Kraken vs Blocktrade: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Kraken and Blocktrade This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Kraken

Blocktrade

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

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Kraken is ideal if:

Built for both simplicity and sophistication: Kraken’s intuitive interface makes it approachable for newcomers, while Kraken Pro delivers advanced trading tools, analytics, and charting for serious traders.
Security-first, regulation-backed platform: With an unbroken crypto protection record, proof-of-reserves audits, cold storage, and licenses across major markets—including new MiCA approval for EU operations—Kraken prioritizes trust and compliance.
More than a crypto exchange: Beyond trading, Kraken now offers a peer-to-peer payments app (Krak), commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trades, and staking options—making it an all-in-one digital finance hub.

Blocktrade is ideal if:

Perfect for active traders seeking a playful experience: Blocktrade blends trading with gamified elements like XP, levels, and NFT avatars, delivering a more engaging trading environment.
Well-suited if you value European regulation and security: Fully registered as a VASP under EU rules, it offers peace of mind through strong compliance, clear interface, and robust custody protections.
Great for those who prefer simplicity without passive features: Easy to use with fiat and crypto access and competitive pricing—but without staking, margin trading, or income-generating tools.

Kraken isn’t ideal if:

Overwhelming for total beginners: The interface and tiered platforms (Lite vs Pro) may feel complex without a solid understanding of trading, tools, and order types.
Limited access and features in some regions: Certain U.S. states and geographies have restrictions on staking, derivatives, or account creation—potentially blocking full platform use.
Support and platform bottlenecks: Account verification or support processes can be slow, and mobile app performance or customer assistance (no phone line) may frustrate users in need of swift help.

Blocktrade isn’t ideal if:

Not for altcoin hunters: Only a small crypto selection is available—too limited if you’re after niche or emerging tokens.
Not for income-driven users: No support for staking, yield-earning programs, or referral bonuses means passive crypto income opportunities are absent.
Not for advanced traders: Lacking leverage, margin, or derivatives tools makes it unsuitable if you're looking for sophisticated or leveraged trading options.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Kraken uses a tiered maker-taker structure where both maker and taker fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume grows, and higher activity triggers reduced costs—even reaching zero for makers—though the schedule excludes transactions via instant buy tools.

Blocktrade applies a flat trading fee—typically around 0.3% of the trade volume—with slightly lower fees (e.g., 0.25%) on certain native tokens like BTEX or ECS; there are no volume tiers or loyalty-based discounts beyond this.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures follow a volume-based tiers system—lowering maker and taker rates as volume increases—paired with periodic funding payments (every eight hours) that depend on contract premiums versus spot prices.

Blocktrade currently does not offer futures or derivative trading products, so there are no applicable maker, taker, or funding costs to detail.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

While Kraken doesn’t publish fixed spreads, its instant-buy feature embeds variable spreads that widen or narrow depending on market volatility, order size, and asset type.

Blocktrade offers “Marketplace” trades with no explicit trading fees, but users may face slightly wider real-time spreads compared to order-book transactions, especially on popular pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Kraken supports methods like ACH, SWIFT, PayPal, SEPA, domestic transfers, etc., with low or no deposit fees; but deposits may trigger temporary withdrawal holds (e.g. 72-hour for cards, 7-day for ACH).

Users can deposit and withdraw euros via methods like SEPA transfers or credit/debit cards; fees are modest (e.g., a low-percentage fee for SEPA and a small surcharge for cards), with processing and confirmation typically taking between minutes to a few business days depending on method and verification status.

On-chain Withdrawals

Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees vary per network—e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX have different fixed minimums depending on blockchain and congestion, not necessarily dynamic or network-based.

Crypto withdrawals incur fixed fees specific to each asset and network (e.g., a set amount of BTC, ETH, USDT, etc.), meaning costs are predetermined and transparent rather than dynamically calculated by network congestion.

Hidden Costs

Be aware of currency conversion premiums (from asset swaps), inactivity terms, and express KYC fees—these can add extras atop headline trading charges.

There are generally no hidden charges like inactivity or expedited verification fees; however, currency conversions (e.g., between fiat or crypto pairs) may include slight margins, and external bank or card fees may apply without being controlled by the platform.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Suppose you convert €500 to BTC and withdraw it—your total cost would include the instant-buy embedded spread, then a network withdrawal fee during transfer, and possible fiat hold timing—resulting in slightly less BTC and slower access.

If you purchase €500 worth of BTC via the Marketplace, you’ll face a modest trading spread plus any applicable SEPA or card deposit fee, followed by the fixed on-chain BTC withdrawal fee—resulting in an all-in cost that blends spread, deposit surcharge, and withdrawal fee into one clear total.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Kraken supports over 1,000 spot, margin, and futures markets overall, and its top 20 trading pairs by volume typically include high-cap assets like BTC/USD-variant, ETH/USD-variant, and other popular tokens.

Blocktrade supports just over 50 cryptocurrencies, with trading pairs concentrated around well-known assets like BTC, ETH, USDC, and a handful of altcoins; the top 20 by trading volume are the most popular blue-chip tokens, making up the vast majority of available pairs.

Product Range

You’ll find a full suite including spot, margin (up to 10× leverage), futures/perpetuals, staking (recently reenabled in the U.S.), with access to ETFs and options still pending—plus no native copy-trading, grid bots, DCA autos yet.

Blocktrade currently offers spot trading only—no margin, derivatives, options, crypto ETFs, lending, copy-trading, trading bots, or automated DCA are available on the platform at this time.

Liquidity

Kraken ranks among the world’s most liquid venues—especially for BTC-EUR and ETH-EUR—and sees substantial 24-hour volumes with deep order-book depth, enabling tight execution even for large trades.

Blocktrade maintains a modest but stable liquidity base; while specific figures aren’t published, liquidity is sufficient to execute spot trades without extreme slippage, particularly on BTC/EUR and ETH/EUR pairs.

Tools

Kraken Pro offers advanced tools—limit, stop, OCO orders, real-time alerts, native TradingView-style charts, downloadable historical OHLCVT data, plus full REST and WebSocket API access.

Users benefit from basic functionality including market and limit orders, full TradingView-powered charts, real-time price data, and an open API for integration, though there’s no advanced alert system via the interface.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products, like margin, futures, or staking, are restricted by jurisdiction—eligibility varies and some features may be blocked in specific countries due to regulatory constraints.

Because Blocktrade doesn’t offer derivatives or leverage, there are no region-based product restrictions beyond general country eligibility; only spot services are available in approved jurisdictions.

Innovation

While traditional launchpad/launchpool programs aren’t yet offered, Kraken distinguishes between flexible vs. locked staking options and continues evolving with new offerings, particularly for institutional clients.

Blocktrade continues to push its gamified ecosystem forward with features like XP, avatars, and merchant payments, but it does not yet offer launchpad, launchpool, or flexible vs locked yield-earning products (staking and earn programs remain limited or on hold).

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Kraken operates under several legal entities depending on region, including Payward, Inc. (U.S.), Payward Europe Solutions (Ireland, EEA), and Payward Ltd. (UK), all founded around 2011, headquartered in the U.S. with significant European presence.

Blocktrade is operated by Blocktrade SA, established in 2018 and headquartered in Luxembourg, functioning through licensed subsidiaries in Italy (Blocktrade S.r.l.) and Slovenia (BlocktradeOperations OÜ) to provide services under EU legal frameworks.

Licenses/Registration

Kraken holds multiple regulatory approvals, including VASP licenses in EU countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Ireland, and FCA registrations in the UK, in addition to its SPDI charter in Wyoming and MSB registration in the U.S.

The platform is registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Slovenia, complying with EU anti-money laundering standards (AML5), and is actively preparing for broader MiCA (EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) compliance across its operations.

Custody

Kraken self-custodies customer assets with a substantial portion held in cold storage; it publishes regular Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) attestations audited by external parties to ensure transparency.

Blocktrade’s custodial framework combines in-house infrastructure, including cold and hot wallets, with partnerships for custody solutions; while specific percentages of cold storage or proof-of-reserve disclosures aren’t public, the system is regularly audited and backed by recognized security providers.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Kraken maintains insurance for digital assets held online, though the coverage is limited; there is no formal protected fund for customer losses but additional insurance for certain custodial assets exists.

There is no explicit mention of an exchange-held insurance fund; however, asset security is enhanced through robust infrastructure and institutional-grade custodial practices—though no proprietary insurance or user fund protection scheme is publicly advertised.

Incident History

Kraken has not experienced any major platform hacks; compliance suspensions or asset freezes have been minimal, and the exchange has not faced any public multi-million dollar regulatory fines.

Blocktrade has maintained a clean operational record with no reported hacks, platform suspensions, account freezes, or regulatory penalties, reflecting its emphasis on security and compliance.

Risk Controls

Kraken enforces robust account security with multiple 2FA options (passkeys, hardware keys, authenticator apps), whitelisting, anti-phishing tools, sub-accounts, and granular API permissions for sophisticated client control.

User accounts are safeguarded with mandatory 2FA, encrypted infrastructure, phishing-awareness measures, secure servers located in GDPR-compliant data centers, and API access governed by granular permission settings to mitigate unauthorized access.

Transparency

The platform regularly publishes audit-style reports and Proof-of-Reserves summaries; users can view wallet addresses and Kraken maintains service-level expectations without public SLA guarantees.

Operational transparency includes audited infrastructure, GDPR-compliant data handling, and governance under EU regulations; although there are no regular public reports or service-level agreements (SLA) available, the platform emphasizes openness through its licensing disclosures and audit-ready security posture.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Users can deposit fiat via bank transfers (ACH, SWIFT, SEPA), credit/debit cards, and e-wallets like PayPal; minimums are low (starting around 1 USD/EUR), but maximums depend on your verification level and jurisdiction, with deposit arrival ranging from near-instant to several days depending on the method.

Blocktrade allows fiat deposits via EUR-only SEPA bank transfers and Visa/Mastercard card payments (including Apple Pay/Google Pay through the app). There’s a minimum trade threshold of around €10, but no official platform-imposed deposit minimums or maximum exposures are specified. SEPA transfers typically clear within 1–5 business days, while card deposits may occur almost instantly.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Kraken offers tiers like Intermediate and Pro (plus Express/Starter in some regions) — Intermediate unlocks full trading and funding access, while Pro raises both deposit and withdrawal limits, with each level subject to rolling daily/monthly caps shown in your dashboard.

There appear to be two user levels

Withdrawals

Limits, Timing, Networks

Crypto withdrawals follow a standard process

Customer Support

Kraken provides 24/7 live chat and email support in multiple languages (including Spanish), alongside a comprehensive support center; while most issues are resolved quickly, some users report delays during high-traffic periods.

Support is available via web/app chat for immediate issues, and a ticket/email system for detailed inquiries. The team operates Monday to Friday, 08

Languages & Localization

The platform is available in over a dozen languages, including native Spanish; local currencies and fees are displayed based on your region, ensuring comfortable and compliant user experience.

The platform uses English as its interface language, with all fees shown in EUR. While regulated in EU jurisdictions, there’s limited localization for non-European users, including lack of native support for other fiat currencies or region-specific compliance.

App Quality & Stability

The Kraken mobile app mirrors most web functionality and supports biometric or PIN access; it generally performs reliably, though user feedback on crashes or app issues is mixed and depends on device and OS.

The mobile app presents a sleek, gamified interface and supports core functions like deposits, trading, and security features. With a moderate rating (around 2.9 on Google Play), there are mixed reviews—some citing stability issues or difficulty with deposits. Recent updates continue to evolve the app experience.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Kraken offers two distinct experiences—“Lite” is streamlined for instant buys and basic navigation, while “Pro” and “Desktop” are modular and customizable, designed to support advanced traders executing complex strategies across flexible layouts and in-depth tools.

Blocktrade’s interface is intuitive and engaging thanks to its gamified design featuring XP levels and avatars; while it doesn’t offer distinct “Lite” or “Pro” modes, the clean, mobile-first layout is accessible to both newcomers and seasoned users without overwhelming complexity.

Performance

Kraken Pro is built on institutional-grade infrastructure to minimize order latency and handle peak demand efficiently, although during market surges user-reported delays in KYC verification and performance pops may still arise.

Performance tends to be smooth, with orders executing promptly under normal conditions; although during high-activity spikes the platform may encounter minor slowdowns, the streamlined onboarding helps minimize KYC bottlenecks even during bull markets.

Education

Kraken’s Learn Center delivers comprehensive articles, videos, and webinars (including futures tutorials), complemented by a derivatives demo environment for live practice—but it doesn’t currently offer a dedicated DCA simulator or localized Spanish academy; some content is translated.

Blocktrade offers a friendly Academy with short beginner courses and articles that explain crypto basics; however, there’s no interactive demo or simulator, and content in Spanish is limited or absent at this time.

Community

Kraken publishes user reviews and interactive feedback across its site, but does not maintain official public discussion forums, Discord, or Telegram communities—though it does offer a referral program to reward users bringing in new clients.

The platform encourages community interaction via its official Telegram group, and has a referral program that rewards both parties for inviting friends—but it doesn’t currently run public forums or a Discord channel.

Integrations

Kraken Pro integrates with TradingView-style charting and pattern tools, fully supports third-party trading bots via REST/WebSocket/FIX APIs, and connects seamlessly to tax/accounting platforms like Koinly, Crypto Tax Calculator, and others.

Blocktrade includes TradingView-powered charts and a public API, enabling integrations with external tools, but it lacks built-in support for bot setups, tax-reporting tools, or accounting features.

Who Each One Is Best For

“Lite” suits beginners, offering simplicity and straightforward buying; “Pro” and “Desktop” excel for active, technical traders needing granular control, advanced order forms, analytics, and deep customization.

Blocktrade shines for users who enjoy a playful, uncomplicated crypto experience with gamified rewards and a user-friendly app—but it may not appeal to advanced traders seeking sophisticated tools, educational depth, or broad ecosystem integrations.