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Head-to-head

Kraken vs KuCoin

KuCoin 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.

Kraken

66.1/100CompareCEX Score v1

92% verified data coverage

KuCoin

77.1/100CompareCEX Score v1

82% verified data coverage

Which is better for beginners?

KuCoin scores higher for beginners (77.1 vs 66.1 out of 100).

Based on verified data, KuCoin scores higher on the CompareCEX Score at 77.1/100 versus 66.1/100 for Kraken — a 10.9-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 Kraken 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	Kraken	KuCoin
Type	cex	cex
Maker fee	0.40%	0.10%
Taker fee	0.80%	0.10%
KYC	Required	Required

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Not available in United States.

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

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

Kraken taker fee (0.80%): a $1,000 trade costs $8.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $80.00 (checked 2026-10-19). source
KuCoin taker fee (0.10%): a $1,000 trade costs $1.00, and a $10,000 trade costs $10.00 (checked 2026-09-04). source

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

Kraken KYC: Required. KuCoin KYC: Required.

Country	Kraken	KuCoin
United States	Available (except Maine and New York, checked 2026-09-06)	Restricted (accounts closed 2025-01-23, checked 2026-09-06)
United Kingdom	Available (FCA registered; retail no derivatives/DeFi Earn, checked 2026-09-06)	Available (not listed in Restricted Locations, checked 2026-09-06)
Canada	Available (Restricted Dealer; no margin/derivatives, checked 2026-09-06)	Unclear (Only Ontario and British Columbia listed as Restricted Locations, checked 2026-09-06)
Australia	Available (AUSTRAC DCE, checked 2026-09-06)	Available (not listed in Restricted Locations, 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	Kraken	KuCoin
Security track record	PoR ✓	Not verified
Regulation / licenses	FINRA (US), SIPC (US)	Not verified

Features: futures, margin, apps

Criteria	Kraken	KuCoin
Features	Spot, Futures, Margin, Staking, Card	Spot, Futures, Margin, Staking, P2P
Mobile app	iOS · Android	iOS · Android

Who should pick Kraken, who should pick KuCoin

Pick Kraken if:

You mostly trade from a phone — iOS and Android apps are both confirmed.
You trade futures and margin, not just spot.
Proof-of-reserves transparency matters to you.

Pick KuCoin 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.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Kraken or KuCoin?: KuCoin has the lower fee on file based on our verified data — see the exact numbers and sources in the fee table above.
Do Kraken and KuCoin require KYC?: Kraken requires KYC, and KuCoin requires KYC, per our verified data.
Which is safer, Kraken or KuCoin?: Kraken publishes proof-of-reserves; we don't have that confirmed for KuCoin yet. See the security section above for details.

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