Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Gemini vs kraken
Gemini
kraken
Higher score in this comparison
Gemini vs kraken: the differences
| Compare | GeminiReviewVisitVisit | krakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 76 | 728Higher |
| Regulators | NMLS (US state money transmitter licensing), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) | Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA, FINTRAC, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Comision Nacional de Valores (CNV), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank, ACH | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more |
| Withdrawal fee | Crypto withdrawal fees are dynamic and correspond to current network/gas fees; USD wire transfer out $252; Custody to Exchange crypto withdrawal $125 | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees |
Same on both: Taker fee (0.8%), Maker fee (0.4%), Proof of reserves (Yes), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Gemini offers NMLS (US state money transmitter licensing), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
- Regulators: only kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA.
- Founded is lower at kraken: 2011 vs 2014.
- kraken is licensed in 7 more countries.
- Coins listed is higher at kraken: 728 vs 76.
- Fiat deposit methods: only kraken offers SEPA, Apple pay.
- Support channels: only kraken offers Chat, Phone.
Our verdict on each
Gemini
Gemini suits traders who want a regulated exchange and a self-custody wallet in the same product, and who want to check a licence rather than take a promise. It lists 76 coins and offers derivatives, and the European business, Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd, is based in Malta.
kraken
Kraken suits UK and European buyers who want crypto, stocks, ETFs and futures in a single account, under licences from the Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, the FCA and US regulators. The catch is trading cost: a taker fee of 0.8% against a site median of 0.25%, ranked 100 of 121 on price.
Score breakdown
| Area | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Taker fee of 0.8% and maker fee of 0.4% both sit above the typical rate of 0.25% here. | 8.3 |
| Offer | 9.3Proof of reserves is published, derivatives are offered, and the feature set covers custodial, self custody and staking. | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.7Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto | 4 of 428 | 19 of 428 |
| Crypto exchanges | 2 of 330 | 17 of 330 |
| Crypto wallets | 2 of 249 | 13 of 249 |
What each covers
| Fiat deposit methods | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Card | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| SEPA | No | Yes |
| ACH | Yes | Yes |
| Apple pay | No | Yes |
If neither fits
MEXC has coins listed at 1,500, against 76 for Gemini and 728 for kraken.
MEXC reviewWhat we checked
Gemini
- gemini.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- defillama.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
kraken
- kraken.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial, Self custody, Staking | Custodial, Self custody, Staking |
| Legal entity | Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Malta | Ireland |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Browser | Mobile |
| Price | $0 | $0 |
| Custody | Self custody | Self custody |
| Coins supported | 76 | Not confirmed |
| Secure element | No secure element; passkey-based smart wallet signing on-device | Not confirmed |
| Backup options | Not confirmed | Seed |
Brokers
| Fact | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Futures |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Varies by method and currency |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop |
Debit cards
| Fact | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Mastercard |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 600 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Gemini | kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.8%highest quarter | 0.8%highest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | 76below the median | 728highest quarter | 89.5 |
| Maker fee | 0.4%highest quarter | 0.4%highest quarter | 0.1% |
Median across 222 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Gemini
Pros
- Regulated on both sides of the Atlantic through NMLS (US state money transmitter licensing) and Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), so the licence can be checked rather than taken on trust
- Fiat deposits run by card, bank and ach, and the self-custody wallet itself costs $0
- Founded in 2014, with the exchange listing 76 coins and the wallet supporting 76
Cons
- On the ActiveTrader schedule, the taker fee of 0.8% and maker fee of 0.4% both sit above the typical rate of 0.25% here
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line listed
- The wallet is browser based with no secure element, so it relies on passkey signing on-device
kraken
Pros
- Licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, the FCA, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC and the Bermuda Monetary Authority, with EU protection stated as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Crypto, stocks, ETFs and futures sit in a single account, and the stock trade fee is $0.
- A self-custody mobile wallet priced at $0, with a seed phrase as backup, so coins need not sit on the exchange.
Cons
- Trading fees are the weak side: a taker fee of 0.8% and a maker fee of 0.4% against a site median taker fee of 0.25%.
- Deposit and withdrawal fees vary by method and currency, and withdrawal fees also vary per asset, so moving money costs change with the route.
- Custody differs by product, since the exchange is a centralised venue while the wallet is self-custody, and the platform covers custodial, self-custody and staking features together.
Who each suits
Gemini
Who it suits
- US traders who want state money transmitter licensing alongside a European regulator, both named in NMLS (US state money transmitter licensing) and Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)
- European customers who want a home market entity: Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd is based in Malta
- People who want to hold their own keys, since custody is self custody
Who should look elsewhere
- Cost-first traders, since the typical taker fee here is 0.25% and bunq runs 0.25% to 1.99%
- eToro and Vivid Plus customers, whose listed charges are 1% and 2.25%, when a licensed exchange listing 76 coins matters more
kraken
Who it suits
- EU and UK buyers who want stocks, ETFs and futures alongside crypto without a second platform.
- Coin holders who want to hold outside the exchange, with a self-custody wallet backed by a seed phrase.
- Spending crypto users, since the card pays cashback of 2% with a currency conversion fee of 0%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Taker-heavy traders, who may pay less on bunq, where the taker fee is 0.25% to 1.99% against 0.8% here.
- Readers who want yield priced on a crypto earn product rather than trading fees, where Vivid Plus charges 2.25%.
Country by country
| Country | Gemini | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Bahamas | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bermuda | Yes | No |
| Bhutan | Yes | No |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
8 of 65 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Gemini
How much does it cost to trade on Gemini?+
Trading runs on the ActiveTrader schedule, with a taker fee of 0.8% and a maker fee of 0.4%. Makers pay less than takers, so the cheaper side of the book is the one that adds to the order. The account itself costs $0, which keeps the charge in the trade.
Is Gemini regulated?+
Gemini is listed under NMLS (US state money transmitter licensing) and Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), which covers US state money transmitter licensing and the Malta Financial Services Authority. The European business is Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd, based in Malta. The exchange also publishes proof of reserves, and the wallet gives self custody rather than platform custody.
kraken
What does it cost to trade on Kraken?+
Trading fees are the main charge. The taker fee is 0.8% and the maker fee is 0.4%, against a site median taker fee of 0.25%. Deposit and withdrawal fees vary by method and currency, while stock trades carry a stock trade fee of $0.
Is Kraken regulated and is money protected?+
Its regulator list runs from the Central Bank of Ireland and CySEC to the FCA, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC and the Bermuda Monetary Authority. In the EU the stated protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, held through Payward Europe Solutions Limited. Proof of reserves is also offered.