Binance vs Kraken
✓ You own the coin — withdrawable on-chain
Compare
| Binance | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Regulation | VARA | FCA ×2 |
| Max leverage | 20× | 5× |
| Assets listed | 350 | 200 |
| Incidents on record | 1 | 0 |
Fees
| Spot taker fee | 0.1% | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Card purchase | 1.8% | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
| Spot taker fee | 0.8% | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Card purchase | — | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
Regulation
| Regulation | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|
| VARA (AE) · VL/24/04/001 Binance FZE | Virtual-asset licence — real authorisation, but no compensation scheme | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
| Regulation | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FCA (GB) · 757895 Crypto Facilities Ltd (trading as Kraken MTF) | Licensed | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
| FCA (GB) · 928768 Payward Ltd (Kraken Digital Asset Exchange) | AML registration only — not investor protection | Source · Verified 2026-08-25 |
Incidents on record
- 2023-11-21 — Pleaded guilty to US anti-money-laundering charges; USD 4.3bn settlement, founder stepped down as CEO. Source
Incidents on record
No material incidents on record.
Frequently asked questions
Is Binance cheaper than Kraken?
0.1% against 0.8% on the headline figure. Deposit, withdrawal and spread costs sit on top and can reverse that for small trades.
Is Binance safe?
Binance has 1 documented incident(s): Pleaded guilty to US anti-money-laundering charges; USD 4.3bn settlement, founder stepped down as CEO. Read the source before deciding.
Can I withdraw my coins from Binance?
Yes. Binance is an exchange — the asset is yours and moves to a wallet you control.
Which suits a beginner better?
Whichever is licensed where you live and lets you withdraw the asset. Leverage and daily financing are what turn a beginner's position into a loss.
Read the full comparison
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Crypto is volatile and largely unregulated. CFDs are leveraged and most retail accounts lose money. Never risk money you cannot afford to lose.
Information only. This is not investment advice.