Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.
Kraken has been running since 2011 — one of the oldest crypto exchanges still operating — and has never been hacked. That track record alone puts it in a different category to most exchanges. Add genuinely competitive fees and one of the most liquid order books in the industry, and Kraken is a serious option for anyone beyond the beginner stage.
What Is Kraken?
Kraken is a US-based cryptocurrency exchange founded in San Francisco in 2011. It is regulated in multiple jurisdictions including the UK (FCA registered), EU, and US, and has approximately 10 million clients worldwide. It is consistently ranked among the top exchanges globally for security and reliability.
Key Features
- 200+ cryptocurrencies including many smaller altcoins not on other major exchanges
- Kraken Pro: Advanced trading interface with fees as low as 0.0% maker / 0.1% taker
- Futures trading: Available in most regions with up to 50x leverage
- Staking: Earn rewards on ETH, SOL, DOT, ADA, XTZ and more (up to 17% APY)
- OTC desk: Large volume trades with personalised service and no slippage
- Kraken NFT: Zero-fee NFT marketplace
- 24/7 support: Live chat support available around the clock
Kraken Fees
Kraken’s standard fees on Instant Buy are 1.5% — comparable to Coinbase. But on Kraken Pro (the professional trading interface, free to access), fees drop to 0.26% taker / 0.16% maker for new accounts, reducing further as volume increases. High-volume traders can reach 0.0% maker fees.
Always use Kraken Pro for any trade over £50. The fee difference is significant.
Security — Kraken’s Strongest Suit
Kraken has operated for 13+ years without a major security breach — an extraordinary record. Security features include:
- 95%+ of assets held in air-gapped cold storage
- SSL encryption and two-factor authentication
- Global Settings Lock — prevents account changes for 24 hours after security modifications
- Regular proof-of-reserves audits
- FCA regulated (UK)
Kraken vs Coinbase
Kraken wins on fees (Kraken Pro vs Coinbase Advanced Trade: Kraken is cheaper at higher volumes) and security track record. Coinbase wins on simplicity and regulatory familiarity for UK/US beginners. For anyone past the beginner stage, Kraken Pro is the better long-term home.
Open a Kraken Account
Sign up through my link and trade on one of the most secure exchanges in crypto.
