Kraken Review 2026: does the veteran earn its keep?
Fifteen years in business, zero major hacks. Kraken sells peace of mind first; the open question is what that peace of mind costs in fees and day-to-day trading comfort. We ran the platform through our checklist, simple interface versus Kraken Pro, staking included.
Worth knowing: Kraken became an Investisseur 2.0 partner in August 2026, and the Kraken links on this page are affiliate links. They pay us a commission if you open an account, at no extra cost to you. The test itself has not changed.
Kraken in two sentences
Founded in San Francisco in 2011, Kraken is one of the oldest exchanges still standing and publishes Proof of Reserves. Its calling card is a verifiable fact: no major breach since launch. Overall rating: 4.3/5.
Security: the argument that outweighs the rest
Most big exchanges carry a hack in their history. Kraken does not: fifteen years without a major incident, strict cold-storage policy and published reserves. For anyone holding positions on an exchange (which we cap at the strict minimum, see our crypto security guide), that record carries real weight.
Fees: fair on Pro, expensive everywhere else
- Simple interface: high fees, occasional purchases only.
- Kraken Pro: ~0.25% taker / ~0.16% maker at the standard tier, volume discounts.
- EUR deposits: SEPA transfers supported.
The practical rule: trade more than once a month and Pro becomes mandatory, otherwise the fee gap eats the performance. Our Coinbase vs Kraken comparison puts numbers on the difference.
Where it falls short
- − Altcoin catalog trails the big Asian venues.
- − Kraken Pro has a learning curve for beginners.
- + On the other side: reference-grade security, built-in staking, solid compliance, and since August 2026 a promotion that refunds your first Kraken Pro futures trade up to $50 (campaign sign-up link, ad).
Registration runs online, KYC included, and SEPA euro deposits land without a conversion step. Make your first purchase on the simple interface; Kraken Pro is there for the day you start placing several orders a week.
Open a Kraken accountAffiliate link. Crypto assets are volatile, only commit money you can afford to lose.
Scorecard
| Criterion | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Security / track record | 4.9 / 5 | No major hack since 2011, Proof of Reserves |
| Fees (Kraken Pro) | 4.0 / 5 | ~0.25/0.16% taker/maker, volume tiers |
| Compliance | 4.4 / 5 | Long-standing regulatory seriousness |
| Catalog | 3.8 / 5 | Fewer altcoins than Asian giants |
| Ease of use | 4.0 / 5 | Simple up front, Pro more technical |
| Overall | 4.3 / 5 | The security-first pick |
Our verdict: who should open a Kraken account
Kraken is above all a place to store, and since August 2026 it is also an Investisseur 2.0 partner. Open an account there if this sounds like you:
- You want to sleep at night. Fifteen years without a major hack, with Proof of Reserves published: no other large venue matches that record.
- You buy to hold for months rather than days, so SEPA deposits, spot purchases and built-in staking under an Irish MiCA licence cover everything you need.
- You would like to try futures without your first ticket costing you anything, thanks to the Kraken Pro campaign running now (up to $50 refunded).
If what you want first is a very deep altcoin catalog or the lowest spot fees, the venue we rank first is still OKX; the direct comparison lives in OKX vs Kraken 2026. Keeping both accounts open costs nothing and covers the two jobs.
⚠️ Educational content, not investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are volatile and you can lose your entire invested capital. Fees and terms change: check the official site before opening an account.
FAQ
Is Kraken safe in 2026?
Kraken holds the cleanest security record among major exchanges: founded in 2011, it has never suffered a major hack and publishes Proof of Reserves. Very few platforms can show fifteen years without an incident of that magnitude.
What are Kraken's trading fees?
The simple interface charges high fees and only suits occasional purchases. The real pricing lives on Kraken Pro: roughly 0.25% taker and 0.16% maker at the standard tier, decreasing with volume. Anyone trading more than once a month should switch to Pro.
Does Kraken offer staking?
Yes, staking is part of Kraken's core offer, alongside spot trading and the Pro interface. Product availability varies by country, so check the official site for your jurisdiction before opening an account.
What is the best alternative to Kraken?
It depends what you are optimising for. On the security side few venues come close to Kraken, with fifteen years and no major hack behind it. If you care more about a deep altcoin catalog or the cheapest spot fees, OKX is the venue we rank first, and we put the two side by side in our OKX vs Kraken comparison. A lot of our readers simply keep both accounts open, one for storage and euro deposits, the other for the trades they place during the week.
Kraken operates in Europe through Payward, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland, so the door stays open to EEA residents.
Go to KrakenAffiliate link. Crypto assets can wipe out your capital, only commit money you have no other use for.