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Kraken vs Bitvavo: Which is Best? [2025]

Kraken
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Key differences

  1. Geographic Focus: Kraken serves 190+ countries globally while Bitvavo is Europe-only (24 countries)
  2. Trading Experience: Kraken offers advanced trading tools and margin trading; Bitvavo focuses on simplicity
  3. Fee Structure: Kraken has 0.4% trading fees with no spread; Bitvavo has 0.25% fees plus 0.5% spread
  4. Asset Selection: Bitvavo offers 350+ cryptocurrencies vs Kraken's 200+


Kraken vs Fees Calculator

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Kraken vs in Comparison

Description

Kraken

Popular and well-known exchange based in the USA.

Supported Countries

Kraken

Available in over 190 countries globally with some restrictions. Not available in New York, Washington state, Japan, Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and a few other restricted regions. Some European countries have restrictions on specific services like futures trading.

Supported Cryptocurrencies

Kraken

Over 200 cryptocurrencies supported including BTC, ETH, USDC, SOL, DOGE, SHIB, XRP, ADA, MATIC, DOT, AVAX, LINK, MANA, LUNA2, ATOM, ALGO, APT, ARB, FTM, NEAR, OP, PYUSD, STRK, SUI, TON, TRX, XLM, XMR, XTZ and many more across multiple networks including Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, Polygon, Arbitrum, and others.

Fees

Kraken

  • Withdrawal Fees:
  • ACH: Free
  • Wire Transfer: $25
  • SEPA: Free
  • SWIFT: $25
  • BTC: Network fees vary

Payment Methods

Kraken

ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal

Do These Exchanges Allow you To Earn Interest on Crypto?

Kraken

0.15% - 6.5%

Available for BTC (0.15% bonded/0.1% flexible), USDT/USD/USDC (6.5% bonded/4.5% flexible), and EUR (4.45% bonded/3.5% flexible).

Mobile App Ratings

Kraken

iOS Rating: 4.7 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.

Android Rating: 4.3 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.

iOS App: Not Available

Android App: Not Available

Storage

Kraken

Industry-leading security with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification and SOC 2 Type 1 examination. Funds stored in secure cold storage with 24/7 armed guard surveillance. Features include advanced encryption, FIDO2 2FA, customizable API permissions, global settings time lock, and proof of reserves auditing. No phone/SMS recovery to prevent SIM swap attacks. Expert security team with constant monitoring and testing.

Have These Exchanges Been Hacked Before?

Kraken

Yes, Kraken was hacked in June 2024, but the crypto exchange was able to fix the breach within 47 minutes and no client funds were lost.

Official Site

Kraken

kraken.com

Exchange Review

Kraken

No review available

"What a fantastic trading platform. Wonderful to have it as the mobile version, being able to work your trades on the go. Keeping up with the portfolio just became incredibly easy! Love you guys and thank you for the work. New trader here! The interface is easy to navigate and a pleasure on the eyes. The setup is notable, and perhaps there should be instructions provided in the app upon first launch. :)"
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot

No review available

Kraken vs Bitvavo Comparison

Fee Structures

Kraken charges a 0.4% taker fee for Bitcoin purchases with no spread fee. The exchange uses a maker-taker model where makers pay 0.26% and takers pay 0.4%. For high-volume traders, fees can be reduced significantly. Kraken offers fee-free ACH and SEPA deposits. ACH and SEPA withdrawals are free, while wire transfers and SWIFT have a $25 fee. Bitvavo uses a tiered fee structure starting at 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker for major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, but includes a 0.5% spread fee. Volume tiers include:

  • €0+: 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker
  • €100k+: 0.10% maker / 0.20% taker
  • €1M+: 0.05% maker / 0.10% taker
  • €10M+: 0.00% maker / 0.05% taker
Bitvavo offers free SEPA deposits and withdrawals. Credit card deposits have a 1% fee, PayPal deposits have a 2% fee.

Feature Set

Kraken offers over 200 cryptocurrencies, staking/interest earning options (0.15%-6.5% APY), advanced trading features, auto-DCA, margin trading, futures trading, and secure cold storage.

Bitvavo supports 350+ cryptocurrencies, features staking rewards, has a simple clean interface ideal for beginners, built-in wallet functionality, instant verification process, and mobile-first design with highly-rated apps.

Geographic Availability

Kraken is available in over 190 countries globally with some restrictions. Not available in New York, Washington state, Japan, Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and a few other restricted regions. Bitvavo is available in 24 European countries including Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, and others. Not available outside Europe.

Security Features

Kraken features ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification and SOC 2 Type 1 examination. Funds stored in secure cold storage with 24/7 armed guard surveillance. Features include advanced encryption, FIDO2 2FA, customizable API permissions, global settings time lock, and proof of reserves auditing. Bitvavo implements industry-leading security with multi-signature cold storage, bank-grade data vaults, and custody providers insured up to €755 million. Features include 2FA, device management, anti-phishing protection, and regular security audits.

Payment Methods

Kraken supports ACH, Wire transfers, SEPA, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal (UK, EU except Hungary/Croatia, Australia), Interac e-Transfer (Canada), and various regional methods including FPS/CHAPS/BACS (UK), SIC (Switzerland), and PayID/Osko (Australia).

Bitvavo supports SEPA, Credit Card, PayPal, iDeal, Bancontact, EPS, Giropay, and Sofort payments.

Customer Support

Kraken provides 24/7 human support via chat and email with experienced support staff, while Bitvavo offers human support during business hours with customer service available for account and trading assistance.

Additional Features

Kraken offers interest-earning options, comprehensive staking rewards, margin trading, futures trading, and support for 200+ assets with advanced charting and trading tools.

Bitvavo focuses on staking rewards for various cryptocurrencies, built-in wallet functionality, instant verification process, and user-friendly mobile apps with high ratings (iOS: 4.5, Android: 3.8).

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