Head-to-head · verified August 2026
Coinbase vs Kraken
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| Key facts | Coinbase | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Maker fee | 0.4% | 0.25% |
| Taker fee | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Founded | 2012 | 2011 |
| Listed assets | ~330 | ~500 |
| KYC required | Yes | Yes |
| Category | Coinbase | Kraken | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | 4.0 | 6.0 | Kraken |
| Security | 8.0 | 8.5 | Kraken |
| Regulation & Trust | 10.0 | 8.0 | Coinbase |
| Assets & Features | 8.9 | 9.9 | Kraken |
| UX & Support | 10.0 | 8.0 | Coinbase |
| Overall | 8.1 | 8.0 | Coinbase |
On headline trading costs, Kraken has the lower maker fee (0.25% vs 0.4%). On our public rubric, Coinbase scores higher overall (8.1 vs 8.0 / 10). Neither ranking is pay-to-play: both are scored on the same criteria and the order follows the score.
Choose Coinbase if…
Publicly listed, US-regulated and audited — strong transparency and compliance posture.
Choose Kraken if…
Long operating history (since 2011) with no customer-fund hack.
Read the full Coinbase review or Kraken review.
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