Kraken offers lower trading fees (0.16-0.26%) and more advanced trading features, while Gemini provides better regulatory oversight, simpler user interface, and stronger institutional backing through its NYSE listing. The choice depends on whether you prioritize cost-efficiency or regulatory security.
Kraken vs Gemini — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2011 with advanced trading features and competitive fees.
New York-regulated cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 by Winklevoss twins, emphasizing compliance and institutional credibility.
Maker/Taker Trading Fees. Regulatory Licenses. Trading Pairs Available. Mobile App Rating (iOS). Advanced Trading Tools. Insurance Coverage (USD deposits). Founded
Choose Kraken if you're an active trader seeking lower fees, more cryptocurrency pairs, and advanced features like margin trading and futures. Choose Gemini if you prioritize regulatory compliance, institutional credibility (as a publicly listed company via Winklevoss backing), and prefer a beginner-friendly interface with strong compliance infrastructure.
Kraken: Advanced/technical | Gemini: N/A
Kraken: Professional-grade | Gemini: N/A
Kraken: Enterprise-grade institutional | Gemini: N/A
Kraken: Kraken (FinCEN MSB registered) | Gemini: N/A
Kraken: Pending approval | Gemini: Approved
Kraken: Not specified | Gemini: Up to $250,000
Kraken: FinCEN MSB + 7 state licenses | Gemini: N/A
Kraken: 22 states | Gemini: 50 states (all)
Kraken: Not licensed | Gemini: Fully licensed
Kraken: 5x leverage | Gemini: Limited/unavailable
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Gemini 1.5 Pro (strong)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Advanced (image, video, text)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Google Search, Workspace, Maps
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Good but formulaic
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Conversational AI & LLM
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Consumer AI Product
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Free (premium paid options)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Text, Images, Video, Code
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 1.5 billion+ (all Google products)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Free (Gemini Free or Premium $20)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 1 million tokens (Gemini 2.0)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 40+ languages with debugging
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Cloud-based primarily
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: PDF, Images, Web content, Video
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 99.5% (Google Cloud SLA)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: iOS, Android (native Gemini app)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 5 (text, image, audio, video, docs)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Gemini 3.1 Pro, 3.5 Flash
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 1M tokens (3.1 Pro)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Competitive (3.1 Pro)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Native Search grounding
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Broadest (Google translation lineage)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Controlled generation + JSON schemas
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: ~2025 (Search compensates)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Agentic in Workspace
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Google integrations
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Polished; merges with Google app on Android
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Implicit + explicit context caching
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Cloud-only (Vertex AI)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: ~360 RPM / 4M TPM (3.1 Pro)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 3.5 Flash (generous limits)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Google AI Pro $19.99/mo
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Ultra $100–$200/mo
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Workspace Business (varies)
Complex Reasoning Accuracy (AIME Benchmark)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: April 2024 knowledge cutoff
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Text, images, video, audio
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: $20/month (Google One Premium)
Code Generation Quality (HumanEval Benchmark)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Strict - refuses harmful/controversial
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Full access at Gemini.com
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: $0 (Free tier available)
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Text, images, audio, video
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Full access via Vertex AI and AI Studio
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Optimized with native debugging tools
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: Google Workspace, Drive, Gmail, Search
Kraken: N/A | Gemini: 20 months (April 2024)
Kraken vs Gemini — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Kraken vs Gemini. Contains 108 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Kraken vs Gemini — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Kraken vs Gemini.
Which exchange has lower fees for active traders?
Kraken significantly undercuts Gemini on trading fees. Kraken charges 0.16% for makers and 0.26% for takers, while Gemini charges 0.25% and 0.35% respectively. For a trader executing $100,000 in monthly volume, this represents approximately $180-$225 in annual savings using Kraken.
Is Gemini safer due to its NY BitLicense?
Gemini's NY BitLicense provides stronger regulatory oversight and consumer protections specific to New York state. However, both exchanges are insured up to $250,000 per account through FDIC coverage for USD deposits. Gemini's licenses in all 50 states vs Kraken's 22 states means Gemini users have more consistent regulatory protection across jurisdictions.
Which exchange has more altcoin options?
Kraken offers 900+ trading pairs compared to Gemini's 120+, making it significantly better for investors seeking exposure to emerging altcoins, DeFi tokens, and lesser-known cryptocurrencies. Gemini focuses on major cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, etc.) suitable for institutional and conservative retail investors.
Can I use margin trading on both platforms?
Kraken offers up to 5x leverage margin trading and futures contracts for eligible users. Gemini does not offer traditional margin trading, though it recently launched futures contracts through partnerships. For leverage traders, Kraken is the superior choice.
Gemini is better for beginners due to its 4.6/5 mobile app rating (vs Kraken's 4.3/5), simpler user interface, and institutional credibility. However, Kraken's educational resources and clear fee structure make it accessible to beginners willing to learn advanced features.
Maker/Taker Trading Fees: Kraken has 0.16% / 0.26%, while Gemini has 0.25% / 0.35%.
Regulatory Licenses: Kraken has Money Transmitter (22 US states), while Gemini has NY BitLicense + Money Transmitter (all 50 states).
Trading Pairs Available: Kraken has 900+, while Gemini has 120+.
Mobile App Rating (iOS): Kraken has 4.3/5 stars, while Gemini has 4.6/5 stars.
Advanced Trading Tools: Kraken has Margin trading, futures, staking, while Gemini has Active Trader platform only.
Consider: Insurance Coverage (USD deposits)
Insurance Coverage (USD deposits): Kraken has FDIC insured up to $250k, while Gemini has FDIC insured up to $250k per account.
Founded: Kraken has 2011, while Gemini has 2014.