Written by Toni AllenUpdated Cited by Forbes, The Guardian, Stanford University +48+ more

Kraken Review 2026

Kraken is a regulated US-based cryptocurrency exchange offering 50+ cryptocurrencies with spot, margin, and futures trading across multiple platforms, best suited for traders seeking advanced features and institutional-grade services.

Cited by Forbes, The Guardian, Stanford University, Investopedia, World Economic Forum and 48+ more publications

Affiliate Disclosure: Commodity.com may receive compensation from some of the brokers listed on this page. This does not influence our ratings or reviews. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

Kraken is a cryptocurrency spot, margin, and futures exchange based in the US. They offer 50+ cryptocurrencies with several payment methods, including standard crypto transfers.

Maker and taker fees start from 0.16% and 0.26% on the Kraken Pro platform, which is a free platform to use.

This review covers Kraken’s services, trade pairs, account options, and platforms for retail traders. We also explain Kraken’s institutional services like over-the-counter trading.

Can You Trust Kraken?

Regulation verdict

Kraken has been around since 2011, and that long track record helps. It is a private company under Payward Inc, with oversight tied to major names like the FCA and ASIC, which gives it more trust than many crypto-only rivals.

Kraken Regulatory Licenses
Regulator Country Licence # Tier
ASIC 🇦🇺 Australia 163 237 634 Top Tier
AUSTRAC 🇦🇺 Australia 163 237 634 Top Tier
FINTRAC 🇨🇦 Canada M19343731 Top Tier
JFSA 🇯🇵 Japan 00022 Top Tier
FCA 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 928768 Top Tier
CBI 🇮🇪 Ireland - Established
FSA 🇸🇨 Seychelles NOT_FOUND Established
FinCEN 🇺🇸 United States 31000270997766 Established
Kraken Fund Safety
Protection Status
Negative Balance Protection Yes (retail clients)
Segregated Client Funds Yes
Compensation Schemes FSCS does not apply to Kraken e-money wallet; cryptoasset services are not protected by FSCS/FOS
Kraken Corporate Profile
Detail Information
Headquarters 🇺🇸 San Francisco, United States
Founded 2011 (15 years)
Parent Company Payward Inc

Trust Indicators

Tier-1 Regulators 5
Years Operating 15 yrs
Public Company No
Total Licenses 8

Kraken Exchange Overview

Kraken was founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell as Payward Inc, and is based in San Francisco, CA, US.

With over 50 cryptocurrencies, including the market leaders like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano, Kraken offers several different web and mobile platforms for traders. These platforms include two distinct mobile apps and three web traders.

The seven supported fiat currencies are USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, CHF, JPY, and AUD.

Traders can choose from three account types based on the degree of verification they’re willing to undergo. The key differences are the availability of futures trading and deposit/withdrawal limitations.

Kraken also offers Over-The-Counter (OTC) trading and API services for institutions and high-volume traders.

Pros and Cons of Kraken

ProsCons
250+ cryptocurrencies to trade High trading volume requirements for fee discounts
Choice of five different platforms No phone support or live chat agents (chatbot only)
17 crypto futures products Only a handful of funding methods, lack of e-wallet support
Advanced analytics with the free Kraken Pro web platform
Regulated by key industry organizations like the FCA and ASIC

Data last reviewed:

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Key Facts About Kraken

Key broker facts. Last verified: 17 Apr 2026
Regulation
See all 8 licences
RegulatorCountryLicence No.EntityVerify
🇦🇺 ASICAustralia163 237 634
🇦🇺 AUSTRACAustralia163 237 634
🇨🇦 FINTRACCanadaM19343731
🇯🇵 JFSAJapan00022
🇬🇧 FCAUnited Kingdom928768Verify
🇮🇪 CBIIreland-
🇸🇨 FSASeychellesNOT_FOUND
🇺🇸 FinCENUnited States31000270997766

GBP 85,000 per eligible person under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

Founded2011 (15 years in business)
Max Leverage 1:30 (major forex, EU/UK regulated)
Markets250 instruments - Crypto
Demo AccountNo
Negative Balance ProtectionYes
Compensation SchemeGBP 85,000 per eligible person under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
Public CompanyNo

Where Does Kraken Operate?

Kraken is owned by Payward Inc and is based in San Francisco, CA, US.

In the Americas, Kraken is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) and receives regulatory oversight from:

  • FinCEN in the USA – Registration no. 31000270997766
  • FINTRAC in Canada – Registration no. M19343731
  • FCA in the UK – Registration no. 757895 (as CryptoFacilities Ltd)
  • AUSTRAC and ASIC in Australia – Registration no. 163 237 634 (as Bit Trade Pty Limited)
  • FSA in Japan – Registration no. 00022 (as Payward Asia, Inc)

Kraken serves hundreds of countries all over the world.

Country Restrictions on Kraken

The company has several restrictions in place for the following countries:

Banned CountriesRestricted Service
AfghanistanCentral African Republic
Congo-BrazzavilleEritrea
Congo-KinshasaGuinea-Bissau
CubaLebanon
IranMali
IraqNamibia
LybiaSomalia
North KoreaSouth Sudan
SyriaSudan
TajikistanYemen

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

Other currency and country-based restrictions include:

  • US residents cannot trade XRP.
  • Residents of Washington State and New York in the US: May apply for pre-verification with the hopes of potential approval when Kraken can accept such registrations.
  • Residents of New Hampshire and Texas cannot fund, trade, or hold Euro as a currency on Kraken
  • Residents of Australia cannot fund, trade, or hold DASH, XMR, or ZEC.
  • Residents of the US and Canada cannot fund, hold or trade EWT or GRT.
  • Residents of the US and Canada cannot trade ETH2.S — only stake ETH.
  • Residents of the US, Canada,or Japan cannot fund, hold, or trade FLOW.

Japanese residents also have specific requirements and regulatory restrictions to trade with Kraken.

If you’re a resident in Japan, visit Kraken’s website to find out more about Kraken’s terms for Japan-based and JPY currency traders.

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Types of Crypto Trading

Kraken Features
FeatureAvailable
API TradingYes
Copy TradingNo
Educational ResourcesYes
Fractional SharesYes
Islamic AccountNo
Negative Balance ProtectionYes
Segregated Client FundsYes
Social TradingNo

Data last reviewed:

Kraken is primarily a spot cryptocurrency exchange and offers an instant buy/sell exchange with simple, intermediate, and advanced trade tickets.

Kraken offers 50+ cryptocurrencies and 250+ trading pairs that include crypto-crypto, crypto-fiat, and forex pairs too.

The seven fiat currencies available to trade in are US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Swiss Franc (CHF), Japanese Yen (JPY), and Australian Dollar (AUD).

See all available cryptocurrencies on Kraken.
A to EE to OO to Z
Aave (AAVE)Enzyme Finance (MLN)Orchid (OXT)
Algorand (ALGO)EOS (EOS)PAX Gold (PAXG)
Aragon (ANT)Ethereum (ETH)Polkadot (DOT)
Augur (REP)Ethereum Classic (ETC)Qtum (QTUM)
Augur v2 (REPV2)Filecoin (FIL)Ripple (XRP)
Balancer (BAL)Flow (FLOW)Siacoin (SC)
Basic Attention Token (BAT)Gnosis (GNO)Storj (STORJ)
Bitcoin (XBT)ICON (ICX)Synthetix (SNX)
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)Kava (KAVA)tBTC (TBTC)
Cardano (ADA)Keep Network (KEEP)Tether (USDT)
Chainlink (LINK)Kusama (KSM)Tezos (XTZ)
Compound (COMP)Kyber Network (KNC)The Graph (GRT)
Cosmos (ATOM)Lisk (LSK)TRON (TRX)
Curve DAO Token (CRV)Litecoin (LTC)Uniswap (UNI)
Dai (DAI)Lumen (XLM)USD Coin (USDC)
Dash (DASH)Monero (XMR)Waves (WAVES)
Decentraland (MANA)Nano (NANO)Yearn Finance (YFI)
Dogecoin (XDG)OCEAN Token (OCEAN)Zcash (ZEC)
Energy Web Token (EWT)OMG Network (OMG)

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

See all crypto spot trading pairs on Kraken.
A to EE to LL to UU to Z
AAVE/AUDETC/ETHLSK/EURUNI/EUR
AAVE/ETHETC/EURLSK/USDUNI/USD
AAVE/EURETC/USDLSK/XBTUNI/XBT
AAVE/GBPETC/XBTLTC/AUDUSDC/AUD
AAVE/USDETH/AUDLTC/ETHUSDC/EUR
AAVE/XBTETH/CADLTC/EURUSDC/GBP
ADA/AUDETH/CHFLTC/GBPUSDC/USD
ADA/ETHETH/DAILTC/JPYUSDC/USDT
ADA/EURETH/EURLTC/USDUSDT/AUD
ADA/GBPETH/GBPLTC/USDTUSDT/CAD
ADA/USDETH/JPYLTC/XBTUSDT/CHF
ADA/USDTETH/USDMANA/ETHUSDT/EUR
ADA/XBTETH/USDCMANA/EURUSDT/GBP
ALGO/ETHETH/USDTMANA/USDUSDT/JPY
ALGO/EURETH/XBTMANA/XBTUSDT/USD
ALGO/GBPEWT/EURMLN/ETHWAVES/ETH
ALGO/USDEWT/GBPMLN/EURWAVES/EUR
ALGO/XBTEWT/USDMLN/USDWAVES/USD
ANT/ETHEWT/XBTMLN/XBTWAVES/XBT
ANT/EURFIL/AUDNANO/ETHXBT/AUD
ANT/USDFIL/ETHNANO/EURXBT/CAD
ANT/XBTFIL/EURNANO/USDXBT/CHF
ATOM/AUDFIL/GBPNANO/XBTXBT/DAI
ATOM/ETHFIL/USDOCEAN/EURXBT/EUR
ATOM/EURFIL/XBTOCEAN/GBPXBT/GBP
ATOM/GBPFLOW/ETHOCEAN/USDXBT/JPY
ATOM/USDFLOW/EUROCEAN/XBTXBT/USD
ATOM/XBTFLOW/GBPOMG/ETHXBT/USDC
BAL/ETHFLOW/USDOMG/EURXBT/USDT
BAL/EURFLOW/XBTOMG/USDXDG/EUR
BAL/USDGNO/ETHOMG/XBTXDG/USD
BAL/XBTGNO/EUROXT/ETHXDG/XBT
BAT/ETHGNO/USDOXT/EURXLM/AUD
BAT/EURGNO/XBTOXT/USDXLM/EUR
BAT/USDGRT/AUDOXT/XBTXLM/GBP
BAT/XBTGRT/ETHPAXG/ETHXLM/USD
BCH/AUDGRT/EURPAXG/EURXLM/XBT
BCH/ETHGRT/GBPPAXG/USDXMR/EUR
BCH/EURGRT/USDPAXG/XBTXMR/USD
BCH/GBPGRT/XBTQTUM/ETHXMR/XBT
BCH/JPYICX/ETHQTUM/EURXRP/AUD
BCH/USDICX/EURQTUM/USDXRP/CAD
BCH/USDTICX/USDQTUM/XBTXRP/ETH
BCH/XBTICX/XBTREPV2/ETHXRP/EUR
COMP/ETHKAVA/ETHREPV2/EURXRP/GBP
COMP/EURKAVA/EURREPV2/USDXRP/JPY
COMP/USDKAVA/USDREPV2/XBTXRP/USD
COMP/XBTKAVA/XBTSC/ETHXRP/USDT
CRV/ETHKEEP/ETHSC/EURXRP/XBT
CRV/EURKEEP/EURSC/USDXTZ/AUD
CRV/USDKEEP/USDSC/XBTXTZ/ETH
CRV/XBTKEEP/XBTSNX/AUDXTZ/EUR
DAI/EURKNC/ETHSNX/ETHXTZ/GBP
DAI/USDKNC/EURSNX/EURXTZ/USD
DAI/USDTKNC/USDSNX/GBPXTZ/XBT
DASH/EURKNC/XBTSNX/USDYFI/AUD
DASH/USDKSM/AUDSNX/XBTYFI/ETH
DASH/XBTKSM/ETHSTORJ/ETHYFI/EUR
DOT/AUDKSM/EURSTORJ/EURYFI/GBP
DOT/ETHKSM/GBPSTORJ/USDYFI/USD
DOT/EURKSM/USDSTORJ/XBTYFI/XBT
DOT/GBPKSM/XBTTBTC/ETHZEC/EUR
DOT/USDLINK/AUDTBTC/EURZEC/USD
DOT/USDTLINK/ETHTBTC/USDZEC/XBT
DOT/XBTLINK/EURTBTC/XBT
EOS/ETHLINK/GBPTRX/ETH
EOS/EURLINK/USDTRX/EUR
EOS/USDLINK/USDTTRX/USD
EOS/USDTLINK/XBTTRX/XBT
EOS/XBTLSK/ETHUNI/ETH

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

Alongside spot trading, Kraken traders may be eligible to trade:

  • Cryptocurrency futures on a margin with a max leverage of 50:1
  • Cryptocurrency spot trades on a margin with a max leverage of 50:1
  • Over-the-counter with a one-to-one dedicated support agent on high volume trades
  • Staking in cryptocurrencies like Tezos and Polkadot

Crypto Margin and Futures Trading

Kraken traders have access to crypto futures on a total of 17 US dollar-crypto futures markets on five coins: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and Bitcoin Cash.

The maximum leverage on futures trades is 50:1, though traders can choose from smaller increments of 1:1, 2:2, 3:1, 5:1, 10:1, and 25:1.

Unlike the instant exchange, the crypto futures and margin terminal has visible order books.

See the trading terminal review to learn about analytics and platform functionality.

OTC Trading With Kraken

Over-the-counter trading is a service for traders willing to make a larger volume transaction off the books. Kraken promises higher liquidity to high net-worth traders and institutions for OTC trades.

There is no publicly declared minimum requirement for OTC trade sizes, and Kraken does not charge any additional fees. The service is available 24/7 and promises one-to-one consultation.

Cryptocurrency Staking

Kraken’s staking feature allows you to delegate your cryptocurrency holdings to stake pools for cryptocurrencies that run on a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain algorithm.

The following coins are available for staking:

  • Polkadot (DOT)
  • Kusama (KSM)
  • Kava (KAVA)
  • Cosmos (ATOM)
  • Tezos (XTZ)
  • Flow (FLOW)
  • Ethereum (ETH)

ETH and FLOW stake rewards pay out weekly, while other coin rewards are paid out twice-a-week. Staking is only available on the web and desktop platforms.

Kraken only charges admin fees on ETH staking.

To stake, traders must transfer funds from the spot trading account to the staking account.

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Account Types

Accounts verdict

Kraken keeps account choice simple, with access built around its main trading tiers rather than a long list of account types. It also offers a demo on some platforms, which helps new users test the tools before they trade live.

Maximum leverage caps

The highest leverage Kraken offers for each asset class, grouped by the regulator that sets the cap. Retail accounts are capped tightest; professional and offshore accounts accept higher leverage in exchange for fewer protections.

  • Retail - tightest caps, full regulatory protections
  • Professional - higher caps, must qualify, fewer protections
  • Offshore - highest caps, minimal protections

Cell shading deepens with the size of the leverage cap.

Maximum leverage by jurisdiction - Kraken
Asset class European Union Retail United Kingdom Retail Australia Retail
Major FX 1:30 1:30 1:30
Minor FX 1:20 1:20 1:20
Gold & major indices 1:20 1:20 1:20
Commodities & minor indices 1:10 1:10 1:10
Individual equities 1:5 1:5 1:5
Crypto 1:2 1:2 1:2

There are three different account tiers available for Kraken traders, based on the level of verification they’re willing to go through. Here’s a comparison of how these accounts differ:

StarterIntermediatePro
Verification
Info RequiredPersonalAddress and IDFinancial
Approval Time1-2 mins4-5 minsFew days
Limitations
Bank Transfern/a$100K/day, $500K/monthUnlimited
Crypto DepositsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Crypto Withdrawals$5K/day$500K/dayUnlimited
Features
Buy/Sell/Exchange
Margin Trading
Crypto Futures* No
OTC Trading No No

Data last reviewed:

*Non-US only

How to Verify Your Kraken Account

You can’t complete the verification process on mobile. Follow these steps to find the verification menu on Kraken Web to proceed:

  1. Log in to your Kraken account
  2. Click on your account name in the top menu’s right corner
  3. Select ‘Get Verified’
  4. Select the appropriate level of verification and follow the instructions

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

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Spreads & Fees

Fees verdict

Kraken keeps spot fees fair, but the real savings sit behind higher volume tiers and Kraken Pro. The catch is clear - if you trade a little and use simple buys, you will pay more than active users who hit the fee breaks.

Kraken has a transparent fee schedule on their website. We have broken down the listed trading fees on different asset types below.

Kraken’s instant buy fees are:

  • Existing Account Balance Purchases
    • 0.9% fee on stablecoin purchases with USD or other stablecoins
    • 1.5% fee on stablecoin purchases with BTC
  • Funding Transaction Fee: 3.75% + €0.25 (or currency equivalent)
Click here to see the Kraken Pro fees.

Note that Kraken Pro fees are charged per-trade, based on trade volume and the trading fee discount tier you fall into.

30-Day Volume (USD)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+n/a0.10%

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

Click here to see Forex and Stablecoin fees.

Applicable for forex pairs and pairs where a stablecoin is the base currency.

30-Day Volume (USD)Maker 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+n/an/a

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

Click here to see Margin Trading fees.

These fees are additional to standard trading fees. US traders can keep margin positions open for a maximum of 28-days, while non-US traders for 365-days.

Base CurrencyQuote CurrencyOpening FeeRollover fee
BTC (Bitcoin)EUR, USD0.01%0.01% per 4 hours
USDT (Tether)EUR, USD0.01%0.01% per 4 hours
USDC (USD Coin)EUR, USD0.01%0.01% per 4 hours
BTC (Bitcoin)GBP, CAD, USDT0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
ADA (Cardano)EUR, USD, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
BCH (Bitcoin Cash)EUR, USD, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
DASH (Dash)EUR, USD, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
EOS (EOSIO)EUR, USD, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
ETH (Ethereum)EUR, USD, USDT, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
ETC (Ethereum Classic)EUR, USD, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
LINK (Chainlink)EUR, USD, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
LTC (Litecoin)EUR, USD, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
REP (Augur)EUR, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
TRX (TRON)EUR, USD, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
XMR (Monero)EUR, USD, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
XRP (Ripple)EUR, USD, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
XTZ (Tezos)EUR, USD, ETH, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours
Polkadot (DOT)ETH, EUR, USD, BTC0.02%0.02% per 4 hours

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

Click here to see Futures Trading fees.

Spot, forex, and stablecoin orders don’t contribute to the following trading volumes.

30-Day Volume USDMaker FeeTaker Fee
$0 - $100,0000.02%0.05%
$100,001 - $1,000,0000.015%0.04%
$1,000,001 - $5,000,0000.0125%0.03%
$5,000,001 - $10,000,0000.01%0.025%
$10,000,001 - $20,000,0000.0075%0.02%
$20,000,001 - $50,000,0000.005%0.015%
$50,000,001 - $100,000,0000.0025%0.0125%
$100,000,001 +n/a0.01%

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

It’s worth noting that fee discounts only begin with a relatively high 30-day trade volume, which many retail traders do not qualify for.

How to Deposit Funds With Kraken

You can deposit via both mobile and web. Here’s a summary of fiat currency deposit process and requirements:

  • Funding Methods: Wire Transfers (domestic and international), Debit Card, Signet, SEN, Cash (Canada only), Crypto
  • Minimum Deposit: $0 to $150 (or currency equivalent)
  • Fee: Free to $25 (or currency equivalent, or 1.25 CAD + 0.25% for Canadian cash deposits)
  • Processing Time: Instant to five business-days

The above requirements depend on your funding currency, location, and payment method.

Cryptocurrency Deposits

Most cryptocurrency deposits on Kraken have a minimum deposit requirement, an address setup fee, and a deposit fee. For example, Dogecoin has none of these.

Crypto transaction processing times can take from instant to days, based on the trading fee, number of necessary confirmations, the and network load of the coin’s blockchain.

Visit Kraken’s website for up-to-date specifics.

How to Withdraw Funds With Kraken

Fiat withdrawals can also be made on both mobile and web:

  • Withdrawal Methods: Wire Transfers (domestic and international), Debit Card, Signet, SEN, Cash and POSCONNECT (Canada only), Crypto
  • Minimum Withdrawal: $0 to $10,000 (or currency equivalent)
  • Fee: Free to $40 (or currency equivalent, or 0.25% for Canadian POSCONNECT)
  • Processing Time: Instant to five business-days

As with fiat deposits, the above information is only a range. Exact figures depend on your location, currency, and available withdrawal method.

All cryptocurrency withdrawals incur a fee and have a minimum amount requirement — see Kraken’s website for up-to-date numbers, as the crypto market’s volatility impacts withdrawal fees.

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Platforms

Platforms verdict

Kraken gives you five platform choices, including Kraken Pro, which is the star of the group. That mix works well for both new users who want a simple app and more active traders who want deeper charts and order tools.

There are two different Kraken mobile apps: the standard Kraken App, and the Kraken Pro App for advanced trading features.

kraken pro analytics
This screenshot is for illustrative purposes only. For current market prices, please refer directly to the provider’s website. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.

Before we review the standard Kraken App, we distinguish between Kraken vs Kraken Pro on mobile:

Kraken Logo
Kraken Pro App Logo
Charting Tools
Time frame selection
Time frame selection, Candlestick or line charts, Chart lock feature (stops live feed)
Markets
Base fiat currency-crypto pairs only
250+ crypto and fiat-crypto markets
Visible Live Market Order No
✔️
Margin Trading No
✔️
Scheduled Orders No
✔️
Maker/Taker Trade Preference* No
✔️
Conditional Close** No
✔️
Choose Currency Fee Is Charged In No
✔️

  • *A setting that allows traders to pre-set an automated trade execution criteria to be charged a market maker, or taker fee (maker fees are cheaper, as it contributes to the books, while taker fees are executed immediately).

  • **Pre-sets to close a trade on stop/loss, or market limits.

Data last reviewed:

Both Kraken Apps are free to download on Android and iOS devices. However, to sign in to your Kraken Pro app, you need to generate an API key on the web platform.

How to Generate an API Key for Kraken Pro Mobile

  1. Head over to Kraken’s website, and log in.
  2. Under the account icon on the top left, select ‘Security’, and then ‘API’
  3. Click ‘Add key’
  4. Give your API key a simple name to remember, or leave it as it is
  5. Check the following options from the list of API permissions:
    • Query Funds
      Query Ledger Entries
      Query Open Orders & Trades
      Query Closed Orders & Trades
      Modify Orders
      Cancel/Close Orders
  6. Click ‘Generate Key’
  7. Select ‘Show QR Code’
  8. Open your Kraken Pro App and navigate to ‘Sign In’ > ‘Scan QR Code’
  9. Scan the code, and you’re logged in

Kraken Mobile App Dashboard

The following mobile review sections are for Kraken’s Standard mobile app.

The main dashboard in the Kraken App presents your account balance, tradeable crypto assets in your chosen base currency, market leaders by 24-hour price changes, and cryptocurrencies ordered by market cap size.

kraken dashboard
This screenshot is for illustrative purposes only. For current market prices, please refer directly to the provider’s website. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.

You can access three other menus from the main screen: account balances, mobile app settings, and a show/hide toggle that allows you to jump to buy, sell, deposit, and withdrawal screens.

Balance Overview and Account Settings

The balance screen allows you to view your overall account balance amount, as well as the distribution of currencies presented as a percentage.

From the same menu, you can access your transaction history, where you’re shown your number of asset types held with its overall value.

The app settings page lets you customize balance and announcement displays as well as change your base currency, theme color, and set up two-factor authentication.

Trade Execution and Management

The standard Kraken app has no order book, so your choices are to deposit/withdraw cash, and to buy/sell crypto with cash directly. You can also manage your payment methods on mobile.

When you select an asset from the home screen asset page, you’re shown the following asset stats:

  • All-time-high and low
  • 24-hour trading volume
  • Market cap and rank
  • A price chart with the ability to view it in different timeframes (24-hours, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, and All)
kraken asset screen
This screenshot is for illustrative purposes only. For current market prices, please refer directly to the provider’s website. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.

The trading ticket offers preset amounts from $20 to $100 or choose your own amount. Once you set your desired transaction amount, you’re given an estimate of what you get in return.

Payment methods can be chosen on the trade ticket screen.

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Kraken Web Trader Review

As with Kraken Pro and Standard on mobile, the web trader also has two distinct functionalities.

Kraken’s instant buy/sell currency exchange is available under the ‘Trade’ tab. Open market trading on 250+ crypto pairs and crypto-fiat pairs is available through the terminal.

Kraken Terminal vs Kraken Exchange

Here’s a brief overview of how the Kraken Terminal’s open market trading differs from the currency exchange.

kraken terminal
This screenshot is for illustrative purposes only. For current market prices, please refer directly to the provider’s website.

With the Kraken Terminal you can:

  • Use dozens of technical analysis tools (incl. EMA, MACD, and Bollinger Bands)
  • View charts as candlesticks, line, bar, mountain, heikin-ashi, and y-axis charts
  • Change the style and padding of your chart
  • View live order books
  • Use a leverage slider up to 5:1
  • Set conditional trade closures (stop/loss, market limits)
  • View two assets’ charts at a time
  • Manage your trades

The Kraken Terminal is a web equivalent of Kraken Pro. See the features of Kraken Pro on mobile.

See below for how the different tiers of the trading ticket work on Kraken web.

Trade Ticket Tiers and Position Management

The simpler version of Kraken’s instant buy/sell exchange also allows you to trade on the order books, though you can see the live orders.

Kraken is set up as a currency exchange with three trading ticket tiers: Simple, Intermediate, and Advanced.

kraken exchange
This screenshot is for illustrative purposes only. For current market prices, please refer directly to the provider’s website. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.

Here are the main differences between the three trade ticket types:

  • Simple: Select whether you buy/sell, the amount, and whether you’re selling on market prices (taker fee for instant execution) or making a limit order (maker fee — see the list of fees).
  • Intermediate: As with the Simple ticket, plus leverages up to 5:1, scheduled submission, cancellation time if the order is unfulfilled, and the choice of fee currency.
  • Advanced: In addition to the Intermediate trade ticket, you get to set conditional close pre-sets based on Limit, Stop-Loss, Take Profit, Stop Loss Limit, Take Profit Limit, and Settle Position triggers.

Futures and Margin Platform

The Kraken Futures platform is designed similarly to the Kraken Terminal, showcasing order form, trade history, position management, and charting features in the middle of the screen.

Crypto-fiat futures on Kraken allow you to speculate on market positions at a pre-set future date with additional leverage on top of your cash funds.

There are two main chart features to switch views between. the market chart and a depth chart. You can also change the screen layout to have both charts open at the same time, like in the Kraken Terminal. This can be done via the ‘Workspace‘ dropdown.

kraken futures
This screenshot is for illustrative purposes only. For current market prices, please refer directly to the provider’s website. Please note, this is an example – not a recommendation.

On the Kraken Futures platform, the order form allows you to switch a leverage limiter on and off to toggle the leverage from 1:1 to 50:1. Leverage essentially allows traders to trade with borrowed money from the exchange — it’s risky.

The futures contract dates are visible in the asset selection tab accessible from the top left menu. There are a total of 17 contract types available with BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, and BCH coins on the US dollar.

Support and Learning Resources

Kraken offers 24/7 customer support via e-mail and live chat. The live chat is a mixture of live agents and bots for hours when there are no agents available.

There’s also a knowledgebase with categorized articles on funding, trading, getting started, mobile app functionalities, and security, to name a few.

Other Kraken learning resources for cryptocurrency traders include:

  • Crypto guides on 50+ coins
  • Videos and webinars on different methods of cryptocurrency trading and security
  • A podcast series that’s also available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Kraken vs Binance

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Kraken and Binance on a few key points as exchanges:

Kraken LogoBinance Logo
Trade TypesCrypto spot, margin, indices, and futuresCrypto spot, futures, options, and margin
Cryptos50+300+
Fiat Currencies5+50+
Trade Pairs270+900+
Payment MethodsWire transfer, debit card, Signet, SEN, cryptoDomestic and international wire transfer, Crypto (+ 50 more)
Transaction Feesfrom 0%from 0.02%
Visit KrakenVisit Binance

Data last reviewed: Warning: data published 5 years ago. Verify before relying on it.

Start Trading Now at Kraken.com

Verdict

Overall verdict

Kraken fits crypto traders who want strong regulation, deep platform choice, and advanced tools in one place. It is a solid pick for active users, but less ideal if you want broad funding options or hands-on support.

Kraken

Kraken is a regulated US-based cryptocurrency exchange offering 50+ cryptocurrencies with spot, margin, and futures trading across multiple platforms, best suited for traders seeking advanced features and institutional-grade services.

Not right for: Users preferring phone or live chat support (only chatbot and email available), Traders wanting extensive fiat funding options (limited e-wallet support)

Top advantages:

  • 250+ cryptocurrencies to trade
  • Choice of five different platforms
  • 17 crypto futures products

FAQs

Is Kraken legit?

Kraken is a Money Services Business (MSB) registered company and has several subsidiaries regulated under FinCen, FINTRAC, the FCA, AUSTRAC, ASIC, and the FSA. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, US, and has never been hacked to date. Learn more about Kraken’s regulatory information here.

What are Kraken futures?

Kraken futures are cryptocurrency futures contracts that allow you to speculate on a supported cryptocurrency’s price at a future date. Kraken has an exclusive futures terminal where traders have access to 50:1 leveraged margin trading on BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, and BCH, all traded against the US dollar.

Where is Kraken Exchange located?

Kraken’s HQ is in San Francisco, California, US, and also has registered subsidiary companies in Australia, the UK, and Japan. Aside from the location of the registered companies and offices under Kraken’s parent company, Payward Inc, the exchange accepts traders from 150+ countries. See the list of restricted countries.

Is Kraken better than Coinbase?

Kraken and Coinbase both offer 50+ cryptocurrencies and started as an exchange. That said, both companies offer a Pro version of the trading platform with technical analysis and advanced trading tools alongside the standard coin exchange features. As to which exchange is better depends on your needs and preferences as a trader. See this comparison of Kraken and Binance.

How much does Kraken charge per trade?

Kraken charges a flat funding fee of 3.75% + €0.25, and has various trading fee brackets for different trade types. Kraken Pro charges maker fees for market makers, and taker fees for those who execute the market order instantly. For traders with a total trade volume of $50,000 or less in the last 30-days, maker fees start at 0.16% while taker fees at 0.26%. See the entire fee schedule.

What is the Kraken Bank?

Kraken is the first cryptocurrency company to be approved by the US state banking charter, and the company is formally known as a Special Purpose Depository Institution. This means that Kraken’s legal interests lay in client finance in an environment that’s quickly shaped by ongoing regulation. They’re regulated by the Wyoming Division of Banking.

Update history

This page was revised 12 times between March 2021 and April 2026.

Updated Kraken's FinCEN registration number and added two data fields to the What is the Kraken Bank section.

Removed toggle functionality from cryptocurrency listings and fee tables in Types of Crypto Trading and Spreads & Fees sections.

Reorganized key features table from dedicated section into Pros and Cons, removed risk warning from Cryptocurrency Staking section.

Added structured verdict components across five sections (regulation, accounts, fees, platforms, verdict) to enhance editorial organization and consistency.

Restructured review sections with standardized headings, consolidated fees content under new "Spreads & Fees" section, and reorganized platform details.

Removed redundant clause about crypto-fiat trading limitations.

Removed clarification about crypto-fiat trade limitations from Trade Ticket Tiers section.

Added extensive new sections covering regulatory registrations, country-specific trading restrictions, account verification tiers, deposit/withdrawal procedures, API setup instructions, and mobile app features.

Added regulatory registration details across five jurisdictions, new section on country-specific trading restrictions, and expanded coverage of account types, trading fees, deposit/withdrawal procedures, staking, OTC trading, and mobile app functionality.

Added content structure including exchange overview, pros/cons table, account verification guide, fee explanations, mobile app comparisons, and API setup instructions.

Added regulatory information, country restrictions, detailed trading pairs and cryptocurrencies, futures and margin trading details, staking options, and fee structure across multiple new sections.

Added regulatory information, country restrictions, trading pairs data, and cryptocurrency offerings across multiple sections to substantiate Kraken's operational scope and compliance.

Show all 12 updates (9 more)
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