Our verdict: Kraken is a legitimate, long-running exchange with a strong regulatory record, and Kraken Pro is a solid fit for active traders. For buying Bitcoin to hold long term, the standard Kraken app is expensive. Instant buys cost a 1% fee plus a spread, and card purchases add a processing fee on top. Kraken isn’t available to residents of Maine or New York (as of October 19, 2026).
Bitcoin withdrawal (both):0.000015 BTC on-chain, minimum 0.000218 BTC, per Kraken’s table on October 26, 2026. Fees change, and Kraken shows the final fee when you confirm.
Kraken fees as of October 19, 2026. Kraken Pro tiers now use the better of your 30-day trading volume or the assets you hold on the platform (fee schedule).
A $1,000 Bitcoin purchase in the Kraken app costs at least $10 plus the spread. The same purchase on Kraken Pro as a market order costs $8. Kraken+ members pay no app trading fee on up to $10,000 a month; the spread and card fees still apply. Kraken+ costs $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with a one-month free trial (as of September 17, 2026).
What a Kraken Bitcoin purchase actually costs
Here is the trading fee on a one-time Bitcoin buy of $100, $1,000 and $10,000 on each route, worked out from the published fee schedules (as of October 19, 2026). Fees are before spreads, which Kraken’s app and Kraken+ add on top. Kraken Pro rates are for a new account (under $2,500 of 30-day volume).
$100 buy: Kraken app $1.00 plus spread. Kraken Pro $0.80. Kraken+ $0 trading fee, but $4.99 for the month’s subscription, plus spread. Swan $1.00, or $0 for a new client’s first $250.
$1,000 buy: Kraken app $10.00 plus spread. Kraken Pro $8.00. Kraken+ $0 trading fee plus the $4.99 subscription and spread. Swan $10.00, or $7.50 for a new client (no fee on the first $250).
$10,000 buy: Kraken app $100.00 plus spread. Kraken Pro $80.00. Kraken+ $0 trading fee (it covers up to $10,000 a month) plus the $4.99 subscription and spread. Swan $100.00, or $97.50 for a new client.
On fees alone, Kraken Pro is the cheapest way to make a one-off purchase on Kraken. Kraken+ only beats the app’s 1% fee once you buy more than about $499 a month there ($4.99 ÷ 1%), and you still pay the spread. Sources: Kraken fee schedule, Kraken+ FAQ, Swan fees.
Is Kraken safe?
Strengths
A long history. Kraken has run since 2011 and came through the 2022 collapses of FTX, Celsius and others.
Proof of reserves. Kraken publishes regular proof-of-reserves attestations by an independent accounting firm. The most recent one we found covers balances as of December 31, 2025, published February 5, 2026.
Customer reviews are poor. Kraken scores 3.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, and half the reviews are 1-star (as of October 19, 2026). Many are about verification, frozen accounts and slow support.
It’s still an exchange. Bitcoin you leave on Kraken is held by Kraken. Exchanges are targets: in February 2025, Bybit lost about $1.5 billion in the largest exchange theft on record.
How Kraken protects your account
Kraken’s security page lists these account protections:
Two-factor authentication with FIDO2 passkeys
No phone or SMS account recovery
A configurable account timeout and a global settings time lock
Email confirmation before a new withdrawal address is added
Encryption of sensitive data at rest and in transit, and 24/7 live chat and email support for urgent issues
A mix of cold storage and hot wallets for client funds, plus a bug bounty program for security researchers
Past security incidents
In June 2024, a security researcher found a flaw that let accounts be credited with funds that were never deposited. Kraken said the researcher and two associates withdrew nearly $3 million using it. The bug was fixed, and Kraken said no client assets were at risk.
If you trade actively, Kraken Pro is cheaper than most apps. If you’re saving in Bitcoin, a Bitcoin-only service with automatic withdrawals to a wallet you control keeps both costs and risk lower.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kraken legit?
Yes. Kraken is a regulated exchange founded in 2011, registered with US regulators, licensed in US states and licensed in the EU under MiCA.
Is Kraken safe?
It has a strong security and regulatory record and publishes proof-of-reserves attestations, but Bitcoin left on any exchange is held by that exchange. For long-term savings, move it to a wallet you control.
What are Kraken’s fees?
1% plus a spread for instant buys in the app, as of October 2026; 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker on Kraken Pro for small traders.
Is Kraken Pro cheaper than the Kraken app?
Yes, on fees. A market order on Kraken Pro costs 0.80% for a new account, against 1% plus a spread in the app; limit orders on Pro cost 0.40%, against 1.5% for custom orders in the app (as of October 2026).
Does Kraken have a subscription?
Yes. Kraken+ costs $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year and removes the app trading fee on up to $10,000 of purchases a month. Spreads and card fees still apply (as of September 2026).
Is Kraken available in the US?
Yes, except for residents of Maine and New York, as of October 2026. Some features are limited in other states.
Is Kraken a public company?
No. Its IPO was put on hold in 2026, and CoinDesk reported in September 2026 that it won’t happen before Q2 2027 at the earliest.
Matt Ruby is a seasoned content writer helping educate million worldwide about Bitcoin for Swan. Matt work with tech companies to create words, videos, and other content that makes them seem human. He specializes in taking boring/drab tech topics and making them interesting, educational, funny, and accessible to regular people.
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