Trading and Investing
Kraken is both a broker and a crypto exchange, and it offers more than just cryptocurrency trading. Stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are currently offered only to U.S. customers. Outside the U.S., Kraken provides tokenized versions of stocks and ETFs instead. Its crypto platform is available in most regions worldwide, with only a small number of exceptions, and the coin selection runs into the hundreds.
Kraken also provides futures trading. While the lineup is not in the hundreds, there are still multiple contracts across different categories, including commodities, equities, and cryptocurrencies. Spot forex pairs, such as AUD/USD and EUR/CHF, are available as well.
Perpetual futures (often called perps) are offered at Kraken, too. These contracts do not have an expiration date, which is why they are described as perpetual.
Kraken previously ran an NFT marketplace, but this service has been shut down, and NFT purchases are no longer supported directly on Kraken. That said, Kraken users can still buy NFTs on third-party marketplaces and store them in a wallet (covered later).
Beyond trading access, Kraken offers a variety of add-on services. Customers can stake certain assets and earn rewards paid in the same coin. Institutional clients can unlock additional tools and benefits, such as OTC offerings, custody solutions, financing options, and more.
Kraken also offers its Breakout program, which gives clients the ability to trade using outside capital. The program can provide up to $200,000 in trading funds, and participants may keep as much as 90% of their profits.
Kraken+ is the firm’s premium subscription that adds extra services beyond what standard accounts receive. Examples include:
- Kraken Drops, the broker’s launchpad program and airdrops
- Priority customer support
- Free tax services from Koinly
- Boosted yields on some stablecoins
- Free access to Beta services
To access Kraken’s full product range, you first need an account. Kraken supports both individual and business accounts, though certain services may be restricted based on country.
Banking Tools
Kraken has introduced several cash and payment tools to complement its trading services. One of these is Krak, the company’s peer-to-peer transfer app. Krak can be used to send money to people in many parts of the world, with support for more than 160 countries and over 300 crypto assets. In some situations, balances held in Krak can also earn interest.
Kraken also offers the Krak Card, a Mastercard debit card connected to a Krak balance. It can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, but it has a twist: it can draw from more than 400 cryptocurrencies as a funding source. Because the Krak Card is currently limited to Europe and the United Kingdom, transactions will generally be made in Euros or British Pounds. The card is not available in the U.S. at this time, and users can earn rewards for spending.
Stablecoins held at Kraken may earn interest, depending on the coin. USDC currently earns up to 4.25% in some cases, and placing USDC into a time-locked deposit can raise the yield up to 5.25%.
Kraken supports multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, including ACH, wire, PayPal, debit card, and Google/Apple Pay. In some countries, crypto purchases can also be made with a credit card, although Kraken itself does not issue a credit card.
Customer Support
Kraken’s help center at support.kraken.com covers many common questions. The site includes an AI assistant that can answer a lot of requests reasonably well, and human support is available when needed.
Similar support options are available in the regular Kraken app. Tap your initials in the upper-left corner and select the Support link.
During our research, we were unable to locate a public phone number for Kraken, which is a drawback. Kraken+ members receive priority support, which may lead to better results.
Website
Kraken’s main website is a basic platform that can be used to research assets and place orders. It includes light and dark themes and provides some helpful research tools. Click Explore in the left-side menu to view different categories, such as:
- Most popular
- Highest APR
- Newly listed
Selecting an asset opens its profile, and the order ticket appears on the right side of the screen.
Mobile App
Kraken’s standard mobile app offers many of the same tools as the website, along with similar order types (market, stop, and recurring). Unlike the website, the mobile app includes access to stocks and ETFs for eligible accounts. Charts on the regular app are limited and do not include advanced tools, although Kraken offers a workaround through its higher-end platforms.
High-End Software
For a more advanced experience, Kraken provides the Kraken Pro mobile app. This platform adds futures trading and landscape charting with many extra tools. It also includes an order book and time & sales data. The Pro order ticket supports more advanced order types, such as trailing stop limit and iceberg orders. Kraken also offers a Pro mode on the website.
Kraken’s most advanced platform is Kraken Desktop. This downloadable desktop program includes more than 20 color themes. It continues with the Pro-style trading ticket and adds many drawing tools for charting-focused traders.
Wallet
Kraken provides a digital wallet similar to other crypto exchanges. It is a hot wallet with self-custody, and it can store DeFi assets, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. Users can send and receive crypto by using a device camera and QR codes.
Tap the middle icon in the bottom menu to open the Explore page. This section includes useful links, including connections to NFT marketplaces where NFTs can still be purchased.
Margin
Kraken offers leverage through multiple channels. One path is margin trading for cryptocurrencies. Leverage typically ranges from 2x to 10x depending on the currency pair, and in our testing we saw up to 10x buying power for BTC/USD. These leveraged trades are available on Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop, but not through the standard website or regular app. On Pro and Desktop, order tickets show the leverage level available.
Futures contracts are also leveraged by design. In some futures markets, leverage can reach as high as 50x. Kraken includes automated risk controls that are designed to help prevent a futures account from dropping below zero.
Pricing
Kraken brokerage accounts for crypto, futures, or securities generally do not come with ongoing account fees, such as annual charges or low-balance fees. There is also no minimum balance requirement.
Kraken does apply trading fees in some situations. For fiat or crypto purchases, a 1% trading fee is common, and certain funding methods may add a surcharge on top of that 1% fee. These costs are separate from any spread that applies to the trade.
Stocks and ETFs in securities accounts trade without commissions. For xStocks (Kraken’s stock tokens), there is no commission if the trade is funded using USD or USDG; a 1% fee applies when other assets are used. Perpetual futures are priced with a 0.25% fee on the notional contract value.
Traders seeking lower costs should consider Kraken Pro or Kraken+. Kraken+ includes zero-commission trading on orders placed through the website or mobile app, up to a $10,000 monthly volume cap. Kraken Pro uses a maker-taker schedule, and fees drop as trading volume increases.
Kraken+ costs $4.99 per month, and the yearly plan is $49.99.
Kraken Referral Promotion
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Additional Features
Individual Retirement Accounts: Kraken does not offer IRAs.
Coin Launches: Kraken frequently adds new coins to its platform, and day-one access may be available in some cases. There are no equity IPOs offered at this time.
Fractional-Share Trading: Securities and crypto can be traded in whole-dollar amounts starting at $1.
Recommendations
Beginners: The standard website or regular mobile app is a reasonable place for new traders to begin.
Small Accounts: Kraken works best with higher monthly volume and a Kraken+ subscription, but smaller accounts can still use the platform with percent-based fees and no account charges.
Frequent Trading: Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop are better choices for active traders.
Long-Term Investing & Retirement Planning: Kraken does not provide retirement planning tools,
but Robinhood does, and it also offers crypto trading in a limited selection of coins.
Securities Trading: Kraken can work for U.S. investors trading stocks, although the platform does not offer a large suite of stock research tools.
Kraken Review Judgment
Kraken offers a strong list of products and services with low minimums and relatively low fees. However, some tools are restricted by location, so certain traders may need to consider another provider.
Kraken Bonus
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Updated on 6/26/2026.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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