spot exchange
Kraken
US-AVAILABLE
Reviewed by CoinCompass · Last verified
Is Kraken available in the US?
Yes — Kraken is licensed for US customers (FinCEN MSB + US state licenses; strong track record since 2011). It is one of the exchanges we can legally reference and monetize for a US audience. Availability can vary by state, so confirm your state before signing up.
How we make money: we earn a commission when you sign up with an
exchange through our links. That never changes what we recommend or how we rank —
rankings follow our published review criteria and are re-checked on a fixed schedule.
Read the full disclosure.
Crypto risk: crypto assets are volatile and can lose value, are not FDIC-insured, and are not a bank deposit. This is not financial advice — do your own research before trading.
Affiliate / referral program
Kraken Affiliate (in-house partnerships team OR Impact.com track)
Kraken affiliate earns on referred user activity across Spot, Futures, DEX and more
Kraken at a glance
| Status | us licensed |
|---|---|
| Regulator / license | FinCEN MSB + US state licenses; strong track record since 2011 |
| Markets | US, International |
| Supported countries | US + ~190 countries |
| Affiliate program | Kraken Affiliate (in-house partnerships team OR Impact.com track) |
| Affiliate commission | Revenue-share negotiated; up to 50% for top creators; Impact track pays fiat or USDC |
Fees
| Trading | 1% instant/recurring, 1.5% custom orders (waived for Kraken+ members up to $10k/mo volume); Pro tier lower |
|---|---|
| Withdrawal | Network fee only |
| Deposit | Free |
| Notes | Kraken Pro offers lower maker/taker; 23 stakeable assets incl BTC via Babylon. |
What a $1,000 trade actually costs
At 1% taker rate, a $1,000 trade costs roughly $10. Instant/recurring buy fee on a $1,000 trade. Kraken Pro tier is lower; Kraken+ members get custom-order fees waived up to $10k/mo. Estimate your own monthly cost with our fee estimator.
Ratings breakdown
| Overall | 4.5 |
|---|---|
| Usability | 4.4 |
| Fees | 4.5 |
| Security | 4.8 |
| Support | 4.0 |
Strengths
- Strong security reputation and long operating history
- Lower base-tier fees than Coinbase on spot trades
- Broad US and international availability
- Professional trading depth (Kraken Pro) plus staking
- 23 stakeable assets including BTC (via Babylon) with higher net APY than Coinbase
Weaknesses
- Interface is less beginner-intuitive than Coinbase
- Fewer flashy rewards than some competitors
- Customer support turnaround can vary