |
| Futures, taker fee(%) | 0.05 | 0 | 0.053 |
What are Kraken deposit and withdrawal fees?
| Deposit fee, % | 0 |
| Withdrawal fee, % | 0.0005 BTC |
Does Kraken offer P2P trading?
No, Kraken does not support P2P transactions. However, you can explore the best alternatives in our dedicated list of top P2P exchange platforms, offering a variety of secure options for peer-to-peer transactions.
Deposit and Withdrawal
Kraken received a 8.5/10 rating for its deposit and withdrawal services. Kraken supports a wide range of payment methods with low or no fees, ensuring fast and convenient transactions.
- PayPal payments
- Bank cards accepted for instant deposits
- Many cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals
- Bank transfers for deposits and withdrawals
- No P2P transfer option
- Withdrawal fee applies
Deposit and withdrawal options
Kraken supports the following deposit and withdrawal options: Bank transfers, Bank card, Crypto, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay.
Kraken Deposit and withdrawal options vs competitors
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
| Bank transfers | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bank card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes | No |
What is Kraken minimum deposit?
The minimum deposit at Kraken is 10 USD/USDT or 1 BTC. The minimum trade size is 1 USD/USDT, which also serves as the minimum amount required to start trading on the platform.
Kraken minimum deposit vs competitors
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
| Minimum deposit, USD or USDT | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Minimum deposit, BTC | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Minimum trade amount, USD/USDT | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Does Kraken support fiat money?
Kraken supports fiat currency trading and account funding. The following fiat currencies are accepted:
Supported coins & markets
Kraken received a score of 8.5/10 in this category, highlighting its excellent selection of tradable assets and market access. Kraken supports 278 coins and caters to various trading types, making it a strong choice for both active traders and long-term investors.
- NFTs available
- Crypto futures available
- Yield farming available
- Crypto options not available
Kraken supported coins and markets vs competitors
We compared Kraken with leading exchanges in terms of supported coins, NFT access, and derivatives like futures and options to help users assess the platform’s product range and trading flexibility.
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
| Supported coins | 278 | 249 | 329 |
| Futures/Perpetual contracts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | No | Yes |
| NFTs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Kraken passive income options vs competitors
We also compared Kraken with top competitors in terms of passive income opportunities such as staking, farming, and copy trading, to help users evaluate the platform’s earning potential beyond regular trading.
Trading apps & tools
Kraken received a score of 8.75/10 for its trading apps and tools. Its mobile platforms are highly rated on both iOS and Android, delivering smooth performance, advanced charting capabilities, and real-time market data.
- Full-featured trading on desktop
- Strategy sharing with Copy Trading
- Advanced tools and automation with API
- Advanced charting with TradingView support
- Advanced orders not available
- No Face ID
- No trading bots for traders
Trading apps
Kraken provides web and mobile apps for both Android and iOS users, with an average rating of 4.7 on the App Store and 4.5 on Google Play. Our review focused on core features important to traders, particularly trading functionality and security tools, to evaluate how convenient and safe the Kraken platform is for mobile use.
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
| 2FA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Face ID | No | No | Yes |
| Mob Indicators | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Orders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trading with bots | No | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extra trading platforms | No | No | No |
Does Kraken offer a desktop app?
Yes, Kraken offers a desktop app with full trading functionality. It supports advanced charting, fast execution, and is compatible with both Windows and macOS systems.
Does Kraken offer advanced charting with TradingView integration?
Yes, Kraken offers advanced charting through direct integration with TradingView. Users can access TradingView’s full suite of indicators, drawing tools, and multi-timeframe analysis directly on the platform.
Contacts
| Foundation date | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Registration address | GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia |
| Official site | https://www.kraken.com/ |
| Contacts |
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