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Kraken vs KuCoin: Which is Best? [2025]

Kraken
Overall Rating
KuCoin
Overall Rating
Kraken logo Visit Kraken
KuCoin logo Visit KuCoin

Key differences

  1. Kraken charges a fixed 1% trading fee, while KuCoin uses VIP level-based tiered fees starting at 0.1% for Bitcoin trading.
  2. Kraken is available in the US and 190+ countries, while KuCoin is restricted in the US but available in 200+ other countries.
  3. Kraken offers interest-earning options and advanced trading features, while KuCoin focuses on extensive altcoin selection and futures trading.
  4. Kraken has stronger regulatory compliance in major markets, while KuCoin operates from Seychelles with different regulatory framework.


Kraken vs KuCoin Fees Calculator

Fee calculator estimates are based on our research & testing. Check the exchange website for most accurate fees.

We built this fee calculator to help you compare the fees of Kraken and KuCoin.

Enter the amount you want to buy and we'll show you the estimated fees for each exchange.



Kraken vs KuCoin in Comparison

Description

Kraken

Popular and well-known exchange based in the USA.

KuCoin

KuCoin is a leading cryptocurrency exchange offering secure trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 700 altcoins, while providing comprehensive market data and insights.

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.

KuCoin

KuCoin is available in over 200 countries worldwide, including Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and many European countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. However, it is restricted in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Seychelles-sanctioned countries like Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, and Cuba.

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.

KuCoin

Over 900 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, XRP, Cardano, Solana, Polkadot, Dogecoin, and hundreds of other altcoins and tokens

Fees

Kraken

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

KuCoin

  • Spot Trading Fees (Bitcoin):
  • LV0: 0.100% / 0.100% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV1: 0.095% / 0.100% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV2: 0.090% / 0.100% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV3: 0.075% / 0.090% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV4: 0.055% / 0.075% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV5: 0.035% / 0.055% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV6: 0.025% / 0.045% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV7: 0.015% / 0.042% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV8: 0.010% / 0.040% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV9: 0.000% / 0.040% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV10: 0.000% / 0.030% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV11: -0.003% / 0.025% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV12: -0.005% / 0.025% (Maker/Taker)

  • Futures Trading Fees (Bitcoin):
  • LV0: 0.020% / 0.060% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV1: 0.018% / 0.060% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV2: 0.015% / 0.060% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV3: 0.010% / 0.060% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV4: 0.008% / 0.053% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV5: 0.006% / 0.048% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV6: 0.004% / 0.043% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV7: 0.002% / 0.039% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV8: 0.000% / 0.036% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV9: -0.002% / 0.033% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV10: -0.004% / 0.030% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV11: -0.006% / 0.028% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV12: -0.008% / 0.025% (Maker/Taker)

  • BTC Withdrawal Fees:
  • Fee: (0.00009 + Amount * 0%) BTC
  • Min Amount: 0.00018 BTC

Payment Methods

Kraken

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

KuCoin

Bank Transfer, SEPA, Advcash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, Revolut Pay, BLIK, P2P

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).

KuCoin

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.

KuCoin

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

Android Rating: 4.5 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.

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.

KuCoin

KuCoin prioritizes asset security with cold, warm, and hot wallet separation, multi-signature authentication, and financial-grade key protection. Monthly Proof of Reserves audits ensure all user assets are fully backed, providing transparency and confidence in asset storage.

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.

KuCoin

KuCoin was hacked in September 2020 by the Lazarus Group, resulting in the theft of approximately $275 million worth of cryptocurrency. The hack involved gaining access to the private keys of the exchange's hot wallets. KuCoin managed to recover about 84% of the stolen funds through cooperation with other exchanges, project partners, law enforcement, and security institutions. The remaining losses were covered by the exchange's insurance fund.

Official Site

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

KuCoin

No review available

"Literally amazing!! KuCoin is the best exchange experience I've had. P2P trading is straightforward and fast, with an easy-to-use interface. Although I haven't called customer service because of the smooth operation, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the platform before making any purchases. The variety of features impresses me, however it takes some time to learn. The user experience may be improved, and some of the icons are not intuitive."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot

Kraken vs KuCoin Comparison

Fee Structures

Kraken charges a fixed 1% trading fee on all Bitcoin 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. Swift deposits have a $3 fee. Bitcoin withdrawals cost 0.00001500 BTC. KuCoin uses VIP level-based tiered fees for Bitcoin trading. Fees depend on the user's VIP level (LV0-LV12) which is determined by KCS holdings or trading volume:

  • LV0: 0.100% / 0.100% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV1: 0.095% / 0.100% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV2: 0.090% / 0.100% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV3: 0.075% / 0.090% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV4: 0.055% / 0.075% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV5: 0.035% / 0.055% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV6: 0.025% / 0.045% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV7: 0.015% / 0.042% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV8: 0.010% / 0.040% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV9: 0.000% / 0.040% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV10: 0.000% / 0.030% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV11: -0.003% / 0.025% (Maker/Taker)
  • LV12: -0.005% / 0.025% (Maker/Taker)
KuCoin charges 0.00009 BTC for Bitcoin withdrawals with a minimum of 0.00018 BTC. Deposit fees vary by payment method but are not specified in the source data.

Feature Set

Kraken offers over 200 cryptocurrencies, staking/interest earning options, advanced trading features, auto-DCA, and secure cold storage.

KuCoin supports over 900 cryptocurrencies, P2P trading, futures trading with competitive maker/taker fees, and comprehensive market data.

Geographic Availability

Kraken is available in over 190 countries (except NY, WA, Japan, Russia, etc.). KuCoin is available in over 200 countries worldwide, including Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and many European countries, but is restricted in the United States, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.

Security Features

Kraken features ISO 27001, SOC 2, cold storage, FIDO2, and proof of reserves. KuCoin implements cold, warm, and hot wallet separation, multi-signature authentication, and monthly Proof of Reserves audits.

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.

KuCoin supports Bank Transfer, SEPA, Advcash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, Revolut Pay, BLIK, and P2P trading.

Customer Support

Kraken provides 24/7 human support, while KuCoin offers platform-based support through their system.

Additional Features

Kraken offers interest-earning options, staking, and support for 200+ assets with advanced charts.

KuCoin focuses on extensive altcoin selection, futures trading, and P2P trading options.