Kraken vs Crypto.com 2026: Fees, Security & Features
Kraken is a US-regulated exchange with lower trading fees (0.16-0.26%) and stronger security reputation, while Crypto.com offers broader services including credit cards and NFT marketplace, but has faced regulatory scrutiny and higher fees (0.4%) for standard users.
Kraken
US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange with low fees and industry-leading security.
Professional traders, US-based investors, security-conscious users, and those seeking regulatory assurance
Crypto.com
Global cryptocurrency platform with credit cards, broader asset selection, and emerging market focus.
Casual global traders, emerging market users, credit card reward seekers, and those wanting integrated crypto debit cards
Quick Answer
AI SummaryKraken is a US-regulated exchange with lower trading fees (0.16-0.26%) and stronger security reputation, while Crypto.com offers broader services including credit cards and NFT marketplace, but has faced regulatory scrutiny and higher fees (0.4%) for standard users.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Kraken if you prioritize regulatory compliance, lower fees, strong security, and US operations—ideal for serious traders and those in regulated markets. Choose Crypto.com if you want broader cryptocurrency selection, credit card rewards integration, and global accessibility—better for casual users and emerging market residents.
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Choose Kraken if
Best pickProfessional traders, US-based investors, security-conscious users, and those seeking regulatory assurance
Choose Crypto.com if
Casual global traders, emerging market users, credit card reward seekers, and those wanting integrated crypto debit cards
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Trading Fees (Maker/Taker):✓ Kraken wins(0.16% / 0.26% vs 0.4% / 0.4%)
- US Regulatory Status:✓ Kraken wins(BitLicense (NY), FinCEN MSB vs No BitLicense, limited US operations)
- Supported Fiat Currencies:✓ Crypto.com wins(20+ fiat currencies including emerging markets vs 12 fiat pairs (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, etc.))
Key Facts & Figures
63 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Kraken | Crypto.com | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker Fee(%) | 0.16% | — | — |
| Taker Fee(%) | 0.26% | — | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | ~2.5 million | Crypto.com | |
| Quarterly Trading Volume (2025)(billions USD) | $120B | — | — |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies(count) | 200+ | — | — |
| Daily Trading Volume(USD Billions) | Kraken | — | — |
| Available Trading Pairs(count) | Kraken | — | — |
| Maker Fee(percentage) | Kraken | — | — |
| Taker Fee(percentage) | Kraken | — | — |
| Security Audit Frequency(per year) | Kraken | — | — |
| Staking Assets Supported(count) | Kraken | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating(out of 5) | Kraken | — | — |
| Maker Trading Fee(%) | 0.16% | — | — |
| Taker Trading Fee(%) | 0.26% | — | — |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies(assets) | 85+ | — | — |
| Staking Assets Available(count) | 20+ | — | — |
| Maximum Staking APY(%) | Up to 12% | — | — |
| Taker Trading Fee(%) | 0.26% | 0.40% | |
| Cryptocurrencies Supported(coins) | 190 | 250 | |
| Maximum Staking APY(%) | 12% | 20% | |
| Visa Card Cashback(%) | 0% (not offered) | 8% | |
| Account Minimum Deposit(USD) | No minimum | No minimum | |
| Maker Trading Fee(%) | 0.16% | 0.40% | |
| Available Trading Pairs(pairs) | 90+ | — | — |
| US State Money Transmitter Licenses(states) | 22 states | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 | |
| Maximum Margin Leverage(x) | 5x leverage | — | — |
| Year Founded | 2011 | — | — |
| Maker/Taker Trading Fees(%) | 0.16%-0.26% | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars out of 5) | 4.2/5 | — | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 2-4 hours | — | — |
| Minimum Deposit(USD) | $10 | — | — |
| Active Users(millions) | 8+ million | — | — |
| Average Staking APY(%) | 3-7% | — | — |
| Withdrawal Fee (Bitcoin)(USD) | $0.00-$1.00 | — | — |
| Daily Trading Volume(USD trillions) | $850M | — | — |
| Maker Fee (Standard Tier)(percentage) | 0.16% | — | — |
| Taker Fee (Standard Tier)(percentage) | 0.26% | — | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(minutes) | 4-6 | — | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 (85K reviews) | — | — |
| Supported Fiat Currencies(currencies) | 12+ | — | — |
| Maximum Leverage (Futures)(multiplier) | 50x | — | — |
| Maker Trading Fee(%) | 0.16% | 0.10-0.40% | |
| Taker Trading Fee(%) | 0.26% | 0.10-0.40% | |
| Average Staking Reward(%) | 4-8% APY | 8-14.5% APY | |
| Countries & Territories Supported(count) | 60+ | 178+ | |
| Security Incidents (5-Year History)(breaches) | 0 major incidents | 1 major incident ($30M loss) | |
| Fiat Currency Support(currencies) | 5 major (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, JPY) | 75+ fiat currencies | |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.6/5 | 4.4/5 | |
| Minimum Deposit Required(USD) | $0 | $0 | |
| Available Cryptocurrencies(assets) | 190+ | — | — |
| Trading Pairs(pairs) | 550+ | — | — |
| Account Insurance Coverage(USD) | Up to $250,000 (optional Crypto Custody) | — | — |
| Staking Rewards Available(assets) | 20+ cryptocurrencies | — | — |
| Maker Fee (Standard Account)(%) | 0.16% | 0.4% | |
| Taker Fee (Standard Account)(%) | 0.26% | 0.4% | |
| Fiat Currency Support(count) | 12 currencies | 20+ currencies | |
| Trading Pairs Available(count) | 180 pairs | 250 pairs | |
| ETH Staking Reward (Annual)(%) | 15-18% APY | 4-5% APY | |
| Security Incidents (2017-2024)(count) | 0 major breaches | 2+ incidents | |
| Mobile App Rating (Average)(/5.0) | 4.3 | 4.1 | |
| Registered Users(millions) | Crypto.com | Crypto.com | |
| App Downloads (2024)(millions) | Crypto.com | Crypto.com |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 0.16% / 0.26%(winner)Trading Fees (Maker/Taker)0.4% / 0.4%
- BitLicense (NY), FinCEN MSB(winner)US Regulatory StatusNo BitLicense, limited US operations
- 12 fiat pairs (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, etc.)Supported Fiat Currencies20+ fiat currencies including emerging markets(winner)
- 1-20% (varies by asset)(winner)Staking Rewards APY2-14% (varies by asset, lower than Kraken)
- Zero confirmed major breaches(winner)Security Breaches (Last 7 years)2018 hack ($31M), 2021 suspicious activity
- 180+ trading pairsSupported Cryptocurrencies250+ trading pairs(winner)
- 4.3/5.0 stars(winner)Mobile App Rating (iOS/Android avg)4.1/5.0 stars
- Trading Fees (Maker/Taker)
Kraken
0.16% / 0.26%(winner)
Crypto.com
0.4% / 0.4%
- US Regulatory Status
Kraken
BitLicense (NY), FinCEN MSB(winner)
Crypto.com
No BitLicense, limited US operations
- Supported Fiat Currencies
Kraken
12 fiat pairs (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, etc.)
Crypto.com
20+ fiat currencies including emerging markets(winner)
- Staking Rewards APY
Kraken
1-20% (varies by asset)(winner)
Crypto.com
2-14% (varies by asset, lower than Kraken)
- Security Breaches (Last 7 years)
Kraken
Zero confirmed major breaches(winner)
Crypto.com
2018 hack ($31M), 2021 suspicious activity
- Supported Cryptocurrencies
Kraken
180+ trading pairs
Crypto.com
250+ trading pairs(winner)
- Mobile App Rating (iOS/Android avg)
Kraken
4.3/5.0 stars(winner)
Crypto.com
4.1/5.0 stars
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Kraken | Crypto.com |
|---|---|---|
| Maker Fee(%) | 0.16% | — |
| Taker Fee(%) | 0.26% | — |
| Maker Fee(percentage) | Kraken | — |
| Taker Fee(percentage) | Kraken | — |
| Maker Fee (Standard Account)(%) | 0.16%(winner) | 0.4% |
Show 1 more attributeTaker Fee (Standard Account)(%) 0.26% 0.4% | ||
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | ~2.5 million(winner) | Crypto.com |
| Quarterly Trading Volume (2025)(billions USD) | $120B | — |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies(count) | 200+ | — |
| Ease of Use | Advanced/technical | — |
| User Interface Complexity | Advanced features, steeper learning curve | — |
| Advanced Trading Features | Professional-grade | — |
| Security Focus | Enterprise-grade institutional | — |
| Security Audit Frequency(per year) | Kraken | — |
| USD Balance Insurance (FDIC) | Not specified | — |
| Security Incidents (5-Year History)(breaches) | 0 major incidents(winner) | 1 major incident ($30M loss) |
| Security Incidents (2017-2024)(count) | 0 major breaches(winner) | 2+ incidents |
| Daily Trading Volume(USD Billions) | Kraken | — |
| Available Trading Pairs(count) | Kraken | — |
| Cryptocurrencies Supported(coins) | 190 | 250(winner) |
| Available Cryptocurrencies(assets) | 190+ | — |
| Trading Pairs(pairs) | 550+ | — |
| US Regulatory Status | Kraken (FinCEN MSB registered) | — |
| US Regulatory Licenses | FinCEN MSB + 7 state licenses | No US banking license |
| US Regulatory Approval | BitLicense + FinCEN MSB | FinCEN MSB only |
| US Regulatory Status | Compliant but expanding | — |
| Staking Assets Supported(count) | Kraken | — |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies(assets) | 85+ | — |
| Staking Rewards Available(assets) | 20+ cryptocurrencies | — |
| Fiat Currency Support(count) | 12 currencies | 20+ currencies(winner) |
| Trading Pairs Available(count) | 180 pairs | 250 pairs(winner) |
Show 2 more attributesStaking Program Quality Comprehensive with high APY — Additional Services Visa card, NFT, DeFi wallet, loans — | ||
| Mobile App Rating(out of 5) | Kraken | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5(winner) |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars out of 5) | 4.2/5 | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.6/5(winner) | 4.4/5 |
| Mobile App Rating (Average)(/5.0) | 4.3(winner) | 4.1 |
| Maker Trading Fee(%) | 0.16% | — |
| Taker Trading Fee(%) | 0.26% | — |
| NY BitLicense Status | Pending approval | — |
| Staking Assets Available(count) | 20+ | — |
| Maximum Staking APY(%) | Up to 12% | — |
| Average Staking Reward(%) | 4-8% APY | 8-14.5% APY(winner) |
| Margin Trading Available | Yes | — |
| Taker Trading Fee(%) | 0.26%(winner) | 0.40% |
| Maker Trading Fee(%) | 0.16%(winner) | 0.40% |
| Maker Fee (Standard Tier)(percentage) | 0.16% | — |
| Taker Fee (Standard Tier)(percentage) | 0.26% | — |
| Maker Trading Fee(%) | 0.16%(winner) | 0.10-0.40% |
Show 2 more attributesTaker Trading Fee(%) 0.26% 0.10-0.40% Minimum Deposit Required(USD) $0 $0 | ||
| Maximum Staking APY(%) | 12% | 20%(winner) |
| ETH Staking Reward (Annual)(%) | 15-18% APY(winner) | 4-5% APY |
| Visa Card Cashback(%) | 0% (not offered) | 8%(winner) |
| Account Minimum Deposit(USD) | No minimum | No minimum |
| Minimum Deposit(USD) | $10 | — |
| Supported Fiat Currencies(currencies) | 12+ | — |
| Countries & Territories Supported(count) | 60+ | 178+(winner) |
| Fiat Currency Support(currencies) | 5 major (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, JPY) | 75+ fiat currencies(winner) |
| Available Trading Pairs(pairs) | 90+ | — |
| US State Money Transmitter Licenses(states) | 22 states | — |
| NY BitLicense Status | Not licensed | — |
| Maximum Margin Leverage(x) | 5x leverage | — |
| Margin Trading Available | Yes (up to 5x leverage) | — |
| Year Founded | 2011 | — |
| Maker/Taker Trading Fees(%) | 0.16%-0.26% | — |
| Withdrawal Fee (Bitcoin)(USD) | $0.00-$1.00 | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 2-4 hours | — |
| Active Users(millions) | 8+ million | — |
| Average Staking APY(%) | 3-7% | — |
| Daily Trading Volume(USD trillions) | $850M | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(minutes) | 4-6 | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 (85K reviews) | — |
| Maximum Leverage (Futures)(multiplier) | 50x | — |
| Regulatory Charter Type | Money Services Business (MSB) | — |
| Account Insurance Coverage(USD) | Up to $250,000 (optional Crypto Custody) | — |
| Registered Users(millions) | Crypto.com | — |
| App Downloads (2024)(millions) | Crypto.com | — |
| Quarterly Trading Volume(USD Billions) | Crypto.com | — |
KrakenShow 1 more attribute
Show 2 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·7 cons across both
Kraken
Pros
- BitLicense and FinCEN-regulated (strongest US compliance)
- Lowest trading fees at 0.16% maker/0.26% taker for standard accounts
- Industry-leading staking rewards (1-20% APY depending on asset)
- Zero major security breaches in 13-year history
- Advanced trading features (margin trading, futures, spot orders)
Cons
- Limited to 12 fiat currency pairs (mostly developed markets)
- Lower cryptocurrency selection (180 pairs vs competitors with 250+)
- Higher deposit/withdrawal fees in some regions ($15-25 bank wires)
Crypto.com
Pros
- Broadest cryptocurrency selection (250+ trading pairs)
- Integrated Visa debit/credit card with cash back rewards (up to 8%)
- Available in 70+ countries including emerging markets
- 20+ fiat currency support for diverse user bases
- NFT marketplace and DeFi wallet integration
Cons
- Standard trading fee of 0.4% (2.5x higher than Kraken)
- No BitLicense; restricted operations in New York and some states
- History of security incidents (2018 $31M hack, 2021 suspicious activity alert)
- Lower staking rewards (2-14% APY) than Kraken alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Kraken has significantly lower trading fees at 0.16% maker and 0.26% taker compared to Crypto.com's flat 0.4% for standard users. Over 100 trades annually, Kraken users save approximately 0.24% per trade, translating to substantial savings on large portfolios.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Wikipedia
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