Bitvavo vs Kraken
Bitvavo is the better choice for euro-area buyers who want free bank deposits and a low ceiling on trading fees; 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. Bitvavo lists 65 assets against Kraken's 102, and Kraken is available in more locations.
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Side-by-Side
| Bitvavo | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | centralized exchange | centralized exchange |
| Founded | 2018 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United States |
| Licenses recorded | 1 | 10 |
| Fiat currencies | EUR, GBP | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, CHF, ARS, BRL, MXN |
| Payment methods | bank transfer, iDEAL, bancontact, eps, credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay | ACH, wire transfer, SEPA, Faster Payments, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Interac e-Transfer, iDEAL, PIX, spei |
| Maker / taker fee | 0.15% / 0.25% | 0.4% / 0.8% |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Yes |
| Assets listed | 65 | 102 |
| Locations available | 6 | 60 |
| Trust score | — | — |
Fee Comparison
| Bitvavo | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | — | — |
| $1,000 | — | — |
| $10,000 | — | — |
Estimates include trading fee, published spread, and deposit fee. See our methodology.
Where Each Is Available
6 shared jurisdictions; 0 only on Bitvavo; 54 only on Kraken.
Our Verdict
Both make bank deposits free, and both limit what a small account pays. As of September 2026, Bitvavo reserves a maximum trading fee of 0.25% and charges your actual tier at execution, with SEPA, iDEAL, Bancontact and EPS deposits at 0% (source: Bitvavo help center). Kraken's spot order book starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker with no 30-day volume, and ACH, wire, SEPA, Faster Payments, iDEAL and Interac deposits are free (source: Kraken fee schedule). Bitvavo suits euro-area buyers who want a low ceiling on trading fees. Kraken suits people funding in other currencies, since it supports US dollars, pounds, Canadian and Australian dollars alongside the euro.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which has more coins?
- Kraken, with 102 of the assets we track against 65.
- Can I use both?
- Yes, in the 6 jurisdictions where both are available. Bitvavo and Kraken can be used side by side; many buyers keep accounts on more than one exchange.