Kraken vs Binance: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology Kraken scores 69 out of 100 and Binance scores 66. Below: the factors and facts where they differ, each fact with its source.
Score breakdown
| Kraken | Binance | |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and protection of funds | 89 | 56 |
| Fees | 33 | 89 |
| Choice of assets and currencies | 81 | 62 |
| User reputation | 80 | 78 |
| Transparency | 50 | 45 |
Pros and cons
Kraken
- Licensed under EU MiCA (ESMA register) or by New York's NYDFS
- Wide choice of cryptoassets
- Publishes proof of reserves
- A licence or registration with a financial regulator is stated on the site or in a register
Binance
- Low base spot trading fee
- Wide choice of cryptoassets
- Publishes proof of reserves
- A licence or registration with a financial regulator is stated on the site or in a register
- Not in the EU MiCA register or the NYDFS list
Facts side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Binance |
|---|---|---|
| Financial regulator licence | Yes kraken.com | Yes binance.com |
| Proof of reserves | Yes kraken.com | Yes binance.com |
| Cold storage of customer funds | Yes kraken.com | Not verified |
| Hardware security keys / passkeys | Yes kraken.com | Yes binance.com |
| Insurance or user protection fund | Not verified | Yes binance.com |
| Taker fee (spot, base tier) | 0.8% kraken.com | 0.1% binance.com |
| Maker fee (spot, base tier) | 0.4% kraken.com | 0.1% binance.com |
| Cryptoassets | 600 kraken.com | 600 binance.com |
| Fiat currencies | 9 support.kraken.com | Not verified |
| App Store rating | 4.7★ itunes.apple.com | 4.7★ itunes.apple.com |
| App Store ratings | 36,008 itunes.apple.com | 121,062 itunes.apple.com |
| Founded | 2011 kraken.com | 2017 binance.com |
| Parent company | Payward, Inc. kraken.com | Not verified |
| EU MiCA or New York licence | Yes esma.europa.eu | No esma.europa.eu |