Coinbase vs Kraken
November 2026 — Side-by-side comparison of fees, volume, liquidity, traffic, and composite score
| Metric | Coinbase | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ||
| Score (0–100)↕ | ★97 | 97 |
| Volume 24h↕ | ★$1.91B | $1.38B |
| Volume 7d↕ | $1.37B | ★$5.22B |
| Volume 30d↕ | $85.43B | ★$94.95B |
| 24h Change↕ | ★+173.57% | +161.06% |
| Fees | ||
| Maker Fee↕ | 0.60% | ★0.25% |
| Taker Fee↕ | 1.20% | ★0.40% |
| Market Depth | ||
| Avg Liquidity↕ | 765 | ★777 |
| Trading Pairs↕ | 519 | ★1,691 |
| Coins Listed↕ | 411 | ★759 |
| Traffic | ||
| Weekly Visits↕ | ★3.88M | 1.05M |
| Traffic Score↕ | ★885.1 | 871.8 |
| Info | ||
| Fiat Currencies↕ | 3 currencies | ★7 currencies |
| Founded↕ | 2014 | ★2011 |
| Type | CEX | CEX |
| Rank↕ | ★#3 | #5 |
Fee Comparison
Base tier · Tier 0| Fee Type | Coinbase | Kraken | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
Maker Fee | 0.600% | 0.250%cheaper | Krakenlower fee |
Taker Fee | 1.200% | 0.400%cheaper | Krakenlower fee |
| Spread (Taker − Maker) | 0.600% | 0.150% |
Disclaimer: Base-tier rates (Tier 0) without VIP, volume, or token discounts. Negative maker fee = rebate (you earn it). Always verify on official fee pages.
Coinbase
Green = supported by all compared exchanges (3 shared)
Kraken
Green = supported by all compared exchanges (3 shared)
About Coinbase
Coinbase Advanced, often referred to as Coinbase Exchange, is the sophisticated trading platform offered by Coinbase, a prominent cryptocurrency company founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam. Initially headquartered in San Francisco, California, Coinbase transitioned to a remote-first company in May 2020. As a centralized exchange (CEX), Coinbase Advanced is positioned as a robust environment for active traders, providing enhanced tools and lower fees compared to the standard Coinbase platform. It aims to cater to users seeking more control and detailed market insights for their trading activities. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of products and features designed for serious cryptocurrency traders. Its core offering is spot trading, supporting over 550 spot pairs with deep liquidity and real-time order books, facilitating efficient execution of trades. While the snippets indicate an exploration of derivatives, specific details on futures, options, or perpetuals are not extensively highlighted for Coinbase Advanced itself, though Coinbase as a broader entity may offer them. Margin trading is not explicitly mentioned as a feature of Coinbase Advanced. The platform does offer earn products, exemplified by 3.50% USDC rewards, providing users with opportunities to generate passive income on their holdings. It integrates interactive TradingView charts for in-depth technical analysis and supports advanced order types, including limit, market, and stop-limit orders, empowering traders with precise control over their strategies. An NFT marketplace and copy trading features are not explicitly associated with Coinbase Advanced in the provided information. Coinbase Advanced boasts an extensive selection of trading pairs, exceeding 550 spot pairs, and supports a wide array of cryptocurrencies, with Coinbase generally supporting over 250 major digital assets. This broad offering allows traders to diversify their portfolios and engage with a significant portion of the crypto market. The fee structure on Coinbase Advanced is tiered, based on a user's 30-day trailing trading volume across all order books. Maker fees can be as low as 0.0%, and taker fees can be as low as 0.0%, with general ranges often cited as ≤ 0.4% for makers and ≤ 0.6% for takers. This tiered system effectively creates VIP tiers, rewarding higher volume traders with reduced costs. While specific zero-fee promotions are not detailed, the competitive fee structure itself serves as a significant incentive. Security and regulation are paramount for Coinbase Advanced. Coinbase, Inc. holds various regulatory licenses, including a money transmitter license from the Virginia State Corporation Commission and the BitLicense from the New York Department of Financial Services, obtained in 2017. More recently, as of June 2025, Coinbase secured a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from Luxembourg's Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), underscoring its commitment to regulatory compliance in key global markets. The platform employs robust security features, including cold storage for the vast majority of customer cryptocurrencies and mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect user accounts. Coinbase also maintains a policy of holding customer assets 1:1, enhancing trust and solvency. No notable security incidents were highlighted in the provided information. In terms of global reach, Coinbase Advanced serves users worldwide, including those in the United States. Coinbase is actively expanding its international footprint, evidenced by its recent partnership with Standard Chartered to broaden global multi-currency funding rails. This initiative aims to support a wider range of fiat currencies and payment methods, including AUD, SGD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, and USD, facilitating easier access and withdrawals for a diverse global user base. The platform is accessible through the Coinbase mobile application, providing on-the-go trading capabilities, though specific details on the mobile app's advanced features were not extensively covered. For algorithmic traders and developers, Coinbase Advanced offers a dedicated API, known as the Advanced Trade API, which supports programmatic trading and order management via a REST API and WebSocket protocol for real-time market data. Coinbase Advanced distinguishes itself from competitors through several unique selling points. Its primary advantage is offering significantly lower trading fees compared to the standard Coinbase platform, making it more cost-effective for frequent traders. The integration of professional-grade tools, such as interactive TradingView charts and advanced order types, provides a superior trading experience. Furthermore, its deep liquidity ensures efficient trade execution, while its best-in-class security measures, including cold storage and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions, instill confidence in its users. The absence of subscription fees further enhances its appeal, allowing traders to access advanced functionalities without additional recurring costs. These attributes collectively position Coinbase Advanced as a compelling choice for experienced cryptocurrency traders seeking a reliable and feature-rich platform.
Full profile →About Kraken
Kraken, legally known as Payward, Inc., is a prominent United States-based cryptocurrency exchange established in 2011 by Jesse Powell, Thanh Luu, and Michael Gronager. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Kraken operates primarily as a centralized exchange (CEX) and has grown to become one of the oldest and largest platforms in the crypto space, trusted by millions globally. Its overall positioning emphasizes security, a wide range of trading options, and a commitment to institutional-grade services. Kraken offers a comprehensive suite of products and features catering to both retail and institutional clients. Its core offering includes robust spot trading for a vast array of cryptocurrencies. Beyond spot trading, Kraken provides margin trading with leverage up to 5x, allowing users to amplify their positions. For more advanced traders, the platform supports futures trading, enabling speculation on future price movements of select cryptocurrencies. Kraken also facilitates on-chain staking, where users can earn rewards by holding certain tokens, and offers various earn products. In line with the growing interest in digital collectibles, Kraken launched its non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, allowing users to buy, sell, and create tokenized digital assets. The exchange also provides over-the-counter (OTC) trading services for large transactions, catering to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. Regarding its asset offerings, Kraken supports over 290 cryptocurrencies and boasts more than 780 trading pairs. This extensive selection, while slightly smaller than some of its largest competitors, provides ample opportunities for diversification and strategic trading across various digital assets and fiat currencies. The platform continuously evaluates and adds new cryptocurrencies, ensuring it remains competitive and responsive to market demands. Kraken employs a tiered maker-taker fee schedule designed to incentivize liquidity provision, with fees decreasing as trading volume increases. For spot crypto trading, maker fees range from 0.25% down to 0.00% for volumes exceeding $10 million, while taker fees start at 0.40% and can go as low as 0.05% for the highest volume tiers. Stablecoin, pegged token, and FX pairs have a more compressed fee structure, with both maker and taker fees starting at 0.20% and reducing to 0.00% and 0.001% respectively for high volumes. Kraken+ members benefit from zero trading fees on up to $10,000 USD in monthly trading volume for major currencies when using the Instant Buy, Sell, or Convert features on the Kraken app or web, though spreads and card processing fees may still apply. Margin trading incurs additional opening and rollover fees, typically ranging from 0.01% to 0.04% per 4 hours, depending on the asset. Security and regulation are paramount for Kraken. The exchange has a strong focus on safeguarding client assets, employing robust security features such as extensive cold storage for the majority of client funds, two-factor authentication (2FA), and advanced encryption protocols. Kraken has also been proactive in seeking regulatory compliance, notably obtaining a special purpose depository institution (SPDI) charter in Wyoming in 2020, making it the first cryptocurrency exchange in the United States to hold such a charter. It holds various registrations and licenses in jurisdictions across North America, Europe, and the UAE. While Kraken has faced regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges, including settlements with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding past operational practices and staking services, it has consistently worked to address these issues and enhance its compliance framework. The exchange has not experienced any major security breaches resulting in significant client fund losses. Kraken maintains a broad global reach, serving users in most states in the U.S. (with some activity restrictions) and operating across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. However, it has exited certain markets, such as New York and Japan, due to regulatory complexities or business costs. The platform supports a variety of fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and AUD, and offers multiple payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, such as ACH and wire transfers, depending on the user's region. For users on the go, Kraken offers a mobile app available for both international and U.S. users, providing a convenient way to manage accounts and trade cryptocurrencies. The app is generally well-regarded for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionality. For algorithmic traders and developers, Kraken provides a robust Application Programming Interface (API), allowing seamless integration of Kraken's services into custom trading applications and strategies. Kraken distinguishes itself through several unique selling points. Its long operational history since 2011 positions it as one of the most experienced and resilient exchanges in the industry. The SPDI charter in Wyoming underscores its commitment to regulatory compliance and provides a unique banking-like framework. Kraken's emphasis on security, including its extensive cold storage practices, instills confidence among users. Furthermore, its diverse product offering, ranging from basic spot trading to advanced futures and margin trading, coupled with an NFT marketplace and staking options, makes it a versatile platform for a wide spectrum of crypto participants. The platform's focus on institutional clients through Kraken Institutional and its continuous efforts to expand into traditional asset classes, such as stocks and ETFs, highlight its ambition to become a broader financial services provider. Kraken's competitive fee structure, especially for high-volume traders, and its dedication to liquidity further enhance its appeal in the crowded cryptocurrency exchange landscape.
Full profile →Coinbase vs Kraken — November 2026 Analysis
This comparison uses ExchangeRank's composite scoring algorithm to evaluate exchanges across six dimensions: 24h trading volume (28%), weekly visitor traffic (29%), traffic quality (14%), effective liquidity (15%), number of trading pairs (6%), and volume consistency over 7 days (8%). Fee data is sourced from official exchange fee schedules (base-tier, Tier 0).
Kraken leads with 9 metric wins in November 2026. For a full breakdown of the ranking methodology, see our methodology page.