Binance vs Kraken
Binance is the better choice for traders outside the United States who want a low flat spot rate and are comfortable checking their own country's funding rules; 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 lists 85 assets against Kraken's 102, and Kraken is available in more locations.
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Side-by-Side
| Binance | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | centralized exchange | centralized exchange |
| Founded | 2017 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Cayman Islands | United States |
| Licenses recorded | 1 | 10 |
| Fiat currencies | — | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, CHF, ARS, BRL, MXN |
| Payment methods | bank transfer, card, Apple Pay, Google Pay | ACH, wire transfer, SEPA, Faster Payments, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Interac e-Transfer, iDEAL, PIX, spei |
| Maker / taker fee | 0.1% / 0.1% | 0.4% / 0.8% |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Yes |
| Assets listed | 85 | 102 |
| Locations available | 16 | 60 |
| Trust score | — | — |
Fee Comparison
| Binance | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | — | — |
| $1,000 | — | — |
| $10,000 | — | — |
Estimates include trading fee, published spread, and deposit fee. See our methodology.
Where Each Is Available
15 shared jurisdictions; 1 only on Binance; 45 only on Kraken.
Our Verdict
On the order book, Binance is the cheaper of the two at the entry tier. As of September 2026, a regular Binance user with no volume history pays 0.100% on both sides, falling near 0.075% when fees are paid in BNB, while Kraken's spot book starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker with no 30-day volume (sources: Binance spot fee schedule; Kraken fee schedule). Kraken is the clearer choice for cash funding, since ACH, wire, SEPA, Faster Payments, iDEAL and Interac deposits are free. Binance publishes its deposit and card costs per region and per method, away from the trading schedule, so its 0.100% figure is not an all-in number.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which has more coins?
- Kraken, with 102 of the assets we track against 85.
- Can I use both?
- Yes, in the 15 jurisdictions where both are available. Binance and Kraken can be used side by side; many buyers keep accounts on more than one exchange.