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Kraken cryptocurrency exchange review

Andrew Munro
Andrew Munro
Last updated:  

Trade a wide range of cryptocurrencies on this prominent, feature-filled exchange

  • Great for its wide range of features
  • Not so great for its varying trading fees

Check out our full list of pros and cons or read on.

7

Fiat currencies

34

Cryptocurrencies

Details

Product Name Kraken Cryptocurrency Exchange
Fiat Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, CHF, AUD
Cryptocurrencies BTC, ETH, XRP, BCH, EOS, LTC, ADA, XLM, DASH, USDT & 20+ more
Deposit Methods Electronic Funds Transfer
Wire transfer
Osko
PayID
Ethana Custody
Trading Fee Maker: 0.00-0.16%
Taker: 0.10-0.26%
Deposit Fees Fees vary
Withdrawal Fees Fees vary
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.

What's in this guide?

Which fiat and cryptocurrencies are supported?

  • Supported fiat currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, CHF, AUD
  • Supported cryptocurrencies: Approximately 34 cryptocurrencies

Which payment methods are accepted?

  • Electronic Funds Transfer
  • Wire transfer
  • Osko
  • PayID
  • Ethana Custody
Go to Kraken's website

Fees and limits

Platform trading fees

Kraken’s comprehensive trading fee structure varies depending on trade volume, and what kind of trade it is. Fees vary for stablecoins, dark pool trades and margin trading, so it’s worth checking Kraken’s site for the latest break down.

The fees below are accurate as of 7 August 2019.

Trading fees

30-day volume (30-day USDT)Maker feeTaker fee
$0 – $50,0000.16%0.26%
$50,001 – $100,0000.14%0.24%
$100,001 – $250,0000.12%0.22%
$250,001 – $500,0000.10%0.20%
$500,001 – $1,000,0000.08%0.18%
$1,000,001 – $2,500,0000.06%0.16%
$2,500,001 – $5,000,0000.04%0.14%
$5,000,001 – $10,000,0000.02%0.12%
$10,000,000+0.00%0.10%

Stablecoin trading fees

30-day volumeMaker feeTaker fee
$0 – $50,0000.20%0.20%
$50,001 – $100,0000.16%0.16%
$100,001 – $250,0000.12%0.12%
$250,001 – $500,0000.08%0.08%
$500,001 – $1,000,0000.04%0.04%
$1,000,000+0.00%0.00%

Dark pool trading fees

30-day volumeMaker feeTaker fee
$0 – $50,0000.36%0.36%
$50,001 – $100,0000.34%0.34%
$100,001 – $250,0000.32%0.32%
$250,001 – $500,0000.30%0.30%
$500,001 – $1,000,0000.28%0.28%
$1,000,001 – $2,500,0000.26%0.26%
$2,500,001 – $5,000,0000.24%0.24%
$5,000,001 – $10,000,0000.22%0.22%
$10,000,000+0.20%0.20%

Margin trading fees

  • Make sure you fully understand the risks before margin trading.

Margin trading may result in the loss of your entire account balance. Cryptocurrency is volatile and rapid price drops can liquidate your account. If you want to margin trade, please ensure you fully understand the risks involved, take care to manage your exposure and consider setting profit targets and stop-loss limits to better manage the risks.

Base currencyQuote currencyOpening feeRollover fee
XBT (Bitcoin)EUR, USD0.01%0.01% per 4 hours
USDT (Tether)USD0.01%0.01% per 4 hours
BCH (Bitcoin Cash)EUR, USD, XBT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
ETH (Ethereum)EUR, USD, XBT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
ETC (Ethereum Classic)EUR, USD, ETH, XBT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
REP (Augur)EUR, ETH, XBT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
XMR (Monero)EUR, USD, XBT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
XRP (Ripple)EUR, USD, XBT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours

Deposits and withdrawals

You can deposit cryptocurrencies with standard network fees, while the deposit options and fees will vary depending on whether you’re depositing USD, EUR, CAD, GBP or JPY, and whether you’re making a deposit or withdrawal.

Deposits

Etana Custody and Silverate Exchange Network deposits

Etana Custody and Silvergate Exchange Network are two different deposit options that Kraken offers. To use these deposit methods, you will first have to create an account with Etana Custody or Silverate Bank.

Etana Custody is a funding and custody service that provides additional benefits, such as worldwide availability and instant transfer options, where needed, while Silvergate Bank is a platform which offers access to the Silvergate Exchange Network for fast international transfers.

Etana lets you deposit a wide range of currencies, while Silvergate Exchange Network is for USD only.

How fast will my funds be available?

Deposits

Clock icon for transfer speed

Instant – 5 days

Instant or near-instant deposits are available through Etana Custody, CAD payment options or cryptocurrency deposits.

Most other options will take 1 to 5 business days.

Withdrawals

Clock icon for transfer speed

Varies

Instant or near-instant withdrawals are available through Etana Custody, CAD payment options or cryptocurrency deposits.

Most other options will take 1 to 5 business days.

What’s it like to use Kraken?

1. Getting started

Find bold designs, as well as quick links to account creation, Kraken features, markets and other extras on the Kraken home page.

2. 24/7/365 customer service

Kraken customer support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, even on major holidays.

3. Current prices

You can find Kraken's current cryptocurrency prices, and some additional information, on the prices page. Simply click through to view the order book for a given pair.

4. Trading screen

Find more detailed information on how a pair is trading, place orders and trade through the Kraken trading screen.

5. Extra features

Browse Kraken's extra features including margin trading, futures and its OTC desk, as well as analytics features such as indices, and Kraken's own Cryptowatch tool.

‹ ›

Is Kraken safe to use?

  • Regulation. Kraken is based in Canada and has registered as a money services business in the US under the name of its parent company Payward Inc.
  • Verification process. Kraken requires all users to provide information about themselves, but document verification is only required for fiat currency transfers or trading. No document verification is required for cryptocurrency transfers or trading.
  • Security features. Kraken follows industry best security practices such as keeping 95% of user funds in cold storage and encouraging two-factor authentication. It runs a bug bounty program and says its servers are kept in secure cages, under armed guards and constant surveillance.

Kraken was founded in 2011 and launched in 2013. While individual users have had their accounts compromised over the years, typically after failing to enable two-factor authentication, Kraken is never known to have been the victim of a major heist, and two-factor authentication is now mandatory.

Regardless, Kraken CEO Jesse Powell advises people not to store cryptocurrency on Kraken, or any other cryptocurrency exchange.

It was the world’s first exchange to produce cryptographic proof of its reserves, and you can still verify that Kraken is fully backed as of its most recent audit. You can verify that your cryptocurrency was included in the latest audit once logged into your Kraken account.

How do I create an account at Kraken?

Go to Kraken's website

What else do I need to know about Kraken?

Kraken was founded in 2011, after the Mt Gox incident. It was conceived with the specific intention of being the professional, secure and high-quality Bitcoin exchange the nascent industry desperately needed at the time.

It was launched in 2013 and has been one of the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency exchanges ever since.

In a nutshell

Pros

  • Wide fiat and crypto range: With USD, EUR, GBP, CAD and JPY pairs, plus a wide range of cryptocurrencies, Kraken is among the world’s most versatile exchanges.
  • Feature-filled: Kraken offers margin trading, futures, an OTC desk, dark pools and additional tools such as indices and its own Cryptowatch.
  • 24/7/365 customer service: Kraken offers customer service every hour of every day of the year, as well as account management services for advanced traders.
  • Since 2013: Kraken is one of the world’s largest exchanges by trading volume and many regard it as one of the most legitimate.

Cons

  • Varying fees: You need to be aware of the fees, because they can vary by trade type. Basic trading fees range from 0% to 0.26%, while dark pool, stablecoin trading or margin trading have different fee structures.

Compare Kraken against other exchanges

Name Product Deposit methods Fiat Currencies Cryptocurrencies
Coinberry Cryptocurrency Exchange
Coinberry Cryptocurrency Exchange
Credit card
Debit card
Interac e-Transfer
Wire transfer
CAD

6
cryptocurrencies
Get a $20 bonus when you buy or sell at least CAD$50 in digital currency. T&Cs apply.
Buy and sell cryptocurrency with Canadian dollars on this beginner-friendly Canadian exchange.
Go to site
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Bitbuy Digital Currency Exchange
Bitbuy Digital Currency Exchange
Cryptocurrency
Interac e-Transfer
Wire transfer
CAD

8
cryptocurrencies
Get a $20 bonus when you open an account and deposit at least CAD$250. T&Cs apply.
At this Canada-based cryptocurrency exchange, you can pay in CAD through bank wire, Interac e-Transfer or Flexepin.
Go to site
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Coinsmart Cryptocurrency Exchange
Coinsmart Cryptocurrency Exchange
Credit card
Debit card
Interac e-Transfer
Bank Wire
Bank Draft
CAD

10
cryptocurrencies
Get a $20 bonus in BTC when you open an account and deposit at least CAD$100. T&Cs apply.
Buy and sell cryptocurrency quickly and easily, with instant verification and 24/7 customer support, on this Canadian exchange.
Go to site
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Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

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