Kraken Trading Fees Breakdown: Spot & Derivatives
In this guide, we break down all the key fees charged by Kraken, including maker and taker fees, funding rates, withdrawal costs, and any hidden charges. We also highlight available discounts, such as reduced fees for using native tokens or qualifying for VIP tiers. Finally, we compare Kraken’s pricing with that of leading competitors to help you evaluate whether the platform offers strong cost efficiency.
Based on my review, Kraken’s trading fees are generally in line with the industry average
As a member of the TU analytics team, I contributed to the in-depth analysis of more than 200 cryptocurrency exchanges, assessing over 140 criteria , including trading fees, non-trading charges, discount programs, and product offerings.
- According to the TU crypto exchange evaluation methodology, Kraken earned a score of 6.2/10.
- Kraken ranks #1 in our cryptocurrency exchange rating based on its overall performance across key evaluation criteria.
Below is a closer look at how Kraken structures its trading and non-trading fees.
| Kraken fee | Market average Based on the analysis of over 200 cryptocurrency exchanges | |
|---|---|---|
| Futures taker, % | 0.05 | 0,054 |
| Futures maker, % | 0.02 | 0,024 |
| Spot taker, % | 0.4 | 0,194 |
| Spot maker, % | 0.25 | 0,15 |
| Deposit fee | 0 | 0 |
| Withdrawal fee | 1% | Vary |
Kraken Futures Fees: Is Kraken Cheap for Derivatives Traders?
Kraken offers futures trading with a clear and competitive fee structure. The base fee is 0.02% for makers and 0.05% for takers, while the industry average stands at approximately 0.024% for makers and 0.053% for takers.
As with most major exchanges, trading fees on Kraken decrease as your trading volume increases. For example, if your 30-day trading volume reaches $15 million, fees drop to 0.01% for makers and 0.035% for takers.
To help you evaluate cost efficiency, we’ve compared Kraken futures fees with those of its top 2 competitors in the derivatives market.
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot maker fee, % | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Spot taker fee, % | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.05 |
| Futures maker fee ($15M turnover), % | 0.01 | 0.018 | 0.02 |
| Futures taker fee ($15M turnover), % | 0.035 | 0.03 | 0.05 |
Kraken spot fees: Is it cheap for spot trading?
The base spot trading fee on Kraken is 0.25% for makers and 0.4% for takers, compared with the industry average of 0.15% for makers and 0.194% for takers. Like most crypto exchanges, Kraken offers trading fee discounts as your spot trading volume increases. For instance, if your 30-day volume reaches $5 million, the fee on Kraken drops to 0.02% for makers and 0.12% for takers. To help you assess value, we've also compared Kraken spot trading fees with those of its top 2 competitors.
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot maker fee, % | 0.25 | 0.5 | 0.08 |
| Spot taker fee, % | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Spot maker fee ($5M turnover), % | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Spot taker fee ($5M turnover), % | 0.12 | 0.18 | 0.045 |
Does Kraken charge fees for deposits and withdrawals?
Kraken generally does not charge fees for deposits, particularly for cryptocurrency transfers.
To help you better evaluate the total cost of using Kraken, we’ve compared its non-trading fees, including deposit and withdrawal charges, with those of its top competitors.
| Kraken | Coinbase | OKX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit fee | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Withdrawal fee | 0.0005 BTC |
Fixed fee - 25 USD PayPal - 1.5% USDC - 10 USD |
0.0004 BTC 2.6 USDT |
Does Kraken offer P2P trading?
No, Kraken does not currently support P2P trading. Users can only trade via the centralized exchange interface.
For a list of exchanges that support P2P trading, check out our dedicated article on the Best P2P Crypto Exchanges.
Minimizing crypto trading costs: Expert tips
Choosing the right crypto exchange is essential for keeping trading costs low and protecting your profits. Based on our recent in-depth analysis of over 200 exchanges across 140+ evaluation criteria, here are expert insights to help you reduce fees, maximize available discounts, and select platforms that align with your trading goals.
Many exchanges offer reduced trading fees when you use or hold their native token to pay for transactions. These discounts can reach up to 50%, making them especially attractive for high-frequency traders.
| OKX | Crypto.com | CoinMetro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native token discount, % | 10-40 | 1-100 | 5–50 |
While these discounts can be valuable, it’s important to consider the volatility of native tokens. A sharp decline in token value may erase any fee savings and could result in losses if the token is held solely for discount purposes. Before committing, calculate your expected savings and consider whether holding a speculative asset aligns with your broader trading strategy.
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