River vs Kraken: Which is Best? [2025]
Key differences
- River offers 0% fees for DCA/recurring buys; Kraken's fees are based on volume.
- Kraken supports 200+ coins; River is Bitcoin-only.
- River provides mining and Private Client features.
- Kraken offers staking and advanced features focused on trading.
River vs Kraken Fees Calculator
We built this fee calculator to help you compare the fees of River and Kraken.
Enter the amount you want to buy and we'll show you the estimated fees for each exchange.
River vs Kraken in Comparison
Description
River is a trusted Bitcoin-only exchange based in the USA.
Popular and well-known exchange based in the USA.
Supported Countries
USA
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
Bitcoin-only
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
- Order Size: Up to $1,000,000 | Fee: 1.00%
- Order Size: >$1,000,000 to $5,000,000 | Fee: 0.70%
- Order Size: >$5,000,000 to $15,000,000 | Fee: 0.40%
- Order Size: >$15,000,000 | Fee: 0.25%
- Order Size: All recurring buy orders | Fee: 0.00%
- Withdrawal Fees:
- ACH: Free
- Wire Transfer: $25
- SEPA: Free
- SWIFT: $25
- BTC: Network fees vary
Payment Methods
ACH, Bank Account, Wire Transfer
ACH, Bank Account, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, Interac e-Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Instant Verification
Do These Exchanges Allow you To Earn Interest on Crypto?
3.8%
Earn 3.8% interest on FDIC-insured cash, paid out in Bitcoin. No fees or minimums. Withdraws allowed anytime.
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
iOS Rating: 4.8 Official rating from the iOS App Store as of November 18, 2024.
Android Rating: 4.9 Official rating from the Android Play Store as of November 18, 2024.
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.
Storage
River holds client Bitcoin in full reserve with no lending. They built their own custody systems from the ground up to minimize third-party dependencies. Security includes regular independent audits, mandatory 2FA, real-time notifications, 24/7 monitoring, and bcrypt password hashing. Users can verify holdings via Proof of Reserves.
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?
No. Has never lost customer funds in any way.
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
Exchange Review
"I really like the app so far. It does what it's supposed to and paired with the desktop web app, I could not personally ask for more. Great customer service and lots of upcoming features in the pipeline from my understanding."
- Real user review from iOS App Store, Android Play Store or Trustpilot
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
River vs Kraken Comparison
Fee Structures
River uses tiered fees based on order size, ranging from 1.00% down to 0.25% for large orders. Notably, River charges 0% for recurring buys (DCA). Kraken has lower trading fees, starting at 0.40% for spot trades and going as low as 0.10% for high-volume traders. Kraken charges $25 for wire withdrawals.
Feature Set
River stands out with Bitcoin mining services and ability to earn interest on USD but paid in BTC. Kraken offers staking, advanced trading features, and access to 200+ cryptocurrencies.
Geographic Availability
River is available in 48 U.S. states, excluding NY and NV. Kraken supports over 190 countries, with restrictions in New York, Japan, and countries under U.S. sanctions.
Payment Methods
River offers payment methods including ACH and wire transfers, both free of charge, as well as bank account transactions. Kraken provides a variety of payment options such as ACH and wire transfers, both free, SEPA transfers at no cost, and SWIFT with a $3 fee. Additionally, Kraken supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal in select regions, Interac e-Transfer in Canada, debit card payments, and offers instant verification.
Security Features
River ensures security through in-house custody, two-factor authentication (2FA), proof of reserves, regular independent audits, real-time notifications, and 24/7 monitoring. Kraken enhances security with cold storage, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications, 2FA, advanced encryption, FIDO2 2FA, and a global settings time lock.
Mobile Apps
River's mobile apps are available on iOS with a 4.8 out of 5 rating and on Android with a 4.9 out of 5 rating. Kraken's mobile apps are available on iOS with a 4.7 out of 5 rating and on Android with a 4.3 out of 5 rating.
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