Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs kraken
Kraken
Higher score in this comparison
kraken
What sets them apart
| Compare | KrakenReviewVisitVisit | krakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, FuturesCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | 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) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Varies by method and currency |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken WalletCovers more | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop |
| Minimum deposit | $1 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000), Currency conversion fee (0%).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
- Regulators: only kraken offers CySEC, FCA, FINTRAC.
- kraken is licensed in 7 more countries.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken Wallet.
- Features: only Kraken offers Crypto, Mobile app.
- Features: only kraken offers Custodial, Self custody, Staking.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken suits active crypto traders who also want stocks, ETFs, forex and futures alongside digital assets, with commission free stock dealing at $0 and cover shown as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. Support runs through help centre routes, so traders who want phone help should weigh that trade off before opening an account.
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 | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing costs stay lean at $0 for equity orders. | 8.3 |
| Offer | 9.0Market choice spans stocks, ETFs and forex with broad coin coverage. | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Oversight links to Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Conduct Authority with stated scheme cover. | 9.7Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick Kraken if markets and platforms matter most.
Pick kraken if offer and trust matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 327 of 1594 | 328 of 1594 |
| Debit cards | 15 of 826 | 16 of 826 |
| Investing | 25 of 654 | 26 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 15 of 358 | 16 of 358 |
| Crypto | 18 of 428 | 19 of 428 |
| Crypto exchanges | 16 of 330 | 17 of 330 |
| Crypto wallets | 12 of 249 | 13 of 249 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 | Central Bank of Ireland C453020 Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71030 | FinCEN 31000270997766 CFTC and NFA NFA ID #0309379 |
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | AUSTRAC ACN 163 237 634 |
| Austria | Not confirmed | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) MiCA CASP 5299005V5GBSN2A4C303 |
| Bermuda | Not confirmed | Bermuda Monetary Authority 202403268 |
| Canada | Not confirmed | FINTRAC M19343731 |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | CySEC 342/17 |
What each covers
| Markets | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 3 facts, checked September 28, 2026
kraken
- kraken.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- krak.app: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Custodial, Self custody, Staking |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Ireland |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2011 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.05% to 0.8%Lower | 0.8% |
| Coins listed | 728 | 728 |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple pay | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple pay |
| Maker fee | 0% to 0.4%Lower | 0.4% |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees |
| Derivatives | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange type | Cex | Cex |
Debit cards
| Fact | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
| Cashback rate | 0.5% to 2% | 2% |
| Card network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Currencies | 600 | 600 |
| Custody | Self custody | Self custody |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | Kraken | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Mobile |
| Price | $0 | $0 |
| Coins supported | 728 | Not confirmed |
| Backup options | Seed | Seed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1below the median | Not confirmed | $23.50 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 0.4% |
Median across 138 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Kraken
Pros
- Commission free stock dealing at $0, below DKB at €10
- Low entry with $1 alongside fiat choice across card, bank and SEPA
- Broad venue with stocks, ETFs and forex and 728 plus published proof of reserves
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so you manage queries through help centre paths.
- Card funding carries extra cost within Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so bank routes suit cost aware deposits.
- Coin trading fees run 0.05% to 0.8%, so frequent takers should weigh volume tiers.
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
Kraken
Who it suits
- Active traders wanting crypto plus stocks, ETFs, forex and futures in a shared venue
- Cost aware equity investors drawn to dealing at $0 with modest entry at $1
Who should look elsewhere
- ActivTrades if you want phone led help rather than help centre paths on help centre
- DKB if you prefer bank bundled investing over crypto led coverage at 728
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%.
Questions about each
Kraken
What is the minimum deposit to start with Kraken?+
You can open an account with $1, which keeps entry modest for new funders. Bank routes are available alongside card and wallet paths, so you can choose the rail that fits your timing and cost preference.
How much does Kraken charge for stocks and crypto trades?+
Stock dealing is shown as $0, which keeps equity orders lean. Crypto taker fees run 0.05% to 0.8%, so your all in cost depends on asset class, order type and monthly volume tier.
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.
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