Kraken Review (September 2026)
SponsoredVerdict: Buyers who will use limit orders on Kraken Pro and want a strong security reputation and regular proof-of-reserves audits. Not ideal for small, occasional buyers: the July 2026 entry tier doubled the base taker fee to 0.80%.
Kraken is a long-running US-based exchange with a simple app and the Kraken Pro order-book interface. Its fee tiers now count trading volume or assets held on the platform.
Sponsored: Kraken has a paid placement on this site. It does not change the editorial score, the facts on this page, or where it appears when you sort the comparison.
- Taker fee (entry tier)
- 0.8%
- Cost of a $1,000 buy
- $9.00
- Assets
- 200+ assets
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Kraken fees
Kraken Pro entry tier under the schedule effective 2026-07-09 (0.40% maker / 0.80% taker). Fees fall to 0.30% / 0.60% above $2.5K of 30-day volume and 0.22% / 0.38% above $10K volume or $20K held. Instant buys in the simple Kraken app are priced differently.
- Maker fee
- 0.4%
- Taker fee
- 0.8%
- USD deposit
- Free by bank transfer
- BTC withdrawal
- Network fee (shown before you confirm)
- ETH withdrawal
- Network fee (shown before you confirm)
- USD withdrawal
- Varies by method
What a $100 and $1,000 buy cost on Kraken
Kraken Pro market order, entry tier. Taker fee plus our assumed 0.10% order-book spread. A resting limit order pays the lower maker fee.
| Buy | Fee | Spread | Flat fee | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $0.80 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.90 (0.9%) |
| $1,000 | $8.00 | $1.00 | $0.00 | $9.00 (0.9%) |
Excludes withdrawal network fees. See how every exchange compares in the cost comparison.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong security reputation and regular proof-of-reserves attestations
- Fee discounts can be reached by holding assets, not only by trading
- Wide asset list, margin and futures where permitted
- 24/7 live support
Cons
- Entry-tier Pro fees rose on 2026-07-09 (0.80% taker)
- Kraken Pro can be complex for beginners
- Paid $30M to settle an SEC case over its US staking program in 2023
- Product availability varies a lot by US state
Features and availability
- Spot trading: yes
- Margin trading: yes
- Futures: yes
- Staking: yes
- Lend out your crypto: no
- Debit card: no
- Rewards / Earn: yes
- NFT marketplace: no
- Advanced charts: yes
- API access: yes
Availability: Most US states and 190+ countries; margin, futures and staking availability depends on your state and country.
Fiat currencies: USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD
Our editorial score: 9/10
An editorial judgement against our published methodology, not a user rating. Sponsorship does not affect it.
- Regulation
- 2/3
- Security record
- 3/3
- Transparency
- 2/2
- Cost clarity
- 2/2
Kraken vs Coinbase
| Feature | Kraken | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Maker / taker fee | 0.4% / 0.8% | 0.5% / 0.9% |
| Modelled cost of a $100 buy | $0.90 (0.9%) | $1.99 (1.99%) |
| Modelled cost of a $1,000 buy | $9.00 (0.9%) | $19.90 (1.99%) |
| How the buy is priced | Kraken Pro market order, entry tier | Coinbase app, simple buy by bank transfer |
| Assets | 200+ assets | 250+ assets |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
| Staking | Yes | Yes |
| Margin / futures | Yes / Yes | No / Yes |
| Debit card | No | Yes |
| Availability | Most US states and 190+ countries; margin, futures and staking availability depends on your state and country. | Across the US and in many other countries; some products (staking, derivatives) vary by state and country. |
| Best for | Buyers who will use limit orders on Kraken Pro and want a strong security reputation and regular proof-of-reserves audits. | First-time buyers in the US who want one regulated app with an easy route to lower-fee Advanced orders later. |
Shaded rows differ. Read the full Coinbase review.
Kraken FAQ
Is Kraken safe?
Kraken gets 9/10 on our editorial score (regulation 2/3, security 3/3, transparency 2/2, cost clarity 2/2). Worth knowing: Paid $30M to settle an SEC case over its US staking program in 2023. No exchange is as safe as holding your own keys, so move savings to a hardware wallet.
What are Kraken's fees?
Kraken Pro entry tier under the schedule effective 2026-07-09 (0.40% maker / 0.80% taker). Fees fall to 0.30% / 0.60% above $2.5K of 30-day volume and 0.22% / 0.38% above $10K volume or $20K held. Instant buys in the simple Kraken app are priced differently. In our model a $100 buy costs about $0.90 and a $1,000 buy about $9.00 (kraken pro market order, entry tier), before withdrawal network fees.
Is Kraken available in my state or country?
Most US states and 190+ countries; margin, futures and staking availability depends on your state and country.
Who is Kraken best for?
Buyers who will use limit orders on Kraken Pro and want a strong security reputation and regular proof-of-reserves audits. It is not ideal for: small, occasional buyers: the July 2026 entry tier doubled the base taker fee to 0.80%.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on against these public pages. Fees and product lineups change often; always confirm on the provider's own site.
Reader reviews
Community reviews are coming soon
Reader reviews need accounts, which are not open yet. Everything on this page is our own editorial research, dated above, and we do not show star ratings we have not collected. Spotted something out of date? See how to contact us.
Information only, not financial advice. Facts checked Sep 23, 2026.