Kraken vs. Coinbase

At a Glance

Kraken vs. Coinbase: Features

Kraken and Coinbase have dedicated platforms for beginners, advanced platforms for traders, and separate wallets for users who want to store their cryptocurrencies rather than have them available for trading on short notice. Also, Kraken has lower fees than Coinbase, but Coinbase is more widely available as it has fewer geographical limitations within the U.S.

Both exchanges offer:

• Availability: Coinbase is more suited for U.S. users, unlike Kraken, which does not serve residents of Maine, New York, and Washington. Globally, Kraken is the better choice as it serves more countries, 190 in total, compared to Coinbase, which serves over 100.
• Customer service: Both platforms provide 24/7 support, email, and live chat options. Coinbase has a dedicated customer line to help users and a better-organized support section for easy navigation in case of urgent issues. Kraken has Telegram support, an added advantage for users who need immediate assistance. However, users of both exchanges have recently reported poor customer service and long wait times.
• Professional trading platforms: Kraken and Coinbase each have platforms specifically suited to professional traders. Kraken’s Pro platform offers traders a more significant fee discount without much functionality for traders, while Coinbase’s Advanced platform integrates interactive charts, indicators, and drawing tools.
• Mobile apps: Each exchange has a free-to-use mobile application available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. However, Kraken’s app is unavailable in seven jurisdictions, including Syria and Iran. Coinbase’s app is available in all countries except Singapore and others from which it is barred by the U.S. Treasury.
• Staking: Kraken resumed its staking service in January 2025 after previously stopping it in January 2023 due to a case with the SEC, but this service is only available in 37 states and two territories. Coinbase offers on-chain staking with up to 12% APY on crypto like USDC and staked ETH to all U.S residents, with a few exceptions including New York residents.
• Asset recovery: Kraken and Coinbase have an asset recovery service to help users who mistakenly send cryptocurrency to the wrong address or network. Kraken’s fee varies based on the complexity of the recovery, while Coinbase has a more definitive fee structure. Assets over $100 incur a 5% fee, excluding the first $100, only applicable to supported assets.
  

Kraken vs. Coinbase: Currencies

Both exchanges support deposits and withdrawals in USD, euros, and British pounds. Kraken also offers support for Australian dollars, Swiss francs, Canadian dollars, and Japanese yen, giving users in other jurisdictions more fiat flexibility.

Kraken offers a broader range of cryptocurrencies, as it supports 600+ cryptos and 750 trading pairs. Coinbase supports 280+ cryptos and 340+ trading pairs, which can be restrictive for traders exploring new markets. Apart from Bitcoin and Ethereum, both popular exchanges support other coins, including:

• Cardano (ADA)
• Sui (SUI)
• Toncoin (TON) 
• Circle USD (USDC)

However, users in some jurisdictions might be unable to access selected cryptocurrencies on Kraken. For example, Polygon (POL) and Sui (SUI) are unavailable to residents of some American states.

Kraken vs. Coinbase: Security

Security is a major factor to consider when choosing an exchange. Kraken and Coinbase have top security measures to protect user funds. Kraken uses proof of reserves and hot and cold wallet storage kept under surveillance to keep assets safe. Coinbase employs a combination of internal ledgering, multiparty computation (MPC), and guarded cold storage facilities to keep user assets secure 24/7.

For user safety, both exchanges use two-factor authentication to ensure users' accounts are protected. However, Kraken goes a step further, employing security measures including Master Key and Global Settings Lock (GSL) to safeguard against 2FA failure. This makes Kraken ideal for users who want high-level security for their assets.

Kraken vs. Coinbase: Fees

Fees are a major concern for users, and Kraken takes advantage of this by offering some of the lowest fees on its Pro platform compared to other exchanges. Below is the tiered Kraken fee schedule calculated over a 30-day trading volume:

• Transactions $0 to $10,000 pay a 0.25% maker fee or a 0.40% taker fee
• Transactions $10,001 to $50,000 pay a 0.20% maker fee or a 0.35% take fee
• Transactions $50,001 to $100,000 pay a 0.14% maker fee or a 0.24% taker fee
• Transactions $100,001 to $250,000 pay a 0.12% maker fee or a 0.22% taker fee
• Transactions $500,001 to $1,000,000 pay a 0.08% maker fee or a 0.18% taker fee
• Transactions $1,000,001 to $2,500,000 pay a 0.06% maker fee or a 0.16% taker fee
• Transactions $2,500,001 to $5,000,000 pay a 0.04% maker fee or a 0.14% taker fee
• Transactions over $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 pay a 0.02% maker fee and a 0.12% taker fee
• Transactions over $10,000,000 pay a 0% maker fee and a 0.10% taker 

Coinbase’s maker-taker fees are more expensive, especially for regular traders, who can save more than 60% on maker-taker fees with Kraken. Below are the fees for Coinbase, up to transactions of $400 million in 30-day trading volume.

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

While both exchanges are free to use and do not charge maintenance or signup fees, deposit and withdrawal fees apply, aside from payment processors' charges. Here are the fee differences between Kraken and Coinbase.

Kraken vs. Coinbase: Ease of Use

Users can enjoy a smooth and intuitive experience with Kraken and Coinbase, as both have seamless user interfaces, responsive designs, and easy sign-up procedures. Both allow you to start trading almost instantly after you sign up. However, Kraken may lock your funds for 72 hours if you use certain withdrawal methods, meaning you cannot get your funds out immediately in case of an emergency.

Final Verdict

Coinbase and Kraken both have strengths in ease of use and security, but Kraken is better suited for investors who want a high level of security on their accounts and want to use them outside the U.S. without restrictions. With Coinbase, U.S. residents can enjoy smooth deposits and withdrawals without worrying about restricted functionality.