Coinbase vs Kraken: Which Exchange Is Better in 2026?
US state coverage, trading fees, licenses and staking, side by side. Every value comes from the exchange’s own pages or regulator filings.
No project pays to be listed. How we compare
In this comparison
Kraken is cheaper for active traders who use its Pro order book, while Coinbase is the only one of the two available in all 50 states, including New York and Maine.
Both are large US-available exchanges with a simple buy screen and a separate order book. The differences that matter most are state coverage, instant-buy costs and fees for small traders.
Quick verdict: Coinbase or Kraken?
Coinbase for coverage and simplicity; Kraken for lower order-book fees.
New York and Maine residents, and anyone who wants the largest US-listed exchange.
Active traders who use limit orders and want a lower maker fee.
- Service in all 50 states
- A public, SEC-reporting parent company
- A linked self-custody app (Coinbase Wallet)
- A transparent volume-based fee ladder on Kraken Pro
- A bank charter and futures affiliates in the US
- An openly published licenses page
Other Coinbase alternatives to compare
The largest global crypto exchange; not available to US residents, who are directed to Binance.US.
Coinbase vs Binance →Crypto app available in every US state except New York, with fees shown in the trade preview.
Coinbase vs Crypto.com →US crypto exchange and custodian, public since September 2025, available in all 50 states.
Coinbase vs Gemini →Coinbase vs Kraken at a glance
| Category | Coinbase | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| US availability ⓘStates the exchange does not serve, from its own page. | Licensed in New York (BitLicense) and other states | All states except NY and ME |
| Trading fees ⓘLowest-volume tier on the advanced order book: maker / taker. | Maker/taker tiers by 30-day volume, shown after sign-in | 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker |
| Simple buy fee ⓘFee or spread on the one-click buy screen. | Coinbase fee plus spread, shown in order preview | 1% + spread |
| Debit card purchase | Debit card accepted; fee varies by payment method, shown in the trade preview | $0.25 + 3.75% (debit card deposit) |
| Coins available (US) | Not verified | 574 (654 listed, 80 restricted for US clients) |
| Staking (US) | Yes, 35% standard commission on rewards | Yes, 17 assets; onchain staking only in 37 states plus DC and PR (not CA, NY, TX) |
| US licenses | NY BitLicense, state MTLs, NMLS 1163082 | FinCEN MSB, state MTLs, Wyoming SPDI |
| Custody | Custodial | Custodial |
| Self-custody wallet | Coinbase Wallet | Kraken Wallet |
Data as of Sep 26, 2026. Sources: each exchange’s own fee schedule, help center and licenses page, and regulator filings. Fees change; check the price preview before you trade.
What are Coinbase and Kraken?
Coinbase
Coinbase is a US crypto platform run by Coinbase, Inc., part of the public company Coinbase Global, Inc. It has a simple buy and sell screen and an order-book platform, Coinbase Advanced, with fees tiered by 30-day volume. Its self-custody wallet is a separate app, Coinbase Wallet.
Kraken
Kraken is a crypto exchange operated in the US through Payward entities. It offers a Kraken app with instant buy and sell and an order-book platform, Kraken Pro, with fees tiered by 30-day volume. US affiliates also handle custody, securities brokerage and derivatives.
Fees
Close at the entry tier; Coinbase is cheaper for takers.
Coinbase
Coinbase Advanced: 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker at the lowest volume tier.
Kraken
Kraken Pro: 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at the lowest tier; instant buys cost 1% plus a spread.
Winner: Coinbase for takers
US availability
Coinbase covers more states.
Coinbase
All 50 states.
Kraken
All states except New York and Maine; some services limited in other states.
Winner: Coinbase
Regulation
Both hold US money transmitter registrations.
Coinbase
Coinbase Global is a public company that reports to the SEC; the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Coinbase in February 2025.
Kraken
Kraken lists a FinCEN MSB, state licenses and a Wyoming-chartered bank (SPDI); it paid $30M to the SEC in 2023 and ended US staking-as-a-service under that settlement.
Tie
Security record
Both have had incidents.
Coinbase
In May 2025 Coinbase disclosed that bribed support staff leaked customer data, including ID images and partial SSNs; it refused the ransom demand.
Kraken
Kraken’s 2023 SEC settlement concerned its staking program rather than a breach.
No clear winner
Coinbase or Kraken: final verdict
Pick Coinbase if you live in New York or Maine, or want the platform with the widest US coverage and a public parent company.
Pick Kraken if you trade actively with limit orders and live in a state it serves.
- State coverage: Coinbase
- Maker fee (entry tier): Tie
- Taker fee (entry tier): Coinbase
- Published licenses: Kraken
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; only sign transactions you understand.
How we compared Coinbase and Kraken
We compared both platforms on what US customers see: which states they serve, the entry-tier order-book fee, the cost of a simple buy, staking availability, licenses and custody. Every value comes from the platform’s own fee schedule, help center or licenses page, or from regulator filings, with the date we checked it.
Coinbase vs Kraken: FAQ
Is Coinbase or Kraken cheaper?
At the lowest volume tier both charge 0.40% for maker orders; for taker orders Coinbase Advanced charges 0.60% and Kraken Pro 0.80%. Kraken’s instant buy adds 1% plus a spread. Checked Sep 26, 2026.
Is Kraken available in New York?
No. Kraken serves all US states except New York and Maine, according to its licensing page.
Which is safer, Coinbase or Kraken?
Both are regulated US money transmitters with custodial accounts. Coinbase disclosed a customer-data leak by bribed support staff in 2025. For long-term holdings, many users move funds to a self-custody wallet.
Can I move crypto from Coinbase to Kraken?
Yes. Withdraw from Coinbase to your Kraken deposit address for the same coin and network. Send a small test amount first; network fees apply.
Do Coinbase and Kraken hold my crypto?
Yes. Both are custodial: the platform holds the keys to your balance. To hold your own keys, withdraw to a self-custody wallet.
Coinbase vs Kraken by user type
| If you are… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New York or Maine resident | Coinbase | Kraken does not serve these states. |
| Active trader using limit orders | Kraken | Same 0.40% maker fee and a transparent fee ladder. |
| Market-order trader at low volume | Coinbase | 0.60% taker vs 0.80%. |
| Beginner buying a small amount | Neither on instant buy | Both charge more on the simple screen than on the order book. |
| Wants self-custody later | Coinbase | Links to its own Coinbase Wallet app. |
| Outside the US | Neither | This comparison covers US customers only. |
Pros and cons
- Pro: Parent company is public and files with the SEC
- Pro: Stablecoin pairs on Advanced cost 0.00% maker / 0.0045% taker
- Pro: Separate self-custody app: Coinbase Wallet
- Con: Entry fees on Advanced of 0.40% maker / 0.60% taker
- Con: A 2025 data breach exposed customer ID images and partial SSNs
- Con: Simple-buy spread is not published on a page we could check
- Pro: Kraken Pro entry fee 0.40% maker
- Pro: Wyoming-chartered bank (SPDI), SEC broker-dealer and CFTC futures affiliates
- Pro: Fee schedule and licenses published openly
- Con: Not available in New York or Maine
- Con: 1% fee plus a spread on instant buys
- Con: Paid $30M to the SEC over US staking in 2023
Sources
Related reading
How this page works
Sources: Coinbase Advanced fees, Coinbase blog: Coinbase launches in Hawaii (Aug 2024), Kraken fee schedule. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.