Binance US vs Kraken
Binance US is the better choice for US traders who stay on the zero-fee pair list and do not need assets outside it; Kraken is better for people who fund by bank transfer and are willing to place an order themselves instead of using the instant-buy button. Binance US lists 43 assets against Kraken's 102, and Kraken is available in more locations.
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Side-by-Side
| Binance US | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | centralized exchange | centralized exchange |
| Founded | 2019 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Licenses recorded | 31 | 10 |
| Fiat currencies | USD | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, CHF, ARS, BRL, MXN |
| Payment methods | ACH, wire transfer, debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto deposit | ACH, wire transfer, SEPA, Faster Payments, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Interac e-Transfer, iDEAL, PIX, spei |
| Maker / taker fee | 0% / 0.01% | 0.4% / 0.8% |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of reserves | — | Yes |
| Assets listed | 43 | 102 |
| Locations available | 37 | 60 |
| Trust score | — | — |
Fee Comparison
| Binance US | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | — | — |
| $1,000 | — | — |
| $10,000 | — | — |
Estimates include trading fee, published spread, and deposit fee. See our methodology.
Where Each Is Available
32 shared jurisdictions; 5 only on Binance US; 28 only on Kraken.
Our Verdict
Which venue is cheaper depends on the asset you are buying. As of September 2026, Binance US charges 0% maker and 0.01% taker on Tier 0 pairs for every customer at any volume, while pairs outside that list use a volume-tiered schedule (source: Binance.US trading fees page). Kraken's spot order book starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker with no 30-day volume (source: Kraken fee schedule). Binance US therefore suits traders who need only assets on the zero-fee list. Kraken suits people funding by bank transfer, since ACH, wire, SEPA, Faster Payments, iDEAL and Interac deposits are free and its rate does not depend on the pair.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which has more coins?
- Kraken, with 102 of the assets we track against 43.
- Can I use both?
- Yes, in the 32 jurisdictions where both are available. Binance US and Kraken can be used side by side; many buyers keep accounts on more than one exchange.