Kraken
score
Fees: ~0.16%/0.26% maker/taker, lower on Pro
Kraken suits users who put security and a clean compliance record first while still wanting good liquidity. Use Kraken Pro to avoid the pricier simple-buy spreads. Not financial advice.
What Kraken Is
Kraken is a U.S.-founded cryptocurrency exchange launched in 2011, making it one of the longest-running venues still operating. It offers a straightforward buy/sell interface plus Kraken Pro, a full-featured trading terminal, across a range of major fiat and crypto pairs. Its reputation is built on security and reliability rather than product sprawl.
Security First
Security and custody are Kraken's headline strength, scoring 9 — the joint-highest in this group. In more than a decade it has avoided any major loss of customer funds, maintains a strong security culture and publishes proof-of-reserves audits. Liquidity scores 8 on major pairs, with asset range and UX both at 7.5: dependable rather than expansive, and support tends to be responsive.
Fee Structure
Fees score 7.5. Standard maker/taker rates sit around 0.16% and 0.26%, which is middling, but trading through Kraken Pro brings costs down meaningfully. The simple buy/sell screen is convenient but carries wider spreads, so cost-conscious users should stick to Pro.
The Caveat
Kraken settled with the SEC over its U.S. staking-as-a-service program in 2023, a reminder that yield products carry regulatory risk. Its asset list is also thinner on exotic altcoins than the largest offshore exchanges, and the plain buy interface is pricier than Pro. None of these undermine its core safety proposition, but they shape expectations.
Who Should Use It
Kraken is a strong pick for users who put security and a clean compliance record ahead of having the widest coin selection, while still wanting good liquidity on major markets. Trade via Kraken Pro to keep fees reasonable. This is not financial advice.
Overall 8.1 / 10 — the weighted average of the criteria above. How we score →
- + Long track record with no major loss of customer funds
- + Strong security culture and proof-of-reserves audits
- + Solid liquidity on major fiat and crypto pairs
- + Responsive support and a capable Pro trading interface
- − Settled with the SEC over its U.S. staking program in 2023
- − Fewer exotic altcoins than the largest offshore venues
- − Standard (non-Pro) buy interface carries higher spreads
Is Kraken safe?
+
Security is Kraken's strongest area, scored 9/10. Over more than a decade of operation it has avoided any major loss of customer funds and publishes proof-of-reserves audits, making it one of the more trusted exchanges we review.
What are Kraken's fees?
+
Standard rates are roughly 0.16% maker and 0.26% taker, but Kraken Pro offers materially lower fees. The simple buy screen carries higher spreads, so use Pro to trade more cheaply. We rate fees 7.5/10.
Is Kraken good for staking?
+
Kraken offers staking, though it settled with the SEC over its U.S. staking program in 2023 and adjusted its offerings accordingly. Availability of specific staking products varies by region.
Is Kraken a good exchange?
+
We score it 8.1/10. Its security and compliance record stand out; the trade-offs are a narrower asset list and higher fees on the non-Pro interface.
Where is Kraken available?
+
Kraken serves many countries including the U.S., though specific products and pairs vary by jurisdiction. Check what's supported in your region before signing up.