Binance offers significantly lower trading fees (0.1% vs 0.26%) and a vastly larger selection of cryptocurrencies (1,500+ vs 250+), while Kraken provides superior regulatory compliance, better customer support responsiveness, and stronger security certifications that appeal to risk-averse traders.
Binance vs Kraken — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume with 1,500+ trading pairs and extensive DeFi ecosystem.
Regulated US-based cryptocurrency exchange emphasizing compliance, security, and institutional-grade infrastructure.
Trading Fee Structure. Available Trading Pairs. Regulatory Licenses. Customer Support Response Time. Security Certifications. Daily Trading Volume. Staking Offerings
Choose Binance if you prioritize low fees, maximum cryptocurrency selection, and advanced trading features for high-volume traders seeking global liquidity. Choose Kraken if you value regulatory compliance, institutional-grade security, responsive customer service, and operating within a jurisdiction with strict oversight (US, EU, Canada).
Binance: 24-48 hours | Kraken: 2-4 hours
Binance: $0 (not available) | Kraken: N/A
Binance: No US banking charter | Kraken: N/A
Binance: Estimated $100B+ (private) | Kraken: N/A
Binance: Global (80+ countries) | Kraken: N/A
Binance: Perpetual futures, margin, staking, Web3 | Kraken: N/A
Binance: Variable by jurisdiction | Kraken: N/A
Binance: Binance | Kraken: Kraken (FinCEN MSB registered)
Binance: 350+ cryptocurrencies | Kraken: N/A
Binance: $0 (no protection) | Kraken: N/A
Binance: 4.2/5 (250K reviews) | Kraken: 4.6/5 (85K reviews)
Binance: Restricted (no US derivatives) | Kraken: Full access with MSB license
Binance: SOC 2 Type II | Kraken: SOC 2 Type II + ISO 27001
Binance: 9 years (since 2017) | Kraken: 13+ years (since 2011)
Binance: N/A | Kraken: Advanced/technical
Binance: N/A | Kraken: Professional-grade
Binance: N/A | Kraken: Enterprise-grade institutional
Binance: N/A | Kraken: FinCEN MSB + 7 state licenses
Binance: N/A | Kraken: 0 major incidents
Binance: N/A | Kraken: 5 major (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, JPY)
Binance: N/A | Kraken: Money Services Business (MSB)
Binance: N/A | Kraken: Yes (up to 5x leverage)
Binance: N/A | Kraken: Up to $250,000 (optional Crypto Custody)
Binance: N/A | Kraken: 20+ cryptocurrencies
Binance: N/A | Kraken: BitLicense + FinCEN MSB
How to choose between Binance and Kraken
Binance vs Kraken — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Binance vs Kraken. Contains 96 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Binance vs Kraken — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Binance vs Kraken.
Binance holds SOC 2 Type II certification and reimbursed the $570M 2022 hack fully, but it faces ongoing regulatory restrictions in the US, UK, and EU. While the platform is generally secure, its regulatory status remains contentious. Kraken offers more jurisdictional certainty with full US and EU compliance licenses.
Which exchange has better fees for beginners?
Binance has significantly lower fees at 0.1% versus Kraken's 0.26%, plus Binance offers fee discounts through BNB holdings. For a $1,000 trade, you'd pay $1 on Binance versus $2.60 on Kraken. However, Kraken's higher liquidity on major pairs may offset fees with tighter spreads.
Binance US (a separate entity) operates with limited functionality in the US, but the main Binance platform restricts US users from derivatives and many altcoin pairs due to regulatory issues. Kraken provides unrestricted full access to all features for US residents with MSB licensing.
How long does it take to get customer support responses?
Kraken averages 2-4 hours for support tickets with dedicated US-based representatives, while Binance averages 24-48 hours with potential language barriers. For urgent account issues, Kraken's responsiveness is substantially faster and more reliable.
Binance lists 1,500+ cryptocurrencies versus Kraken's 250+, providing six times more trading options. However, many Binance altcoins have minimal liquidity. Kraken focuses on higher-quality, liquid assets, meaning large orders execute better on major pairs despite the smaller selection.
How to Choose Between Binance and Kraken
Trading Fee Structure: Binance has 0.1% (maker/taker), while Kraken has 0.26% (standard maker/taker).
Available Trading Pairs: Binance has 1,500+ cryptocurrencies, while Kraken has 250+ cryptocurrencies.
Regulatory Licenses: Binance has Limited (restricted in US/UK), while Kraken has US MSB, Canada MSB, EU MiCA-compliant.
Consider: Customer Support Response Time
Customer Support Response Time: Binance has 24-48 hours average, while Kraken has 2-4 hours average.
Security Certifications: Binance has SOC 2 Type II, while Kraken has SOC 2 Type II + ISO 27001 + Tier 4 datacenter.
Daily Trading Volume: Binance has $70+ billion USD, while Kraken has $2.5+ billion USD.
Staking Offerings: Binance has 200+ staking options, while Kraken has 15+ staking options.