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About Kraken

A Brief Overview

Released in 2011, the Kraken platform has grown into one of the most prominent and trusted exchanges globally. As of January 2024, its daily trading volume is about $1.5 billion, making it the third-biggest crypto platform by trading volume. Kraken closely cooperates with regulation authorities and is committed to maintaining transparency, making it an appealing choice for both experienced traders and beginners in the digital asset sector.

Brief history

The exchange’s release took place in July 2011, with Jesse Powell as a co-founder and CEO. The platform has quickly grown into one of the largest and most trusted services. As time passed, Kraken has become a reliable service for many traders due to its high level of security, stringent compliance with regulations, and wide range of tradeable digital assets. The platform’s developers have been actively expanding its services, offering futures trading options, margin, and staking. Kraken also stands out for its commitment to regulation and contribution to the crypto market's development and was recognized as its key player.

Features

Specific characteristics have made this platform extremely popular among traders. First and foremost, Kraken provides a high level of security, including 2FA and cold storage of client assets. Next, the platform offers a variety of cryptocurrencies for trading, including top-tier and less popular tokens. Furthermore, the exchange provides margin trading and futures options, drawing experienced traders. Kraken also supports staking and allows for participation in different digital asset ecosystems. The platform actively complies with regulatory requirements and strives for transparency, maintaining the reputation of a reliable and innovative service.

Supported Assets

A wide range of crypto coins and tokens is available on Kraken. That includes over 120 assets, such as BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, ETC, ZEC, USDT, and many others.

Fees

The platform’s fees vary depending on the type of transaction and volume. Standard commissions for makers (those who place limit orders) and takers (those who fulfill orders) can vary depending on the volume traded over the past month.

Kraken offers paid services such as margin and futures trading options with varying commission structures. Using the Instant Buy service implies a 0.9% fee for stablecoins and 1.5% for other digital assets. The fee also varies on different payment methods. Kraken Pro is based on a maker-taker fee structure, with maker commissions ranging from 0.00% to 0.16% and taker’s - from 0.10% to 0.26%.

Jesse Powell

Co-Founder, CEO

Key data

data refreshed every 10 minutes$406M / 24h
Trading pairs729
Founded2011-07-28T00:00:00.000000Z
Market share1.2%of tracked exchanges volume

Kraken is a centralized cryptocurrency exchange (CEX) founded in 2011, which makes it one of the oldest platforms still operating in the crypto industry. It lets users trade digital assets, stake coins, and access tools for both retail and institutional clients, all through its official site at kraken.com. This page brings together the essential facts about the exchange in one place.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kraken?

Kraken is a cryptocurrency exchange where users can buy, sell, and trade a broad range of digital assets. Beyond spot trading, the platform offers services such as staking and features aimed at institutional clients. Everything runs through its official website, kraken.com.

Is Kraken centralized or decentralized?

Kraken is a centralized exchange (CEX), meaning the company holds custody of users' deposited funds and controls how the platform operates. This differs from decentralized exchanges (DEXs), where trades happen directly between users' own wallets. Like most CEXs, Kraken requires identity verification and sets its own listing and trading rules.

When was Kraken founded?

Kraken was founded in 2011, making it one of the earliest crypto exchanges still active today. The platform has operated through multiple market cycles since then. Its official website is https://www.kraken.com.

What should users keep in mind when using Kraken?

Since Kraken is a centralized exchange, it holds custody of deposited funds, so enabling security features like two-factor authentication is strongly recommended. Fees, available assets, and services can vary depending on your region, so check the details for your country. As with any exchange, it's also worth reviewing its regulatory standing in your jurisdiction before committing significant funds.

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