Kraken vs CEX.IO: Which is Best? [2025]
Key differences
- Kraken charges a fixed 1% trading fee (waived for Kraken+ up to $10k/month) while CEX.IO uses tiered fees starting at 0.25%.
- CEX.IO supports more payment methods including credit cards, while Kraken focuses on bank transfers and digital wallets.
- Kraken supports 200+ cryptocurrencies globally, while CEX.IO supports 100+ with focus on major markets.
- CEX.IO offers higher staking rewards (up to 30%) compared to Kraken's 0.15%-6.5%.
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.
Supported Cryptocurrencies
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.
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
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 Comparison
Fee Structures
Kraken charges a fixed 1% trading fee on all cryptocurrency purchases through their Instant Buy/Sell services. However, Kraken+ members enjoy zero trading fees on up to $10,000 USD in monthly trading volume. Spreads apply to Instant Buy/Sell services to ensure price certainty at execution. Kraken offers fee-free ACH and SEPA deposits. ACH and SEPA withdrawals are free, while wire transfers and SWIFT have a $25 fee. Bitcoin withdrawals cost 0.00001500 BTC. CEX.IO uses volume-based tiers:
- 0.25% for ≤$10,000
- 0.23% for ≤$100,000
- 0.19% for ≤$500,000
- 0.17% for ≤$1,000,000
- 0.15% for ≤$2,500,000
- 0.13% for ≤$5,000,000
- 0.11% for ≤$10,000,000
- 0.10% for ≤$20,000,000
Feature Set
Kraken offers over 200 cryptocurrencies, staking/interest earning options, advanced trading features, auto-DCA, and secure cold storage.
CEX.IO supports 100+ cryptocurrencies across 200+ trading pairs, high-yield staking rewards (up to 30%), savings accounts (up to 5%), and comprehensive wallet services.
Geographic Availability
Kraken is available in over 190 countries (except NY, WA, Japan, Russia, etc.). CEX.IO serves 150+ countries and territories globally with offices in U.K., U.S., Portugal, and Lithuania. Available in 30+ U.S. states.
Security Features
Kraken features ISO 27001, SOC 2, cold storage, FIDO2, and proof of reserves. CEX.IO stores 98% of digital funds in offline cold storage with multi-signature wallets, 2FA authentication, and PCI DSS Level 1 compliance.
Payment Methods
Kraken supports ACH, Bank Account (including wire transfers, Fedwire/SWIFT, Etana Custody, FPS/CHAPS/BACS for UK, SIC for Switzerland, and PayID/Osko for Australia), SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
CEX.IO supports VISA, MASTERCARD, Google Pay, Apple Pay, SWIFT, Domestic Wire, Faster Payments, SEPA, Open Banking, Skrill, NETELLER, Epay, PayPal, MoneyGram, and CEX.IO Pay.
Customer Support
Kraken provides 24/7 human support, while CEX.IO offers human support with over 6 million registered users globally.
Additional Features
Kraken offers interest-earning options, staking, margin trading, and support for 200+ assets with advanced charts.
CEX.IO focuses on high-yield staking rewards and savings accounts but does not offer margin trading features.
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