Kraken does not have the mainstream name recognition of Coinbase, but among experienced crypto users it has a reputation few exchanges can match: over a decade of operation without a major hack. In this 2026 review we look at what makes Kraken tick — and where it falls short.
Overview
Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the oldest digital asset exchanges still operating. It occupies a comfortable middle ground: approachable enough for newcomers, yet packed with the advanced tools active traders want. It supports a large catalogue of assets — well over 500 cryptocurrencies — plus a wide range of fiat currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, and CHF.
Fees
Fees are a genuine strength on Kraken Pro, where trading starts at roughly 0.25% maker and 0.40% taker and falls as your 30-day volume grows — reaching as low as 0% for the highest-volume traders. That is materially cheaper than Coinbase Advanced. The catch: the simple “instant buy” interface on the main app carries a much higher convenience fee (around 1.5%), so cost-conscious users should always trade on Kraken Pro.
Security
This is where Kraken shines brightest. It keeps around 95% of deposits in air-gapped cold storage spread across multiple geographic locations, supports hardware security keys (such as YubiKey/FIDO2), offers a Global Settings Lock that can freeze account changes even if your login is compromised, and publishes regular Proof of Reserves audits so users can verify assets are backed 1:1. Crucially, it has never suffered a large-scale loss of customer funds since launch.
Features
Beyond spot trading, Kraken offers staking on popular assets like ETH, SOL, and DOT, margin and futures for advanced users, and strong charting and data tools. In the US it has also expanded into stocks and ETFs, edging toward an all-in-one platform.
Pros and cons
Pros: excellent security and transparency; low Pro fees; broad asset and fiat support; long, clean track record. Cons: high fees on the simple buy interface; the Pro interface can intimidate complete beginners; some features vary by region.
Who is Kraken best for?
Kraken is ideal for security-conscious users and active traders who want low fees and are comfortable using a Pro trading interface. Beginners can absolutely use it too — just start on Kraken Pro to avoid the higher instant-buy fees.
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