Coinbase Exchange vs Kraken
Coinbase Exchange is the better choice for beginners in the United States who want a mainstream on-ramp and will switch to the order book once they know their way around; 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. Coinbase Exchange lists 76 assets against Kraken's 102, and Coinbase Exchange is available in more locations.
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Side-by-Side
| Coinbase Exchange | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | centralized exchange | centralized exchange |
| Founded | 2012 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Licenses recorded | 56 | 10 |
| Fiat currencies | — | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, CHF, ARS, BRL, MXN |
| Payment methods | — | ACH, wire transfer, SEPA, Faster Payments, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Interac e-Transfer, iDEAL, PIX, spei |
| Maker / taker fee | 0.4% / 0.6% | 0.4% / 0.8% |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of reserves | — | Yes |
| Assets listed | 76 | 102 |
| Locations available | 62 | 60 |
| Trust score | — | — |
Fee Comparison
| Coinbase Exchange | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | — | — |
| $1,000 | — | — |
| $10,000 | — | — |
Estimates include trading fee, published spread, and deposit fee. See our methodology.
Where Each Is Available
53 shared jurisdictions; 9 only on Coinbase Exchange; 7 only on Kraken.
Our Verdict
Kraken suits people who fund by bank transfer and place their own orders. As of September 2026, its spot order book starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker for an account with no 30-day volume, instant buys cost 1%, and ACH, wire, SEPA, Faster Payments, iDEAL and Interac deposits are free (source: Kraken fee schedule). Coinbase suits beginners in the United States who want a mainstream on-ramp, funding by ACH, debit card, PayPal or stablecoin balance, with no spread fee and no subscription fee on Coinbase Advanced. Coinbase publishes no single headline rate in our sources, so its Advanced tier is unconfirmed here; read the live tier table before comparing on rate alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which has more coins?
- Kraken, with 102 of the assets we track against 76.
- Can I use both?
- Yes, in the 53 jurisdictions where both are available. Coinbase Exchange and Kraken can be used side by side; many buyers keep accounts on more than one exchange.