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What Account Types Does Kraken Offer in 2026?
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Account Types at Kraken
Key Takeaways:
• Kraken offers a limited set of account registrations, primarily individual and business accounts.
• Institutional clients are also able to open accounts at Kraken.
• Kraken does not support joint accounts or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
If you’re considering opening a brokerage account with Kraken, here’s what you should know first:
Overview of Trading at Kraken
Kraken provides access to cryptocurrency trading, futures products, and securities, depending on a customer’s country of residence. Most countries are eligible for cryptocurrency trading, although a small number of jurisdictions are restricted.
Crypto Accounts
For cryptocurrency trading, Kraken offers individual (personal) accounts and business accounts. There is also an institutional account category, although this is structured as a business account. Kraken does not directly offer other account types such as IRAs, joint accounts, or custodial accounts.
Some third-party providers, such as Rocket Dollar, offer Checkbook IRAs and Solo 401(k) plans that can be linked to business accounts at Kraken, though not to personal accounts. This setup provides an indirect way to hold Kraken assets within a tax-advantaged account that is maintained at another firm.
Securities Accounts
In addition to digital assets, Kraken also allows trading in stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for U.S. residents. At this time, customers outside the United States are not eligible for stock or ETF trading.
Securities accounts in the U.S. can be opened as either individual or business accounts. No other registration types are currently supported. As a result, common securities account structures available at other brokers, such as trusts and joint accounts, are not offered at Kraken.
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Futures Accounts
U.S.-based clients can trade cryptocurrency futures through Kraken’s futures platform. Customers outside the U.S. may trade crypto perpetual futures. In both cases, futures positions are held in separate futures accounts, which are opened as either personal or business accounts.
xStocks at Kraken
xStocks, which are available in select jurisdictions, are blockchain-based assets. Because of this structure, xStocks are traded within crypto accounts rather than securities or futures accounts.
Margin Accounts
Certain crypto accounts at Kraken may be upgraded from cash trading to margin trading. However, margin trading is not available in Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Margin-enabled crypto accounts are subject to additional eligibility requirements and jurisdictional limitations, and they require at least an Intermediate verification level.
Verification Levels
Every Kraken account, whether crypto or securities, business or individual, is assigned a verification level. The four available levels are:
- Express
- Starter
- Intermediate
- Pro
Higher verification tiers unlock additional features, including margin access and higher deposit and withdrawal limits. The Express and Starter levels are available only in certain locations and require minimal documentation.
Eligible Countries
While Kraken offers a limited number of account structures, it supports users from a wide range of countries. Residents of nearly 200 countries can open cryptocurrency accounts, and most nationalities are accepted. Examples of supported jurisdictions include:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Congo
- Gibraltar
- Slovakia
- And many more...
Given the size of the supported list, it may be easier to focus on countries that Kraken does not support:
- Russia
- Parts of Ukraine
- Cuba
- Japan
- North Korea
- And a few others...
These restrictions are based on country of residence rather than citizenship. For example, a Japanese citizen living in Slovakia may still be eligible to open an account.
Using a VPN to bypass regional restrictions may violate Kraken’s policies or local regulations and could result in penalties.
Opening an Account
If Kraken’s offerings meet your needs, opening an account is a simple process. Visit the website or mobile app and click the purple sign-up button. You’ll be prompted to choose either a personal or business account and then guided through the remaining steps to submit the required information. Kraken’s platform supports many languages, including Dutch, Turkish, and Chinese.
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Updated on 6/26/2026.
Chad Morris has been analyzing investment firms for Brokerage-Review.com since 2015. Backed by FINRA Series 65, 66, and SIE credentials, his work reflects a deep knowledge of the retail brokerage industry and digital trading tools.
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