Kraken vs CEX.IO: Which is Best? [2026]
Key differences
Kraken vs CEX.IO Fees Calculator
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Kraken vs CEX.IO in Comparison
Description
Popular and well-known exchange based in the USA.
CEX.IO is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013 with over 6 million registered users globally and $7.5 billion in customer deposits since 2019. The platform serves 30+ U.S. states and holds 30+ licenses and registrations worldwide, offering a comprehensive ecosystem for buying, selling, trading, storing, and earning cryptocurrencies.
Supported Countries
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.
United States (30+ states), and 150+ countries and territories globally. Offices in U.K., U.S., Portugal, and Lithuania.
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Supported Cryptocurrencies
Supports 582 crypto assets 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.
Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDT, USDC, Solana (SOL), and 100+ other cryptocurrencies across over 200 trading pairs.
Fees
- Withdrawal Fees:
- ACH: Free
- Wire Transfer: $25
- SEPA: Free
- SWIFT: $25
- BTC: Network fees vary
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Payment Methods
ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal
VISAMASTERCARDGoogle PayApple PaySWIFTDomestic WireFaster PaymentsSEPAOpen BankingSkrillNETELLEREpayPayPalMoneyGramCEX.IO Pay
Do These Exchanges Allow you To Earn Interest on Crypto?
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).
30%
Earn up to 30% through staking rewards and up to 5% through savings accounts. CEX.IO Earn includes flexible and locked savings options with daily rewards distribution. Staking rewards distributed monthly with no fund locking required.
Mobile App Ratings
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 Rating: 4.4 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 4.2 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
Storage
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.
98% of digital funds stored in offline cold storage with multi-signature wallets. Advanced security features include 2FA authentication, DDoS protection, PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, and multiple transaction confirmations. Hot wallets hold only small portion for daily operations.
Have These Exchanges Been Hacked Before?
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.
No security incidents reported for CEX.IO cryptocurrency exchange.
Official Site
Exchange Review
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
"One of the best crypto exchanges out there. Fast executions, small fees, full security. App is quite nice too."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
Kraken vs CEX.IO Fees
Based on the current fee data in this repo, CEX.IO looks slightly cheaper than Kraken on a standard Bitcoin buy. Kraken still remains very competitive, but CEX.IO's quoted trading fee starts lower.
Where it gets more nuanced is payment method. CEX.IO card and transfer fees can vary depending on how you fund the account, while Kraken keeps a cleaner, more trading-first fee profile.
Who Kraken Is Better For
Kraken is the better pick for active traders, larger coin selection, stronger trading reputation, and deeper global crypto coverage. It is the more natural choice if you care about charts, order execution, and a more established trading brand.
Who CEX.IO Is Better For
CEX.IO is the better choice if you want more ways to fund your account. It supports cards, Faster Payments, SEPA, Open Banking, Skrill, NETELLER, PayPal, MoneyGram, and more, which gives it one of the widest payment stacks in the repo.
Coin Selection and Features
Kraken supports 500+ assets in the current tool data and offers margin trading, staking, and recurring buys. CEX.IO supports 100+ assets and leans more into staking, savings products, and general exchange utility.
Security and Trust
Both exchanges have been around for a long time. Kraken emphasizes cold storage, proof of reserves, and deep security controls. CEX.IO emphasizes cold storage, multi-signature wallets, PCI DSS compliance, and a clean security history for the exchange itself.
Bottom Line
Choose Kraken if you want the stronger all-around trading platform. Choose CEX.IO if payment flexibility matters more and you want lower quoted trading fees on paper.
USA Only
Canada Only
