Kraken
US-available crypto exchange with an instant-buy app and the Kraken Pro order book.
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Kraken key facts
| Category | Crypto exchange |
|---|---|
| US availability | All states except NY and ME |
| Trading fees | 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker |
| Simple buy fee | 1% + spread |
| Debit card purchase | $0.25 + 3.75% (debit card deposit) |
| Coins available (US) | 574 (654 listed, 80 restricted for US clients) |
| Staking (US) | Yes, 17 assets; onchain staking only in 37 states plus DC and PR (not CA, NY, TX) |
| US licenses | FinCEN MSB, state MTLs, Wyoming SPDI |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Self-custody wallet | Kraken Wallet |
What is 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.
How Kraken works
Instant Buy, Sell and Convert on kraken.com or in the Kraken app gives you a price with a spread built in, so the quote is locked when you confirm.
Recurring buys and custom orders use the same service. Instant Buy volume does not count toward the 30-day volume that sets your Kraken Pro fee tier. US custody runs through Kraken Financial, a Wyoming-chartered Special Purpose Depository Institution, and Payward Interactive, Inc. is Kraken's FinCEN-registered MSB. Staking comes in two forms, Bonded and Flexible. Flexible lets you unstake immediately on assets where Kraken supports it. You need a verified account, and residents of prohibited locations cannot stake.
How to start with Kraken
- Kraken does not serve residents of New York or Maine.
- Indiana residents cannot use Krak crypto transfers.
- Fiat transfers through Krak are unavailable in Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Utah.
- ACH through Plaid has a $1 minimum, is free, and credits almost immediately, but a 7-day withdrawal hold applies.
- Debit card deposits start at $10.
- FedWire through Dart Bank is free with a $1 minimum.
- Standard verified accounts get a $100,000 daily cash deposit limit.
Kraken fees and limits
- Instant and recurring trades cost 1%, and custom orders cost 1.5%, before the spread.
- Kraken+ members pay no trading fee on up to $10,000 of monthly volume.
- Converting small balances below the minimum order size costs a flat 3%.
- Debit card deposits cost $0.25 plus 3.75%, and PayPal fees are shown at confirmation.
- Kraken's staking overview lists a 30% commission on rewards from Flexible Staking and Auto Earn, and a bonded staking commission that starts at 25% and falls as your bonded balance grows.
Risks to know before using Kraken
- On February 9, 2023, the SEC charged two Kraken entities over their staking-as-a-service program.
- Kraken settled by agreeing to stop offering it and paying $30 million.
- Kraken's staking page now states that staked assets are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance.
- Card, PayPal and ACH deposits trigger withdrawal holds of 72 hours to 7 days.
- Starting August 15, 2026, individual accounts face a 30-day limit of $3,500 in XMR deposits and $1,500 in XMR withdrawals.
Kraken alternatives
Other exchanges US customers compare with Kraken.
The largest US-listed crypto exchange, with a simple buy screen and the Coinbase Advanced order book.
Kraken vs Coinbase →US crypto exchange and custodian, public since September 2025, available in all 50 states.
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US exchange run separately from Binance.com, with low order-book fees but limited state coverage.
Multi-asset platform for crypto, fiat and precious metals, priced with a spread instead of a commission.
Where Kraken ranks on DappAtlas
Kraken compared
Kraken pros and cons
- Kraken Pro entry fee 0.40% maker
- Wyoming-chartered bank (SPDI), SEC broker-dealer and CFTC futures affiliates
- Fee schedule and licenses published openly
- Not available in New York or Maine
- 1% fee plus a spread on instant buys
- Paid $30M to the SEC over US staking in 2023
Kraken FAQ
What is 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.
Is Kraken available in the US?
All states except NY and ME, according to Kraken’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
What are Kraken’s trading fees?
At the lowest volume tier: 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker. Higher-volume traders pay less.
How much does it cost to buy crypto on Kraken?
On the simple buy screen: 1% + spread.
Can I stake on Kraken?
Yes, 17 assets; onchain staking only in 37 states plus DC and PR (not CA, NY, TX).
Does Kraken hold my crypto?
Kraken is custodial: it holds the keys to your balance. To hold your own keys, withdraw to a self-custody wallet.
Sources
- Kraken: official site
- Kraken: where is Kraken licensed
- Kraken fee schedule
- Kraken: Cash deposit options
- Kraken: Kraken Derivatives US, regulation, products, eligibility
- Kraken Wallet
- Kraken: Quick start for clients in the United States
- Kraken: Deposit and withdrawal limits
- Kraken: Overview of staking
- SEC: Kraken to pay $30 million over staking program (Feb 9, 2023)
How this page works
Sources: Kraken: official site, Kraken: where is Kraken licensed, Kraken fee schedule. Data as of Oct 1, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.