Kraken Review 2026
Best for security-conscious traders who want a proven, transparent exchange with competitive fees and strong customer support.
What is Kraken?
Kraken is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges still operating, founded in 2011 — a year before Coinbase. It has never been hacked, which is remarkable for an exchange that's been around for over a decade. Kraken pioneered Proof of Reserves auditing, letting anyone verify that customer funds are fully backed. With competitive fees, solid security, and availability in 190+ countries, Kraken is a reliable choice for both beginners and advanced traders.
Kraken Pros and Cons
Pros
- One of the oldest exchanges (est. 2011) — proven track record
- Strong security — never been hacked
- Competitive fees (0.16/0.26%)
- Proof of Reserves transparency
- Available in 190+ countries
- 24/7 live chat and phone support
Cons
- No credit/debit card deposits in some regions
- Smaller coin selection than Binance
- Interface can feel dated
- ACH deposits can take 1-5 days
Kraken at a Glance
| Founded | 2011 |
| CEO | Arjun Sethi |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA |
| Cryptocurrencies | 200+ |
| Countries Served | 190+ |
| Maker Fee | 0.16% |
| Taker Fee | 0.26% |
| Deposit Methods | Bank transfer (ACH/SEPA/SWIFT), Wire transfer, Crypto deposits |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 (crypto), varies (fiat) |
| Security | Proof of Reserves (PoR), 95% cold storage, encrypted databases, 2FA, master key, Global Settings Lock |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android (4.5 stars) |
Kraken Features
Kraken offers a comprehensive set of trading and earning features:
Kraken Fees Explained
Kraken uses a maker-taker fee model:
- Maker fee: 0.16% — you pay this when placing limit orders that add liquidity to the order book
- Taker fee: 0.26% — you pay this when placing market orders that remove liquidity
Kraken offers volume-based fee discounts. At $50K+ monthly volume, fees drop to 0.14/0.24%. Pro tier (10M+) pays just 0.00/0.10%.
For a side-by-side comparison, check our exchange comparison page or use the crypto calculator to estimate total costs.
Our Verdict: 4.5/5
Best for security-conscious traders who want a proven, transparent exchange with competitive fees and strong customer support. With a trust score of 9/10, 200+ supported cryptocurrencies, and fees starting at 0.16%, Kraken is a top-tier choice for crypto trading in 2026.