Kraken: The Power-User's US Exchange
Kraken is one of the oldest US-friendly cryptocurrency exchanges, operating since 2011. It's known for never having been hacked at the platform level, supporting 200+ assets, and offering some of the lowest fees in the regulated US space. Kraken serves customers in nearly every US state (with some restrictions in NY and Washington for certain products) and holds a Wyoming SPDI charter granting it bank-like compliance status.
Fees: Among the Lowest in the Regulated US Space
Kraken's standard taker fee starts at 0.26% and drops to 0.10% for high-volume traders. Maker fees can reach 0% past $10M monthly volume. Compared to Coinbase's 1.49% retail, that's a 5-10× cost reduction. On a $10,000 trade, expect to pay $26 instead of $149. Kraken Pro, the advanced interface, is included free in the same account — no separate signup needed.
Pros & Cons
Pros: Low maker/taker fees, never hacked, robust security (PoR audits, cold storage), 200+ supported assets, advanced order types (margin, futures), clean Pro interface.
Cons: Steeper learning curve for first-time crypto buyers, customer support slower than Coinbase, instant buy product has higher fees than Pro orders, partial restrictions in NY and Washington.
Verdict for US Investors
If you're past the absolute-beginner stage and care about minimizing fees, Kraken is a clear winner over Coinbase for active trading. The interface is more demanding but the fee savings compound quickly on any meaningful volume. Rating: 4.7/5 for active traders, 4.0/5 for beginners.
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