Kraken Review 2026 — Fees, Safety & Features
Kraken is one of the most trusted and longest-running crypto exchanges, with deep liquidity, strong regulation, and a full-featured pro trading platform. Its fees are competitive and it supports staking for multiple assets, but the mobile app lags behind Coinbase.
At a Glance
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA (US) |
| Regulation | FinCEN, NY BitLicense, FCA (UK), Crypto.com (CA) |
| Supported Coins | 200+ |
| Trading Fees | 0.16% maker / 0.26% taker (Kraken Pro) |
| Staking | Yes — ETH, SOL, DOT, ADA, and more |
| Security | 95% cold storage, proof of reserves, 2FA, PGP |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android (Kraken & Kraken Pro) |
Fees
Kraken uses a tiered maker/taker fee model based on 30-day trading volume. At the base level, Kraken Pro charges 0.16% maker / 0.26% taker — significantly cheaper than Coinbase's standard 0.5-1.5%. The standard Kraken web interface charges higher fees (up to 1.5%), so always use Kraken Pro for trading.
Withdrawal fees vary by coin. Bitcoin withdrawals cost 0.00001 BTC (~$0.60), Ethereum costs 0.003 ETH (~$6), and stablecoin withdrawals are usually under $3.
Security & Regulation
Kraken has never been hacked. It stores 95% of funds in cold storage and publishes regular proof-of-reserves audits. It was one of the first exchanges to obtain a New York BitLicense and is registered with FinCEN. Security features include mandatory 2FA, PGP-encrypted emails, and global settings lock to prevent unauthorized changes.
Staking
Kraken is one of the best exchanges for staking. It supports ETH (4-7% APY), Solana (6-8%), Polkadot (12-14%), Cardano (3-4%), and others. Rewards are distributed weekly with no lock-up period for most assets — you can unstake at any time, though there is a delay for ETH (1-3 weeks post-Shanghai upgrade).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class security (never hacked)
- Low fees on Kraken Pro
- Excellent staking options
- Strong US and UK regulation
- Futures and margin trading
- Proof of reserves transparency
Cons
- Mobile app is less polished than Coinbase
- Fewer altcoins than Binance
- Customer support can be slow
- Standard web interface fees are high
- Not available in NY, WA (limited states)
Verdict
Kraken is the best choice for serious traders who prioritize security, low fees, and staking income. It is not as beginner-friendly as Coinbase, but for anyone willing to use Kraken Pro, the savings are substantial. The staking yields alone make it worth holding assets on Kraken rather than letting them sit idle on Coinbase.
Best for: Intermediate to advanced traders, stakers, long-term holders who want regulated security.
Not ideal for: Absolute beginners who want the simplest possible experience. Coinbase is easier.