Kraken
Kraken
A long-standing exchange with over 14 years and zero hacks, quarterly Proof of Reserves since 2014, more than 650 cryptocurrencies and 95% of funds in cold storage. Spot volumes remain below those of Binance and Bybit, and the app is less user-friendly.
Data & conditions
| Maker / Taker fee | 0.25% / 0.4% |
|---|---|
| Markets | Spot + Derivatives |
| Max leverage | 50× |
| Supported assets | 250+ |
| Fiat on-ramp | Yes |
| Deposit methods | SEPA, SWIFT, Bonifico bancario, Carta di credito/debito, FedWire/ACH (USA), Faster Payments (UK), Interac e-Transfer (Canada), PayPal, Deposito crypto |
| Geo restrictions | New York (USA), Maine (USA), Washington State (USA), Hawaii (USA, limitato) |
| Staking / Earn | ETH ~3-3.5% APY, Solana, Polkadot, Kusama, Cardano. Staking reinstated USA gennaio 2025. Kraken Prime per istituzionali. |
| Fund custody | Custodial (platform holds funds) |
| KYC | Full |
| Supported countries | US, EEA, UK, APAC · 60+ countries |
| Regulator | FinCEN, FCA, CSSF, MAS, BaFin, AMF, CONSOB, etc. |
| OAM Italy registration | Yes |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | Money Services Business + EMI partner UK |
Plans & pricing
Strengths
- 14+ years ZERO hack; PoR quarterly (from 2014); 650+ crypto; 95% cold storage.
- No notable sovereignty advantage documented.
Weaknesses
- Volume spot inferiore a Binance/Bybit; app less user-friendly.
- Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
- Geographic restrictions (New York (USA), Maine (USA), Washington State (USA), Hawaii (USA, limitato)).
Verdict
Almost top rating on verifiable facts: over 14 years without a single hack, quarterly Proof of Reserves since 2014, 650+ cryptos, 95% of funds in cold storage and a first-tier regulator roster. The limits are minor, lower spot volumes than Binance and Bybit and a less intuitive app, and they do not dent a security profile that is the best in the category alongside Coinbase.
Quarterly Proof of Reserves is the transparency gesture closest to the crypto-native spirit, but it remains verification of a custodian, not self-custody: Kraken is custodial with full KYC and a privacy score of 3. On this lens solidity counts for less than the ability to hold your own keys and operate permissionlessly.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
What are Kraken's fees?
On Kraken Pro, base spot fees are maker 0.25% / taker 0.40%. They drop with monthly volume (or assets held on the platform) and VIP tier.
Is Kraken regulated in Europe?
Kraken is MiCA-compliant. It is listed in the Italian OAM register. Licence: Money Services Business + EMI partner UK.
Does Kraken publish Proof of Reserves?
Kraken publishes Proof of Reserves. No third-party reserve audit is documented. Reserve transparency is a critical factor after the FTX collapse.
Can I send transfers to third-party IBANs from Kraken?
Yes, Kraken allows outgoing transfers to third-party IBANs.
Does Kraken support derivatives and futures?
Kraken offers derivatives trading, with up to 50x leverage.
Sources
- Official service page Maker/taker fees · Regulatory framework · Derivatives · Founders · +15 Data verified on Jul 16, 2026
- blog.kraken.com Maker fees Data verified on Jul 16, 2026
- coindesk.com Past incidents · Company type · Stock ticker · Stock listing · +4 Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- coingecko.com Trading pairs · 24h volume · Volume data Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
Show 2 more sources
- support.kraken.com Deposit methods Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- tradingview.com Founders · Legal name Data verified on Jun 15, 2026