Costs, licensing, consumer protection Privacy, self-custody, censorship resistance

Kraken Futures

Kraken

4.6/5 1.2/5 · Data verified on

A MiCA-regulated futures platform, backed by Kraken's 14 years without a hack and with a responsibly capped 50x maximum leverage. That very cap makes it less aggressive than unregulated competitors offering 125x-200x.

75
Transparency: High
75/100 · see methodology
75
Data exposure: High
75/100 · lower is better for sovereignty · methodology

Data & conditions

Maker / Taker fee 0.02% / 0.05%
Markets Derivatives
Max leverage 50×
Supported assets 400+
Trading pairs 0+
24h volume $0
Fiat on-ramp Yes
Deposit methods Wire transfer, SEPA, SWIFT, ACH, FedWire, Crypto deposit
Fund custody Custodial (platform holds funds)
KYC Full
Supported countries US, EEA, UK · 30+ countries
Regulator FCA, FinCEN, Central Bank of Ireland
OAM Italy registration Yes
Segment B2C
MiCA / License status FCA-regulated (UK MTF) MiCA regolamentato; FCA UK; IPO 2026

Strengths

  • Futures MiCA-regulated; 14 years zero hack; 50x leverage responsabile.
  • No notable sovereignty advantage documented.

Weaknesses

  • 50x max (vs 125x-200x competitors not-regulated).
  • Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
  • Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
  • Subject to regulation (MiCA regolamentato; FCA UK; IPO 2026): reporting to authorities and freezes on order.

Verdict

S D ★ 4.6/5 ★ 1.2/5

The S rewards the most reassuring combination for the average user: MiCA and UK FCA regulation, 14 years without a hack and a maximum leverage deliberately capped at 50x. That very cap, which some traders will read as a limit versus the 125x-200x of unregulated venues, is in protection terms a responsible choice that pushes the score up.

On the crypto-native plane Kraken's regulatory excellence counts for little: it stays custodial and full-KYC, so funds and identity pass to the platform. The hack-free history reassures on operational risk, but does not restore self-custody or censorship resistance.

Privacy & anonymity 30% 0.8
Fund control 20% 0.0
Censorship resistance 20% 1.5
Costs 10% 4.5

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 Futures's fees?

On Kraken Futures, spot fees are maker 0.02% / taker 0.05%. They drop with monthly volume and VIP tier.

Is Kraken Futures regulated in Europe?

Regulatory status of Kraken Futures: MiCA regolamentato; FCA UK; IPO 2026. Licence: FCA-regulated (UK MTF).

Does Kraken Futures publish Proof of Reserves?

Proof of Reserves publication is not documented for Kraken Futures. 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 Futures?

No, Kraken Futures is an exchange and does not allow transfers to third-party IBANs: fiat withdrawals return to a bank account in your own name.

Does Kraken Futures support derivatives and futures?

Kraken Futures offers derivatives trading, with up to 50x leverage.

Sources

Update history

✓ Terms unchanged since Jun 14, 2026

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