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Head-to-head

Bybit vs Kraken

Bybit lists United States as a restricted location (source, checked 2026-09-06)

OKX is the highest-scored exchange we have not seen restricted in United States.

Bybit

62.1/100CompareCEX Score v1

82% verified data coverage

Kraken

64.5/100CompareCEX Score v1

92% verified data coverage

Which is better for beginners?

Kraken scores higher for beginners (64.5 vs 62.1 out of 100).

Based on verified data, Kraken scores higher on the CompareCEX Score at 64.5/100 versus 62.1/100 for Bybit — a 2.4-point gap driven mainly by fees, KYC ease, security track record, and available features. Note: both are custodial platforms that hold your funds until you withdraw, so the security and regulation section below (proof-of-reserves, audits, incident history) matters as much as the fee difference. That doesn't automatically make Bybit a bad choice; it may simply have less verified coverage on one or two criteria. Check the fee table, KYC and country availability, and security section below, since your real costs and access can vary by account tier, region, and verification level.

Side-by-side

Criteria	Bybit	Kraken
Type	cex	cex
Maker fee	0.10%	0.40%
Taker fee	0.10%	0.80%
KYC	Required	Required

Not available in United States.

See a verified alternative →

Visit Kraken

Fees: what a $1,000 and $10,000 trade actually costs

Criteria	Bybit	Kraken
Maker fee	0.10%	0.40%
Taker fee	0.10%	0.80%

Bybit taker fee (0.10%): a $1,000 trade costs $1.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $10.00 (checked 2026-09-04). source
Kraken taker fee (0.80%): a $1,000 trade costs $8.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $80.00 (checked 2026-09-04). source

KYC and availability in the US, UK, Canada, Australia

Bybit KYC: Required. Kraken KYC: Required.

Country	Bybit	Kraken
United States	Restricted (checked 2026-09-06)	Available (except Maine and New York, checked 2026-09-06)
United Kingdom	Unclear (Conflicting: help-center excludes UK, Dec 2025 announcement says UK launch — re-verify, checked 2026-09-06)	Available (FCA registered; retail no derivatives/DeFi Earn, checked 2026-09-06)
Canada	Restricted (checked 2026-09-06)	Available (Restricted Dealer; no margin/derivatives, checked 2026-09-06)
Australia	Unclear	Available (AUSTRAC DCE, checked 2026-09-06)

"Unclear" means we have not independently verified this yet — check the exchange's own terms before signing up.

Security and regulation

Criteria	Bybit	Kraken
Security track record	Not verified	PoR ✗
Regulation / licenses	Not verified	FINRA (US), SIPC (US)

Features: futures, margin, apps

Criteria	Bybit	Kraken
Features	Spot, Futures, Margin, Staking, Copy Trading	Spot, Futures, Margin, Staking, Card
Mobile app	iOS · Android	iOS · Android

Who should pick Bybit, who should pick Kraken

Pick Bybit if:

You're cost-sensitive and want the lower fee of the two (see fee table above).
You mostly trade from a phone — iOS and Android apps are both confirmed.
You trade futures and margin, not just spot.

Pick Kraken if:

You mostly trade from a phone — iOS and Android apps are both confirmed.
You trade futures and margin, not just spot.
You want a platform with an on-file regulatory license.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Bybit or Kraken?: Bybit has the lower fee on file based on our verified data — see the exact numbers and sources in the fee table above.
Do Bybit and Kraken require KYC?: Bybit requires KYC, and Kraken requires KYC, per our verified data.
Which is safer, Bybit or Kraken?: Both have similar verified security signals on file so far — see the full breakdown in the security section above before deciding.

Crypto assets are volatile and unregulated in many jurisdictions. Not financial advice.