Kraken vs Binance
Safety record against cost and depth.
Kraken
The security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts.
Binance
The deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range.
This comparison is the clearest expression of the central trade-off in crypto: Kraken has never lost customer funds and charges several times more; Binance is the cheapest deep venue and has the heaviest regulatory history.
Side by side
| Kraken | Binance | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 | 8.5 |
| Spot maker | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Spot taker | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Futures maker | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Futures taker | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Assets listed | 240+ | 400+ |
| Founded | 2011 | 2017 |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Yes |
| Copy trading | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Restricted in | None tracked | US |
Which one, for whom
Long-term holders using an exchange as an on-ramp
Kraken
A cleaner record and better fiat rails matter more than fees when you trade twice a year.
Active traders
Binance
The fee gap compounds fast at any real volume, and the books are deeper.
US residents
Kraken
Binance.com is unavailable to them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kraken safer than Binance?
On track record, yes: Kraken has operated since 2011 with no customer-funds breach, while Binance was breached in 2019 and settled with US authorities in 2023. Binance covered the 2019 losses in full from its SAFU fund.
Keep researching
Full reviews
- Kraken review
The security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts.
- Binance review
The deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range.
Other comparisons
Still deciding? Compare the cost on your own trade size with the fee calculator.